Search using the DGS number
How does one search the Image Group Number (DGS) field on https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/?
Best Answer
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From https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/
Choose "Show More Search Options" then "Show Advanced Search" and enter the DGS number in the Image Group Number box.
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Answers
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Thanks for the quick reply! Unfortunately i need more help! ( I should have been more descriptive. )
Each time I enter a DGS number I get zero results. Do I need to add the 00's to the front of the number?
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I get results without the leading zeros.
If you search using the DGS number, I would recommend not entering any other parameters.
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Thanks. If I enter a DGS number and get no results, should I assume that those records are not yet digitized?
Thanks for your help!
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You can check to see if the DGS is available to view from your location here. https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog All films are digitized. The D in DGS refers to digitized. Some are only available to view at an Affiliate Library, a Family History Center, or a Family History Library.
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I was inside an affiliate library today and unable to find these records:
Specifically I am looking for FHL: 4645737
Thanks for your continued assistance. It is much appreciated!
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Images on that DGS are not available to view from home, but the records are indexed to make them name-searchable.
If you find a record that you would like to view the image, you can request a free copy from the Remote Lookup Service. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=s-7mYddfqkquPGHo3rCbeXDgy5vNu0pJhOnXB8jRDZtUNzlIR1VFVkhEWFNSVVFQNDRTUjdGRzRFVy4u
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What about in an affiliate library? I was in a public library that has affiliate access. Is that why?
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Michelle
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Just in passing ...
Further to; and, in support of, what 'Áine Ní Donnghaile' has already proffered ...
Regarding, FHL Film number 1959124; being, Image Group Number (DGS) 4645737 ...
ONLY the "Index", of that FHL Film, is available 'On-Line'.
The "Images", of that FHL Film, area NOT available 'On-Line'.
And, NOT even at a, "Family History Centre" of the Church; and/or, 'FamilySearch' "Affiliate Library".
Just my thoughts.
Brett
ps: And, appears to be, ONLY available, in the Form of a Microfilm (ie. The "Film Reel" Icon), at the "Family History Library" (FHL), of the Church, in "Temple Square", Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
.
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Images that are viewable in an affiliate library have a different symbol - a camera with a key over it.
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Thanks Brett. I do understand all this yet Áine Ní Donnghaile' did say in her first comment that all films have been digitized.
And yet it appears these are only on microfilm. I'm just curious if I'm these have been overlooked or are hiding elsewhere on a server somewhere.
I am very grateful for the help Áine Ní Donnghaile' has offered and continue appreciate the volunteers that make these projects happen.
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The films are digitized. Again, the D in DGS = digitized The issue is that the images are not available to the general public to view from home.
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The reel icon has been repurposed: it now means "not online". Usually this is for some type of contractual or legal reason (such as privacy laws).
The confusion arises because pretty much everyone assumes that there's no point to digitizing something if you're not putting it online. Unfortunately, that's not how things work at FamilySearch. They've digitized everything as an archival measure -- it's vastly easier to store and reproduce (back up) digital files than reels of film -- but access to the files is not always included in the contracts with record custodians. When the contracts do not include digital distribution, access continues to be on film only, which in practical terms means in Salt Lake City only, unless you happen to be extremely lucky and your local FHC not only has the right film, but also still has a working film reader, and is actually open. This is where the Lookup Service of the Family History Library comes in. (Áine gave the link to it above.)
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And, the companies that used to manufacture microfilm no longer do so. Better to duplicate as digital images as microfilm becomes brittle and degrades over time.
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Back to the searching on the DGS...in your example, the records while not available for viewing online, have been somewhat indexed. The simplest way to search for a record by DGS is to click the magnifying glass next to the record film you are looking at:
That will automatically put the DGS number into the correct field and search for it:
There are some caveats to this. You can see that the record number you provided (4645737) covers Items 1-7 for that particular record set. That means there may be records indexed from item 8 (Parafja Róża (Dębica) which are irrelevant to your search which may also appear in your search results because it is based only on the DGS number. In addition, your results will only include records which have actually been indexed. So, the dates listed for that film are overall from 1790-1944. But only from 1790 to 1900 might be indexed. So records might exist for someone's death in 1910, perhaps, but because it isn't indexed, you won't see it in your DGS search.
I think you might need to look into this a little more. As you can see from the above picture, the first results come from Parafja Róża (Dębica) and not from Borowa. When I typed Borowa into the location there were no results. Just underneath the bibliographic information is a red letter sentence saying that the records are available online with a hyperlink to them. Even there, when I searched on Borowa it came up with no results.
That just seems awfully strange for a set of records that indicates they have had some indexing done. I don't know enough about this area to know if I'm typing in the town wrong or something. You might ask for help in the Poland Genealogy Research group. There should be someone there that has a better understanding of the place names and different levels of places. You may not be able to view the images of the records (the microfilm icon indicates that) but you should be able to find some sort of indexed records.
Hope this helps you locate the family you are looking for.
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The "no results" for "Borowa" is because of the new-and-disimproved search interface, which doesn't appear to consider a part to be a match to the whole. The workaround or trick for this particular fault is to append an asterisk to the placename:
This will convince it to return "Borowa, Borowa, Rzeszów, Poland" as a ::gasp!:: actual match! to "Borowa".
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Awesome @Julia Szent-Györgyi ! I knew there had to be something that I was missing! So, @Michelle Gobert were you able to find your family in these records?
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@Michelle Gobert, You've had such great responses from these folks that I hesitate to add anything. But I thought that there may be just a point or two that I might clear for you.
Sometimes the magnifying glass (which indicates that an index is available and can be searched) doesn't really tell the whole story; and it can cause some frustration.
When we see the magnifying glass next to the film DGS number, 4645737, it is reasonable to expect that the index will provide an index for that DGS. But, notice that there is also an item number associated with the film - in this case we see Items 1 - 7 are associated with the film (and Catalog entry) for which you interested.
If we search the catalog for the DGS number 4645737, we find that it also appears in the Catalog entry: Księgi metrykalne, 1784-1925. Note the the film 4645737 also has an item number, which is Item 8. So we see that there are actually 8 items associated with this film. What the magnifying glass is not telling you is that only Item 8 of the film is indexed, or item 8 is the only item for which we have permission to publish the index.
We find this explanation in one of the knowledge articles that are available, linked below. Relatively far down the article is a bullet for: Magnifying glass icon, which somewhat briefly says what I've said here.
In summary, for films that have item numbers associated with them, the magnifying glass only tells us that some of the items have been indexed. It may be, and in your case it is true, that the item(s) for which you are interested will not be found in the index.
Also, you may find that other organizations/companies may have a more complete collection. For example I note that Ancestry.com has a collection: Poland, Select Tarnow Roman Catholic Diocese Church Books, 1612-1900; which may provide the information for which you are looking. I am sure there are others that also have these records and you can search for them on the internet or in the FamilySearch Solutions Gallery.
I hope that helps. Good luck on your research.
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