Layout changes
Stop changing the program. Please. I cannot convey the frustration of just getting someone started on their family history and then you change the layout. Almost EVERY person I know is now confused and frustrated, even experienced family history consultants, though most won't go on record and complain. I am. I find it frustrating having to keep updating my training while trying to help others all the time because someone there decides it will allow more info or look better. You are highly computer savy , maybe trying to make something that works better, but you are not. What are we trying to do? The purpose is to unite families to prepare for temple work, added minutii is peripheral to the principle goal. Your continuous changes are slowing rather than speeding the work. It was seriously effective before, your playing with it is confusing a lot of the people who do the work I.E. busy adults and seniors. I'm spending more time trying to explain the system changes than helping people find their ancestors. Several have metaphorically thrown up their hands and quit. I don't think it's fair for us to have to try and talk them out of it, or back in to it, after they've made the effort to start because of your "fine tuning". FYI you have not simplified the process at all except in your infinitely computer literate eyes. Hopefully you now comprehend my level of frustration. It worked please stop trying to hone it. It's counter productive.
Comments
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Please leave the person page in the old format. The new format is not easy to follow and is confusing.
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You may want to visit and share your thoughts at the "New Person Page" under "Groups."
https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/316-new-person-page
Maile :)
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You can choose at the top right to go back to the old way but time is limited.
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Your points are valid and you not alone in your concerns. You identified a few problems with making changes. If you had to rank these problems from biggest to smallest what order would you put them?
- Changes are negatively affecting those who are just getting started
- Changes are effecting busy people who don't have time to keep up with the changes and so they stumble when they do have the few minutes here or there to work on it.
- Those providing training are continuously needing to focus their efforts on updating the changes
- The updates and changes being made seem trivial and unworthy of the time needed to update training as a result of making them.
- experienced family history consultants are spending more time trying to explain the system changes than helping people find their ancestors.
Also, although not always evident, we know that sometimes changes, even seemingly trivial ones, need to occur. That being said, IF change must occur, that doesn't mean the problems you pointed out aren't any less valid so do you have any suggestions for how to make a change that must happen more tolerable?
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It's kind of like having someone come along and randomly changing your home's floorplan. Homeowner #1 might say, "Hey, great! I like this new layout!" A different homeowner, #2, might walk in and unhappily find themselves in the hall closet instead of the bedroom. As users, we aren't privy to the magic behind the scenes. It takes a lot to keep a program of this magnitude running. Technology is constantly changing. Keep in mind that what users see (front end) can seem to become unhinged--because of things going on at the programming or hardware level (back end). Front-end changes might occur due to: cost, efficiency, upgrading hardware / rewriting software, adding new features... One thing I can say with confidence. The decisions being made on FamilySearch changes are not arbitrary. Prayer and inspiration are used by the back-end just as much as we, on the front-end seek the Spirit to guide us.
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Why fix what isn't broken?
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However, they are all relevant. It is a MASSIVE WASTE OF TIME to have to switch over to a new format when the previous format was easier to use. The entire page being changed all at once is EXTREMELY Jarring, and I'm not a fan of it in any way. I have * my suggestions for a more tolerable and readable site.
I don't read in columnar fashion, which squishes down the information and makes it more confusing to see exactly what is being read. *Leave the format the way it was.
The lack of box sections and neutral colors make it more difficult to know what you're looking at.
Highlighting in red every. single. box. that contains THAT person's name becomes even MORE confusing as to what I'm looking at/for, and completely unnecessary. *Making the box bold in the ORIGINAL color would have been a better change, and easier on the eyes.
Multiple spouses are put into that same exact columnar fashion, which is also confusing, as it is also in the Parents and Siblings Column. *Leave the Format the way it was! TWO Columns- Spouses and Children/Parents and Siblings. Spouses can include Out Of Wedlock relationships that included children, add in a title to make it obvious.
Other Relationships box- NOT NECESSARY *Most Researchers don't care about who the person was friends with, or failed relationships that didn't bear issue.
Brief Life History - Should NOT be at the VERY BOTTOM! This box can contain VITAL information to search by! I'll add in other info from other websites like FindAGrave Bios or other notes here.
The About Section is redundant of the the other tabs. It is also in a Columnar Fashion, which is, again, NOT How People Read! Its that Name Meaning section necessary? * Keep the Brief Life History and Timeline here.
This is NOT a Newspaper to peruse! This is a RESEARCH Website. It was EASY to use for YEARS until the changes made to the Research section that went backwards and ADDED Extra steps to it.
Programmers should LISTEN to the those who are actually using the product on what changes make it easier, and what makes it more difficult. Instead of making changes, and angering those who use it.
I had REALLY enjoyed the EASE of use of this site for my family tree research. Now I'm seriously thinking about NOT using it as my go to website or telling others about it. ESPECIALLY if the Programmers think to keep their RIDICULOUS Changes.
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@JenniferBristol, did you fully explore the new interface? Did you notice "My Layout Settings" at the top of the Tools box in the right-hand column? (Note that the existence and layout of that right-hand column is identical to the old interface.) You can switch to a single-column view of the Vitals and Other boxes, and you can re-order the boxes to put the biography at the top, or whatever other change you'd like.
What I've used the Other Relationships section for is godparents. It's wonderful to be able to capture the intricate web of relationships in a village like this, and it can help with identifying siblings and deciphering newly-found sources.
I don't understand what you mean by your complaint about multiple spouses. The Family Members section has nearly exactly the same layout as before; the only thing that has changed is the placement of marriage information. Instead of separating the couple, it is now below their names and above their children. The two columns still identify Spouses and Children on the left, and Parents and Siblings on the right, exactly the same as before. Highlighting the person whose page you are on is also not new; the old page just did it in gray instead of color. (I do agree with you on one small bit: I would prefer the gray highlight to the pink.)
The About tab is just a reworking of the no-login-necessary "Discovery" page; feel free to ignore all but the timeline on it.
Oh, and the programmers have been listening to us, especially in the New Person Page group (https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/316-new-person-page). They've made so many improvements in response to our comments that I've lost track of what we started with.
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It seems like every time someone decides a website (any website) needs a fresh look, the first thing they do is reverse what side everything is on. It is beyond frustrating. Leave everything on the right, on the right. And everything on the left, on the left.
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