🎇New Person Page is Here to Stay🎇
Comments
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We have had many months to go back and forth between the previous and new formats. We've been invited - begged - to join the New Person Page group and give details of what works and doesn't work. We've had weeks of advance notice that the change would be permanent at the end of the first quarter.
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It's so much less welcoming & comfortable to use than the old version. There was a "tactile" quality to the old that is entirely absent in the new, at least from my perspective.
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There's really only one thing missing from the new layout: familiarity -- and that can easily be remedied, by using it. If you do so, you'll be rewarded by new features like expanded source tagging, alert notes, easy-access sidebars, and new kinds of relationships.
As Áine pointed out, the new layout had a nearly-year-long rollout, with much solicitation of feedback. You can still provide feedback, in fact, by joining the group for it; just please try to be specific and constructive.
And as you assess and work with the new layout, think back to the time when the now-old layout was new. Remember the outcry? The wailing and moaning over the multi-tab approach? (I do. I didn't like it at all.) There will come a time -- probably not that long from now, really -- when the chorus will start up all over again, decrying the loss of this design that everyone's complaining about right now.
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In November of last year, I pulled a quick list just from my own records of the various formats we have had over the years. And there has been great outcry every time.
2008 pilot.familysearch https://www.thechurchnews.com/2008/7/12/23231510/familysearch-adds-records-to-pilot-web-site
2011 new familysearch search https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/using-the-new-familysearch-historical-records-search-form
2013 new.familysearch.org - became read only https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/new-familysearch-org-is-now-read-only
2016 new design https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/new-familysearch-design-log-in-to-try-it-out
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Definitely a step in the wrong direction. The interface is totally different. You could have added improvements without changing. The saying is "if it isn't broken then don't fix it". We can't even "switch back" to the old format if we wanted to. It immediately put me off doing anymore research and submissions.
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Sounds like you are stuck on the About page. That is just supposed to be a friendly summary of a person's information. It not intended to be the work page. Click on the Details tab. The navigational systems and work flow are only minimally different and the new features are great.
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@BarbaraBuinicky, it sounds like maybe you're looking at the About page/tab? Go to Details to see almost exactly what you saw in the old layout.
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The new format makes it MUCH more difficult to identify and correct NON-STANDARD dates and locations.
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Please return to the old format. The new one looks terrible.
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NOT HAPPY that we're being forced to use this newer (NOT improved) format. I'd love to love it but I don't & I'm a 25+ Temple & Family Search Consultant who spends many hours logged into FamilySearch.org almost every day! 😳
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Did you join and comment, with specifics, in the New Person Page group? We've had the opportunity to test the two formats side by side for nearly a year. And we were invited to show the engineers any issues we've found. https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/316-new-person-page
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Finding sources in the new format is way too complicated. PLEASE give us the option to use the old format. The new one is just way to slow to use.
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@RobertaJackson8 Please join the New Person Page group and share specifics of the issues you are having. https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/316-new-person-page
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Under the old format I could look at a timeline page full of dates and locations and immediately identify any non-standard items that need to be fixed.
Under the new format I need to assume that every date or location is non-standard, then go into edit mode for that individual event to see if my assumption is correct.
Your change has made my time on FamilySearch much less productive and more stressful.
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@warrenhatch1 If it is not marked in red as not standardized, then the place or date IS standardized: there is an entry from the database associated with the displayed text. This was equally true in the old interface.
If what you're looking for are those (dratted) map pins that have now gone away (thank heavens), then you join the many, many people who completely and utterly misunderstood their meaning.
If what you were accustomed to doing was editing places in order to make them exactly match the database entry's labeling, in the name of getting that icon to show, then what you were actually doing was potentially damaging the data in the Family Tree.
Yes, really, damaging.
Here are a few of the most recent threads on this topic. Read Gordon's comments in particular; he's good at explaining this.
https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/503092
https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/503368
https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/503617
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@RobertaJackson8, what do you mean by "finding sources"? I ask because the Sources tab in the new layout is nearly identical to the Sources tab in the old layout, so I don't understand what you find "too complicated" about it.
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As an iPad user, I really appreciate being able to use the best features of both the new person page & the FamilySearch Tree App.
Each has some options not available in the other. Because I have a larger IPad, using split-screen to see new person page & the App view at the same time allows me to leverage those features.
The ability to choose how to lay out the person page is especially helpful. If I’m working to add "other relationships" that box can be moved to the top of the page—and then move it lower down or collapse it when it’s in my way.
Adding vital information & using the source linker is much simpler for me in the Family Tree app, but the new page has better source, collaboration & memories management options.
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It now takes three steps to get the same information that could be gotten in one step with the old format. With time at a premium that's NOT progress.
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UGH. Please let us live in peace with older version. Too much scrolling and many buttons!!!!!
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Please, please, please allow the option of returning to the previous formatting. This new formatting is simply awful. I can't believe that anyone who does a lot of work on FamilySearch is happy with the new look and formatting. It takes so many more clicks to accomplish the simplest task and cleanup is more than double the work. It is so awful that I want to cry. The work is now so much more laborious. It's not a matter of getting used to the work; you have created a system that takes more work--more clicks of the mouse to accomplish the same thing.
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Yeah, I'm about ready to blow this cookie stand over this latest "improvement."
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First off, not a fan of the new format, for many reasons. Ultimately it might end up being an improvement, but so far on day one of dealing with it, I don't like it.
However, it's here to stay for a while, so I have two issues. First, the font size on the details page is sufficient and is close to what the old layout offered. However, when I go to add a source, the text in the window that pops up is too large and I have to decrease the font in my browser, and then when the source is complete I have to increase the font size. Also, when the "add source" window comes up, I have to scroll up to the first date field. I got used to being very speedy at adding sources and this scrolling and having to adjust the font is slowing me down.
My requests are: 1. Decrease the font on the add source page, or have a setting that will allow me to permanently decrease the font on the pop up windows; and 2. set the cursor in the add source pop up window to the first field. Thanks.
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FamilySearch ran the two versions in parallel for almost a year. FamilySearch created a New Person Page group and practically begged for feedback from users. You can still offer constructive criticism in the group and be heard. https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/316-new-person-page
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Have you joined and posted specifics in the New Person Page group? https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/316-new-person-page
I haven't noticed anything requiring additional steps, but perhaps your workflow is different.
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Bring the Old Version back, otherwise I’m quitting Family Search🙈
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@pamzylik1 Please, as has been mentioned many times, join and post your concerns in the New Person Page group.
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Today I was trapped. I have tried for months to use the new Person Page, but I always had an out (switching back to the old) when I got too frustrated.
You say the changes were necessary because of old technology which couldn't be supported. However, new technology doesn't dictate "look and feel." Please go back to the LOOK (font, white spaces) of the old page so we can see what we're doing! And yes, I have tried High Contrast Mode and it doesn't make much difference.
I think you've destroyed my desire to do family history (on which I typically spend a few hours a day).
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I understand there needs to be change, but it seems as though we are not being heard. The new page is very hard to look at. There is too much spacing between lines and it is very hard on the eyes which should be a consideration since many users are a little older. Hoping there can be some revisions soon to make it easier to read.
Suggestion - When clicking on "Following" the pop up to add a label is in the upper right hand corner. Any change moving it back to the lower left where it is easier to see come up?
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I just went to do some searching and found it has all changed. I absolutely HATE it. Please let us choose the old format. Elva Spencer
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@SGregerson Please join and post in the New Person Page Group.
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