Is there a way to sort or to search the items in your source box?

EmLorelloSmithVetroLamay

Is there a way to sort or to search the items in your source box?

I'd love to be able to sort by date or to filter by name. If there isn't a way, is there somewhere to submit it as a suggestion?

Thanks.

E

X24 MOM

You can create folders using dates or surnames or whatever. I haven’t found any other way to “sort” the items, it looks like they get posted as most recent first. You can use the “feedback” tab at the bottom of the page or the “contact us” option to submit suggestions 😊

Brett .

@Emily Magazzi​ 

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Short Answer: 'No', certainly NOT to "Search"; and, in relation to "Creating" the "Folders", as @X24mom X24mom​ has suggested, you are limited to ONLY x50 Folders.

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That "Feedback" that @X24mom X24mom​ alludes to is the "FamilySearch" ("GetSatisfaction") 'Feedback' Forum.

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You are not alone.

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But, the news is not good ...

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A number of us in the "FamilySearch" ("GetSatisfaction") 'Feedback' Forum have been BEGGING for improvements/up-grades/tweaks/etc to the "Source Box", for years; but, to no avail, due to the very many competing priorities in, "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch"; plus, the many other "Parts" of "FamilySearch"; and, especially, the very limited resources available in/to "Family Search".

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The ORIGINAL concept of the "Source Box" was as a TEMPORARY "Storage" Facility.

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For some of us, the nature of the TEMPORARY "Storage" Facility has changed to a PERMANENT "Storage" Facility.

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There are 'pros and cons' on both sides for, TEMPORARY; as opposed to, PERMANENT, "Storage" Facility.

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For some 'light reading', here are just a few previous posts in this Forum regard the "Source Box":

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My Source Box Enhancements (When You Have So Many Individual Folders) ... [ Over 7 Years ago ]

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/my_source_box_enhancements_when_you_have_so_many_indivudal_folders

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The option to arrange sources on the Person page was a great idea. Can you do the same for my sources box? ... [ Over 6 Years ago ]

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/the_option_to_arrange_sources_on_the_person_page_was_a_great_idea_can_you_do_the_same_for_my

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We need a tool to maintain our sources! As time goes by, the correct sources be the key to success. ... [ Over 3 Years ago ]

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/we-need-a-tool-to-maintain-our-sources-as-time-goes-by-the-correct-sources-be-the-key-to-success

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Add a search feature to the Source Box ... [ Over 1 Year ago ]

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/add-a-search-feature-to-the-source-box

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adding a search feature to the source box ... [ Over 1 Year ago ]

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/adding-a-search-feature-to-the-source-box

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Source Box Folder Limit ... [ Over 1 Year ago ]

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/source-box-folder-limit

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Please add a Search function in the main Sources Box (the one accessed by clicking one's own name and choosing "Sources Box"). ... [ Over 1 Year ago ]

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/please-add-a-search-function-in-the-main-sources-box-the-one-accessed-by-clicking-ones-own-name-and-choosing

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Add Search function to source box ... [ Over 1 Year ago ]

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/add-search-function-to-source-box

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Organize source box ... [ Over 1 year ago ]

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/organize-source-box

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Improve the Usefulness of the Source Box ... [ 5 Months ago ]

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/improve-the-usefulness-of-the-source-box

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Only just a few ...

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I hope this helps to put the reason(s) NOTHING is (and, maybe never will be) happening (or, should I say, seems NOT to be happening) with regard to enhancements to the "Source Box" into perspective.

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We can only keep submitting enhancement requests for the "Source Box"; and, hope that at some time in the (most likely, distant) future that they will get implemented; but, I would not hold your breath.

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If just seems that such enhancement requests for the "Source Box" are 'falling on deaf ears', I know they are not, due to the very many competing priorities in, "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch"; plus, the many other "Parts" of "FamilySearch"; and, especially, the very limited resources available in/to "Family Search" - but, it just seems that way.

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The SILENCE, from "FamilySearch", in relation to the "Source Box", is DEAFENING.

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Except, of course, when a problem/issue arises, which is addressed/fixed ASAP.

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Here are a few "Knowledge Articles" in "FamilySearch" in relation to the "Source Box":

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What is a Source Box?

https://www.familysearch.org/help/salesforce/viewArticle?urlname=Your-Source-Box&lang=en_US

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How do I attach source from Source Box?

https://www.familysearch.org/help/salesforce/viewArticle?urlname=Finding-your-Source-Box-in-Family-Tree&lang=en_US

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Removing sources from your Source Box

https://www.familysearch.org/help/salesforce/viewArticle?urlname=Removing-Sources-from-Your-Source-Box&lang=en_US

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Brett

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ps: We can live in hope - I am always the optimistic pessimist.

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X24 MOM

thank you @Brett .​ ! I didn’t know there was a limit! Great info! And ty for posting the links. Lots of great info here!

Brett .

😀

.. ..._1

Hey, it would be nice to have sorting options. Say, alphabetically, for example.

As far as the temporary nature of the Source Box, I can say from experience that sometimes months or years pass between research, so permanent storage is key to picking up where I left off for sooo many reasons.

I hope this feature gets some attention.

Brett .

@.. ..._1

FYI

Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.

I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...

Just in passing ...

Recently, there has been, the first, significate, enhancements, to the "Source Box" ...

Since this post was submitted way back in March 2020 ...

Although, we DO NOT have, the ability, to "Sort", the "Sources", in our "Source Box", alphabetically ...

We NOW do have:

▬ the ability, to "Search", for "Sources", in our "Source Box"; and,

▬ have, the added benefit, of a "Filter"; and,

▬ and, can have x200 "Folders" (ie. NO longer limited, to just x50).

Just my thoughts.

Brett

Julia Szent-Györgyi

@.. ..._1, as Brett said (in his usual embellished fashion), the source box was fairly recently enhanced with all sorts of features, including the ability to attach a citation by name, ID, or recent activity, and the ability to search and filter your citations. Combined with the pre-existing feature of folders, I have found that I can now find the desired entry with very little trouble. The only limiting factor is Past Me's (in)consistency in formulating source titles.

Brett .

@Julia Szent-Györgyi

Julia

Now, come on, I thought, that I kept it quite unembellished, this time ...

(ie. 'A Picture, says a THOUSAND Words' ... )

Brett

😁

.. ..._1

Well, the improvements are going in the right direction. However, sorting is not the same as filtering or searching. Depending on my folders, I may not need either.

But I can see a timeline of a person(s) or family and name changes over time - instant data without having to open sources using Sort.

Family Search is not the only entity to not provide this feature, so I wonder if there is some technical hindrance like a resource drain on a database.