Timing out of FamilyTree
When one begins to enter information, it allows the information to be added and then it refreshes the browser when one tries to save what was added. This drops all the information added and one has to add it again. This is especially frustrating if a person is trying to add a note or a discussion.
There needs to be some sort of highly visible notification that will prevent one from continuing if the system has timed out. It is understandable that the system needs to be timed out for a user that hasn't been active for a time, but it is so invisible that time and time again, information is entered and then lost. It is really obnoxious, and someone who isn't paying attention to time and doesn't really know the timeout window anyway will run into it time and time again. The system could be better designed to prevent this kind of annoyance.
Comments
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Chas Howell said: I agree there should be a warning before timing out. Partial work around- When I do notes or discussions, I compose the note in a word processor and then just copy and paste into FS when I am ready. Can do spell check also. Two monitors make it fairly easy, word processor on one, FS on the other.0
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GaryErickson said: Not a warning before timing out, but a warning that it HAS timed out. Your work around is fine, but a work around should not be necessary, and it is a pain in the neck to have to use another software to make the FamilyTree functional for the user.0
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Ron Tanner said: The time out should be 1 hour long of no activity0
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S. said: My Idea towards that is this, Let people choose their own time out value, It would be very Handy for those who work from home and can be allow to have it longer, but I don't if coding would allow this.0
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GaryErickson said: If there were just a "watermark" TIMED OUT that came up across the screen after it is timed out, you would not start to do something before refreshing the browser. That would at least keep some of us from losing our religion after typing for 10 minutes, only to have it disappear when you touch enter, and then have to start all over again. Most who are doing research have no idea it has been an hour since they were last active, and it makes it awful irritating.
A small thing, yes, but something that could make the program a little more user friendly.0 -
Shanna Jones said: It is no activity within Family Tree, the 1 hour. If we are on other sites on the same computer, it still times out. This is good for family history center computers, for patrons who just leave while signed in, but on personal computers not so much. It at least should know we are still there, like Skype does, and only time out with no computer activity. Thanks!0
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Scott Robinson said: For the umpteenth time, Family Tree has timed me out when I am laboring over a Life Sketch. So, at the end of my labors, I click on Save just to find out that the system has timed me out and NONE of my efforts are saved. Hours of effort down the drain! I don't understand why the system does not recognize my keystrokes as "activity" while editing/composing a Life Sketch. The Timed Out routine should be lengthened and there should be a warning that you are about to be timed out. AND it should recognize keystokes as activity!
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Scott
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
[ And, one who has been working in "Family Tree" (and, it predecessor), for a number of Years ... ]
You are not alone ...
Many of us have ... been there, done that ...
MANY; Many; many, of us have learnt over the YEARS, the 'Timeout' can be very SHORT, as little; as, 20 Minutes; whereas, if you are lucky, longer; but, no guarantees.
So ...
That Said ...
The BEST practice, is to prepare, ANY "Lengthy" statement (eg. Especially, "Life Sketch"; and, even. "Reason This Information Is Correct:"), in some form of a "Text Editor" (eg. "Note Pad"); and, then, "Copy" and "Paste", the Text into wherever such is required.
In other words ...
It is NOT good practice, to try, to prepare, ANY "Lengthy" statement (eg. Especially, "Life Sketch"; and, even. "Reason This Information Is Correct:") within, "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', itself.
Please be aware, that the LENGTH of "Timeout", in 'FamilySearch', is HIGHLY unlikely to be changed.
Unfortunately, such a "Change" (to INCREASE the LENGTH of "Timeout"), would most likely, cause a MASSIVE "Slowdown" of the "System", making the "System" almost useless.
Just saying ...
The BEST practice, is to prepare, ANY "Lengthy" statement (eg. Especially, "Life Sketch"; and, even. "Reason This Information Is Correct:"), in some form of a "Text Editor" (eg. "Note Pad"); and, then, "Copy" and "Paste", the Text into wherever such is required.
I hope this helps, somewhat.
Brett
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It still seems very strange that there can't be "You are about to be logged out" or "You are logged out" messages in Family Tree. I get plenty of warning on most of the other websites I use if I'm about to be timed-out, so why can't this feature be added to Family Tree? There are also problems caused after logging back in, if you have FT open in multiple tabs.
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