Replace information when attaching a source

LegacyUser

Emily Catherine Johnson said: Allow source information to be copied over current information in source attachment. For example, a death date on a person may be "1920" but a source we're attaching has a more specific one, such as "jan 1, 1920". Allow this better information to replace what's currently on the page. Right now, information can only be added to blank sections from a source, not replaced. If I attach a source with more information (such as dates or places), I simply have to remember what it said and when I'm done attaching the source, I can go add the information manually.

LegacyUser

Chas Howell said: You still have to check the sources to verity the latter information is more correct.

LegacyUser

Juli said: I can't find the thread, but this has been discussed before, and the general consensus was that without drastic changes to Source Linker, it would be a Very Bad Idea to allow it to replace conclusions.

Source Linker does not show the reason statements attached to existing conclusions, but replacing the data would also replace said invisible statements -- which may contain valuable information about the more exact date being actually less accurate, for example.

The other consideration is that Source Linker only attaches _indexed_ data. Indexes are subject to all sorts of errors: indexers cannot possibly be familiar with every name they encounter, so they make the wrong interpretation of the handwriting. (Cursive of all types is generally much easier to read once you know what it says.) Replacing possibly-image-based data with definitely-index-based data will very seldom result in anything good.

LegacyUser

Ken G Moyer said: I absolutely agree with you as I have, on many occasions had to write down the info and manually enter it. Perhaps when one goes to the 'add' selection it could be expanded to add and edit.

LegacyUser

Jeff Wiseman said: Frequently, the data that is already in the person's record usually is more reliable than that coming in from sources, because it has already been derived from other sources. Auto replacement would create many problems.

I have handled this situation almost exclusively by using the workflow where I click on the Review and Attach button using the keys in my browser that creates another window. Then side-by-side I can do the source linking and updating of the person's data simultaneously.

In fact, when I do it this way, I can enter the new information in the persons record and then do a refresh of the source linker window where I can then double check the source and person data together (since they are shown side by side in the source linker).

Also, if there is an image, it is easy to switch between the source linker and the associated image in one window while editing the person's data in the other. This is real useful when adding residence information since residence info brought over by the source linker from censuses typically is incomplete. I can add the day and month to the residence year and double check the location (frequently due to indexing, the source linker may bring a location across as a city, when in fact it was a township).

This may or may not work for you depending on how you typically use your computer and how big your screen is, but I've gotten to really like the visibility this technique offers me.

LegacyUser

Jeff Wiseman said: If there is more than just a little information to copy down, I will use screenshot capabilities on my computer to just snapshot that data in a different window. It can frequently really save time once you get used to it.

LegacyUser

Tom Huber said: I also use the side-by-side approach. Unfortunately, mobile devices lack display space, and often, they lack the ability to "tab" between screens. But I use a double-screen computer setup where I can display the original record's index and on the other screen, display the person's record from FamilySearch. Copy and paste (there is a problem with one of the historical record screens so that the material cannot be selected and copied) is relatively easy with that kind of arrangement. Even on a single-screen system, having one screen open on one side of the screen and the other open on the other is usable on all but some of the narrower screens.

The other thing to keep in mind is that we are working with indices that may have been incorrect transcribed. As such, I always open the image of the original record when it is available and use that as my source. No copying and pasting, of course, but still, I carefully transcribe the information into the record.

LegacyUser

Kelly Sexton said: I, too, use multiple screens on my computer. However, I do a lot of source attaching on my phone while waiting for appointments, etc. That is when I would like this option the most. Again, as the poster suggested, the date of death is currently 1920, but the actual death certificate has a specific date. It is such a pain to change that information through the mobile app!