"Notes" section available?

LegacyUser

Richard G Schillinger said: Where are you able to just add 'notes' to a persons profile? The 'ADD INFORMATION' menu is structured in such a way that it doesn't seem to 'fit' what I'd like to add, since the notes cover more than one subject/class of information or none of the headings.
u feel? Add Image

Get emotional! Describe how this topic makes you feel. Please I'm not 'into' the current "snowflake" thing. Don't make this site into a PC trap.

LegacyUser

Jeff Wiseman said: For some bizarre reason, the Notes section was moved to be under the "Collaborate" tab. I have no idea why because they are NOT a collaboration specific feature.

You'll find the feature there.

LegacyUser

Jennifer Jeffris said: I am not into this "quote" used incorrectly thing. What does this have to do with PC? We get it. You like to offend people freely with no comment. I like people to use correct punctuation. Too bad you have a good point hidden in an offensive post. Moderators?

LegacyUser

Brett said: Richard

Provided that you are talking about "Family Tree" of "FamilSearch"; and, not just this "FamilySearch" ("Get Satisfaction") 'Feedback' Forum ...

There are a NUMBER of, in fact, MANY, places/sections, in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch", where one can add INFORMATION (and, add "Emotion" - provided it is NOT Offensive), if one so desires.

First, there is the "Life Sketch" Section at the very TOP of a indvidual/person page/screen, which is very open in nature and structure, you can anything that may be appropriate to an individual/person.

Then,
Second, there is the "Vitals" Section of a individual/person page/screen - you can even ADD pertinent information on 'Date'; 'Place'; and, 'Reason Statement', fields - and, still "Standardise".

Then, more appropriately,
Third, there is the "Other Information" Section of a individual/person page/screen - where you can certainly ADD just about ANY pertinent information, including "User", both, "Defined" and "Created", details, which are "Custom Event(s)" and "Customs Fact(s)"; plus, on 'Date'; 'Place'; and, 'Reason Statement', fields - and, still "Standardise".

Then, there is similar to the aforementioned
Fourth, there is the "Family Members" Section of a individual/person page/screen - which can be used as described above.

Then,
Fifth, there is the "Sources" 'Tab' for an individual/person page/screen - which can be used as described above.

Then, also more appropriately,
Sixth, there is the "Collaborate" 'Tab' for an individual/person page/screen - which is broken down into two (x2) sections of "Notes" and "Discussions".

Both, "Notes" and "Discussions", are very open in nature and structure, you can anything that may be appropriate to an individual/person.

Then,
Finally, there is the "Memories" 'Tab' for an individual/person page/screen - which is broken down into, "Photos"; "Documents"; "Stories"; and, "Audio".

Provided, of course, that what you want to add is appropriate; and, NOT, offensive,

We do not have our OWN "Tree" in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch".

We ONLY have "Branches", that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch".

Thus, "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" is used by many peoples ALL around the World.

"Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" is NOT like "Ancestry.com" or the like.

We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees' in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch", like other "Web" Sites; and/or, 'standalone' personal programmes.

We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/person in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch".

"Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" is built on a "Open Edit" Platform - hence, why any registered User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch".

Therefore, what is appropriate and inoffensive for one/some, may be inappropriate and offensive for another/others.

just my thoughts.

Brett

.

LegacyUser

Richard G Schillinger said: Now that is what I call a good answer. I much appreciate the thought and thoroughness of your kind answer. Thanks very much.
I never thought to look at 'collaborate' as a place to add 'notes'.

LegacyUser

Jeff Wiseman said: Neither would most other folks :-)

The Notes used to be on the main person page, but a little over a year ago, FS took the main person page and split it up into separate tabs as part of an effort to organize the data so that loading of the person pages were faster.

I think that after creating the tab for Discussions, they didn't want to add yet another tab for Notes, so they just combined the two.

From all the items that Brett mentioned above, you can see why the meaning and application of "Notes" on the FS website has been watered down a lot from what they have typically been used for over the years in other genealogical applications, both on computer and on paper.

For example, given a vital (e.g., Birth event) and a set of sources that provide information on that vital, if the logic surrounding the derivation of that vital from the sources is not real simple (e.g., multiple sources having different dates for the same event), the documentation of that logic (including any calculations or assumptions used) would be placed in a note with a title that refers to the vital being documented (i.e., the note along with the related sources would be "tagged" to the vital).

Now we have Life Sketch, Discussions, and Reasons for Change fields that people are using for some things that used to go into Notes. As a result we have folks coming to this forum who don't know what the Notes are even used for, or in some cases, don't see any value in them.

Hopefully as the site evolves, over time these areas will become more distinct and obvious in their use.

LegacyUser

Tom Huber said: Brett provided an excellent response.

Family History is about people and within the FamilyTree portion of the site, there are plenty of opportunities to provide detailed information about any of our deceased ancestors.

Something you may want to look at is The Family History Guide, an on-line site that contains a lot of "how to" information on using the site, along with excellent exercises that will help you learn a lot about the site and especially the Family Tree portion of the site. https://thefhguide.com/ -- in addition to FamilySearch, this same site provides material on three other sites.

LegacyUser

Paul said: No, it's not at all clear that a Notes sub-section is found under Collaboration. Apart from that, I'm quite happy for it to be located there. Everyone probably has their own idea of when to use Discussions and when Notes is appropriate.

In my case, I use Discussions when I want my comments not to be deleted by another user and believe the remarks I make will hold true for many years to come. I use Notes to remind me - and advise others (hence the collaboration factor) - of what research I have carried out on a particular aspect relating to that individual. For example under a heading "Marriage of John Wrightson" I would detail the records I had checked and possibly add a conclusion suggesting it was unlikely he ever married. (e.g. "Shown as unmarried in 1881 census, when aged 67 - died in 1884")

As I consider my Notes items would usually prove just as useful to another researcher as for me, I do believe it is fine to leave Notes under Collaborate.

Incidentally, now that the reason statement fields are openly displayed in the Vitals section, I use these to add more extensive comments than when they were "hidden" - as they still are, unfortunately, in the Marriage Events section. For example, if I have two dates for a burial I would insert the "more likely" into the date / place fields, but add any alternative information (e.g from a differing Bishop's Transcript record, rather than the Parish Register entry) directly beneath it. Far better to add this kind of information where it can be clearly seen than in a Notes / Collaborate section, I agree, many users would not think of checking for such information.

Update (see last paragraph) - now that these remarks can be clearly seen (used to have to click on Edit, as they were previously hidden) I add extra/alternative information here, rather than in the Notes section: