Standarding dates on sources

LegacyUser

Merlene Palmer Johnson said: When sources are added to a PID and no other reference date is used, why can't the year that it was added just generate automatically in a standardized format? (as in LRQN-3X2, see my addition of a Billions Graves reference).
When I was visiting the Family Search center in Salt Lake late last year, the missionary who was helping me on the British Isles floor told me when I see a plus in a circle on the left, with no date, to use the year found on the right side as the standardized date. Well I have come across hundreds since then, but it is time consuming to correct them. Could a program could be developed to do it automatically (when another year is not referenced) and maybe even a program to go back and generate year dates that have not yet been standardized. They can always be changed later if desired. But I've decided not to do them anymore as I think my time is better spent in so many other areas of research. At the very least seems as if it is a clerical function, and lacking a program, could maybe be assigned to the missionaries who are not helping a patron? (Or someone who wants to help but needs an easier assignment.)

LegacyUser

David Newton said: What year though? Death, creation of record? Burial year? That assumes this is even a burial, rather than just a memorial elsewhere.

LegacyUser

Paul said: Merlene

It was noticed from the outset that only certain sources had a date added "by the program", though the reasons some did / some didn't doesn't always make sense.

Having the date helps in arranging sources in chronological order, but is not essential. But if you really want them to appear you'll just have to input the missing ones yourself - the missionaries' time would also be better spent than in carrying out this work for you (and others)!

LegacyUser

Merlene Palmer Johnson said: According to my missionary helper, it didn't matter what the event was, so, lacking any other date, it would generate the creation of the record. Finding them randomly, he didn't suggest trying to learn the date of the actual event, just to use the year of the creation of the record as the standardized date. As stated, that date could be changed at any time if it was at any time desired. In the referenced example, what would be the appropriate 'standardized' date to use?

LegacyUser

David Newton said: "In the referenced example, what would be the appropriate 'standardized' date to use?"

How long is a piece of string? This isn't an original death or burial or cremation or probate record. It's a database entry about the headstone. There is no obvious, stand-out event to record the date for.

LegacyUser

Paul said: It doesn't appear that he understood the point of these dates. They should relate to the date of the main event - in this example, the 13 Dec 1985 death. So this is what should be added - in full or just the year. Where they haven't been carried across when the source came across (from BillionGraves, in this case) you just click on the + Add and do it yourself. If you don't want to use your time in this way just leave it alone.

LegacyUser

Merlene Palmer Johnson said: Thank you Brother Wrightson. That seems reasonable. Perhaps this info should be re-emphasized in the missionary training. I could probably find the gentleman's name in my notes and pass this it along. In the meantime, I'm afraid I've made a lot of errors. Is there a way I can find them in my history and try to correct them? Yikes!

LegacyUser

Paul said: In general, I would advise a missionary / volunteer should be able to help. If you have any specific problem, however, post it here (with ID reference, as you did previously) and someone should be able to advise what action is required.