Reviewing records written all in "CAPS", something that requires correction or leave "as is"?
Hello everyone,
I'm reviewing some records in the Budapest Civil Registry that are written all in caps. Is this something that needs to be corrected?
I checked the project rules and it doesn't say anything about it, however obviously it is non-standard to write everything is capitols. My inclination would be to just re-enter the records during the review to correct this, but I'm not sure what the rules are. Please advise. Thank you!
Ryan
Best Answer
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We are asked to type normally when indexing and not use all capitals.
https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/what-should-i-capitalize-when-indexing
However, as a Reviewer, it's not necessary to change this.
https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/should-i-capitalize-words-while-indexing
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Answers
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Thank you Dellory for the quick response. Appreciate it!
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I would appreciate some clarification on this as well. I have never read a "policy" instruction that indicates anything regarding caps. A sister in my branch recently began indexing and did all her entries in caps. Yesterday (September 25) I taught a RS lesson on indexing using Judy Sharp's You Tube video in which she says batches done in all caps will be discarded by reviewers and will be returned to the pool to be done over. Now I find this. So, which is it? Records done in all caps are discarded to be done over or it's not necessary to change it, implying that it's preferable that records aren't done in all caps but no mention of discarding them if they are. I need to know what to teach people.
Thank you
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I think Judy misspoke if that is what is in the video. As per those links to the knowledge articles, we have also been told that FamilySearch runs a program before publishing the records that will convert the capital letters into upper and lowercase letters. Case converter software is readily available, so I'm certain they program something like this into their work.
We should review the records with capital letters. A reviewer that finds them too awful to read could use Return Batch, and sent them off for another reviewer to work on. But, we shouldn't return them for reindexing and discard the data.
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It seems logical to use FamilySearch help articles for instruction over YouTube videos. YouTube videos are often wonderful but they are not official so should never be regarded as more accurate than FamilySearch help articles.
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@EVHLHM Judy Sharp's videos are under the auspices of the BYU Family History Library. I haven't listened to it in full, but, if there are errors, they should be edited out. Maybe someone in the mod group can check on that.
@BJGW can you tell us which video was used and approximately where that information is mentioned? (a link and approximate time-stamp would be fabulous).
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I watched the video out of curiosity. Overall, it was very informative, however, when she used the term "Arbitrator" it suggested that their might be other inaccuracies. Here is the link. She speaks about all caps at about 5:00 minute mark.
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Good work, @Lisa Kay Horlacher! Now let's hope that someone gets this video edited for correctness. I personally think that the presentation that Jason Pierson did on Facebook last year is the most up to date and entertaining explanation of web-indexing. You might want to check it out @BJGW. The actual "class session" begins around the 8 minute mark:
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I love Brother Pierson's videos! I will indeed check this one out. Thank you all for your input, solutions and suggestions.
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