An April 17th Knowledge Article on the Memory Viewer

Marti 7

https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/updates-to-memory-viewer?articleVariant=public
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Let Us Know What You Think
As you try out the new image viewer, let us know what you think. Suggest features for improving your experience. Give feedback in the FamilySearch Community, where you can ask a question or suggest an idea. The Memories team monitors the community so you can be sure your feedback is heard.

JulieVWilcox

I haven't met anyone who loves or even likes the new memory viewer. It tags slowly, freezes up often and really is not easy to figure out. I took the time to become acquainted with the new view which I understand is automatic if you enable the Family Group Shared Trees and/or Together on Family Search. However, many people have trouble navigating the pages. AND you have not provided a feedback link on the new memories viewer page - so I wonder how many people would love to leave feedback if they could figure it out? I really do wish you would offer the option of using the older version of the memory viewer until you get the bugs out. I am curious to know whether the engineers who are developing the changes on this feature actually use memories on family tree regularly?? The feature may eventually work efficiently, but tagging is difficult for now. Hoping your team is working on fixing it!

American Family Historian

https://community.familysearch.org/discussion/comment/552657#Comment_552657

@JulieVWilcox

I'm not sure who instructed you to enable the Family Group Trees to see the new Memory Viewer. This sounds like a misunderstanding. For the record, that is not the way to see the new Memory Viewer changes. Instead, you'll see an alpha version of "Family Group Tree" Tagging, which is not a finished experience nor would I recommend it for heavy users at this time. Its features are not being released for testing outside of Labs until the second half of the year, at the earliest.

The new Memory Viewer is a separate feature. It is a necessity that was written because the old code is no longer maintainable. The programming languages and tools that were used are being discontinued; this is outside of our control. We are moving to the newest and most modern language (React) and to tools that will ensure many more years of support.

I do use Memories on a regular/daily basis. However, we value your feedback above our own personal experiences. Based on this feedback, we have several major improvements, and a dozen or more minor enhancements.

We expect the largest improvements to be out within a week. Minor enhancements will continue to be released after that. We are trying to get a complete list of these major (and minor) improvements listed under "Known Issues" here, followed by a Change Log, so you can see what was done and when you can expect to see it.

I understand it is frustrating to have your experience slowed and/or broken. We ask for your patience while this is resolved. I can also assure you that we are receiving daily feedback praising the new Memory Viewer from the users who were not negativity impacted. I look forward to you seeing that positive experience as well.

Jaelene Starr

I am wondering why some have the old viewer and some the new? Yesterday at the FamilySearch center a patron came in who has not signed into FamilySearch on a computer in years. I was surprised that she had the new viewer.

I totally understand that the viewer needed to be recoded. FamilySearch is a wonder, and I'm confident that the bugs will be worked out.

I do wish however that everyone who signs in gets the same viewer, or has the option of toggling between the two. Again as I mentioned earlier, it is very confusing to the patrons and staff, and we can't do training on it if we cannot access it with our accounts.

Gordon Collett

OK, so now I am confused. There are two new Memory Viewers? One that appears when Family Groups is turned on and a different one that appears when the Family Groups is turned off?

Which one are we to be testing? Do I I need to turn off Family Groups to test the right one?

We recently came into possession of a bunch of old photographs from my wife's family. I find it much easier to test something out when I actually have real work to do so it seems like a good opportunity to make myself start scanning these hundred or so photos (which is not my favorite activity) and test the correct new Memory View if I can know which one it is and how to get to it.

Jaelene Starr

There is only one new Memory viewer. The other is the original viewer that will be replaced.

My concern is that some people have the new viewer and most the old. The patrons that have come in that have the new viewer are beginners. I wonder how they ended up with the new viewer? They would not have any understanding of Family Groups.

Gordon Collett

OK, still confused. If, as @Jaelene Starr says, "There is only one new Memory Viewer. The other is the original viewer that will be replaced," then why did @American Family Historian say, "… Family Group Trees … is not the way to see the new Memory Viewer changes. Instead, you'll see an alpha version of "Family Group Tree" Tagging, …The new Memory Viewer is a separate feature."

Is it just the tagging that is different when the Family Group Trees experiment is turned on? Do I need to turn off the Family Group Trees function to properly test out the proper version of the new Memory Viewer that we are being asked to comment on in this group?

JulieVWilcox

I ha ve learned that urning off the family group tree will not turn off the new memory viewer. It functions fairly well once you get accustomed to the changes and new look. The only thing that does not function well is tagging, which is unfortunate, but hopefully will be corrected soon.

AmberML1

For @Gordon Collett

I'm sure I won't be effectively able to answer all your questions, but to help clear up some of your confusion, I would recommend you look over the step-by-step guide on How to Use the New Memory Viewer. It will give you an opportunity to see what the pages of the New Memory Viewer look like, and what you will be able to do there. See if it makes sense. And please set up a new discussion if you run into any specific questions. 

Gordon Collett

Thanks. I'm quite familiar with the new Memory Viewer as seen when the new Family Groups experiment was turned on and have posted a few suggestions for it. It's just that @American Family Historian made it sound like the viewer I see with the Family Groups turned on does not function the same as the one I would get if I turned the Family Groups experiment off.

AmberML1

@Gordon Collett

I've had that same questions. . . several others as well. Hopefully, we can get a clear answer to this question soon.

AmberML1

@Gordon Collett @JulieVWilcox @Jaelene Starr @Marti 7

Thanks everyone for your patience. I wanted to let you know that over the next few days, we'll be updating the Known Issues. I also wanted to share the general statement that the Engineers have put out regarding who sees which Memory Viewer:

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There is only one New Memory Viewer. As of 6 May 2024, FamilySearch has now made the New Memory Viewer available to all users.  However, we are aware that for those who have turned on the Lab Experiment “Family Group Trees,” their experience with tagging people is temporarily confusing and difficult. Our engineering team is very aware of this and are actively working on the resolution. We appreciate your patience and understanding as fixes are being implemented.

Please continue to share your comments about the New Memory Viewer in general. We value and listen to your feedback.

Thanks!

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