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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: kirkmichael on Tuesday 31 August 10 17:57 BST (UK)
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For anyone who has been reading the ScotlandsPeople User Group meeting minutes, and associated threads on this and other discussion groups, it will come as no surprise to hear that a major upgrade of the SP website at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk will be launched early tomorrow morning (Wednesday 1st September), starting at 01:00 hours GMT; and hopefully completed in less than 10 hours; so that there will be no access to SP during the period required for the upgrade.
I can guarantee that you will love the various search engine upgrades.
But, knowing what computers are like, let's not be too upset if the site is down for a longer period !
kirkmichael
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On SP website this morning:
ScotlandsPeople is pleased to announce the launch of the new site on Wednesday 1 September. However, in order to ensure a smooth transition to the new site, we anticipate the site will be unavailable to customers from 0100 GMT (0200 BST) for up to 10 (ten) hours during this substantial upgrade. We trust you will bear with us over this time. We are sure that you will find the wait worth while. When the site goes live, there will be links to comprehensive help regarding the new and updated features that should make it easier than ever to search for your Scottish ancestors. For the first time ever customers will be able to plot search results on maps and the Catholic banns, marriages, deaths and burials will be available. Please be assured that all of your searches and images will be available on the new site.
Does anyone know what some of these new features will include? I did read somewhere a while ago, for example, that Wills & Testaments are potentially going to be extended past the current 1901 on line cut off.
Also it looks like the Roman Catholic database is also going to be extended to also include marriages and burials which is brilliant.
Monica :)
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I've just used it for the first time.
Not sure if it makes a lot of difference so far - apart from all of the RC records.
It's neater but feels cramped to me ::)
Gadget
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I agree with you about it being a bit cramped Gadget.
Still, like everthing else, we'll have no choice but to get used to it. ::)
Anne
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Not seeing any changes to Wills and Testaments regarding extending the database. From the new look screen http://ww1.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/, there are numerous additions of records under BMDs, under new databases available under the Minor Records, including:
Foreign Returns
Marine Register
Service Returns
Monica
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I thought the Marine register was always there in the Minor Records section but lots of others as well - maybe the Find My Past influence ;D
Gadget
Added - good table:
http://ww1.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Content/Help/index.aspx?r=554&413
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At least the Advanced search works ;)
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I like the year filter on the timeline - better than ploughing through dozens of pages as I occasionally find myself doing.
Wouldn't it have been nice if they had given us all some free credits? ;D Just to help us get used to it ...
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I am feeling like a real person now ;D My birth and siblings show on the Consular Returns. My entry shows 6 years after my birth year (so a word of caution to anyone searching for Consular Birth Returns - widen your years range) as does my youngest brother's...but maybe the post from Mexico City wasn't great in those days ::)
Monica
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It must be the FindMyPast/SP Brightsolid link up that's the reason for the extra Minor Records appearing.
Can I claim a rebate for being offered the same on both sites ::)
Gadget
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Hi MonicaLesi,
Wow, you are 6 years younger, officially, result. LOL.
The new format looks very cramped, hoped it did not cost a lot of money.
Tom
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Hi Tom, hope you are well :)
The new layout does look cramped but as Anne said earlier, I think for people used to the site, likely we will get used to it in no time.
I am always happy for any changes, within reason, when new databases are added which open up new research avenues for people.
Monica
PS: Not only am I six years younger but I've told my youngest brother he is now officially my twin and he is four years younger than he thought ;)
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Nice one Monica - just keep this posting discreet or that'll be another reason for the government to delay your pension age!
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I can't access the site. It tells me I am logged in elsewhere ???
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Odd, Sancti :-\ Have you tried clicking on the 'log out' and then loggin back on?
Monica
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Just logged on to try. Can't say I like it, it seems very messy compared to the previous simple display. I was very happy with the previous layout, but as you say we get used to things - it's the strangeness at first.
The big thing for me is that I got in and found all my previous searches, saved certificates and timeline were all still in place.
Sancti, I do hope your problem rights itself very quickly.
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Sancti
Glad it's not just me then.
Andy
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I can now access it after re-booting computer
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That's great Sancti :) Hope you can resolve the same problem Andy.
Monica
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I'm disappointed that when they redesigned the search facility, they haven't put in options for father and mother's names whilst searching for siblings. Or have I missed something?
Also, I went to another opened tab and when I went back to Scotland's People (within 45 seconds) it had logged me out. When I tried to log in again, it told me I'm already "currently logged in elsewhere ???
So far I'm not impressed.
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The extra Catholic records are a brilliant addition, especially the "other events". This adds a layer of information that I didn't know existed (apart from the Status Animarum) and I've found people having deathbed conversions - very interesting!
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Sancti
Glad it's not just me then.
Andy
You are not alone, I tried to find the information on SP, having not been on it for a week, but I would agree with Maggie? Not sure I liked it. Messy to say the least. Although the extra records may be handy for some peoples research. My husbands laptop did not want me to view the items I had previously saved and told me it was no longer available.
marcie
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Tomintoul RC records are quite comprehensive (remembering your other post) which is great, Darwin ;)
Monica
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The RC marriage and burial records are actually there!!! Does this mean Scotland's People just met a deadline? :o
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Tomintoul RC records are quite comprehensive (remembering your other post) which is great, Darwin ;)
Monica
Thanks Monica - yes it's very helpful as it confirms that the entire family weren't RC (as I originally thought) as there are people having deathbed conversions and also converting before marrying Catholics. This would imply that their brothers and sisters weren't RC either, which in my family tree makes more sense of the records. (You might remember my question about why some people are recorded as "prot").
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I keep getting messages, access denied to my previous searches, timeline and viewed images even though I have logged in and out numerous times, updated my details and done everything else I can think of.
So very annoying?
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There does seem to be a few user issues since the relaunch :-\ See also comments from another Rchatter www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,480836.0.html
Monica
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Also, I went to another opened tab and when I went back to Scotland's People (within 45 seconds) it had logged me out. When I tried to log in again, it told me I'm already "currently logged in elsewhere
FindMyPast frequently does this - well it doesn't log me out, I log out and then when I want to go back, I get a similar message.
On the top right hand corner there is a log in box. I just click on that and I'm back on. (You would think you would need to log out if they think you are already logged in, but it doesn't seem to work like that). ::)
Lizzie
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I had a problem with looking at stored research, such as my Timeline and previous searches. But I have found that if you save it to My Pictures or a photographic suite, then you can view it, even improve the look a little to be able to read it. But obviously not always. Some certs etc are so bad feint etc that they are illegible.
Prior to this it would send you around in circles, or just not open at all. Rarely had that problem prior to this.
You do get timed out same as on my Broadband.
Marcie
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After all week of trying to access my previous searches and viewed images and having to log in everytime I tried to do something, I played around with my filtering settings in webpage privacy policy and it seems to have worked. Also read the section in the FAQ on scotlandspeople about cookies in your browser and may be tweak about with the settings. Whatever I did (which I can't remember) I seem to be able to access all of my stuff on the site without having to log in and out. Yesterday, Thursday I purchased credits and within about 4 minutes had lost them all. I think scotlandspeople will be getting sick of me emailing them, but it was so frustrating all week.
Anyhow, touchwood I seem to be working ok without too much difficulty. All the logging in and out must have something to do with cookies and your browser I'm sure.
I'll let you know if I have anymore problems after tomorrow. Good luck.
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Liking ScotlandsPeople for searching .... but has cost me way too much credits !! Even for repeated searches !! I think we should be allowed to view the possiblities of our searches without using a credit ... ancestory.co.uk or com allow us to do this !!!! And a few others !!!
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But not the Irish sites. Each search was 5Euros or approx. 4.90 really expensive.
marcie
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Liking ScotlandsPeople for searching .... but has cost me way too much credits !! Even for repeated searches !! I think we should be allowed to view the possiblities of our searches without using a credit ... ancestory.co.uk or com allow us to do this !!!! And a few others !!!
Denisejo, you won't be charged on SP for repeat searches but they have to be exactly the same. If you alter the year parameters or the details of the name at all, it isn't a repeat, so becomes chargeable as a new search.
Once you have logged into SP, look at the top of the site page. There are some grey menu tabs, one of which says 'previous searches'. If you click on that it will show you all the searches you have already done - you can go back and look at all of them, and it won't cost you a penny.
There's another tab for 'Viewed images' as well, and that lets you go back to anything you have viewed before - and again, they won't charge you twice.
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If you go to the tag of previous searches, they come up free of charge,
then you only pay for those in the group which have not been viewed previously.
marcie
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I too think the new SP changes are footery - me no likey. Wish they would tidy it up. Keep forgetting to remove all previous details in the searchfield and wasting credits.
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It´s just not as user friendly as I would like ,... I have wasted so many credits due to slow connections, and receiving info that was not even what I requested etc!! I used 60 credits in 2 days, even though looking through my research history, I cannot add it up (and I did not get any info that I needed) ... so can be a very expensive means to finding your ancestors !!! >:(
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I'm disappointed that when they redesigned the search facility, they haven't put in options for father and mother's names whilst searching for siblings. Or have I missed something?
Yes. You've missed the fact that the original indexes don't include parents' names, until about 1928 when the mother's surname only was added. To go back and add all the parents' names from the start would take ages, because they would have to go right back to the certificates and extract the information from there. I'd rather have the index as it is than wait years to get it with all the possible bells and whistles.
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The upgraded search engine allows the index pages in the register books to be viewed.
After 31st December each year, the registrar added an index to the end of the register before one of the duplicate copies was sent to Edinburgh.
One would think that this index was likely to be highly accurate.
It was previously unclear if these index pages had been digitised. It turns out to be the case that the were, and that the upgraded search engine allows them to be viewed for not too many credits.
Anyone interested in details, PM me with your email and I'll send you the full details, - they are a bit wordy to post here.
kirkmichael
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I'm disappointed that when they redesigned the search facility, they haven't put in options for father and mother's names whilst searching for siblings. Or have I missed something?
Yes. You've missed the fact that the original indexes don't include parents' names, until about 1928 when the mother's surname only was added. To go back and add all the parents' names from the start would take ages, because they would have to go right back to the certificates and extract the information from there. I'd rather have the index as it is than wait years to get it with all the possible bells and whistles.
It was 1929 for all registration districts, and 1928 for just a few RDs.
The 1855 birth indexes also contain this info. GROS are adding the information to other years' indexes, but progress is v-e-r-y slow. As off a few months ago the progress was as follows, -
1860
Entered and verified – RD 1/1 to 425 inclusive
1862
Entered and verified – RD 1/1 to 561 inclusive
- RD 898 to 901inclusive
1865
Entered and verified – RD 301 to 489 inclusive
1866
Entered and verified - RD1/1 to 377 inclusive
- RD 600 to 644/1 inclusive
- RD 812 to 901 inclusive
- (812 to 848 still to be verified)
And that 'progress' has taken a few years ! <sad g>
As well as these, there is a very small number of other pre 1928/29 birth records where the info has been added, when the original index entry has had to be altered/corrected for whatever reason(s).
The upgraded search engine at the new ScotlandsPeople Research Centre in Edinburgh allows a post 1928/29 siblings search based on the mother's maiden surname. This is obviously a very powerful search tool for finding siblings after 1928/29, particularly important when living cousins are being sought.
Various local authority research centres around Scotland that link into the Edinburgh system also allow such a cross check search based on the married surname and the mother's maiden surname.
There's no reason why such a search shouldn't be added to www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk as long as security concerns are met.
This was originally the case with the death indexes cross-check search introduced a few years ago, and was handled by making the situation such that relevant matches don't show the deceased's mother's maiden name unless it was entered as part of the search.
In other words there was no way that the deceased's mother's maiden surname could be generated otherwise.
I can't see any reason why a similar security provision shouldn't allow the addition of a birth index mother's maiden surname search to be added to www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, i.e. if the mother's maiden surname isn't input as part of the search, it won't show up on any hits.
I understand that there's a ScotlandsPeople User Group meeting in a couple of weeks and hope that this subject will be raised.
kirkmichael