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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Claire64 on Thursday 17 August 23 21:23 BST (UK)

Title: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Claire64 on Thursday 17 August 23 21:23 BST (UK)
I admit, I don't like change, and it took me a while to get used to the new newspaper search on FindMyPast, but I do like the better date search and the options to order the results.  Howver, about the latest update.  I don't understand why they have now hidden the name and date of the paper, meaning that I have to click the "i" button to see it.  I use the newspapers a LOT for research and I always copy and paste the name of the paper and date because it cuts down on my typos, especially as I have dyscalculia (number blindness).  So now for every article I copy and paste, I have to do extra clicks to get the newspaper name and the date, and when I paste it, it comes up in a format that doesn't match all the previous ones I have saved, with the paper name and the date on a different line with a full stop in the middle.  Talk about time-consuming!  A minor niggle perhaps but I just needed to get it off my chest!
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: maddys52 on Friday 18 August 23 04:13 BST (UK)
I don't know why, but I seem to have a different screen display for findmypast newspapers. I don't have a subscription, but just searched for the item you showed above, and it was free to view so clicked on the image, and this is how it appeared - I'm pretty sure the banner at the top with the newspaper name and date appear in the same format they used to.  :-\
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Kay99 on Friday 18 August 23 04:47 BST (UK)
I do have a subscription and come up with the same view as Maddy  :-\   I also use the cut and paste for the title and date of the newspaper

Kay
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: mckha489 on Friday 18 August 23 05:07 BST (UK)
I have a sub, and I am getting the same as Claire.

I agree it is an irritation. The name of the paper does appear on the results page,  but you can’t copy and paste that as a window pops up when you try.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: jc26red on Friday 18 August 23 05:41 BST (UK)
I noticed the change a few days ago and agree it’s very annoying. I also copy and paste the newspaper title and date.

I hadn’t noticed the information icon, thank you Claire for the heads up.

Do these sites even trial and test out with genuine users! 
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: mckha489 on Friday 18 August 23 05:52 BST (UK)
I’ve just discovered that if you use their customised  clipping tool,  the clip comes automatically labelled with the newspaper name & date.  See attached.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: maddys52 on Friday 18 August 23 06:32 BST (UK)
I really don't know anything about IT, but I wonder if the different formats and displays have something to do with different browsers? I use firefox (and a linux operating system).  :-\
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Kay99 on Friday 18 August 23 07:31 BST (UK)
I also use Firefox.   I must admit that I haven't found  their customised  clipping tool  :-\  Could it be I haven't got the last update??

Kay
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: mckha489 on Friday 18 August 23 07:38 BST (UK)
I also use Firefox.   I must admit that I haven't found  their customised  clipping tool  :-\  Could it be I haven't got the last update??

Kay

It’s right next to the ‘I’ see Clair’s initial post image
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Kay99 on Friday 18 August 23 08:27 BST (UK)
I also use Firefox.   I must admit that I haven't found  their customised  clipping tool  :-\  Could it be I haven't got the last update??

Kay

It’s right next to the ‘I’ see Clair’s initial post image

I see what you refer to but I haven't got that header which makes me think I don't yet have the latest update 

Thanks Kay

Added - I spoke to soon - it has arrived
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: LizzieL on Friday 18 August 23 12:36 BST (UK)
Have tried the new clipping tool several times. All I get is an error message.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: rosie99 on Friday 18 August 23 12:39 BST (UK)
I also got an error message on the clipping tool 
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Claire64 on Friday 18 August 23 13:15 BST (UK)
Some interesting replies here.  I can't use the clipping tool, I get a big red error screen.  And today the newspaper part of FindMyPast is very slow, taking ages for pages to come into focus, etc.  I'm right in the middle of a project about our local fire brigade, and I have some spare time to get on with it, so I am very frustrated at how slow it is! And how much longer it's taking me.  I just console myself with the fact I am not sat in a record office racing against the clock to scroll through endless poorly-filmed microfiche with no index at all!
Last time they did an update at FindMyPast on the newspapers it seemed weeks before mine changed.  You'd think it would happen for everyone at the same time.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: jc26red on Friday 18 August 23 13:31 BST (UK)
I found FindMyPast ground to a halt this morning, problem wasn’t FindMyPast but Microsoft giving a a huge hint to restart so that an update could be done. I hate the way MS does this, Chrome does it too on a regular basis.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Tickettyboo on Friday 18 August 23 14:39 BST (UK)
The Clip thing was working earlier (Safari, on a Mac)
well it 'sort of'  was.
 It let me select and download the clip and saved it to my downloads folder

It gave it a file name  of Durham_County_Advertiser_29_May_1859_0008_Clip.jpg
seemed good at first glance till I looked at the top of the newspaper page the clip came from which very clearly says:

The DURHAM COUNTY ADVERTISER, FRIDAY APRIL 29 1859

ps its now not working on my set up and I'm getting the red error message.


Boo
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Jon_ni on Friday 18 August 23 15:46 BST (UK)
I knew there was change on the way from https://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2023/07/new-newspaper-viewer-coming-soon-to.html
On todays search I saw it for the first time but only the 1st result opened all the rest I have a blank black box when try to view. Then 404 error.

I also note that the image weblink has changed
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL/0002318/19730314&page=2&article=019

So was concerned that the previous ones I had saved would not now work, however, thankfully the old links still open in the old format for ones I have saved as citations to lots of people on my tree.

One can force the old format eg https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl/0002318/19730314/019 is the same as above.

Seems they have given up - image viewer has gone back to the old version.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Girl Guide on Friday 18 August 23 17:07 BST (UK)
I just screen shot what I want from a newspaper and the title and date of the paper can be added in whatever way is easiest.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: AllanUK on Friday 18 August 23 17:35 BST (UK)
Current status on my PC (Windows 11 with Edge) -- allows me to 'snip' an image, side menu comes up (see attached image), click on download, widow opens saying 'default.htm  Couldn't download, Something went wrong. Try again or contact ... (see attached image) >:(

Am reverting to using Snipping Tool on Windows.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Jon_ni on Friday 18 August 23 18:33 BST (UK)
Quote
I just screen shot what I want from a newspaper and the title and date of the paper can be added in whatever way is easiest.

Is the viewer change for 'improved' newspaper browsing and weblinks that will remain and allow re-connection to the original article in the future that I am more interested & concerned about than snipping as (though offered also by newspapers . com) snipping can be accomplished, as you say, by various other means.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Girl Guide on Friday 18 August 23 18:40 BST (UK)
I was under the impression that the My Records section in Find My Past was to allow you to re-visit any records that you viewed.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Claire64 on Friday 18 August 23 21:10 BST (UK)
I just screen shot what I want from a newspaper and the title and date of the paper can be added in whatever way is easiest.
But I can no longer do what is easiest for me!  It was easy to copy and paste the name and date at the top of the page and now they have taken that away and I have to click another box, copy, paste, edit to remove full stop and line space.  I can't type the entire name of the paper into my Word document (which is very long!) and the date (because I have dyscalculia and get it wrong - 1989 instead of 1898, that sort of thing).
HANG ON - THEY'VE REVERTED BACK TO THE OLD STYLE!
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Girl Guide on Friday 18 August 23 21:14 BST (UK)
Well that's good news Claire, you can now search and save as you did before.

 
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Claire64 on Friday 18 August 23 21:38 BST (UK)
Well that's good news Claire, you can now search and save as you did before.
ah, but for how long??  I will make the most of it and burn the midnight oil getting all my current research done in one night!
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Girl Guide on Friday 18 August 23 21:46 BST (UK)
Ooo, you will be a sleepy head in the morning then! 

I sometimes think that family history websites make changes that don't actually make research easier.
It's change for the sake of so doing.

For me, when Family Search changed the way you can find stuff, just made it harder.  Their original system was fine and I could find what I wanted.

You know the saying, if it ain't broke why fix it?  ::)
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Claire64 on Friday 18 August 23 21:48 BST (UK)
on the subject of familysearch, I can't use it - the whole site jumps up and down my screen!  No idea why.  Tried a different computer and browser, and it is still the same.  I've given up with it.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Girl Guide on Friday 18 August 23 21:52 BST (UK)
Perhaps you should try asking about that on the Technical Help forum.  Hopefully someone may know what the problem is.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Claire64 on Friday 18 August 23 21:54 BST (UK)
I will do, hadn't thought of that.  I just checked and it's still the same.  Makes me dizzy!
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: maddys52 on Saturday 19 August 23 04:59 BST (UK)
Couldn't agree about about the new familysearch.  ::) I have contacted their Tech help people in the past about a different issue and received helpful response. Worth a shot.

Was speaking to my IT son about the findmypast newspaper issue, he couldn't really say what was going on except that it could be any number of things including testing new user interface only on certain subscribers. I had no idea that was even possible. In any case, a complaint or suggestion to their Tech support people is probably a good way to go too.
Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: Nic. on Saturday 19 August 23 09:12 BST (UK)
Friday morning I was able to use the clipping tool.  In the afternoon I was getting the red screen and error messages.

Today I went back to try again only to find the option of clipping an item has totally vanished.

Title: Re: Findmypast newspaper change
Post by: LizzieL on Saturday 19 August 23 09:26 BST (UK)
Looks like it's gone back to what it was before the latest "improvement"