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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: Millmoor on Monday 26 August 24 14:06 BST (UK)
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I am not sure if this has been mentioned by anyone but Scotland's People is launching a refreshed website on 3 September at midday. Let's hope that this one runs smoothly! See attached link from Chris Paton's blog.
https://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2024/08/new-scotlandspeople-site-launch.html
William
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Is that why I can’t get in tonight?
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Yes! You will not be able to access SP until the "new "site launches tomorrow at midday( Tuesday 3rd).
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Thanks
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I have amended my post, Andrew as I got my days of the week muddled! New site launches tomorrow.
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I hope I'm wrong, but after reading the Press release on the blog link above, the cynical part of me suspects the changes are to make the site more appealing to mobile users - which judging by similar "refreshing" of other such sites means reducing functionality and user friendliness for those of us who still use PCs for the sake of making it loook good on small mobile phone screens.
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My first impression is that the refesh is okay. Have not spotted any downsides so far. Minor improvements in moving between BDM records and seems to be clearer. Screens larger if anything.
One weird change - at least I never noticed it before the refresh - is if you do a search for a birth then move to deaths the system retains the birth name you entered and automatically searches from 1855 to 2024 birth age 0 to 120 and therefore returns hundreds of pages. Not a tech but will that not hammer the servers?
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My first impression.......yikes! If it ain't broken, don't meddle. There might be improvements, but I am yet to discover them.
(On a positive note, my viewed images back to 2004 seem to all still be there, as far as I can tell).
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Minor improvements in moving between BDM records and seems to be clearer.
Oddly, I am finding moving between these involves more steps than previously and in my browser at least, the system doesn't retain the details already entered. Also, generally, lots more scrolling needed on a 10inch tablet to see most of page.
I missed the huge, orange bar that says "refine search". ;D
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I have to say my first impressions are all rather positive. It was only on reading the post from Ikas that I realised that you did not have to return to the search the records button to move between BDM records ( you access via refine search which is straightforward).
The image controls look to be an improvement to me . I do not recall there being a magnifier before. This could be very useful and the full screen images are easy to manipulate. Pity that the Kirk Session images, which do look better to my failing eyes!, do not appear to offer the full screen option.
William
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you access via refine search
I don't know how, but first time around I missed the huge orange bar giving this option! (Still lots more scrolling on the site in general, though).
Thanks.
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Yes appears to be a lot more scrolling to do but like everything else given time we will get used to it ;D ;D
Dorrie
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Whilst I still believe the "refresh" is mainly aimed at the mobile market, I will admit nothing appears to be missing from before - but as a PC user nothing has been added either.
The screen does look "cleaner" and the text appaears easier to read, which is a plus I suppose, but one wonders how much money was spent on a "refresh" which adds zero new functionality to the site.
On the plus side I identified two DNA matches this afternoon.
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For anyone who like me couldn't immediately find the option to save a search, it's on the refine search page.
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>:( I must be getting old.
Lots of wasted white space.
Lots of pointless scrolling.
I haven’t tried it on a PC yet, but on an iPad the layout and operation is worse not better. You can’t move around a virtual volumes image to focus on what you want and the magnify option does not work.
Grump over.
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I haven’t tried it on a PC yet, but on an iPad the layout and operation is worse not better. You can’t move around a virtual volumes image to focus on what you want and the magnify option does not work.
The magnify option working for me on iPad. If you select image controls - magnify, then touch the page, a magnified circle appears that you can move around the whole image with a finger tip at will .
The thing I am disappointed about…is that I cannot seem to find a place to do a general search for a name. I have to choose a record type/set first. Hoping I am being thick about that and someone will put me right. . Found it. Hadn’t scrolled down.
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Will take a bit of time getting used to it I did think the Kirk Session Records were a bit clearer :)
Rosie
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@mckha489,
Thanks just checked on my other iPad and it is working. Still doesn’t on the first one.
Not enough testing methinks.
I have had a couple of other issues as well.
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a "refresh" which adds zero new functionality to the site.
To me the important thing is not to remove anything useful, which is generally the biggest bugbear with 'improved' web sites.
Once upon a time, for example, in an earlier incarnation of the SP index, you just clicked once to move from one census to the next or previous one. For some time now, you have had to re-type the age range when moving from one census to another.
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Just tried to view (and download) a marriage record from 1907- the only option being given was to order the full certificate :-X
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Just tried to view (and download) a marriage record from 1907- the only option being given was to order the full certificate :-X
Have you looked again?
The 1907 marriage selection I’ve just checked all have a View for 6 credits option.
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Hi, I have just had the same thing, even with 1880’s records. I went in to refine search, changed the name, that worked, so went back to the original name and it preformed as expected. Gremlins.
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Just in case anyone else has this issue, and it has been duplicated by SP.
Virtual volumes just shows the watermark, not the expected page. Hit refresh, several times as necessary. It seems to work eventually!
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Have you looked again?
The 1907 marriage selection I’ve just checked all have a View for 6 credits option.
Unfortunately this record appears to have slipped the net and is still unavailable - I have found a couple of 1901 births which give the same result. I have emailed SP and await a response.
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Checked last night with same result but today the record is available to download. Unfortunately no reply from SP.
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Is it just me, or is there no 'log out' button?
Steve
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Click on your initials in the top right corner of the page, next to credits, and there should be a drop down menu with " My account , " Buy credits" and "Log out".
William
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Instead of being more user friendly, I've found the direct opposite!
Definitely lots of white page and waste of space on my tablet at least.
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You now have to click twice to bring up the magnifier, instead of it being at the top of the screen.
And moving from one type of record to another now requires two clicks instead of one.
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Do the credits not have an expiry date anymore? It used to say a date by which I would have to add credits or lose the ones I had but I cannot see this anywhere. It is highly possible I am no longer looking in the correct place! ;D
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Neither can I, I have asked the question.
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Their current T & C pages has this mention of 2 years, and also that a new purchase extends any existing credits at point of purchase by two years. Having an actual expiry date on the page the Credits tab (at top right of each page), takes you to, would be more helpful though:
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Hi, I have confirmation that Scotmum is correct and that t & c’s remain the same. The lack of visibility is on the fix list
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Just tried to view (and download) a marriage record from 1907- the only option being given was to order the full certificate :-X
I had this problem too. I've managed to view the certificate on the SP website, first as a jpeg then a pdf, but I can't get it onto my desktop, it just disappears. I used to be able to download a certificate onto the desktop then put it in a folder.
Harry
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I had this problem too. I've managed to view the certificate on the SP website, first as a jpeg then a pdf, but I can't get it onto my desktop, it just disappears. I used to be able to download a certificate onto the desktop then put it in a folder.
Harry
Have you checked your Downloads folder ?
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I'm beginning to feel very stupid, for the first time ever on Scotlandspeople, but I don't have anything on the screen called a Downloads folder, and when I go to Saved images it takes me back to 2007. When I click on the little red circle to put the downloaded certificate away, it seems to disappear into a black hole.
Harry
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On the top left above any register you view is an orange box that syas "Download" clicking or tapping it gives two options, pdf or jpg. Clicking either of them should download the relevant file type to your downloads folder on your PC.
The Downloads folder can be found by going to "This PC" > Windows (C) > Users > (your folder) > Downloads.
Your folder above is the name windows assigned to you as a user - if you are the only user of the PC, there will be only one folder in addition to "public". The name is usually derived from your Microsoft account name.
A slightly quicker way might be to click on the folder with your name on your desktop - that should show a list of locations down the left hand side including "downloads" the icon for which is a green folder with an arrow pointing down on it.
If you can't find the files in the download folder when you download from Scotland's people, it is possible Windows is downloading them into One Drive somewhere in the cloud.
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Thanks for going to so much trouble to answer my query. The thing is, I don't have a PC with Microsoft, I have a Mac. I'm taking advice from a distant cousin who is a full-time genealogist.
Harry
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Hi Harry,
I can confirm SP has not removed the option to download to a folder of your choice. You access SP through your browser. Many browsers have a setting that determines whether your downloads go to the default downloads folder or whether you are able to choose the folder first before downloading. Your cousin should be able to guide you to the browser settings page that controls the download process.
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Having used it for a while now, it seems to me that the changes all involve a lot more scrolling and clicking than used to be necessary, with consequent increases in time taken to get to the item you want, and increased risk of Repetitive Strain Injury.
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Having used it for a while now, it seems to me that the changes all involve a lot more scrolling and clicking than used to be necessary, with consequent increases in time taken to get to the item you want, and increased risk of Repetitive Strain Injury.
It's because on mobile, both of those actions are done simply by swiping or tapping the screen. The new functionality is optimised for a touchscreen, not a mouse. The narrow bar in the middle of the screen and consequent wasted space on either side is for the same reason - it's designed for the portrait alignment of a mobile phone, not the landscape view of a PC screen.
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If it's supposedly optimised for phobiles, why are they wasting so much space on the PC version with graphics and photographs that don't appear when you use it on a phobile?
Answers on a postcard ....
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Got it. I have hardly ever used Finder and forgot it is accessed via an icon in the dock, I had been pulling down menus from the top of the screen looking for the word Finder to appear. I belong to the generation that took its information from words not pictures.
Harry
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I wholeheartedly agree with you, Forfarian!
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<sigh>
The more I use the 'refreshed' site, the more I realise just how much extra work in the form of additional clicks and scrolling is now required to get to the same place.
And I just hate the tedious photos in just about the gloomiest shade of blue that ever existed.
Is it known what percentage of searches are carried out on phobiles rather than on PCs and similar?
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Scrolling seems to be the name of the game - doesn't matter whether on a PC or a smaller device.
I hate it too. :-\
My bank has just up-dated their internet banking site. They claim the new look is "to improve my experience". Wonderful! Guess what? You now have to scroll up and down endlessly to be able to do anything. Previously it was all visible in the same frame.
Regarding the tedious, gloomy blue on Scotlands People - that is just the "trend" in design at the moment. Everything has to be minimalistic and clean - ie. lacking in any creativity or imagination.
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I agree wholeheartedly - I can't bear to use it anymore unless absolutely necessary
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I agree wholeheartedly - I can't bear to use it anymore unless absolutely necessary
Same here :'(
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Minor improvements in moving between BDM records
Improvements? Really?
With the old version one click took you straight from a list of deaths to the births search screen, or marriages to the divorces search screen. Now you need three clicks - one on the "refine search" banner, then one to get to the next type of record, which then produces zillions of results so you have to click again on "refine search" to get to the new search screen. That's three clicks for what used to take one, which is not an improvement in my book.
And of course you have to scroll down to see all of the search screen.
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You are quoting selectively from a comment I made last September. I also commented at that time about the problem you refer to resulting in far too many hits. I still consider that a bug and I am surprised they have not fixed it by now. It must hammer their servers. Overall I agree the design is poor - even worse than the previous designs which were not good. I am not sure why they have gone down this route.