Author Topic: GRONI records to On-line November 2013  (Read 29976 times)

Offline maggbill

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Re: GRONI records to On-line November 2013
« Reply #45 on: Tuesday 01 April 14 12:11 BST (UK) »
Oh dear,

I have been so spoiled with Scotlandspeople.  This website is so different, so confusing and just not user-friendly.  Took me a while to understand the "5 year" thingo, and I just don't understand the logic of that.  The site asks me for all the information I am hoping to find!!  I just keep coming up with "no records" - and as for the Townland maps... Well, either it is not working at all for me or ??? it is a farce!!!  As stated - disappointing and so "unfriendly" - contrary to the NI people themselves!!  "Patience" - it will have to improve.
McNab, Kenney, Johnstone, Carrigan, (Cargan, Kirgan, Corrigan), Toll, Tracey, McNulty,  Reilly, Maguire, Loughlin, Banks, McGonagle, Forsyth, McDonald, Michael,  Kennedy, Bagnell, Cronan, Dunleavy, McMullan. -  Glasgow, Ireland, British Columbia Canada, Manchester New Hampshire USA.

Offline unilove18

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Re: GRONI records to On-line November 2013
« Reply #46 on: Tuesday 01 April 14 12:12 BST (UK) »
Will someone post the website for this as I cant find it

Offline scotmum

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"As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don’t know we don’t know."  - Donald Rumsfeld

"Trees without roots fall over!"
 
""People who never look backward to their ancestors will never look forward to posterity." - Edmund Burke

Don't just wait for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain.

Offline scotmum

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Re: GRONI records to On-line November 2013
« Reply #48 on: Tuesday 01 April 14 13:02 BST (UK) »
No doubt we will all agree to differ on our first thoughts/impressions/ongoing discoveries of the newly launched service - its style, ease/non ease of use, cost and otherwise....and that is an entirely healthy state of being and should be encouraged.

It is only by expressing these differences in thoughts/impressions etc,  that a more full and clear picture can be built of what is good and what is not so good, which will perhaps be eventually a source of suggestions for the powers that be behind the new service to tweak and adjust if/as they see fit.

For my part, in genealogy matters, my glass is almost full, yet those negative thoughts that dominate my 'first impressions' assessment earlier are still there and as valid as others negative and/or positive thoughts, whether their glass/es is/are empty, quarter-full, half-full or otherwise.

After all, if mistakes weren't made, learning wouldn't occur. If healthy debate wasn't aired, we would all be in the dark as to positive points/usage tips and negative points/usage tips experienced by others. We can all learn together (and at times, praise or moan together too  ;D).

Certainly, I look forward to reading further posts on this thread in the days and weeks ahead, meantime I still think that GRONI et al need to look to some well established and rounded off wheels for ideas, as theirs seems to have been re-invented a bit square (albeit with some quality aspects therein).
"As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don’t know we don’t know."  - Donald Rumsfeld

"Trees without roots fall over!"
 
""People who never look backward to their ancestors will never look forward to posterity." - Edmund Burke

Don't just wait for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain.


Offline chrispaton

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Re: GRONI records to On-line November 2013
« Reply #49 on: Tuesday 01 April 14 13:16 BST (UK) »
I agree, and having played on the site some more have made a list of tips and thoughts about it at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/more-on-groni-northern-irish-bmd.html - there are certainly issues to be raised and discussed.

For those who wish to fly to Belfast instead, when you make your way to the GRONI centre you will find that the costs are now exactly the same as the online facility, the only difference being that there are no closure periods in Belfast for more recent records, only those available online. It's using the same system.

Certainly a visit to PRONI will allow you to access some marriage records on Anglican parish registers from 1845, and for some births and burials, but the info on the latter two will not be as detailed, and only go as far in most cases to 1900.

You could go to Dublin to look at the pre-1922 records for the north there - if you have the patience to wait for photocopies to be carried out for you! I flew over once from Glasgow and the photocopy guy was on a course - with no replacement put in his place. A hell of a journey for just one index book look up. You can order them up as photocopies at 4 Euros each. You can't make the order online, you have to fax or post the request. I made one application last week at 4 Euros, but postage was a further £1.20 (I don't have a fax). They do email the record to you now though apparently, though I'm still awaiting my order. There is also a digital site from the HSE in Dublin, which charges 20 Euros per record for a certificate.

So it should be pointed out that there is no obligation to use the new GRONI site at all. There are indeed other options, including ordering certs post-1921 from the GRONI at £15 per record, the highest rate in the United Kingdom. This new system is just now the cheapest and easiest to access from home if you don't live in NI. Does it have issues, yes it does, and no doubt it will evolve, just as ScotlandsPeople has done over 15 years (from its ScotsOrigins days). But is it going to revolutionise online research for Northern Ireland? Absolutely.
Genealogy - www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk www.BritishGENES.blogspot.co.uk (British Genealogy News and EventS) * Ruhleben internment camp - http://ruhleben.tripod.com

Offline twitter

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Re: GRONI records to On-line November 2013
« Reply #50 on: Tuesday 01 April 14 13:21 BST (UK) »
To Frankie-d
If you were here you'd get a big hug! Had another go this morning, again paying for something I paid for yesterday but learned another valuable lesson namely if you go anywhere else for instruction or hints  while your results are in view you can't go back, it disappears and you pay again. I am slowly learning  to plan well before you start.
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Offline scotmum

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Re: GRONI records to On-line November 2013
« Reply #51 on: Tuesday 01 April 14 13:30 BST (UK) »
twitter, not sure if you saw the suggestion I posted too.....may help others as well

twitter

See my earlier post. For the first 72 hours from purchase, you can view the certificates again by logging in, using the 'features' tab at top of page, then choosing 'stored searches' then scroll down to 'enhanced and full views' and click on 'view' (no additional charge) - on saying this, some of my purchases are fine and letting me view again, some are taking me to an 'error' page.
"As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don’t know we don’t know."  - Donald Rumsfeld

"Trees without roots fall over!"
 
""People who never look backward to their ancestors will never look forward to posterity." - Edmund Burke

Don't just wait for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain.

Offline chrispaton

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Re: GRONI records to On-line November 2013
« Reply #52 on: Tuesday 01 April 14 13:33 BST (UK) »
I had the error page notification a couple of times last night when I went to look at previous purchases early in the evening, but it seems to have been working fine since. The record magnifying facility has also been a bit glitchy. Possible gremlins upon launch, or possibly a browser issue? (I'm using Chrome just now)
Genealogy - www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk www.BritishGENES.blogspot.co.uk (British Genealogy News and EventS) * Ruhleben internment camp - http://ruhleben.tripod.com

Offline scotmum

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Re: GRONI records to On-line November 2013
« Reply #53 on: Tuesday 01 April 14 13:42 BST (UK) »
My 'error page' notification still coming up for one today (raised issue yesterday by email, when I eventually found one to use....not obvious from sub site).

Magnifying facility glitchy on Firefox too.

Also, cannot tie down a record for death of a chap whose death date is recorded on a will calendar entry at PRONI. Even allowing for PRONI date entry to be a mis-transcript, the chap is not showing under any spelling variation, for other years either (even if using only first three letters of surname).
"As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don’t know we don’t know."  - Donald Rumsfeld

"Trees without roots fall over!"
 
""People who never look backward to their ancestors will never look forward to posterity." - Edmund Burke

Don't just wait for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain.