Find Ancestors

Hi after starting other threads and seeing the difficulty for new users on how to use the boards thought we could start a new one, please see below. Hope the suggestions are useful :-) Laura x

To reply to messages, click on the message title read what info the person wants to know/can offer click add reply the message you type will then appear on the thread when people open it. Please add your own tips and nudge daily to keep this on the front page for new users x Any questions about using the boards also welcome x

Please acknowledge all replies, either on the thread or by e-mail.

Lost your Thread? Click on (View Your Threads Only). Then click on the thread title This brings up only your replies Click on 'All Replies' to see complete thread

If your thread (1st Message) is quite long, type in see below and add new message. This will allow you to use paragraphs, which will make it easier to read. Julie

If your message is long, type it out first in Word (or some such prog) then put 'see below' and then immediately add the message you made earlier, by pasting it. Saves all those sarcy comments about slowness!! ;-) Anne

Please some one explain about what a thread is as i had no idea till i came on this site and copying and pasting its all new to newbies expert advice please as im not good enough to advise

If you are posting a request, on your OWN thread, then try and find time to wait around ! 99% of all requests are answered within 5-10 minutes ... and quite often with a good result ! So please, don't just type up a request and then go to the pub for a pint (lol) .. and come back the next day ! If you know you have to go to work etc ... then please say that you will be 'back later' ... at least then we know not to expect your response. This is also good advice for folks living in a place that is NOT GMT time zone ... let us know your not on UK time zone x I am a member of a few other sites ... and I have to admit, this site is the ONLY site I know, where you can get an immediate response to a question ... and the answer is put on the board WITHOUT you being notified of a reply via e.mail ! Good Luck ... and DON'T be afraid to ask. Elaine :-) Also ... 1837online is a Pay to View site, which means people have spent their own money to purchase Credits. Family Relatives is also a Pay to View site. Before asking people for lookups or help with BMD's ... PLEASE take a look on FreeBMD and/or Ancestry for any BMD queries you might have, before asking other people to search on your behalf. Alternatively, register and subscribe to the sites.

A THREAD - this in itself is a thread A thread is a question or query or a topic. Every question or offer on each of the borads in know as a thread. each thread will (theoretically) grow a list of answers or replies You can start a thread, or reply to one. Only you can delete the thread that you start, although your relies on a thread will disappear if the starter of that thread deletes the whole thing. Jess x

To copy and paste Highlight what ever you want to copy by holding down left click on mouse to highlight and drag down till everything you wish to copy is highlighted. Click on edit on topleft of screen. Click on copy. Go to wherever you want to paste. Left click on screen where you want to paste Click on edit again. Click on paste. It should appear. Gloria

THE MOST IMPORTANT BIT...... Come back and see what people say in reply to your request/question. The answers do need looking at and sometimes replying to- even if it is only with your thanks jESS

Good suggestions everybody, did think that about them not being able to open the message in the first place! Suppose they'd click somewhere even if its the threads owners name, they can be advised from there I suppose! When posting your own thread... use an informative title like 1861 notts look up or 188 birth help. Using a name as a title isnt a good idea as people wont be drawn to it unless they know the name.

A small point, but valid I feel............it makes such a difference if the word 'please' appears somewhere in the request for help. Rosemary

If you know the name of the town, village etc. please add that in the subject of the request as well as the county especially for an early census where we may not have a complete county on CD. Caroline

If someone replies to your thread with a request for further information - e.g 'What was Sarah's maiden name?' - PLEASE reply on the thread and not by personal message. Sometimes I help lots of people so if it is a day or two before you come back to me, and your message just reads 'It was Smith', then I usually have no idea what you are talking about! Plus if you reply on the thread itself, if helps anyone else that may be trying to assist. Sam x

Hi everyone Tell me what a nudge is and how I do It. I see so many complaints about nudging I am almost scared to use the boards???? pleeese Trish

Patricia NUDGES when you add a reply- like i am doing now, the thread will zoom back to No1 spot on the board...sometimes people add just the word 'Nudge' in order to get it to do that, say, if they are looking for more info if i do this , and then delete my reply so the thread has seemingly zipped back to the front for no apparent reason it is known as a phantom nudge. - this has the effect that no-one knows who made it zip back there and can stir up trouble if it was a argumentative thread that gets resurrected Jess

Sometimes when a person posts a question, it may not be replied to. This happens especially if you are asking for a look up on a very early census. It may just be that the people who could help are not looking at the board at the time. As other people add questions, yours moves further down the page, until it goes over onto page two. To bring it back to the top of the first page again, you can nudge it. You do this by clicking on add reply and just writing nudge. That way it brings it to peoples attention again. I think the word nudge can sound a bit sharp, so it may be better to just add a little message, asking if anyone can help. Please don't be scared to ask, we were all new once and we do want to help you as much as we can. Linda

sORRY i GOT TO GO. WILL CHECH LATER IF ANYONE HAS AN ANSWER REGARDS TRISH

Hi Lesley, lol is lots of laughs I think! Not sure of imao, anyone enlighten me???