FamilySearch Wiki:Standardized Wiki Pages

We are standardizing specific types of pages on the Wiki to improve the Wiki experience for all users including those new to our website. The following is a list of pages affected and details and standardization regarding the information on that page.

Online Databases Found on Wiki Pages

 * Use the Manual of Style regarding formatting of databases on the Wiki
 * Following these guidelines will assist users in understand the information listed and bring uniformity to the pages
 * Formatting-Wiki Manual of Style

Items to be Standardized on Country Pages
The following should be on each Country page and should not be changed:
 * Breadcrumb trail
 * Country sidebar (see below)
 * Paragraph at the top of the page, sometimes called SEO paragraph
 * Section Headings, for example, "Getting Started" and "Country Information"
 * Category for: [Country] (example: England)
 * Example: England Genealogy

Items to be Standardized on Country Sidebars
The following should be on each Country sidebar infoboxes and should not be changed:
 * Flags
 * Headings, for example, "Beginning Research"
 * Category for: [Country]; Category:Sidebar templates

Items to be standardized on United States State Pages
The following should be on each US state page and should not be changed:
 * Breadcrumb trail
 * Paragraph at the top of the page, sometimes called SEO paragraph
 * Section Headings, for example, "Getting Started" and "State Information"
 * Category for: [State] (example: Indiana, United States); Category:States of the United States
 * Example: Indiana, United States Genealogy

Items to be Standardized on State Sidebars
The following should be on each state sidebar infoboxes and should not be changed:
 * Flags
 * Headings, for example, "Beginning Research"
 * Category for: State; Category:Sidebar templates

United States County Pages

 * County pages include information about databases and records for the whole county (thus, statewide collections can be found there)
 * Links to state topic pages should be included on the county page to save restating information about a topic that applies to the state level and every county
 * Example: Franklin County, Indiana Genealogy

Items to be Standardized on US County Pages
The following should be on each US county page and should not be changed:
 * Breadcrumb trail
 * Table of Contents
 * Template:Infobox U.S. County 2016
 * Headings as found on this example county page: Franklin County, Indiana Genealogy
 * Category for: [County]; [State] Counties (example, California Counties)

NOTE: The County Transfer Project currently is restructuring every county in the United States to fit the above parameters.

Locality Topic Pages
A typical locality topic page should include:
 * "Online Resources" heading at the top of the article listing all online resources available for that record type for that location in chronological order by year.
 * For some topic pages, the online resources is under the heading, "How to Find the Records." Example: Ghana Civil Registration
 * Website and database links can be repeated in the body of the article as needed.
 * Topic pages for record types should include:
 * What the record is/history of record
 * Information typically on the record
 * How to access the record
 * Coverage and compliance of the record type
 * Other unique information reference to the record type
 * All information on the topic page should be pertinent to locating records for ancestors.
 * Example: Ohio Naturalization and Citizenship

Items to be Standardized on Locality Topic Pages
The following should be on each Locality Topic page and should not be changed:
 * Breadcrumb trail
 * Locality sidebar
 * Table of Contents
 * "Online Resources" or "Online Databases" header at the top of the page
 * Category for: location (example: England) and record type (example: Civil Registration) or combination of both (example: England Civil Registration)

Exceptions
Some topic pages have a unique or adjusted layout from what is listed above:
 * Church Records; example: Ohio Church Records

Underserved Country Topic Page Templates
The Underserved Country Topic page is a project that focuses on populating topic pages for countries that have very little information in the Wiki. Structure layout and instructions on some topic pages are found here: Underserved Countries project

Historical Records Pages
This page is to:
 * Specifically for FamilySearch Historical Records Collections (published or scheduled) at FamiliySearch.org
 * Describes the collection and what records contain
 * Some articles include coverage tables
 * Gives other resources to assist in locating additional information on the collection or topic
 * These pages are created and maintained by FamilySearch staff

Items to be Standardized on Historical Records Collections Pages

 * The FamilySearch Wiki Historical Records team creates, maintains, and determines layout of all Historical Records Collections pages.

Record Finder Wiki Pages
This page is to:
 * Assist the researcher in determining record types that contain the information they are looking for in that locality.
 * Links to other Wiki pages containing information about how to locate the records, including databases online and repositories
 * Example: Austria Record Finder

Items to be Standardized on Record Finder Wiki Page
The following should be on each Record Finder page and should not be changed:
 * Breadcrumb trail
 * Locality sidebar
 * Table of Contents
 * Tables listing topics
 * Category for: Category:Record Finder; location (example: England) and Category:Research Strategies or combination of both (example: England Research Strategies)

Research Tips and Strategies Pages
This page contains:
 * Links to specific research strategies for the locality
 * General tips and other resources for finding ancestors
 * Is not a strategy article, but an article listing to other strategy articles or websites
 * Example: Germany Research Tips and Strategies

Items to be Standardized on Research Tips and Strategies Page
The following should be on each Record Finder page and should not be changed:
 * Breadcrumb trail
 * Locality sidebar
 * Table of Contents
 * Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page notice
 * Category for: Category:Research Tips and Strategies; location (example: England) and Category:Research Strategies or combination of both (example: England Research Strategies)

Guided Research Pages

 * A list of prioritized databases for a specific country/locality
 * Focuses on birth, marriage, and death information
 * Links to both free and subscription databases and websites
 * Has What Else You can Try pages to assist in problem solving when you do not locate your ancestor in the databases provided
 * Created for researchers who were beginning research in a new locality to find the very best resources
 * Are protected pages and can only be edited by FamilySearch staff
 * For more information:
 * Example: England Guided Research'

Items to be Standardized on Guided Research Pages

 * The FamilySearch Wiki Content team creates, maintains, and determines layout of all Guided Research pages.

Online Genealogy Records (OGR) Pages

 * Found: Online Genealogy Records by Location
 * Online Genealogy Records blue buttons link to corresponding page and are on country/locality pages throughout the Wiki
 * Lists databases that cover the entire region; smaller jurisdiction databases should be listed on the corresponding locality page
 * Lists abbreviated versions of a database link to save space and for easier readability
 * Example: Austria Online Genealogy Records

Items to be Standardized on Online Genealogy Records Pages
The following should be on each Record Finder page and should not be changed:
 * Breadcrumb trail
 * Locality sidebar
 * Paragraph at the top of the page, sometimes called SEO paragraph
 * Category for: Category:Online Genealogy Records; location (example: England)

Formatting Databases on Online Genealogy Record Pages
Databases listed on the Online Genealogy Record pages should be abbreviated to save space on the Wiki page and for usability purposes. Example: Example of multiple websites with the same collection:
 * 1809-1950: at FamilySearch; index and images
 * 1581-1919: at FamilySearch; index and images, incomplete; also at Ancestry.com ($), MyHeritage ($)

Family History Centers and FamilySearch Library Pages

 * Family History Centers have a template typically used for all centers: Template:FHC page outline
 * FamilySearch Library have a template typically used for all libraries
 * FamilySearch Wiki Content team is responsible for initially creating the FamilySearch Library Wiki page and add the link to the FamilySearch Library and Affiliate Library Locator Map.
 * Centers and library staff are to add relevant content to the Wiki page
 * Both Center and Centre spellings are used on Wiki pages; use the correct spelling for the country
 * Family History Center pages - Policies and instructions

Items to be Standardized on Family History Centers and FamilySearch Library Pages

 * Category for: Category:Family History Centers; [location] Family History Centers (example: England FamilySearch Centres)

FamilySearch Affiliate Library Pages

 * Creating an Affiliate Library Page - instructions of what how to create a new library page
 * Linking to FS Affiliate Libraries Page - instructions on how to add contact info the the FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries Wiki page.

Items to be Standardized on FS Affiliate Library Pages

 * Breadcrumb trail back to the state or country
 * Format of address and other contact information
 * Category may include: [locality] Archives and Libraries (example: New York Archives and Libraries); county or other location the library is in (Example: Westchester County, New York)

Libraries and Societies Pages

 * These pages are used to give information about either a specific library or society
 * Use Template:Repository for new library pages
 * Use Template:Societies B for new society pages

Items to be Standardized on Libraries and Societies Pages

 * Breadcrumb trail back to the state or country it is in
 * Format of address and other contact information
 * Category may include: [locality] Archives and Libraries or Societies (example: New York Archives and Libraries; New York Societies); OR county or other location the library or society is in (Example: Westchester County, New York)

Buttons on the Wiki

 * Buttons are to be used sparingly on Wiki pages and are only used specific
 * Assigned button colors:
 * Blue: Online Genealogy Records pages
 * Purple: Ask the Community - can be linked to FamilySearch Community for that location or the FamilySearch Genealogy Research Groups page listing all known Community groups and Facebook groups
 * Unassigned FamilySearch branded button colors:
 * Green
 * Red
 * Brown
 * Orange
 * Gray
 * Wiki Buttons - more information