Talk:Sandbox 17

Use this page as a place to swap thoughts, suggestions, and chronicle the history of how we arrived at decisions regarding U.S. Census pages.

1) Since this is where we seem to be working on the U.S. census pages, should we delete (unlink?) the U.S. census page that appears on the wiki community pages?

2) The tables are looking better each time. With the table of Online censuses:


 * I suggest making the heading all one color.
 * Note: FamilySearch Record Search does NOT link to free images from Footnote unless you're in the FHL.
 * Since the Census Bureau only has 1790 transcriptions, should that column appear on the table?
 * What might be a better word than "Partial?" "Partial" is also used to indicate an online work-in-progress. "Some?"
 * It's great to have the headings repeated at the bottom of the table!

3) Linking to other pages has certainly cleaned up the census page.

Response: 1) I'm not easily finding the link that needs to be changed. Please describe it more so I can find it. You are welcome to change the link to the more appropriate spot if you like. 2) Tables


 * We are using different colored headings on purpose in order to emphasize the different sections (free, free at some libraries, and pay). Originally the heading color was uniform, but we were asked to use slightly different colors to emphasize sections.
 * I was aware that for Record Search (Pilot) at least 1860 did not have images. Are you saying the census page images for other census years don't work outside the FHL?

Comment: Outside the FHL, the links to census images on Record Search (Pilot) takes you to an ad to subscribe to Footnote, not to the images. I haven't checked for any census images that might have been added in the past six weeks.

Genguide 21:04, 31 July 2009 (UTC)


 * 1790 still belongs on the chart even if it is just a transcription because it is "online."
 * So far I'm partial to partial. Come up with a better word and we'll change in a heartbeat. "Some" isn't even close to as good as "partial."

Keep those thoughts and suggestions coming. Diltsgd 15:46, 31 July 2009 (UTC)

Genguide 16:17, 29 July 2009 (UTC)

I like the word "Partial." "Some" makes it sound like we left out the records or the site has left out the records. I don't won't to go to the word "missing" or "extant" then we would have to explain too much. It is a partial census, missing records.

Hardestypn 02:51, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

Comment: I haven't been able to think of a better word than "partial."

Genguide 20:46, 31 July 2009 (UTC)

US Census Team 30 July 2009—Thursday
Each team member is pasting Sandbox 17 (template) into one or more states, and then modifying them to fit each state. Several seem to be putting these templates in the "[State] Census - Discussion" page until they complete work on it.

Team decision: Move state, territorial, colonial, and other censuses section between the Federal Population Schedules and the Federal Non-Population schedule sections.

Comment: After implementing the above decision I noticed it may be best to combine Federal and State population schedules as much as possible. For example, see "Alabama Census" for now Discussion page but later the regular page.

Diltsgd 15:04, 31 July 2009 (UTC)

Where do we "discuss?"
To enable the community to participate in the U.S. Census wiki project, it'd be nice if there was one place where we direct them to discuss the development. My suggestion is to use the Discussion page on the Community Portal U.S.Census Project. (The Community Portal can be selected from the right-hand menu found on many pages. Under "Projects Seeking Contributors" select the link to "FamilySearch Wiki: Wiki Project U.S. Census." This currently links to a page that's outdated. I suggest that it be linked to Sandbox 17--or that the contents of Sandbox 17 be moved to this page.)

Because David asked, here's a list of the many places a user might choose to comment on the U.S. Census Project:


 * Sandbox (17, 18, or 19)
 * Individual user pages (such as my own, where I began my incomplete census work)
 * U.S. main page
 * U.S. census page
 * State main page
 * State census page
 * U.S. Forum
 * Community Meeting
 * Community Portal
 * "FamilySearch Wiki: Wiki Project U.S. Census"

Genguide 21:00, 31 July 2009 (UTC)

"Hovering" over text
The question has been asked, "Can we have expanded text pop up when we hover over a cell or text?" I'll be playing with it but it seems that the answer is "yes." On the "Help" page we see three buttons. When you hover over these buttons you see just the kind of pop-up text that has been discussed. Perhaps someone on the team that understands more about wikitext can have more (and quicker!) success than myself.

Genguide 16:53, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

In today's meeting Michael explained that in order to make the "hovering" work, the WYSIWYG editor for that page has to be turned off. This means that no one would be able to edit any page for which we want to use "hovering." It has to do with the image maps that are employed. And I was so hopeful....

Genguide 17:52, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

Scrum Notes July 31, 2009—Friday
Attending: Mike, Barry, Charlene, Linda, Pat, Patsy. Absent: David

Scrum Notes 3 August 2009—Monday
David - several changes to Sandbox 17 template over the last few days.

Barry - did another patron survey and over 70% like listing 1790 first.

Barry - believes we are advertising Ancestry.com too much with three columns per year, and not promoting our own sites as much. We will take and official vote on this tomorrow.

Scrum Notes 4 August 2009—Tuesday
Voted to switch from three column of Ancestry.com on the front census page to just one column of Ancestry that takes the user to a side page with all three Ancestry option like on the old page. Vote was 4 to 3 until Michael asked to add his vote which tied the vote 4 to 4. David, as team leader then withdrew his vote which made it majority for one Ancestry column. Note: This decision rendered moot by ruling of 6 Aug.

Scrum Notes 6 August 2009—Thursday
Scheduling reference counters during scrum time. Yvonne Sorenson will schedule the 10:00 am counter shift with two names, for example, Kara/David. Kara would be on the counter for that hour, but David would be responsible to cover her counter during her scrum time.

Ruling: a majority does NOT create a concensus. The benevolent dictator has ruled that from now on the team has to have a concensus (approximately 70% super majority) before changing sets of pages. The purpose of this ruling is to prevent revisiting previous decisions and being trapped in "analysis paralysis."


 * Do NOT change the census page table. Keep the current template as it is with all three Ancestry.com columns.


 * Do NOT change from 1940 first to 1790 first, or vise versa. Avoid changes that involve any work on changing templates or already-completed pages. If it requires anyone to change the form of something it goes against this ruling until a consensus for the change has been agreed on by the team.

'''How to add page. '''We will discuss the details of exactly how to "do" a census page tomorrow.

New York State Page, etc.
The recent changes that have been made to the NY census page have convinced me:


 * 1) That changes can happen faster than I can pinpoint processes to describe. Therefore, I'm putting the whole description activity on hold.
 * 2) That we're not ready to actively involve the wiki community just yet.
 * 3) The necessity of having a holding place for sample state census pages.

My current plan is that I'll create a state page (Nebraska, because earlier I made several changes there) and place it in my user page sandbox (so as not to conflict with the template that's been imported to the Nebraska Census discussion page). When I have it looking the way that I want, it will be a sample of what Charlene proposes a state census page might look like.

Genguide 20:52, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Scrum Notes 12 August 2009—Wedenesday
Present: Jason, Charlene, Patsy, David

1. Discussed Charlene's user sandbox.

2. Decided a way to give Charlene a chance to use her ideas without slowing down the progress of the team is to switch to using smaller stories. We will stop finishing entire states. Now we will work on stories across all states.

3. Story:


 * Step 1: Import the Online indexes and images section of Sandbox 17 into each of your 51 states census talk pages. This section consists of a heading and a table.
 * Step 2: Modify that table so it has the appropriate years for your state listed.
 * Note: Do NOT populate the table as part of this story.

4. David will add footnotes to the headers of the table in Sandbox 17.

Pat's Comments
1. I liked parts of Charlene's sandbox, however I still like the tables. What is the difference between #1 &amp; #2?

3. So, we are not putting in our links. Correct? (Not yet, that may be a later story.)

ThanksHardestypn 18:53, 12 August 2009 (UTC)

Scrum notes, Thursday, 20 August
Present: Jason, Charlene, and Pat

Charlene was confused by the wording for levels of links for indexes and images. Jason clarified that it's ok for "indexes" to link to a search box and for "images" to link to the ability to browse for that state. Note that the Table template for Record Search has the 1900 images mistakenly linked to the search box. This might be the only change that will need to be made in that first column.

Pat and Jason shared some shortcuts:


 * Create links on your user page (or user sandbox) to Sandbox 17 and to the census discussion pages for the states that you're working on. Then you can open new tabs to quickly move to each of the states as you make changes.
 * To open a new tab in Internet Explorer: 1) Click on the small, empty tab to the right of the file tabs at the top of this page, or 2) Right click on a link to select "open in a new tab," or 3) Press the CTRL key while clicking links (or use the middle mouse button), or 4) Press ALT+ENTER from the address bar or search box to open the result in a new tab.
 * Click any tab with the middle mouse button to close it.
 * Ctrl+N opens a new instance of the page you're viewing.
 * When on the edit screen, use the window icon (second from the right on the bottom row in the task bar) to have the edit view take up the full screen. This reduces the need to use the scroll bar to move to the right side of the page when you're editing.
 * When you're finished editing a page you don't need to scroll to the bottom of the page to "Save." Alt + S allows you to save your edits.

Charlene Genguide 19:14, 20 August 2009 (UTC)

Ancestry Library Edition
I know that this relates to a later story but I checked "our" Ancestry Library edition links while at the Orem Library. The ones on the Alabama discussion page for the 1930 census work but take you to a different screen than the Sandbox 17 tables are using for the Ancestry Institution edition. (We have differing approaches to which Ancestry screen we want to link to.) Basically, the "code" is that you find the screen that you want to link to in the Ancestry Institution edition and change the URL to read "ancestrylibrary" instead of "ancestryinstitution" and it will link to the page of interest in the Library edition. I made the sample changes only on the Maryland table in Sandbox 17 for the 1930 index and images links.

CharleneGenguide 15:47, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

Scrum Notes - Monday 31 August (End of Sprint Review)
Learning from this sprint:


 * We liked the smaller stories because it helped us to feel like we were accomplishing and finisheing more.
 * The scrum summary notes were helpful, especially if we missed the scrum. We need to make more scrum summary notes.
 * It was good to receive help, and give help to each other on various story parts.
 * The "discussions" or messages exchanged with Dsammy helped both him and us.
 * We may not need to scrum everyday. We often had little to report day-to-day, but some wanted to continue daily scrums.
 * We need to become better time-keepers and estimators:


 * a. We need to learn to estimate the time a story will require
 * b. We need to estimate our own velocity
 * c. We need to report the amount of time actually spent of a story


 * We were frustrated by the amount of movement in and out of our team. It causes concern we are not taken seriously.
 * It was suggested we break states into smaller groups of three so people who have less time can feel like they have finished their part of the story.

End of next sprint: 14 September

31 Aug to 14 Sep Sprint Stories

1. Create a template for the Online Population Schedules and Indexes Table. Put the template in each state. Est. 12 hrs.

2. Find all free statewide online federal indexes and images and all free state/territorieal/colonial census. Add links. Delete or add columns as needed. Use Record Search, Google, State Archives, and Census Finder to find these. Est. 25 hrs.

3. Check or add all HeritageQuestOnline links for each state. This include making sure the link is as specific as possible to the applicable year and state. Est. 51 hrs.

4. Check or add all Footnote.com links for each state. This include making sure the link is as specific as possible to the applicable year and state. Est. 25 hrs.

Sprint Velocity


 * David 35 hrs.
 * Patsy 25 hrs.
 * Pat 10 hrs.
 * Barry unavailable for estimate (still on vacation)
 * Charlene 30 hrs.

Scrum Notes - Tuesday 1 September
Already finished story 1 from yesterday.

We are moving on to story 2. David will delete or add columns in the table as others complete their stories for various states.

In doing stories over several states, Charlene finds it is easier to keep a grid-like checklist showing states and sub-tasks completed.

Record Search Changes
Record Search Pilot has changed its look and format in the last few days. This affects our team in a couple ways:

1) The main page no longer has the clickable map, only the search box. Select "Browse Our Record Collections" to see the clickable map (and subsequent list of records).

2) When looking at the page with the search box for a census year, selecting the line "About This Collection" takes you to an article in the FamilySearch wiki, "U.S. Census Population Schedules, [year]." Perhaps we should be coordinating with the Record Search team so as not to duplicate efforts on some of the content that we're working on for the U.S. Census. (Has it been like this the whole time and I just missed it?)

Genguide 17:04, 3 September 2009 (UTC)

Scrum Notes - Tuesday 15 September (End of Sprint Review)
Learnings from this sprint:


 * It is easy to get sidetracked. While doing one task, there may be a temptation to take care of something else that is slightly related.
 * We were noticing how much more time we logged on the Wiki than on actual sprint tasks. There is a lot more Wiki time than there is sprint time.
 * Alaska censuses are a mess. What appears according to the title to be a "census" sometimes turns out to be a count of the seal or sea bird populations. Sorting out what is a census in the genealogical sense is time consuming.
 * It is harder than we expected to be able to estimate how many hours and how much we can commit to sprint tasks
 * It is good to have a team! We are grateful that some team members can help others who are struggling with time to spend on the sprint.
 * We need to keep better track of what we are doing in this note section of the Sandbox.
 * We each seem to interpret what is required in a story slightly differently. It was a surprize that some could accomplish a story five to ten times faster than others, that is, finished that many more states in the same amount of time.
 * We concluded that some kinds of stories may be better for just one team member to handle.
 * We are beginning to see how volunteers might be able to help us with some of our stories.
 * Some of our tables may be too big.

Stories Finished by 14 September

1. Create a template for the Online Population Schedule Table to appear on the census talk page for each state (to reduce the memory required) Time spent: 10 hours

2. Find all free statewide online federal and state/territorial/colonial censuse indexes and images. Add links. Identify columns to be added or deleted. Source to check:


 * Record Search
 * Google
 * State Archives
 * Census Finder

Time spent: 26.5 hours

End of next sprint: 30 September

Estimated hours the team can spend on the sprint ending 30 September: 87 hours. 15 Sep to 30 Sep Sprint Stories


 * 1) Add links for Heritage Quest Online to the Template:Online Population Schedule for each state. Est. hours: 15
 * 2) Add links for Footnote.com to the Template:Online Population Schedule for each state. Est. hours: 8.5
 * 3) Add links for federal Ancestry.com (and variations) to the Template:Online Population Schedule for each state both (A) Indexes and (B) Images. Est. hours: 50
 * 4) Add links for state Ancestry.com (and variations) to the Template:Online Population Schedule for each state both (A) Indexes and (B) Images. Est. hours: 25
 * 5) TABLE: Available and Missing: Complete each state's table and link to appropriate spots on the "Online Population Schedule" Table, etc.

Scrum Notes - Friday 18 September
Relatively little sprint activity on Wednesday or Thursday due to a V.I.P. project for most team members.

Story completed:


 * 1) Add links for Heritage Quest Online to the Template:Online Population Schedule for each state. Est. hours: 15; Actual hours: 13

Scrum Notes - Monday 21 September
Barry may be able to finish Footnote.com story today

Charlene and Patsy are working on the Ancestry story. Charlene developed a list of codes to help add links for Ancestry.

Pat and David, no sprint activity.

Scrum Notes - Tuesday 22 September
Bary is working on and nearly finished with Footnote.com. Everyone else is working on Ancestry.com links.

Scrum Notes - Wednesday 23 September
Barry found eight states that seem to be missing from Footnote.com but otherwise is finished. Everyone else continues working on Ancestry.com links. David added links for the 1890 census fragments online indexes and images, and the BYU Archives digital book index for 1890.

Charlene pointed out we should be careful to add links for states that were temporarily part of another state. For example, Minnesota was once part of Iowa Territory, or Idaho part of Oregon Territory and if a census was taken in what is a modern state under a different name, that should be noted.

Scrum Notes - Thursday 24 September
David - finished adding Ancestry links to FL, GA, HA; started NJ, NM, NY Pat - started LA, ME, MD Patsy - continuing MA, MI, MN Charlene - continuing MS, MO, MT Barry - added Footnote.com links for states that in 1860 were formerly part of another:


 * ND and SD part of Dakota Territory
 * ID part of WA Territory (Correction: UT Territory)
 * WV part of VA
 * WY part of NE Territory
 * NV part of UT Territory
 * AZ part of NM Territory
 * MT part of NE and WA Territory

Scrum Notes - Friday 25 Sep
David created a story regarding states that had been part of another state or territory and put the story in the sandbox. Today we talked more about that story and added an addendum story that there should be an explanation of related territories.

We're moving along and expect to be able to finish HQ, Footnote, and the Ancestry Federal stories by the end of this sprint--next Wednesday!

Genguide 17:01, 25 September 2009 (UTC)

Scrum Notes - Monday 28 Sep
Most team members are finishing off their last three states of the Ancestry federal population schedule story.

David created online federal population schedule tables for the territories of American Samoa, Cuba, Guam, Panama Canal Zone, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands over the weekend. Diltsgd 15:42, 30 September 2009 (UTC)

Scrum Notes - Tuesday 29 Sep
Only two more states left of Ancestry federal population schedule story. Will probably finish later today and start state schedule story for Ancestry. Mike Ritchey visited and answered questions. Diltsgd 15:42, 30 September 2009 (UTC)

Scrum Notes - Thursday 1 October (End of Sprint Review and Planning)
Stories completed during 15 Sep to 30 Sep sprint:


 * 1) Add links for Heritage Quest Online to the Template:Online Population Schedule for each state. Est.hours:15/Actual 13 hours
 * 2) Add links for Footnote.com to the Template:Online Population Schedule for each state. Est.hours: 8.5/Actual: 6 hours
 * 3) Add links for federal Ancestry.com (and variations) to the Template:Online Population Schedule for each state both (A) Indexes and (B) Images. 48 out of 51 states completed. Est. hours: 50/Actual 47 hours


 * Spontaneous Stories:
 * Find out where the missing territories are on the Footnote.com for 1860 and 1930 Actual: 9 hours
 * Add Population Schedule tables to U.S. territories of American Samoa, Cuba, Guam, Panama Canal Zone, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Actual 7 hours

Learnings from 15 Sep to 30 Sep sprint:


 * Charlene invented a way of copying and pasting links for Ancestry that greatly helped speed the work.
 * Ancestry.com links sometimes goes to a password login rather than to the search or browse feature targeted. Discussion revolved around the inconsistancy of this problem and its impact on users.
 * Footnote.com and World Vital Records are bothe subscription sites with partially free information.
 * Our team sometimes needs to be more cautious with "cut and paste" and make sure it makes the link we expect.
 * We are getting better at estimating hours.

Next Sprint from 1 Oct to 19 Oct; End of Sprint Review and Planning 20 Oct.

 1 Oct to 19 Oct Sprint Stories 


 * 1) Finish creating Ancestry.com federal census links on each state Population Schedule Table. Est. 3 hrs.
 * 2) Add Ancestry.com state census links on each state Population Schedule Table. Est. 25 hrs.
 * 3) Use Dollarhide to find states like present-day WV that may have had residents enumberated under the name of a different state or territory. Edit links on Pop. Schedule table to reflect this. Est. 25 hrs.
 * 4) Copy the Available/Missing table from Sandbox 17 to each state. Link it to Population Schedule table. Est. 40 hrs.
 * 5) Transfer Barry's data to Available/Missing table. Compare and match with state Pop. Schedule tables. Est. 50 hrs.


 * Add state censuses to each state's Available/Missing table.
 * Standardize the year column on each state Pop. Schedule table.
 * Make sure footnotes on each state Pop. Schedule table are visible, clear, and consistant with other states.

1 Oct to 19 Oct Sprint Velocity


 * David 5 hrs. (on vacation most of the Sprint)
 * Patsy 15 hrs.
 * Pat 15 hrs.
 * Barry 15 hrs.
 * Charlene 30 hrs.