Help:FamilySearch Templates

FamilySearch Templates - What are they?
There are FamilySearch templates are available to assist in creating links to FamilySearch Historical Records, Catalog and Family History Books. If the FamilySearch URL ever changes, Wiki Support will change the template and the links will then work again. It is advised to use these templates anytime you can to help save time in the future.

Below are the templates available and how to use them

Historical Records Collections with Index - RecordSearch
This template is used to create links to Historical Records Collections that have an index.

* Letters in all caps contain a description of the changing text in the template.

Finding a RecordSearch HR Collection Number

 * 1) Go to FamilySearch.org and choose the appropriate Historical Record database
 * 2) Once the search screen or the browseable screen for the database is up, look at the URL at the top of the page.
 * 3) The collection number of the database is at the very end of the URL. Use this number in the RecordSearch template.
 * 4) Example – the title number is in bold: https://familysearch.org/search/collection/ 2546158

Historical Records Collections Browseable Images - RecordSearch
This template is used to create links to Historical Records Collections that only have images online and are NOT indexed.

* Letters in all caps contain a description of the changing text in the template.

Finding a RecordSearch HR Collection Number

 * 1) Go to FamilySearch.org and choose the appropriate Historical Record database
 * 2) Once the search screen or the browseable screen for the databse is up, look at the URL at the top of the page.
 * 3) The collection number of the database is at the very end of the URL. Use this number in the RecordSearch template.
 * 4) Example – the title number is in bold: https://familysearch.org/search/collection/ 1837922

FS Family History Books
This template is used to create links to the Family History Books collection containing digital books on FamilySearch.

* Letters in all caps contain a description of the changing text in the template.

Finding an IE Number
To obtain the IE number for the Family History Book:
 * 1) Search for the digital book in Familysearch.org. It's on the Search menu under, Books.
 * 2) With the entry open, click on the title of the book.
 * 3) From the url, locate the IE number. Copy that number ONLY and use it in the FSbook template as explained in the Template chart above.
 * 4) Example – the IE number is in bold: https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE 84853 &from=fhd

FamilySearch Catalog
This template is used to create links to the FamilySearch Catalog (formerly called the FHLC, now called, FSC). There are several different kinds of links depending on the medium of the item (book, film, fiche). All variations of how to use these are listed below.

* Letters in all caps contain a description of the changing text in the template.

Finding a Title Number
How to find a title number in FamilySearch Catalog:
 * 1) Search for the record (book, film, fiche, etc.) in Familysearch.org (old or new catalog works)
 * 2) Once the record is up, look at the URL at the top of the page.
 * 3) USUALLY at the end of the URL you will see a number starting with an F.
 * 4) The number AFTER the F (AND NOT INCLUDING) is the title number. Use this number in the FamilySearch Template
 * 5) Example – the title number is in bold: https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/ 264067 ?availability=Family%20History%20Library

Finding an Subject Number
To obtain the subject number for the FS catalog subject:
 * 1) Do a Place Search in the FSC (such as: Illinois)
 * 2) Select the topic (such as: Illinois-Probate)
 * 3) Click on the first title(book or film) listed in this topic
 * 4) Scroll to, Subject
 * 5) Click on the appropriate subject link (such as: Illinois-Probate, same as above)
 * 6) Clicking on the subject link will give you a list of records traced to this subject
 * 7) Locate the number listed under the Search Subject Number field on the left side of the page
 * 8) Copy that number and use it in the FSC Subject template.