Talk:Main Page/Archive 5

changing the Main Page?
Today we changed the Main Page, instead of putting a new Featured Article up we put up a WikiProject, what do you think about that? We like the idea because then the project isn't buried. What if we had Featured Articles and one WikiProject each week on the Main Page? Dawne 17:32, 15 August 2011 (UTC) Featured Article Committee Member

Search criteria
A guide on how to get the best results from a search would be appreciated, i.e., is order importent, what triggers the search, how are the words searched for prioritized? I ask this as I searched for LDS membership records in England in the 1800s. All I got was various demoninations in the USA. I just don't understand how the algorithm works. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Laytonr1 (talk | contribs) 04:37, October 28, 2011 (UTC)


 * Hi, I'm guessing your question is not specifically about searching in the wiki, but the main search of FamilySearch.org. Your question would therefore be better directed to one of the FamilySearch.org forums as it is likely there to attract more attention to the people in the know. That being said I recently found a blog post, TEN POWERFUL “SEARCH” FEATURES IN THE FAMILYSEARCH.ORG SEARCH ENGINE! which you may find useful. --Steve 20:00, 28 October 2011 (UTC)

I am fairly sure this person is NOT speaking about FamilySearch.org but about Wiki FamilySearch as I tried the same subject also, and although I did find one article about one county in England, the rest of the references were to places in the United States. Again it would be helpful to have a Guide to getting the best results out of searching the Wiki, especially when trying to help patrons. Marling McReynolds, Miranda Branch, Eureka CA stake.

Viewing Images on FSC Computers
I read somewhere an article about a new imaging program the church is using when viewing records. It only showed a protion of a page rather then the whole page. I can't find that information again. Can someone tell me where I can find that info. I want all of our consultants to become familiar with it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Hoosier1 (talk | contribs) 20:02, November 2, 2011 (UTC)

Changing images on the Main Page
Images are often changed on the Main Page, which is good. However often the image that is added to the Main Page has only recently been uploaded to the wiki. The problem with this is that due to the wiki using a number of servers, the image when uploaded is not immediately available on all the possible servers. This results in some users finding the newly added image missing and rather than the picture they see a redlink to where the picture has been loaded except that it is not available on the particular server they've connected to. As the Main Page is a high visibility page I suggest that images should only be added to the Main Page only after they have been uploaded to the wiki for a day or so, just to be sure that all servers have been updated with the image. --Steve 14:54, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

Undocumented images
Please continue to change the images on the Main Page frequently. It helps to draw interest among readers.

However, especially on the Main Page it is crucial our Wiki's source documentation and copyright status be above question or reproach. Lately, many of the images on the Main Page have not  been source documented, and therefore the copyright status could be called into question. For example, consider today's three images:


 * File:Utah Lake.jpg has no formal source documentation other than "Date: February 2011 Utah Lake Wyzer17" plus the image's Metadata. There is no copyright status claim. Chances are this is Wyzer17's (a Wiki volunteer) own photo, but without proper documentation there is no way to be sure of the copyright status.


 * The "Burned Counties Research" image File:House fire.jpg was changed immediately after I called its copyright status into question this morning. It is now File:800px-FirePhotography edit1.jpg. There is no clue to this image's origin, except it was uploaded by Wyzer17 and it has an Internet news image look about it. It claims a GNU and Creative Commons license but that cannot be verified without extensive research.


 * File:Boyle County, Kentucky Courthouse.JPG has the following vague source and copyright statement: TITLE: Boyle County, Kentucky Courthouse DATE: RIGHTS STATUS: Has the right to distribute DESCRIPTION: Source: Wikipedia. WIKI: FamilySearch Wiki. Chances are the source is the Wikipedia's article about Boyle County, but no URL link is given to verify this. The copyright statement is meaningless in the Wiki.

For all three images today the source and copyright status can be called into question and should be a concern. I believe we need to do better, especially on this showcase landing page.


 * The source of these images needs to be properly documented so we can quickly verify the copyright status.

PLEASE, let's insist on properly source documented, and appropriately licensed images especially on the Main Page.

DiltsGD 17:30, 8 February 2012 (UTC)


 * I agree with David's suggestion/plea. It's important to use the Information template and to use it as documented. The source field should include a link (if available). The date and author fields should be about when the image/work was created not when and who uploaded it (that information is already captured).--Steve 08:16, 9 February 2012 (UTC)


 * By 13 February the WikiProject Utah image had changed to File:800px-Goblin Valley State Park, Utah.jpg, yet another main page image with a slip-shod source identification. As the image title implies it is about Goblin Valley State Park, and yet the identification statement says it is from Dead Horse Point State Park! The credit is given to Wikipedia with no indication of the article where the image was found. Nor is a URL address for the image given. DiltsGD 17:31, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

Restructure the Home Page
What are the most important elements of the wiki home page? Would you like to be a part of helping to make the Wiki Home page an easier entry point for the different people who use and contribute to the wiki? Chime in in this forum thread. -- janellv 20:56, 5 March 2012 (UTC)

Image copyright concerns
Replaced the old blue sky version of this statue because of copyright concerns as indicated in the talk page at last entry indicates probable copyright violation.

This white background image was apparently photographed and uploaded by the author, himself.

DiltsGD 17:00, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

Removed templates for copyright and source concerns on this page, so that they won't show up on our maintenance list. The person putting images on the Main page now knows how to handle those correctly.Lynda 19:42, 21 May 2012 (UTC)