FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Waypointing/Alabama Estate Records, 1800-1960 – DB

Information
Project Name: Alabama Estate Records, 1800-1960 - DB Project Owner: Heather Walgren, [mailto:hwalgren@familysearch.org hwalgren@familysearch.org], 801-240-9458 Alternative Contacts: Travis Mecham, [mailto:tqmecham@familysearch.org tqmecham@familysearch.org], 801-240-5017

Instructions

 * Go to “File,” “Open Project,” and select one of the counties from “Alabama Estate Records, 1800-1960 - DB” found in the drop-down menu, and click “OK.” You can access the drop-down menu in two ways. Either begin typing the project name into the empty box, or click the drop-down arrow to the right, and scroll down the list of projects to Alabama Estate Records, 1800-1960 - DB.
 * When the digitized film finishes loading, highlight the first group of Administrative images in the Thumbnails window. Any image that was not part of the original record should be an Administrative waypoint.
 * You can highlight images in several ways. You can click and drag your mouse cursor across the desired image range. You can also click the first image in the range, hold the shift key, and click the last image in the range to highlight all images between. Finally, you can hold the control key, and click on an image to highlight it, without losing the highlight on any other images.


 * Once the first group of Administrative images is highlighted, click the “New” button, found on the Template side of the Waypoints window.
 * Scroll through the rest of the Thumbnails and repeat the highlight and “New” action for each group of Administrative images you find. Most folders will have several Administrative groups in the middle.
 * Once all Administrative images are marked, switch the Template in the Waypoints window from “Administrative” to “Consolidated Form.”
 * The Consolidated Form for this project has the following fields:


 * County: All films should be divided into their own county. This should be the same for the whole film.
 * Probate Estate Year: This should be the date listed on the file folder
 * Given name(s): Also listed on the file folder
 * AKA Name: Also listed on the file folder
 * Notes: May be used for “see also” or other information necessary for use of the records.


 * Once the Consolidated Form is complete, highlight the estate file it applies to and click “New.”
 * The “AKA Name” should only be used when an alias is present, otherwise, it should be left blank. The “Notes” field should also be left blank unless a note is absolutely necessary to describe the record. If the Notes field is used, the note should be as short as possible.


 * Repeat this process until all estate files have been Waypointed with their own Consolidated Form.
 * When you are confident that all waypoints are correct, click “Finished.” You will not be able to click the “Finished” button until all images have been assigned a waypoint. A new film should load, or you can start with step 1 of these instructions to open a new film.

Helpful Tips:

 * No punctuations for initials
 * If "n.d." is indicated for date, type "No date" in the date field.
 * If there is no date at all identified, type "No date" in the date field.
 * If there is a title to the name (ie/ Mrs. or Dr.), enter under given name "Jane (Mrs) or "Joseph (Dr)"
 * If there are two given names indicated with the same surname, enter "Joseph &amp; Jane" for the given name, and "Smith" for the surname
 * If there are two given names indicated with different surnames, enter the first name as usual, and in the "Notes" field enter "see Joseph Smith"
 * When there are two spelling variations for a name, only one given and one surname should be entered. Under the AKA field, additional variations should be noted separated by commas, if necessary. Ie."Sarah (Sallie) Jones" : enter "Sarah" in the Given name field, "Jones" in the Surname field, and "Sallie Jones" in the AKA field. Another example: "John Smithwyck (Smithwick, Smithwich)" should be entered as follows: enter "John" in the Given name field, "Smithwyck" in the Given name field, and "John Smithwick, John Smithwich" in the AKA field.
 * If there is a digit missing for the probate date (ie/ 187- ) enter the date as "1870s."
 * If the file is noted "Miscellaneous" or "Unnamed Decedent" enter exactly as written on the folder tab in the "Surname" field.