Advices for indexing

I do not have time to finish the indexing now. What can I do?

You can click the button "Continue later" to save your current indexing process.

Enter what you see

In most cases, you must enter what you see in the document. Don't translate or interpret the information.The purpose of the indexation is to help genealogists finding their ancestors. When they find a document, they can verify the information and draw conclusions.

Why some information given in the document are not in the indexation form?

Some information are not to be indexed. When we propose to index a new collection, we only select the information needed for the search. This is why some information are not indexed.Remember that the person who will find the index through a search will see the document and all information given on it.

How to enter illegible information ?

If you can't read a letter, or if there is any doubt, enter a question mark (?) to replace the letter.Example: "Baxter ?", or "B?xter" if you can't read a letter in the middle of the name.

A field is missing to enter all information, what should I do?

For each type of document, we have selected the information to index. For some documents, we have chosen not to index some of the information (witnesses, for example). However, the information is not lost: visitors will see the images associated to the index.

Some tips about the place name selector

The place name selector allows you to avoid entering the full name. You can only enter some of the terms of the place name, for example "villefranche saone" for "Villefranche-sur-Saône" ). You can also enter the name of the department, for example "villefranche rhone". In any case, you must select the place name in the list but it will save time if there are multiple place names with the same spelling!

How to enter a name?

When there are abbreviated names, enter them exactly as they are written in the document.

Corrected and strikethrough information

If there is some corrected or some strikethrough information, enter the replacement text. If there is some strikethrough information that has not been replaced, and if the original text is still readable, enter it. A document marked as cancelled must be indexed.

What does "I want to terminate my indexing now" mean?

When you index a document directly from the "Registers" section of Geneanet, you may have a box to check "I want to close my indexing right now" at the bottom of the indexing form.If you want the data you have entered to be posted immediately, you must tick this box then click the button "Save and close" when you have decided to quit your indexing session.If not, your data will not be lost but it will be posted after a few days.

I can't read all the information on the grave. What to do?

If part of a name can't be read, replace letters by "?" . If a name can't be read, don't index it. Do not hesitate to ask for a review so another member may correctly read the name.

How to be sure that names of a couple are written on the grave.

Do not interpret what you see. If the grave clearly says "née XXX" or "wife of XXX", enter the persons as a couple with the name of the spouse in the appropriate field.If you have any doubts, enter the two persons separately.

The grave only give the family name. What may I enter?

If there's only one name on the grave, index it then submit.

What to do if a still living person is cited on the grave?

If one or more living persons are cited on the grave, we recommend to index the last name only (no first name and no date).

Should I index all individuals listed in the announcement?

No, you don't need to enter all the individuals listed in the announcement. You must index the main individuals : deceased, newborn, spouse.

Indexing the spouse: some announcements say "Madam John BAXTER" with no more information. Of course, "John" is the first name of the husband. In this case, enter the last name of the person ("BAXTER") without the first name, and index the full name of the husband.

How to correctly enter the name?

If the name has a prefix, enter it in lowercase (example : d'ABZAC). If the announcement contains a nobility title, don't enter it.

The document contains the date and place of death and burial. What may I enter?

Preferably enter the date and place of death of the individual. If they are not given, enter the date and place of burial.

How to enter the occupation?

Don't translate the occupation in your own language! Enter the occupation as it is listed on the document. If the field "Occupation" gives a family relationship ("None", "Wife", "Child"), don't enter any occupation.

How to enter the nationality?

The nationality or place of birth may be a country or a city. Enter all available information.

How to enter the last permanent residence?

The last permanent residence may be a country or a city. Enter all available information.

How to enter the name of a country which does not exist anymore?

If the country does not exist anymore, please enter the actual name. For example: Bohemia = Czech Republic, Hessen = Deutschland, Prussia = Deutschland, Wurtemberg = Deutschland.

How to enter the accompanying person?

Some sheets give the name of the accompanying person. You can enter this information in the note field. Note that these persons have their own sheets in the register.

How to enter the name of vessel?

The name of the vessel must be indexed exactly as it is listed on the document.

Which individual must be indexed?

The form allows you to index the main individuals listed in the deed (spouses for a marriage contract, testator for a will, deceased for an inventory after death). For the other types of deeds, you can index multiple individuals. For example, for an act of sale, you can index the vendor and the buyer. It is not necessary to index all individuals listed in the deed (witnesses, etc.)Index an individual only once. If the deed contains multiple pages, index the individuals on the first page then go to the next deed.

How to enter the name of the widow?

You must enter the maiden name of the widow as it is said in the "Maiden Name of Widow" field. If the soldier has been married more than once, you can enter the name of other spouses in the "Notes" field.

Any question about the indexation?

If you don't understand the document or if you don't know how to enter the information, we invite you to read our help page at Geneawiki.

Any question about the indexing?

If you don't understand the document or if you don't know how to enter the information, we invite you to read our help page at Geneawiki.

Is it necessary to "correct" the information given in the document?

If the place given in the document does not exist anymore or if it has been attached to another department, we suggest that you enter the actual name. If you never heard about the place name given in the document, we suggest that you enter it as it is written. Other information (occupation, cause of death) must be entered as it is written in the document.

There's no field to enter the witnesses, is this normal?

Yes, you must only enter the main individuals cited in the certificate. For a birth certificate: the newborn and his/her parents; for a marriage certificate: the husband, the bride, and their parents; for a death certificate: the deceased and its widow. You don't have to enter the witnesses.

What to enter when the last name is not given in the birth certificate?

Enter the first name of the child and a question mark "?" for the last name.

If a certificate has multiple pages, should I enter the same information on each page?

If a certificate has multiple pages, it's not necessary to enter the same information on each page. Just enter all the information on the first page of the certificate.

The record mentions a second marriage and there's no field to index it. How to do?

We suggest that you enter the name of first husband in the field "Note".

Do we have to index the annual table given at the end of the register?

As you have indexed all certificates in the register, it is not necessary to index the annual table given at the end. Click "Skip this document" to ignore the annual table.

The record does not show a family name but only a first name. What to do?

When a person has no last name but only a first name, enter a "?" in the field "Last name", and enter the first name in the field "First name", then specify in note what is written in the record (esclave affranchi, nègre libre...)

Example: For "Jean-Pierre, esclave affranchi épouse Marie négresse libre", you must enter :"Last name of husband" = "?", "First name of husband" = "Jean-Pierre", "Note" = "Esclave affranchi", "Last name of wife" = "?", "First name of wife" = "Marie", and "Note" = "Négresse libre".

There's no field to enter the witnesses, is this normal?

Yes, you must only enter the main individuals cited in the certificate. For a birth certificate: the newborn and his/her parents; for a marriage certificate: the husband, the bride, and their parents; for a death certificate: the deceased and its widow. You don't have to enter the witnesses.

What to enter when the last name is not given in the birth certificate?

Enter the first name of the child and a question mark "?" for the last name.

If a certificate has multiple pages, should I enter the same information on each page?

If a certificate has multiple pages, it's not necessary to enter the same information on each page. Just enter all the information on the first page of the certificate.

The record mentions a second marriage and there's no field to index it. How to do?

We suggest that you enter the name of first husband in the field "Note".

Do we have to index the annual table given at the end of the register?

As you have indexed all certificates in the register, it is not necessary to index the annual table given at the end. Click "Skip this document" to ignore the annual table.

The record does not show a family name but only a first name. What to do?

When a person has no last name but only a first name, enter a "?" in the field "Last name", and enter the first name in the field "First name", then specify in note what is written in the record (esclave affranchi, nègre libre...)

Example: For "Jean-Pierre, esclave affranchi épouse Marie négresse libre", you must enter :"Last name of husband" = "?", "First name of husband" = "Jean-Pierre", "Note" = "Esclave affranchi", "Last name of wife" = "?", "First name of wife" = "Marie", and "Note" = "Négresse libre".

There's no field to enter the witnesses, is this normal?

Yes, you must only enter the main individuals cited in the certificate. For a birth certificate: the newborn and his/her parents; for a marriage certificate: the husband, the bride, and their parents; for a death certificate: the deceased and its widow. You don't have to enter the witnesses.

What to enter when the last name is not given in the birth certificate?

Enter the first name of the child and a question mark "?" for the last name.

If a certificate has multiple pages, should I enter the same information on each page?

If a certificate has multiple pages, it's not necessary to enter the same information on each page. Just enter all the information on the first page of the certificate.

The record mentions a second marriage and there's no field to index it. How to do?

We suggest that you enter the name of first husband in the field "Note".

Do we have to index the annual table given at the end of the register?

As you have indexed all certificates in the register, it is not necessary to index the annual table given at the end. Click "Skip this document" to ignore the annual table.

The record does not show a family name but only a first name. What to do?

When a person has no last name but only a first name, enter a "?" in the field "Last name", and enter the first name in the field "First name", then specify in note what is written in the record (esclave affranchi, nègre libre...)

Example: For "Jean-Pierre, esclave affranchi épouse Marie négresse libre", you must enter :"Last name of husband" = "?", "First name of husband" = "Jean-Pierre", "Note" = "Esclave affranchi", "Last name of wife" = "?", "First name of wife" = "Marie", and "Note" = "Négresse libre".

Any question about the indexing?

If you don't understand the document or if you don't know how to enter the information, we invite you to read our help page at Geneawiki.

The first name of the child is not given but the first name of the mother is given. What to do?

Generally, the record is written as follow: "Maria Baxter gave birth to a boy". In this case, enter the last name and the first name of the mother, the last name of the child, and left the first name of the child blank.

The last name and the first name of the child are not given. What to do?

Generally, the record is written as follow: "A male child has been presented to us", without any information about the parents. In this case, click "Skip this document" > "No name to index".

How to index a dismissal?

Some records say "voir NAME". It is not necessary to enter this information as the record in question will be indexed in the next pages.

How to index the spouses?

The widows may be given under the name of their husband, with the mention "widow of" followed by the name of the deceased husband. You must index the widow under her maiden name and enter the information of the spouse. Example: for "HOWES (Maria BAXTER, widow of John)", you must enter Maria BAXTER as main individual, and John HOWES as the spouse.

How to index the height of the individual?

Please index the height of the individual if it is given in the record. It must be entered in millimetre (mm). For example, if it says 1m 712mm, you must enter 1712 (mm).

How to index the occupation of the individual?

The occupation must be entered as it is written on the document. If there are several occupations, please delimite them with a comma.

A deceased woman is cited with her successive husbands. How to index this information?

The best way is to index the same person twice with each of her husbands.

"Wife of" or "Widow of" is mentionned. How to enter this information?

If the buried person is mentionned as "Wif of" (fe) or "Widow of" (ve), enter this second name in the field "Last name of spouse" and leave "First name of spouse" blank.

How to index an exhumation?

Some exhumations are listed in the burial registers. To index an exhumation or a body relocation with no date of death, enter the last name and first name, and tick "It's an exhumation or a body relocation".

What to do if the country/department given on the electoral sheet does not exist anymore?

If the country does not exist anymore, enter the new name of the country, if possible.

Any question about the indexing?

If you don't understand the document or if you don't know how to enter the information, we invite you to read our help page at Geneawiki.

Any question about the indexation?

If you don't understand the document or if you don't know how to enter the information, please read our help page.