Skip to main content

Source Linker Guide for Support

 

A New Look and Feel for Source Linker

Introduction to Source Linker

Image

We’ve improved our technology to provide a faster, more secure experience. We’ve also updated the design to make room for new features that help you link sources to your ancestors.

New features include color-coded buttons:

  • Green Add Button: Adds a person or detail to Family Tree.
  • Purple Compare Button: Helps decide if the person in the record matches the person in Family Tree.
  • Detach Button: Removes the connection between the historical record and the person in Family Tree. You would do this if you discovered that the person in the historical record is different from the person mentioned in Family Tree.

Image

We also created a separate viewing panel on the right side of the screen for viewing records and person profiles from Family Tree.

 The panel is an important addition because it allows you to view this information without leaving the Source Linker.

The panel opens when you click on a person’s name or click the button to view the record.

Giving Feedback About Source Linker

We value your feedback! To share your thoughts:

  1. Click the Feedback button at the bottom of the Source Linker page.
  2. Select an emoji that best describes your reaction.
  3. Enter your suggestions in the feedback box.

The person or people in the right column of Source Linker come from the FamilySearch Family Tree. If you decide these people are not your ancestors, you can search the Family Tree for other possible matches.

Image

  1. At the top of the right column of Source Linker, under the words Family Tree, click Find Your Family.
  2. FamilySearch generates a list of Family Tree profiles that potentially match your ancestors.
  3. Review the list of possibilities, and select the one you think is the correct match.

Understanding the Source Linker screen layout

Video

Source Linker consists of a left column and a right column.

  • The left column shows you details from the historical record.
  • The right column shows you details from the ancestor’s person page in Family Tree. If the ancestor is not in Family Tree yet, you will see an option for adding the ancestor.

sl layout Top Image.png

In most cases, you are using Source Linker to add the record to an existing ancestor’s person page. Added records serve as evidence that the ancestor’s details in Family Tree are accurate.

Viewing Records and Tree Profiles Without Leaving Source Linker

Image

You can now view records and person profiles directly within Source Linker without navigating away. When you click on a person’s name or the "View Record" button, a new panel opens on the right side of the screen, displaying the information.

Viewing the Image or Record

Image

When you have questions about the details you see in Source Linker, try viewing either the record or the source image for more information. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Viewing the Record: The record is a digital transcription of the information contained in the source. It is the source as it was read and interpreted by either a volunteer or a computer. The benefit of viewing the record is that the information is clear and easy to read. However, if there is a mistake in the transcription, you will not be able to identify that mistake by viewing the record alone.
  • Viewing the Image: The image is a photograph of the actual source. It contains everything that was written, typed, or printed on the source. In most cases, it is a more complete resource than the record. Viewing the image allows you to see the original document, which can help you identify any transcription errors or additional details not captured in the record.

Where to Look

Image

To view the record or the image:

  1. Go to the top of the left column of Source Linker.
  2. Click View Record or View Image.

A viewing panel will open on the right side of the screen where you can explore the resource without losing your place in Source Linker. If you do not see a link for viewing the image, it may be that FamilySearch does not currently own the rights to share the digital image.

Viewing the source image and side panel in Source Linker

When you have questions about the details you see in Source Linker, try viewing either the source image or the person side panel for more information.

new view source Top Image.png

Viewing the source image

The source image is a digital image of the source. In many instances, it contains more information than what you see in Source Linker and might even reveal a mistake in the transcription.

To view the source image, look in the top left corner of Source Linker, and click View Image.

new View Panel_2nd Image.png

What is the difference between viewing the record and viewing the image?

When you click View Record, you see an organized summary of all of the details that were transcribed from the source.

When you click View Image, you see a digital image of the actual source that was transcribed—in other words, you see the photograph of the birth certificate, census page, death certificate, or other historical document.

Viewing the person side panel

The person side panel appears whenever you click a name in the right column of Source Linker. This panel gives you access to much of the information contained in the ancestor’s person page in Family Tree.

  • To view the side panel, find a name in the right column of Source Linker, and click it.
  • Or click View _______ (the person’s name), located at the top of Source Linker.

new View Panel_3rd Image.png

Adding people to the Family Tree through Source Linker

Image

This option appears in Source Linker if a person from a record (left column) isn't identified in Family Tree (right column). This could happen for several reasons:

  1. The person is in Family Tree but is connected to other relatives, not the ones on the record.
  2. The person is connected to the family but is not lined up correctly in Source Linker. (See Using drag and drop in Source Linker to organize families.)
  3. The person is not in Family Tree.

Before adding someone to Family Tree using Source Linker, check to make sure they are not already in Family Tree. If you determine they need to be added:

  1. Drag the person's name to the correct line in the left column.
  2. Click the blue Add button.
  3. A panel will appear on the right side of the page with information about the new person filled in. Review it, and add any necessary changes or additions.
  4. Click Create New Person. The person is added to Family Tree.

For information on how to add Others on Record to Family Tree, see Unfinished Attachments - How to add Others on Record to Family Tree.

Edit your family tree information in Source Linker

If you see a detail in the right column of Source Linker that is inaccurate or incomplete:

  • Click the pencil icon next to the detail, and make your edit.
  • Be sure to leave a reason statement that will help other users understand why you are editing information in Family Tree.

Image

If the pencil icon is missing, then the information cannot be edited from within Source Linker. In that case, click on the ancestor’s name, and go to his or her person page. Click the Details tab, and make your edit.

Editing your family tree from Source Linker

edit family tree Top Image.png

The details in the right column of Source Linker come from Family Tree. If you see a purple Compare button next to a person’s name, you can edit some of these details. Here is how it works:

  1. Click the purple Compare button next to the person’s name whose Family Tree details you would like to edit.
  2. With the details expanded, look for the purple label that says Different. This label appears when a detail from the source (left column) is different than a detail currently contained in Family Tree.

Please note that even though it says Different, that does not necessarily mean a change needs to be made.

Edit_Second Image.png

  1. Click the pencil icon next to the purple label.
  2. A pop-up box with information from Family Tree will appear. Find the detail you want to edit, and make your update.
  3. Click Save.

Edit_Third Image.png

If the detail you want to edit is not accompanied by the pencil icon, you will need to go to the ancestor’s person page to make the update.

  1. In the right column of Source Linker, click the name of the person whose Family Tree information you would like to edit.
  2. Look in the person panel that appears on the right side of the screen, and click View Person.
  3. Scroll through the Details tab until you see the detail you want to edit, and click the pencil icon.

Using Source Linker to Attach Sources

Attaching Record Hints Using Source Linker

Source Linker uses a purple Compare icon to notify you that the left column (the source) has information that the right column (Family Tree) is missing.

attach source Top Image.png

Steps to Attach Sources:

  1. Open Source Linker:
    •  
      • When Source Linker first opens, the information for the focus person will be expanded in both columns.
  2. Identify the Compare Icon:
    •  
      • If the columns describe the same person, click the purple Compare icon. If you do not see the Compare icon, the source is already attached, or it does not contain any new information.
  3. Expand the Columns:
    •  
      • After you click Compare, the two Source Linker columns expand so that you can see the details on the record (left column) and compare them with the details already contained in Family Tree (right column).
  4. Add New Details:
    •  
      • A new or previously unknown detail will be accompanied by a green plus button. If they describe the same person, you can add the detail to Family Tree by clicking the green plus button.
      • Attach to Person_2nd Image.png
  5. Enter a Reason Statement:
    1.  
      • Consider entering an explanation in the Reason field. Briefly explain why you think the record is a reliable match for the Tree person. This will help other users trust your contribution.

What the Purple Different Tag Means:

  • In some cases, the detail in the record is not necessarily new, but it is just different from what you see in the Family Tree side of Source Linker. For example, a name could be spelled differently, or the date for an important life event could be different.
  • When this happens, you will not see the green plus button. Instead, the detail will be accompanied by a purple tag with the word Different inside it and a small pencil icon for editing the information in Family Tree.
  • The Different tag does not always mean a change needs to be made. For example, if a birth year on the record is an estimate, but the birth year in Family Tree came from a birth certificate, you would want to keep the birth year already in Family Tree.
  • If you decide that the information in the left column is more accurate or complete, click the pencil icon, and make your edit. Your correction makes the Tree more accurate and reliable for other users.

Attach to Person_3rd Image.png

Using Source Linker to Detach Sources

Source Linker provides two types of detach buttons: blue and yellow. Each serves a different purpose in managing the connections between sources and people in Family Tree.

detach sources Top Image.png

Blue Detach Button

Detach_2nd Image.png

  • Purpose: The blue detach button signifies that the source information in the left column is already attached to the person in the right column.
  • When to Use: Click the blue detach button if you are certain that the source (left column) and Family Tree (right column) are referring to two separate people.
  • Steps:
  1.  
    1.  
      1. Identify the source information in the left column that is already attached to the person in the right column.
      2. Click the blue detach button to remove the connection between the information in the two columns.

Yellow Detach Button

Detach_3rd Image.png

  • Purpose: The yellow detach button means that the source (left column) is attached to a different person than the one you see in the right column of Source Linker.
  • When to Use: Click the yellow detach button if you are certain that the people you see in the two columns of Source Linker are the same and that the previous attachment was a mistake.
  • Steps:
  1.  
    1.  
      1. Identify the source information in the left column that is attached to a different person than the one in the right column.
      2. Click the yellow detach button to remove the connection between the source and the other profile in Family Tree.
      3. Once you detach the source from the other profile, you can attach it to the person in the right column of Source Linker.

Additional Tips:

  • Verify Before Detaching: Always verify that the source and the person in Family Tree are indeed different before detaching. Incorrectly detaching sources can lead to loss of valuable information and connections.
  • Reason Statements: When detaching a source, consider entering a reason statement explaining why you are making the change. This helps other users understand your actions and maintains the integrity of the Family Tree.

Using Source Linker to attach a record to multiple ancestors

attach to multiple ppl Top Image.png

Historical records often include the names of other family members. You can use Source Linker to attach the source to any family member already included in Family Tree. If the person is not yet in Family Tree, you can add the person, and then attach the source after that.

Here is how it works:

  1. Review the left column of Source Linker, and look for the names of other family members.
  2. When you find the name of another family member, see if there is a corresponding name in the right column. (Hint: if the corresponding names are on different lines, you can drag and drop them with your mouse so that they line up together.)
  3. Click the purple Compare button.
  4. Review the information, and determine if the 2 sides of Source Linker are describing the same person.
  5. If the answer is yes, leave a reason statement that explains how you came to your conclusion, and click Attach.

Note: If something in the source is new or missing from Family Tree, you will have to first click Add to add the detail to the right column and then click Attach.

Determining in Source Linker if a source matches your ancestor

source match Top Image.png

Identifying a match is not always easy. Here is some guidance from experts to help you determine if a record matches an ancestor or not:

  • Ask yourself, “How well does the source match the vital dates, places, and relationships already contained in Family Tree?”
  • Ask yourself, “Is there enough information to conclude that the record and Family Tree are describing the same person?” Some christening records, for example, list a mother’s or father’s name but no other vital information, such as age or date of birth. While a name is important, it is never a good idea to conclude that a source is about a certain person in Family Tree based on the name alone.
  • Ask yourself, “Are there any major red flags?” For example, consider a situation in which most of the details on the record seem to match Family Tree—except for the birth year, which is off by 15 years. In that case, the record might actually be for a cousin.
  • Ask yourself, “How trustworthy is the record?” In general, a historical record closest to the event is the most trustworthy. For example, a birth record is more trustworthy for birth information than a death record that might also include birth information.

Finally, keep in mind that errors can be more common in certain types of records than in others. For example, a census taker might have written down names without asking how to spell them correctly. Or a person’s age might have been an approximation.

On a birth certificate, by contrast, you can expect such details to be more reliable.

Tagging sources in Source Linker

When you tag a source, you turn it into a reference for a detail listed on the person page in Family Tree. The option to create a tag appears in the left column of Source Linker after you click the purple Compare button.

Top Image.png

What are the different categories of tags?

Depending on the information contained in the source, you can tag the source to any of the details mentioned on the person page, including:

  • Name
  • Birth
  • Death
  • Sex
  • Christening
  • Burial
  • Residence

To tag the source to the detail, click the checkbox that appears next to it. You can also remove the source from a particular detail by unchecking the checkbox.

Using drag and drop in Source Linker to organize families

In most cases, the names that you see listed in the left column of Source Linker represent members of the same family. If the names on the left column are not aligned correctly with the names on the right, you can rearrange them by dragging and dropping them with your mouse. This includes the names of relatives that appear in the “Other” section at the bottom of the left column.

If a name can be moved, the drag-and-drop icon will appear when you hover the mouse over that name.

To move a name:

  1. Click and hold the mouse button down over a name.
  2. Drag the name to the appropriate location in the left column.
  3. Release the mouse button to drop the name.

If there is no matching name

If there are no matching names but you are confident that a name in the left column is a family member, see Adding people to the Family Tree through Source Linker

Drag and Drop_2nd Image.png

Understanding the focus person in Source Linker

The focus person is the central figure in Source Linker, with all other individuals displayed in relation to them.

focus person Top Image.png

How do I know which name is the focus person?

The focus person appears under a blue bar near the top of the two columns and as a link at the top left of the page. This link opens detailed information about the person.

Can I change the focus person?

Yes:

  1. Find the current focus person in either column.
  2. Click "Change Person" in the blue bar above their name.
  3. Select a new focus person from the list.

Untitled

Why would I change the focus person?

Changing the focus person helps reorder relationships to see if the source can be attached to more people.

How to change the focus person to attach sources to others in Family Tree

People are listed by their relationship to the focus person, who is shown with their spouse, parents, children, and siblings. To include in-laws, grandparents, and others not displayed, change the focus person.

For example, in a marriage record, the bride might be the focus person initially. To work on the groom's information, make him the focus person.

Steps (website)

  1. Click the Change link on the left side of the screen.
  2. Select the desired person.
  3. Click Change in the center of the source linker.
  4. Select the person or enter their ID.

Steps (mobile app)

The mobile app does not allow changing the focus person.

 

Caution: If a record hint aligns with the wrong person you will be unable to change the focus person, instead tap Not a match.

What to do when the names in Source Linker don't match

If the names in the left column don't match those in the right column, mark the source as Not a Match:

  1. Select Not a Match next to the Attach button.
  2. Check the applicable boxes.
  3. Optionally, add details in the Other Reason box.
  4. Select Not a Match.
  5. Repeat for other people in the right column as needed.

not a match Top Image.png

Entering a Reason Statement in Source Linker

When you delete, edit, or add information in the FamilySearch Family Tree, enter a reason statement. This helps others understand your changes and prevents them from undoing your work. Keep it short, clear, and specific.

reason statement Top Image.png

Handling Multiple Spouses in Source Linker

Displaying the Correct Spouse

  1. Find the incorrect spouse in the right column.
  2. Select Change Spouse and choose the correct one.
  3. If the left information isn't aligned, drag and drop it to the correct location.

Untitled

If You Do Not See the Correct Spouse

  1. Return to the person page and review the spouses. Use historical records if needed.
  2. Add the missing spouse to Family Tree.
  3. Return to Source Linker and attach the source.

Displaying the Correct Children

  1. Select Change Spouse and choose the correct parent. Add the spouse to Family Tree if needed.
  2. Align the information by dragging and dropping it to the correct location.

Attaching the Source

  1. Select Compare for individuals with a match.
  2. Verify the information.
  3. Explain why you are attaching the source in the "Reason to attach source" box.
  4. Select Attach to link the record to the person in Family Tree.

If a child is connected to the wrong parent, correct the relationship and then attach the sources.

Why Am I Seeing Error Icons?

Error icons can appear for various reasons, such as the source being attached to someone else. Hover over the icon for an explanation. When dealing with multiple spouses, error icons may appear temporarily if children belong to a different spouse. Switch back to the correct spouse to resolve this.

Powered by Zendesk