When Did Ancestry.com Last Index Ancestry Member Trees? In the comment, Russ brings up the issue of hints not showing. Since I haven't noticed an issue with 'missing' hints on my un-indexed tree, Russ's post made me question whether I was indeed missing hints. However, I did notice one difference between my tree and Russ's experiment. I work with a public tree and Russ' test was with a private tree.
Thus, I wanted to know whether public trees produced hints when the tree lacked Ancestry sources. Thus, I needed a public tree (small) without Ancestry sources. Since I've been searching for Judson Crawford to see if my tree was indexed, I decided to create a small public tree on Ancestry for Judson Crawford, his wife, children and parents.
My first attempt at creating the tree was to drag Judson and his family into a new tree. When I tried to use TreeShare with this new tree, I did not get the option to upload the tree. Instead this small tree was connecting to my large tree on Ancestry.
For my second attempt, I created a Gedcom for Judson and his family. I then imported that gedcom into a new RootsMagic file. Again, I couldn't use TreeShare to upload this tree to Ancestry.
On the third try, I uploaded the previously created Gedcom to Ancestry. I then used TreeShare to download that tree into RootsMagic. [JudsonTrial2]
Lightbulbs started appearing in the RootsMagic tree shortly after the download completed.
On Ancestry, those same individuals with light bulbs in RootsMagic had hints in Ancestry.
Based on this experience, I would conclude that there might be a difference between private and public trees in the way hints are populated. Unfortunately, the public/private tree status was not the only variable in our two experiments. Russ uploaded his data from his software to Ancestry and I downloaded my experimental tree from Ancestry to my software. In addition, I'm using RootsMagic while Russ is using FamilyTree Maker.
Marcia,
ReplyDeleteMy trees are Private unsearchable, mostly for testing purposes.
I have see no difference between a Private Tree and a Public Tree. Yes, I have a Public Tree. Even with the Exclude from Ancestry Search did not impact my hints.
The difference, in the test I ran earlier, was the Ancestry Source, vs a Tree with only "Other Sources".
I usually have hints immediately. I have demonstrated that while teaching or during a presentation. Those hints start to show up while I am talking.
I may try to add some people people to the Tree, that is NOT getting hints to see if that helps.
I have the same person in both Trees, One with Ancestry Hints, the other without. Both in my Subscription account.
I haven't had a chance to create a Free Account, No Subscription to Ancestry and see what happens there. I can guess, but need to prove it first.
Russ
Thanks for the comment Russ!
ReplyDeleteI did my test for 2 reasons: First, I wanted to see whether there was a difference between private/public trees when it came to hints.
Second, I wanted to see if a 'new' tree would get indexed prior to my working tree on Ancestry. (It hasn't been indexed yet -- but it has only been one day.)
I've been a subscriber to Ancestry for years and have never tested anything with a free account. I applaud you for your efforts in this regard.
Your research suggests that hints might be affected by the lack of indexing.
My experience suggests that DNA shared matches also may be affected. [I've lost almost all shared matches on my mom's side of the tree and believe I've lost some on my dad's side of the tree.] Randy has been adding one Ancestry source in hopes of getting a tree indexed. Unlike Randy, I've been going thru and accepting all applicable hints. Most of these hints are already cited in my RM file. Thus, I'm not downloading those sources into my file (and my tree is not truly in sync). So far, accepting these hints has not affected my DNA shared matches. Since the DNA issue may be related to the indexing issue, I'm waiting for my tree to be indexed. Hopefully, an indexed tree will resolve the DNA issue.
Marcia,
ReplyDeleteI am not aware if my AMT(s) have been indexed or not. I have not been concerned about that (yet). My only concern is Hints (for now).
My real concern with hints, is the lack of a Subscription, with OUT Ancestry Hints. I know my Hints are working well can the hints are showing up as expected, and going away when I use that Hint.
I am also not sure about the indexing and the DNA research. I have great DNA Matches, where there is a Hint in the DNA results (leaf on the right). Very helpful.
Based on this conversation, I am going to look a little closer are those Public Trees without the Leaf, to see if they have Ancestry Sources or not.
Bottom line here: What about an Ancestry User, without a Subscription, but the Tree is fully documented with Other Sources. Like someone who put a Tree on Ancestry, fully documented (but no Ancestry Sources) but has that tree for "cousin bait" and / or DNA matches.
I am not sure how I can tell if or when my AMT was last indexed. haven't cared about that and not sure how to test for that. That is my project for this weekend.
Thanks for the conversation on this, important, topic.
Russ