Those who have called new.familysearch.org a beta site are using the term imprecisely. Beta, as applied to software, generally means an early version in testing by a limited number of users looking for bugs, before it is released for general distribution.
For the nFS site, the software has gone through a few internal and external beta cycles, with the first external beta beginning around February 2006 if I recall correctly. It has taken months to just get to this point. The site is now released for full use, but ONLY IN SELECTED AREAS based on temple district, and CURRENTLY only for LDS members (and apparently a few others). That makes it *similar* to a beta in that the access is restricted to selected users. It is however a "production" release that is in a "phased roll-out". The next version of the software that the site uses is currently in internal beta testing, at the same time the existing version is being actively used. Please understand that it is not a *genealogy* site per se. As I said before. its *primary* purpose is for processing of LDS Temple ordinances. As such it is not unreasonable to start off restricted to Church members. If other churches for example had some computerized system where parents could sign themselves or their children up for various church ordinances, you would not expect them to allow someone not of their faith access to every bit of information. PLEASE be patient, as it has been repeatedly stated that access to non-LDS members to the genealogical information will happen at some time in the future. It will also be updated periodically to add more functionality, such as sources and notes (very limited at this time). Finally, for those who are seeking a site where the information can be obtained by GEDCOM, understand that that kind of function may never be a part of this site. or will only be available a long way in the future. The way the site works is vastly different than other web sites, or even your Legacy or other genealogy databases, where each person on the pedigree is unique. At nFS, each name seen on the screen is actually a folder containing anywhere from one to sometimes hundreds of records that have been "combined" to use their terminology. Only one name is normally displayed. All of the records in the folder are essentially duplicates, and may contain varying or conflicting information. For each name on the tree, any attempt to generate a GEDCOM would mean the software would somehow have to decide which of the multiple records from each folder to include in the GEDCOM. What I believe will happen is that programs such as Legacy will interface with nFS one name at a time and allow o ne to select which bits of data to merge into their database. Now, can we PLEASE get back to Legacy issues and let the nFS process unfold fully rather than getting all worked up with speculation and assumptions. Gary Templeman Original message ---------------------- From: "Reg SHERLOCK" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Hello Mike > > In regards to http://new.familysearch.org > > Basically as far as I can ascertain this is the new url for Church members > to gain direct access to files within the family search database. > > Basically the first page gives it away as to fact for Church Members. > > We infidels' can still gain access to old family search site via > http://familysearch.org and still sign in if as a lot of us did you are a > registered user, BUT to use new site MUST BE MEMBER OF CHURCH, in other > words "NO IT'S NOT A BETA SITE. > > Reg A SHERLOCK > Brisbane-Australia > Private email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Family tree: http://regsherlock.tribalpages.com > > If you use this link you can download a FREE version of Legacy Family Tree > http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/?Click=1085 > > > > Legacy User Group guidelines: > http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp > Archived messages: > http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ > Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp > To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp > > > Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
