Just Launched! Tool Improvements

  • Posted by
  • September 2, 2009

We are excited to announce the launch of a new version of the World Archives Project tool.  We spent months gathering feedback and conducting user testing with contributors to make some changes that are focused on helping to make your indexing more efficient.

 

One of the biggest changes you will notice is that we streamlined the process of setting up an image for keying.  We were able to combine two (or three) steps we previously had. The “Set Form Type” step is now integrated into the Keying step, and if the majority of images in a project belong to a single form type, we set it by default.  We were able to eliminate the “Set form Position” step altogether.

 

On the “Download Image Steps” page, we separated available arbitration and keying projects into their own tabs so you can see more projects at once.  We also added more powerful filtering that will help you find the projects you want to work on based on difficulty and location.

 

We’ve also done a lot of work to improve the accuracy of highlights.  If you routinely turn highlights off, we’d love for you to try them out and let us know if you notice the improvements!

 

The field helps have been moved to the left side of the indexing area making it more noticeable to all contributors.  Also, if you are keying a project you are very familiar with, you now have the option to close the field help to increase the available indexing space. If you click the new “Pick A Project for Me” button, a high-priority project will be automatically downloaded and opened for you.

 

These are just some of the highlights the features included in today’s tool update. You can read more details here.

 

We’d love to have you join us a webinar (online class or “web seminar”) we are holding to talk about these updates on Wednesday, September 9th at 6 PM BST and 8 PM ET.  Click on one of the times to register. If you cannot attend the webinar, you will be able to view it later in the webinar archives.

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September 2nd, 2009
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Reader Comments

Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Jeni Mason
Posted on:
September 5, 2009 at 7:58 am

Thanks Gretchen – at least I can now see what I’m typing. I have tired taaking off the keying tools (yes I had 2 shown) and downloading it again in the hope that it would solve the other problems. Unfortunately not plus others now occurring.

I still can’t access the sets downloaded and showing on my dashboard as I’m told they have expired but in fact won’t do so until 15th Sept.

In addition now – I get the “Set Form Box” coming up on every record I’m inputting plus I’m also having trouble with the actual size of the Andrews cutting shown. It tells me that it is 100% but it’s obviously not. I now have to set it to 200% (much too big) and then reduce it back to 100% to get it to the correct size and one which is readable.

OK – not a major drama as I can still input after downloading one record set at a time – but this is really slowing me down and is getting just a tad annoying.

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Godfrey Daniels
Posted on:
September 5, 2009 at 9:32 am

It seems there are as many problems with this version as with any Microsoft update!

I too experienced some problems. I lost at least 1000 images on my total record for arbitrating and some on the keying side as well. I also get a dialog box that tells me that there are expired records being returned to the database for others to do. I never let any expire. At vacation time, I clear the board and do not download.

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Dale Cullen
Posted on:
September 5, 2009 at 11:33 am

Thank you for adding the pop-up window for selecting form type! Saves us a few clicks!

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
Godfrey Daniels
Posted on:
September 5, 2009 at 12:19 pm

The item expiration dates are only wishful thinking. Each time I log off with images to arbitrate, my list is deleted and returned to the pot eventhough they say September 15th on the expiration dates. I tested this several times and each time I loged off, the images diappeared, a dialog box appears on login that tells me that my images expired and there are no images to key. I have to download again.

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
BEE
Posted on:
September 5, 2009 at 1:03 pm

I’m happy to report that by deleting from Add/Remove, then downloading again with the directions for Firefox, I’ve had no problems keying today. Except for the highlight box not being in place, it’s much easier not to have to “set form type” and great to see all the blocks to be filled by closing the box on the left. Here’s hoping things continue to go without incident!

Comment Number:
6
Written by:
kath tait
Posted on:
September 5, 2009 at 5:33 pm

I have been using the new keying tool for 4 days now with no problem. I opened it as usual today and keyed 20 sets, after down laoding a further 20 sets I am now getting an error message after the first image. Has anyone else experienced this.

Comment Number:
7
Written by:
Lesley
Posted on:
September 6, 2009 at 8:18 am

I seem to be getting all sorts of error messages, now, when I’ve tried to do some arbitration I can only get half the arbitration field. Are there any easy (non-technical) solutions?
On the plus side, getting rid of the predictive text makes accuracy so much easier.

Comment Number:
8
Written by:
David Yates
Posted on:
September 6, 2009 at 1:16 pm

The new version generates error messages when the image is blank. Using Windows 7. Cannot see how to go back to previous version.

System.InvalidOperationException: This BackgroundWorker is currently busy and cannot run multiple tasks concurrently.
at System.ComponentModel.BackgroundWorker.RunWorkerAsync(Object argument)
at System.ComponentModel.BackgroundWorker.RunWorkerAsync()
at EnterData.SetFormTypePanel.ᙇ(Boolean ᙂ)
at EnterData.SetFormTypePanel.set_Expanded(Boolean value)
at EnterData.EnterFlexDataControl.ᝦ()
at EnterData.EnterFlexDataControl.LoadForm(Boolean& bCancel)
at KeyingTool.MainForm.ᙈ(PreviousNextControl ᙂ)
at KeyingTool.MainForm.ᙇ(Boolean ᙂ)
at KeyingTool.MainForm.RequestNextDocument(Boolean bNotify)
at KeyingTool.MainForm.RequestNextDocument()
at EnterData.EnterFlexDataControl.ᝢ(Object ᙂ, FormTypeChangedEventArgs )
at EnterData.SetFormTypePanel.ᙒ(Object ᙂ, EventArgs )
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

Comment Number:
9
Written by:
Tina Muheim
Posted on:
September 6, 2009 at 4:54 pm

Is there a solution to the autofill not working? It certainly decreases the speed of keying without having it.

Tina

Comment Number:
10
Written by:
Lorraine Wright
Posted on:
September 6, 2009 at 7:39 pm

LOVE the changes! I was able to actually spend time KEYING information, rather than aligning each set.

I did not experience any bugs in the sets I was keying.

Comment Number:
11
Written by:
Cheryl
Posted on:
September 6, 2009 at 10:40 pm

I have had absolutely no problems with the keying tool before or after the fix.

For those keying the U S Directories.. READ the directions. You have to create a new section to key the second page, then click next image, then create a new section for page 4.. The instructions were very easy to understand for those that bothered to read them.

Comment Number:
12
Written by:
Kaye OConnell
Posted on:
September 7, 2009 at 10:33 am

After removing and reinstalling the new keying tool three times, I am still getting the error message in Andrews when I click “image with no data”. I just click continue, then “clipping” and it moves on, but I’m worried that it’s not submitting the data.

Comment Number:
13
Written by:
ANGELA ELLETT
Posted on:
September 7, 2009 at 10:47 am

I too, like many others am having problems after this new keying tool was introduced.

At first, it was fine and a great improvement, although I was irritated that I had to jump from one side of the screen to the other when there was ‘no image’ to press ‘OK’, but after 2 days I had a similar problem that others reported, namely that intermittently I get an ‘unexpected error’ message, saying the “background worker is currently busy and cannot run multiple tasks concurrently”.

I only had the World Archive
Project open and my Internet Explorer

Is this ‘bug’ likely to be fixed any time soon, please?

Comment Number:
14
Written by:
Kaye OConnell
Posted on:
September 7, 2009 at 11:23 am

I just wanted to say that, aside from the one little glitch I mentioned in post #62(which hasn’t stopped me from keying), I really love all the improvements. I think you’ve done a great job in streamlining the whole process.

Comment Number:
15
Written by:
Jane
Posted on:
September 7, 2009 at 12:51 pm

Today I’m getting the same error messages as reported by Kaye #62 & Angela #63. I’m keying Andrews if that has any bearing on the situation.

Comment Number:
16
Written by:
wanda
Posted on:
September 7, 2009 at 2:55 pm

I get the same errors as post #7, but not all the time. Happens about once a set. then have to reload the image set to continue.

Comment Number:
17
Written by:
Susan Renzo
Posted on:
September 7, 2009 at 3:40 pm

I continue to have the same error message. It seems to occur when I choose Duplicate or Cover Sheet as my document choice. (NYS Naturalization Documents) If I type quit the data set closes. If I type continue I can re-enter the document type and complete the entry. However, the next entry that comes up in the data set has skipped ahead by one. (And I am apologizing here – I believe several of my submissions might contain skipped entries – I didn’t see this at first.)

ANYWAY – looking forward to the bugs being exterminated.

Comment Number:
18
Written by:
Denis Archer
Posted on:
September 8, 2009 at 3:11 am

I am still having problems with various error messages. Are you any closer to an annoucement on the problems or a patch/fix.This is on the NYC Nat Cards. Very frustrating.

Comment Number:
19
Written by:
Jane
Posted on:
September 8, 2009 at 11:45 am

Still getting the error message as before and is as David post #58 describes, when a blank image is displayed (Andrews)
I have to close down & re-start the application. Until this is fixed I really can’t do any keying, so please fix. This is the first & only time I’ve had a problem with an updated keying tool so very frustrating!

Comment Number:
20
Written by:
Karen Leonard
Posted on:
September 8, 2009 at 1:09 pm

I too am having the same problem with keying Andrews as posts #58 and 69. Have tried removing the keying tool and redownloading and that hasn’t helped, so I now have to stop keying. Can we have a response from Ancestry about whether and when this will be fixed please?

Comment Number:
21
Written by:
Vicky
Posted on:
September 8, 2009 at 1:19 pm

I am having the same problems as #70. I have been working on NYC nat.. I can not continue…..the error comes up after every image….and I can not continue. Have to reboot, but that does not correct the problem.

Comment Number:
22
Written by:
Laurence Smiser
Posted on:
September 8, 2009 at 7:08 pm

I have been using this verson for several days. I have keyed several hundred records of So. Cal Nat. Indexes. If I download several sets and close the program after keying one or more of the sets then restart the program the remaining sets are no longer available.
Is this because they are released on purpose or is it a bug?
All the previous versions maintained the remaining sets until finished or the time limit was exceeded.

Comment Number:
23
Written by:
Paul
Posted on:
September 8, 2009 at 7:42 pm

Laurence,

Please report this as a bug.

Comment Number:
24
Written by:
Kaye OConnell
Posted on:
September 9, 2009 at 1:10 am

For those keying Andrews – When the error message comes up after clicking on “Image with no data” I just click “continue”, then “clipping” and it moves on. According to my statistics, it is submitting the sets.

Comment Number:
25
Written by:
Jane
Posted on:
September 9, 2009 at 12:11 pm

Kaye, post # 74. This is what I’ve been doing but it still needs correcting from WAP….it just makes keying VERY annoying!

Comment Number:
26
Written by:
Brenda Hobart
Posted on:
September 9, 2009 at 4:56 pm

Still having problems with the NYC index cards. Every time I click “Image with no data” I get an Error message. Have to close down and reboot. Does anyone know if this problem has been fixed? If so, what do I do to correct the problem. This problem is very aggravating.

Comment Number:
27
Written by:
Paula Wolfe
Posted on:
September 9, 2009 at 8:39 pm

I cannot key in Nebraska 1945 newspaper records since downloading tool improvements. When trying to enter info under a specific heading, the system jumps ahead to a different heading. I have tried repeatedly to return to the correct heading, but the system will not allow it.

Comment Number:
28
Written by:
Denis Archer
Posted on:
September 10, 2009 at 1:19 am

Check in control Panal,,@add or remove programs. If you have multiple versions of keying tool remove all but the newest version. This cures the error message problem.Some of the dropdown boxes still only work erratically

Comment Number:
29
Written by:
tina6363
Posted on:
September 10, 2009 at 2:26 am

Still happening to me with the error msg too. I can keep keying if I click ‘continue’ on the error box. When I login statistics tell me that I have expired records and they were sent back but I had already keyed and sent uploaded them all before logging off last time. Big problems.

Comment Number:
30
Written by:
Denis Archer
Posted on:
September 10, 2009 at 8:59 am

Re:78, This appears to be only a partial fix. Still getting error message on’image with no data’ selection. Also surname drop down box not working.

Comment Number:
31
Written by:
Pam W
Posted on:
September 10, 2009 at 11:12 pm

I am trying to key the detail records for the TX Post returns project.

I’m using a netbook pc running Windows XP.

I can key the header record, but I can’t see anything below the header on the screen.

Any idea what I should do?
Thanks

Comment Number:
32
Written by:
Gretchen
Posted on:
September 11, 2009 at 10:53 am

Bugs still occurring with ‘image with no data’ on Andrews. I’ve reported it to WAP and they say they’re aware of it and working on a fix. I tried to cancel my remaining Andrews sets but get an error msg on that too. So far N Cal Nat Index seems to be going ok. (fingers crossed!)

Comment Number:
33
Written by:
Kaye OConnell
Posted on:
September 11, 2009 at 12:57 pm

PAM W – See Gretchen’s post #47.

Comment Number:
34
Written by:
Edwin Catt
Posted on:
September 11, 2009 at 2:07 pm

Since the new Tool downloaded I have been beset by problems. It freezes during downloading of files, it gives na error message when I indicate a blank image and I have to tell it to give me a ‘cutting’. This is all on the Andrews newspaper project.

Comment Number:
35
Written by:
Godfrey Daniels
Posted on:
September 12, 2009 at 12:32 pm

Each time I leave the program, whether it be by “the program is not responding” or be actually leaving the program on purpose, all unfinished images are gone. I have to download images again and leave the program open indefinitely or lose the images. I also get a dialog box that tells me that I have expired images. Comes up every time and they are the same images.

I wonder if Microsoft helped on the latest update…….

Comment Number:
36
Written by:
Linda Hendricksen
Posted on:
September 12, 2009 at 9:04 pm

I used to be able to open my World Archives project tool to key information. I do not know what has happened but I am trying to get back into keying information again and I cannot. What do I need to do? I have windows Vista. When I tried to download the keying tool, it tells me to download “keyingtool.msi” have no idea what this is.
Please advise how I can re-load this keying tool.

Thanks
Linda

Comment Number:
37
Written by:
bonnie
Posted on:
September 13, 2009 at 9:32 pm

All of the ancestors are listed as relatives of the wife of Royal M. Hill. I am the researcher of 4 branches of my ancestors. How do I get this changed? This came auto with the new 2010 disk.

Comment Number:
38
Written by:
justask120
Posted on:
September 13, 2009 at 10:26 pm

Help!!I can’t raise the lower half of the page (The boxes to key data into) high enough to clear the the bottom of my computer scree. How do I do this. I have never had this problem before. Thanks for the help

Comment Number:
39
Written by:
justask120
Posted on:
September 13, 2009 at 10:32 pm

My problem seems to be the same as #81 Pam W. I am doing the Jackson Directory indexing.

Comment Number:
40
Written by:
Steve Prior
Posted on:
September 15, 2009 at 4:18 am

If an image is blank, the new tool crashes when I go to the next image

Comment Number:
41
Written by:
Gloria Frankel
Posted on:
September 15, 2009 at 10:50 am

I have the same problem as Carol Allen of September 2, was OK when first downloaded the new version, but last few days, get the ‘unexpected error message – any help available!

Comment Number:
42
Written by:
Paula Wolfe
Posted on:
September 24, 2009 at 5:49 pm

I still cannot enter records, but the problem has now changed since my original message. Now I have the same problem as Entries #81 & #88. The headings are visible, but I cannot get to a line to enter the actual records below the headings. Suggestions?