Ancestry links don't seem to match the templates

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I want to translate the Ancestry links I have for the sources, but the layout of the links don't seem to match the templates, so I can't see how to make them work.  Should it just be standard links?
WikiTree profile: Sarah Smith
in Genealogy Help by Nigel Baker G2G Crew (310 points)
I noticed recently that on some Ancestry Sources it is not easy to find the dbid and h= numbers; it appears that the urls changed the format. It used to always be https://blah blah blah dbid=123456h=1234. Now you can still locate these numbers, but only the h= is found. It looks something like this:

https://blah blah blah h=1234:123456

They sort of reversed the number in the url and took away the label dbid

I'm going to try to find an example.
I'm speaking about the template {{Ancestry Record|dbid|h=}}
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1076086:7163?ssrc=pt&tid=114491666&pid=420134945913

You just have to "know" that the numbers for the {{Ancestry Record}} template are

1076086:7163

7163 is the dbid

1076086 is the h=

{{Ancestry Record|7163|1076086}}
You could also simply use the "Share" button, but I find that the {{Ancestry Record}} template gives you better functionality. The downside is you need to have a paid account to use it. The "Share" button gives a link anyone can use, but it's harder to zoom in and out. I usually provide both with my citations nowadays. I also believe in full citations, even with the risk of TMI. TMI does not apply to genealogy citations!
Thanks, that seems to work for me. I actually used the ancestry citer that Kerry posted below to extract the information.  It seems quite versatile.

1 Answer

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Best answer

While not required, it's ideal to use the templates in case Ancestry.com changes their URL format again in the future.  The template will allow Wikitree to automatically update the links.  You've probably already found the help page at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Links_to_Ancestry.  There are quite a few variations.  The only Ancestry link I see on Sarah Smith's page is one in the old format to a family tree:  http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=17838154&pid=603031712

According to the help page, "Note: Many old Ancestry Tree links are written in the format http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=1234&pid=5678. In that format, the tid number is the tree number and the pid number is the person number."  So the template would be {{Ancestry Tree|17838154|603031712}}.  It's an old link that might not be valid anymore regardless of the format.  Is there an Ancestry.com URL that you know works but can't get working with a Wikitree template?

by Kerry Larson G2G6 Pilot (233k points)
selected by Nigel Baker

One trick to avoid having to parse the URL yourself is to use the Ancestry Citation Builder app at https://apps.wikitree.com/apps/clarke11007/ancite.php.  Select the type of record at the top and paste in the URL in the "Record URL:" box.  Down below click the Compile Citation button.  You'll find the Ancestry link template in the Citation box and you can copy it from there.  No need to complete all the sections if you're just trying to get the completed template.  Note:  It might not accept the old style family tree format.

Kerry I tried that link to the ancestry app and it says page not found?

You just need to delete the period and space at the end of the link, it's just how it got formatted, I think.

This link worked for me: https://apps.wikitree.com/apps/clarke11007/ancite.php

Yes, it does appear that the Wikitree editor added the . to the URL.  I've modified the link.  Glad it worked for you Nigel.  Credit to Greg Clarke for producing such a great tool.
Thank you got it now.

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