Question of the Week: What improvements would you like to see on WikiTree in 2024?

Question

What improvements would you like to see on WikiTree in 2024? Is there anything you'd love to see in the WikiTree Browser Extension or Tree Apps? Tell us your wishlist!

Please tell us with an answer below. You could also answer on Facebook.

You might also be interested in this post about what the team is working on: "What is ahead for WikiTree in 2024?"

Comments

A feature where  Profile Managers can keep a living person's actual full name hidden, so that when a person profiled in WT dies, it would be easier to change from "Anonymous" to the actual name.

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I've certainly wished for this many times!

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My understanding is that the profile manager, in specifying that the person is still living, causes the full name of the profile person to be hidden from all except the profile manager and perhaps, the trusted list for the profile.

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Allowing the Trusted List to view the full name of a living person does not render that profile to be anonymous. So some profile managers opt to only use "Anonymous" or "Living" as the name in living profiles.

 Futhermore, all biography text scattered around various profiles that currently use names like "Anonymous Smith" does not change to the full proper name when a person is finally marked as Deceased. In short, WT needs a better way for managers to deal with the inevitable deaths of their living profiles.

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The descendants of my parents, from the profile of my father's father, before I logged in to Wikitree within this web browser on this computer (I have been working within Wikitree, on another computer before this session), are shown thus:

"

1. [private great-granddaughter (unknown - unknown)]
2. [private great-grandson (unknown - unknown)]

1. [private great-great-granddaughter (2020s - unknown)]

1. [private great-grandson (unknown - unknown)] m. [private spouse]

1. [private great-granddaughter (unknown - unknown)]
2. [private great-grandson (unknown - unknown)]

1. [private great-grandson (1990s - unknown)]
2. [private great-grandson (1990s - unknown)]

1. [private great-granddaughter (unknown - unknown)]
2. [private great-grandson (unknown - unknown)]

1. [private grandson (1940s - unknown)] m. [private spouse]
2. Phil Busby  (1940s - 2010s) m. [private spouse]
3. [private grandson (1950s - unknown)] m. [private spouse]
4. [private granddaughter (1950s - unknown)] m. [private spouse]
5. [private grandson (1950s - unknown)] m. [private spouse]
6. Bret Busby  (1950s - unknown) m. [private spouse]
7. [private grandson (1960s - unknown)] m. [private spouse]

"

After logging in to Wikitree, the details od each of the living people, in addition to me (I am mostly living), are displayed. But, the details, other that what is displayed above, are not displayed, until I, as the profile manager for each, am logged in.

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The formatting did not quite work, in my last previous post above - the great-grandchildren are not shown as being the children of their parents. But, my generation of my family, are those consecutively numbered 1-7, and, the displayed names, show the point that I was making.

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If you want to see what I saw (with the correct formatting), before I logged in on that computer, right click on my name above; open the link in a new browser tab or browser window, click on the Ancestors button, click on my father's name, or, his father's name, to open the profile, then, in his profile, click on the Descendants button, and, view my generation of my family. The only name in my siblings, that should be displayed, is my second-eldest brother, who died ten years ago.

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I would really like to see the Correct Nomenclature for the Colonies on the continent of Australia before 1901 when the Commonwealth of Australia came into being. At present the auto fill for Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia,  Queensland etc, is totally incorrect, because it does not align with the historical, political and geo-political facts around the evolution of Australia as a nation.

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Alison, the Australia Project allows for various forms of location statements in our Guidelines for such.  Even if you disagree with them, those are what we, as a group, have agreed are acceptable.
As for the list in the location dropdown, those come from FamilySearch.

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The drop down location list is from Family Search, and trying to get them to change anything takes an immense amount of time.

There is no requirement or recommendation to use the drop down list. As Melanie says the Australia Project has information about locations.

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Bret and David; as the profile manager you can see information that others can't.

If you look at the right hand end of the line with person's name where it says public view, click on public view, that is what anyone who is not on the trusted list sees for living people.

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M Ross - I do not know why you have addressed your comment to me - you seem to be telling me what I have already said.

What I had said, effectively, is what was requested " Dec 27, 2023 by David Chawes" is superfluous, because of what already exists, and I gave details and examples, to show that.

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Could someone who can, please,separate the sub-thread about the location names, from the thread about displayed names of living people, into which thread, the sub-thread was incorrectly inserted?

I have received notification of the response by M Ross, to the sub-thread, and, whilst I have participated in the thread, into which, the sub-thread was incorrectly inserted, I have not participated in the sub-thread, prior to, and other than, this request to have the sub-thread removed from the thread, to which thread, the sub-thread is unrelated and irrelevant.

Answer 1

I would like for WikiTree to be easier to understand!  Yes, I have looked at videos and I have looked at the WikiTree Help list - that is overwhelming!  I have only put family info on - I still have not figured out many things and I hate to keep bothering people with what might be beginner questions.  I just wish the was a quick start program!  If there is already one, I can't find it!!!

Comments

I have read this a lot. There is so much to explain really, which makes it very hard to start.
Are there any specific areas you find most difficult right now? Did you join one of the online sessions where you can ask questions?

Answer 2

1. When uploading an image of a document it would be great to have a field where you could write a transcription of the entire document.
2. When searching for an individual add the ability to include their spouse in the search. It would help a lot with people with common names.
3. Ability to follow a particular individual by clicking a follow button, just like you can do on FamilySearch.
4. Ability to search for a specific last name with exact spelling so that you don't get similar names.

Comments

#3 Try WikiTree Browser Extension Extra Watchlist.

#4 I'm pretty sure there is an option on the Search page to do that.

Answer 3

I would like the option to create a book, similar to MH but with more data format options.  Options for including generational family trees, bios, date and location indexes.  Maybe it could be achieved by combining multiple apps?

Answer 4

I would really like it if I could set my personal default for the language that place names are suggested in the dropdown - I mostly create and work on Dutch profiles, because my family is Dutch; but each time I enter a place name I have to select the language (and in some screens, the option to select the language dies not appear).

Comments

I agree, this would be a real asset.

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I had the same thing. Now using the browser extension that has a great option for this but that feels like a workaround. Would be much better to have this as a user setting in WT itself.

Answer 5

Format the wiki genealogy feed so that the name of the person being modified leads the entry instead of the person doing the modifying

Answer 6

One thing that would help me the most is the ability to sort my watchlist by LNAB.

The current default sort option of 'name' seems counter-intuitive, and the other options seem pointless.

The LNAB field should be a key or partial key in the db. Even the ability to sort by ID would help, and this must be a primary key.

Answer 7

I am sorry if this is a duplicate answer.  My grandmother, Ulrich-481, has 14 siblings and they are all listed in a paragraph.  1-3 siblings is easy, more is tough.  

What I would like to see is the following:

Effie Nettie Ulrich

Born 1 Apr 1902 in Tilden, Randolph County, Illinois

Daughter of Casper Ulrich Jr and Sarah Murphy

Sister of

     George Ulrich (1880 - 1880)

     Anna Marie Ulrich (1881 - 1957)

     Nancy Catherine Ulrich (1883 - 1955)

     Casper James Ulrich (1884 - 1954)

     Neil Alexander Ulrich (1886 - 1962)

     Albert Sands Ulrich (1888 - 1942)

     Carl Henry Ulrich (1890 - 1958)

     Eugene Ulrich (1891 - 1891)

     Oscar Harold Ulrich (1892 - 1957)

     Bertha Jane Ulrich (1895 - 1981)

     Barbara Rosina Ulrich (1896 - abt. 1955)

     Sarah Ulrich (1898 - 1899)

     Freida Ruth Ulrich (1900 - 1977)

     Susie Elizabeth Ulrich (1904 - 1998)

[add sibling]

Comments

Agreed. Looking through a paragraph in a family with lots of children is more difficult than a list. I support this proposal.

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I see only one disadvantage: it would lead to more screen scrolling when there is a long list of siblings or children at the top of the profile screen, if that is where the list stays. On the other hand, it would help with avoiding names split across lines and having to scan a horizontal list multiple times to find a name.

Good thought.

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I have found using the # symbol puts them in a list and then also indicates number.  I find this method useful for writing information about some or all in the list - as well.

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I think you may be referring to the biography section which can be formatted. I am talking about the top portion of the profile where it shows the spouses and siblings.  The siblings section is hard to find anyone if you have more than 2-3 people.  It would also help to show the birth and death years of the siblings.

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My suggestion is also a very minor formatting change and does not need to wait for a huge rewrite of the website.

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Something like this is already available in the WikiTree Browser Extension:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:WikiTree_Browser_Extension#Change_Family_Lists

Answer 8

I would like GEDCOMs to not be allowed without sources.  I am spending hours finding sources (which are available) for just the Tasmanian profiles which have been entered via GEDCOMs.  As soon as I think I have finished even more pop up.  It was my plan to finish these off in 2023 but I will not make it as there are still so many.  Ok there is 2024 !!!

Answer 9

The ability to record Y-DNA information faithfully. That is, one should be able to enter STR data for individual testers and projected STR data for ancestors based upon available data.

Likewise one should be able to enter projected SNP information for ancestors.

Projected information is speculative and should be based upon documented data, whether entered onto WikiTree profiles or not.

Thus there should be 4 categories of Y-DNA data enterable on WikiTree:

1. Actual STR data entereed, as now, by testers on their own profiles (ormanagers of deceased profiles and DNA tests).

2. Projected STR data based upon most likely calculations from a number of descendant testers (which should include only test kits or IDs).

3. Actual SNP data available (admittedly changeable in future and also a projection in most cases as yet).

4. Projected SNP information based upon descendant testers.

Until SNP and STR data are handled separately and distinctly according to the parameters of their inherent data types, Y-DNA data on WikiTree will be less useful than it should be.

Answer 10

I have been a member for 15 months and appreciate all the help given and work that goes on behind the scenes.

My suggestions are: connected to Data Doctors suggestions and based on my experience as I understand how Wikitree works and some may actually be possible now but I haven't discovered how to do it.

1. Come up with a new name to place suggestions higher in the list so they can not be missed!  

2. Make it possible for suggestions to open directly in a profile.  I have found that for longer and more complicated suggestions that I am copying the info onto the profile as I work on them.

3. Make fixing suggestions a countable separate effort just like contributions.  I am frustrated when I see members who have massive numbers of contributions, but also have long lists of suggestions going way back. (I am guessing that they worked on the profile in the past (going on dates when I check) that they have forgotten about them.

4. Provide a way for members to keep track by a list of profiles, especially orphan profiles where suggestions have been fixed.

5. Keep making videos on how to fix suggestions- send short video out to all members about importance of cleaning suggestions. Do this as part of a campaign.

Thank you for reading my suggestions about suggestions.

Comments

I have noticed suggestions appearing near the bottom of my screen when I am editing a profile.  They aren't there in display view though.

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Like you, I see them at the bottom and if simple and short leave there, but for ones that are longer - eg span numbers requiring one to go through what can be a lot of text, often tightly formatted, I put them on the profile and move them into various spots as I find the info.  I also copy the suggestion into comments and what I have done, thus have a full record, that I find useful if I don't finish editing the profile in one sitting.  When I am done editing I remove the copy.

Answer 11

I'd like to see an app or whatever that guided the user to be able to correctly format the wiki page, with sources, structure, whatever, so we don't have to know the html codes and write them out. Also, some guides to help people write the naratives that describe their ancestor and the reasons for believeing what the user writes about them. (More than just sources although sources are a big part of this.)

Answer 12

Little thing, but ugly:

I would like a way to Capitalize the last name (LNAB) correctly. Meaning: change Van DIJK to the correct van Dijk (just an example).

See eg https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Van_DIJK-63

Answer 13

An option of 'did not marry' on the spouse information. At the moment, if they did not marry but had children, it looks as though the marriage hasn't been found and a lot of people may spend a lot of time looking for a non-existent marriage.

Comments

The edit page has a 'No spouses' checkbox.

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But they may have spouses. My grandfather had six children with one lady before marrying my grandmother and having another five children. I want to be able to say that he didn't marry the first spouse so that people don't try looking for a marriage.

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I agree with the OP. The "No spouses" checkbox doesn't work if the person is a co-parent to two others, but only married to one. There should be a way to directly connect co-parents that are not married rather than the indirectly through their shared children.

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Another possible scenario (complication) is that a marital status of a person may be unknown. For example, in the UK there may be a 'common law' marriage for which there is no formal record of any ceremony.

Answer 14

Would love to see a mobile app for both Android and iOS. This would make it a lot quicker and easier to collect and share information with family members.

Maybe also some exportable reports and diagrams?

Answer 15

I would like to search for profiles that fall in two or more categories.  For example, all persons who are in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, and Rusk County, Texas, or Lafayette County, Mississippi and a specific cemetery.

Comments

Amy,

I tried using WikiTree+ Text/Search for categories and was able to find 238 profiles for Tallahatchie or Rusk Counties, but didn't find any when I searched for OR instead of CategoryFull=Tallahatchie_County,_Mississippi OR CategoryFull=Rusk_County,_Texas  https://wikitree.sdms.si/default.htm?report=srch1&Query=CategoryFull%3DTallahatchie_County%2C_Mississippi+OR+CategoryFull%3DRusk_County%2C_Texas+&MaxProfiles=500&Format=

Answer 16

As I have requested in the past, I’d love to see and print out descendancy and ancestry reports, much like FTM does. The current format (for descendants) only goes to four generations, plus it doesn’t appear with fuller info to include all the data nor biographies/citations.

Answer 17

I need to be able to add middle name on the Add/Create profile screen without going to do a separate edit.

Also, I liked the old add screen with the source box at the bottom so I could paste in the citation and copy the date(s) without having to memorize them or flip tabs. Using a form with multiple entry screens is actually slowing me down.

Thanks, Joanna from Canada.

Comments

Have you tried the WikiTree Browser Extension Add Person Redesign feature?

Answer 18

I would like a way to visually spot which people died young or left no heirs. They are almost never the target of a search and it would cut by half my time to check out each of the 100 people with the searched name.  A different font, or shading, or something. Then I can skip over that person.

Answer 19

To reiterate another person's request, a way to include the spouse's surname in a search. We know the spouse more often than we know the parents, and it would greatly reduce the volume of same-name people that come up in a search.

Answer 20

I would like to see the retention of all changes to profiles when merged. I'll cite this personal example; I did a lot of work on a profile to prove the linkage to correct parents then that profile was merged with an earlier profile which erased all the change history that was in the newer profile. If we can merge profiles then I am hoping there is a way to merge the change history, so the contributions of our WikiTree members can be kept.