Is there a way to copy all the source documents from a FamilySearch profile to WikiTree?

Question

I use WikiTreeX to add sources to profiles on WikiTree.  For people who have many sources that need to be attached, it gets rather tiresome sometimes. To do so, you have to open each individual source's webpage and then use WikiTreeX there, for each and every source.

If I use WikiTreeX on the FamilySearch profile for the same individual, it adds 'fact' bullet points to the biography section of the WikiTree profile, and just one source in the source section, that source being the FS profile.  This can be considered as a bad thing to do, as the sources for those facts do not get transferred over.

So I ask, does anyone know of a way to transfer all of the source documents from a FamilySearch profile to the source section of a corresponding WikiTree profile at once?  Is it even possible?  I f it isn't, I think we shoukld figure out how to make it possible.

Edit:  It's not the WikiTreeTurbo extension, it's WikiTreeX.  I got the names mixed up, and have edited my question.

Answer 1

Are you talking about user-generated trees at Family Search?

If so, you would need to check all the sources (if they exist).

As you know the aim at WikiTree is to endeavour to have all profiles fully sourced. And that is what you appear to be trying to do, but shortcuts are not always.

Comments

I do check the sources, I've been attaching sources to my relatives on FamilySearch and am looking for an easier way to move all the sources to WikiTree.

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No no, that is not what they asked - they want to get the sources to come and jump into the Wikitree profile all at once - which is a nice wish - we would all get so much more done if it were that easy - so not using unsourced trees just taking and bringing sourced facts from there to here

Problem is, you get to looking at the sources a bit and you see that some of them are not right - that they belong to another person - not the one who the dates and names and all line up the way they do - you have all seen it I am sure - I have so many times where three sources are good and verify what is put into the profile then you hit one or two that contradict the previous information - different place, different spouse, children too close together so you have to go into each source and make sure it belongs to your person and someone else with the same name - while doing this you should jot down the daters and set up a little time line to see if it all makes sense and the places names and dates match up right or you are not doing real genealogy

Sure it takes more time, but you get the satisfaction of knowing the quality of work you have done on any given profile is up to par

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Sorry, misunderstood your question

Answer 2

Not sure what Wikitree turbo is, but I have a blank profile document that I open up on half my screen in my word processing program. I enter the information into the blank profile and save it with the person's name as the file name. As I do this I add sources from where I find them one at a time as I find them and compare it to what is known on the family. When I get the sources identified and have filled in the profile information on the file I just copy and paste to the profile in one step. But only after I have looked and evaluated each source.  As someone said, some sources attached to trees at ancestry, FamilySearch and other user entered site can have errors in sources that they cite. It is essential that we as researchers look at each source to confirm that they pertain to the profiles we write and edit on wikitree.

Answer 3

The way I work is to source a person through Ancestry.com and carefully inspect each source. After the profile has been vetted and filled with as many resources as I can find, I then create a Wikitree profile. It would be great if there was a script that could take all the sources from the Ancestry sources and format them into the Wikitree biography section with inline references. If I understood enough about Ancestry formatted data and Wikitree, I would write the script myself.

Comments

David I do something similar, but with excel. I have sources formatted for wikitree and just copy/paste, then insert the details:

1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.; database and digital images, "1870 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009 {{Ancestry Record|7163|}}: accessed ; citing Now I just have to copy/paste Ancestry's Source Citation, get the individual's h= number and slip in the date.  All set.

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Thanks, Lucy, for the Excel suggestion. Yes, that would be a convenient way to organize text snippets.

Earlier, today, I setup some hot keys on my Ubuntu keyboard. Now I can just hit a combination of keys to get the code snippets I want, and then fill in the variable information.

It would be nicer if Ancestry would just create a button on their pages to produce the completely formatted reference, like they used to.

Answer 4

Thank you! Your question prompted me to try some experimenting.  I found an approach which is not perfect, but I think it beats transferring sources one at a time.

WIth the "new" FamilySearch, go to the "Sources" tab, then select "Open Details".  Work down the list of sources and do two things: 1) if you don't want the item, close it with the big "X" at the top right in each box;  2) for items you do want, if the entry under "Citation" has a 'More' button, then click 'More'.  NOTE: at this point you won't actually see anything more -- just a button that says "Less" -- that's ok.

Now use your mouse to select ALL of the text on the page (you can't start your selection with an active link, but you don't really want those anyway -- position to a piece of plain text). Then copy and paste the whole page either directly into the WikiTree narrative or to a work area.  Finally,  delete all of the extraneous text, retaining only the "Citations", and adding formatting.  The complete citation is actually copied, even though you couldn't see it all to begin, and once you have saved it, the links work correctly.  

This is lengthy to explain, but actually pretty easy to do.

You can also open the "indexed Information" using the associated "Show" button, and copy that information -- but of course the formatting won't transfer directly to WikiTree.

Comments

I'll have to try this method and see how much I like it.  Thank you!

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Opening all the sources and copying the citations only, allows me to paste the citations in the order of the profile, generally chronologically.  Then the profile practically writes itself.

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And, in case you had not noticed, it is now a very simple drag-and-drop to re-order the sources in FamilySearch, so you can arrange them however you like.

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Thanks Jim!  I did not notice that!

Answer 5

I think that https://apps.wikitree.com/apps/york1423/fs-match/ is what you may have been using.

There is also a chrome extension WikiTreeX which I use but neither of them can bring in all the citations from the family search family tree sources. You need to add them individually.

Comments

Thank you for catching that!  It actually is WikiTreeX that I use to do that.  I put the name WikiTreeTurbo in my question by mistake.  I have edited the name in my question

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The fs-match app you suggested just helped me find more information about one of my toughest brick walls, so thank you for that.  I have a little more info to go by now.

Answer 6

I do not understand why you would want to do this.

Comments

I want to do this because I spend a lot of time sourcing profiles on FamilySearch to make sure they're accurate and complete.  It would be helpful if I could then move all my work over to WikiTree once I am satisfied with its sources.

Answer 7

These answers show both the advantages and disadvantages of Wikitree and the new Family Search world tree approach. I now do my primary search and data collection on Family Search and I will keep a parallel  more stable Wikitree profile. I intend referencing the Wikitree profile on Family Search and vice versa. Why? Well the Family Search tree is basically unstable. If someone searches for a source finds what they think is the one they are looking for they can attach to their profile and detach from he other profile. So you lose your source. It is unlikely that a source will detached in Wikitree it requires looking for the other profile and editing it.on FS you just tap a button and the other work is destroyed even if it is correct. But Wikitree needs much more than just a Citation. As the majority od the Wikitree profiles are  timelines (Rightly so! It is often all you will ever fid out about a person. Please don't turn a timeline into a narrative unless you have a real story to tell the timeline chronological approach makes merging and matching so much easier) it is essential that each source keepsall  the basic details thatyou use to match i.e the names date and locations locations. The rest can go after all you have added a citation. A census return source needs to retain all the family names.dates etc. We all strive to achieve a perfect profile "The Narrative Profile" is what is aimed for but don't destroy a readable and matchable timeline when composing a narrative.  Thanks for the advice on transferring the sources I need to go and play ;-)

Comments

You're welcome!  I like your advice on making a WikiTree profile into a sort of "timeline" of a person's life.  Are you referring to what you put in the biography section, or something else?  Can you send a link to a profile that has the timeline concept on it so I can see what it looks like?  I've been looking for a new way to write the biographies of people I add.