Suggest everybody do Spring Cleaning of their own files

Question

Inspired by the upcoming Spring Clean-a-thon I decided to spruce up my own files.  Starting with the 'A's' on my watchlist I've only been through two dozen or so but I've found links that are no longer active, place names that need correcting and  formatting errors from when I was new here and didn't know any better.  I found a few profiles I can improve easily with the experience I've gained.

I have no idea how long it will take.  I'll probably work at it off and on rather than try to fix all of them at once. It's a satisfying project and fun too.  It's like seeing long lost friends and relatives again.  

I'd recommend it to everybody.

Comments

Brilliant idea!

Answer 1

To keep on top of things, I do a little bit every day. I go to my "Anniversary" list every morning as I drink my cup of coffee. I look at every profile with an anniversary that day and at least review it for typos, bad links, formatting errors. Most days I try to add one fact, improve one source, add and source one relationship collateral to the profile. Then I get on with my day - that job thing, or the main family history project I am working on at the time.

Sometimes these little daily bites remind me again of a whole family line I have been meaning to get back to. Sometimes I find a tangentially related line that has been uploaded but abandoned that turns out to be really, really interesting. But it also means I touch every profile at least once a year, and usually multiple times.

Answer 2

You have something going there, Jennifer.  This is a great suggestion and something that is promoted for WikiTree members - clean your own house first; remove the splinter from your eye so you can see to remove one from someone else.

Did you know that there is a list of Suggestions on your profile that might help with this task?  Under the MY WIKITREE tab, scroll down and click on SUGGESTIONS.  There may be some or none, but this starts where clean up may be needed.

This tab is available for other profiles as well - whatever profile you may be working in has tabs at the top right of the page.  My WIkitree is always first, and the 2nd tab is for the profile you are currently in.  You click on that profile's tab, scroll down to SUGGESTIONS and the list to clean up may be found there.

This is Data Doctor's 101 and sure you know, but a good reminder as well as your great post.

Enjoy your weekend.

Comments

Yes, I'm familiar with suggestions.  What I'm talking about is more the kind of things that don't show up there.

Answer 3

Almost every day I pull up my Watchlist sorted by oldest edits.   There’s always some little fix, sometimes another source. Maybe a relative to add. Or just a style change I’m doing since I last edited. Like now I like to use # for Children list instead of :  I do a a couple to a dozen a day depending on how much time I have.