Potential new features

That hasn't been suggested before; however:

1) When History Search (HistoryLink) is run, the Projects identified are 'active links' to each project (both at the right of each profile in the list, as well as in the Project Count summary at the bottom).

2) The full list of projects searched is dynamically re-created on the page where one can 'refresh' the projects or add new ones; thanks to your suggestion, I just added a mention of it on the HistoryLink project page (in that first paragraph).

Hmmm .... just wondering (re: semi-auto updating of project profile lists) ...
... the API supports getting the last time to project was updated (& I'm guessing that has to do with the time of the last edit to the Description).

Perhaps that could be used to, say once a week, check the projects which have had their description updated recently. Then, get the count of profiles in project vs. the count in the database; update only if different.

Or even skip the first step and just compare counts once a week.

I have taken the bull by the horns - let me know what you think. I've added the link with a mini version of the project picture on a number of Projects I'm involved in.
a few Examples:
http://www.geni.com/project-275
http://www.geni.com/project-735
http://www.geni.com/project-2743

Do you have to be a collaborator with the HistoryLink project in order to add projects? I tried to add a couple and they don't show up. If that's the case, I just requested to join.

By the way Terry Jackson (Switzer), I think that is a great idea.

Private, you don't need to be a collaborator on the project to add projects to HistoryLink. Which projects are you having issues with - I can try to add them and see what's going on behind the scenes that's preventing them from showing up.

They are showing up now. I guess I was just being impatient....lol

I'm having trouble adding projects again - none of the 269___ projects are loading so far.

I have, to date, had no comments about those project to which I added the link as mentioned above.
I have now however been asked by someone who is at odds with me over another matter at the moment so may be prejudiced, whether I've asked the permission of the people who started the project.
He says he finds it:
"disruptive to the flow the project, unneeded, and kind of tacky."
The project he found it on was not one he started and as I say I've had no other comments.
I originally thought it would be enough to only add to a few projects which I am a collaborator on and which are already on History Link and see if I got any adverse response. My question is:
1.Should I be asking the project creator first for permission to add this link?
2. does it look tacky? I've used the image from the project only smaller.

I don't want to take sides between two good friends, but I do have strong feelings on this subject.

HistoryLink is a valuable adjunct to Geni projects. We need more and better publicity for both. Links in the projects are an easy way to do that.

One thing about Geni is that the learning curve is scattered. There's no straight line for understanding what to do and how to do it. That means users won't know the value of adding profiles to projects unless they see it explained somewhere. And, one of the main benefits to users of adding profiles to projects is that they can get a project report for their ancestors at HistoryLink.

As I talk to users, I often find that people think projects (and HistoryLink) are for curators only. I see a general lack of interest until people understand that they can participate. If there's any doubt about this, notice Dimitri's comments above. Even a curator thought there was a time when projects were curators only.

Projects and HistoryLink will never reach their full potential if curators plan to do most of the work themselves. We need much more user involvement.

For me that means that EVERY PROJECT in HistoryLink should have a link and a very short explanation of what it is. I've been adding text at the beginning of project pages that says (for example), "Add professional cabinetmakers and furniture makers to this project. You can visit HistoryLink [link] to find out which projects include your ancestors."

Of course, there might be a better way to do it. I'd love to be talking about that.

Justin - link to your text so I can appropriate I mean copy & paste?

Terry - I like the link to HistoryLink, perhaps it can be shrinked a tad and where it is on the project page less obtrusive? This is a tweak -- when I see Justin's version I'll play with it. I had figured out centering at bottom of page code for instance so I'd want to see how that looks.

For example http://www.geni.com/projects/Cabinetmakers/26785

As I find the links I will be deleting them. Partly because, if they were projects I was involved in but hadn't started I probably should have checked first and partly because the image was so large but I couldn't find a way to make it any smaller! Being a visual artist I do like to include visuals to make things stand out, hopefully attractively.
Perhaps I should have used Justin's method. My reasons for doing it were as Justin stated.

http://www.geni.com/projects/Food-and-beverage-industry-businesspeo...
is now reworked like Justins

Terry, an additional piece -- I've been saying in the same paragraph what projects to add. Essentially that becomes a very abbreviated "scope".

I started doing that because Dimitri was haranguing me about adding a scope. I thought it would be obvious if the project is called Cabinetmakers and it has profiles of cabinetmakers, then it should be obvious. However, after a few days of thinking about it I decided that giving basic directions never hurt anyone ;)

Along the same lines, if a project is supposed to be a portal I've started adding a different kind of statement -- "Do not add profiles to this project. Add relevant profiles to related projects."

http://www.geni.com/projects/Heraldry/17907

It's usually been my style to write long explanations if I write anything at all, but I'm slowly figuring out that Internet people take a quick glance, then move on ;)