Updating the Project to be 2014 Current

And I did the same in the Dutch users group, explained the familygroup a bit more

"for a limited time (currently) a Basic can "accept" a proposed merge" - believe this is currently seen as permanent -- which also means all reference to Basic being unable to accept merges should be deleted.

Also, pretty sure Basic can now initiate some merges -- just not sure of parameters -- do they both have to be within the Basic Members family group or ??

Additionally - Basic no longer limited to 100.

Apparently the Project was not updated when a major set of changes were made.

Also, re:
"Public versus Private

All trees on Geni, both the Big Tree and all standalone trees, can have public profiles and private profiles. "

Think it might be a good idea to mention in this section that (currently) Geni makes Private all Living Profiles (except those that are Master Profiles!!)

http://help.geni.com/entries/471431-Is-Geni-free- - Currently states: "Basic users may add unlimited profiles, merge duplicates, view enhanced relationship paths and add up upload up to 1GB of photos, videos and documents (about 1,000 photos) for free"

Thanks Lois - that's useful - It's the middle of the night here in South Africa - so I'll come back and put it into effect tomorrow morning.

Eventhough it does say that http://help.geni.com/entries/471431-Is-Geni-free- has been updated in 2014 , the original date states 2011.

Lois I believe you are correct, very helpful. Thank you.

Anne-Marie - The project has been out of date for a lo-o-ng time!! Think the changes I am mentioning went into effect around the time Geni was bought by My Heritage.

Don't know what the 2014 update to that Help section changed, but it was just a few days ago, and wish I did know!!

We will need to find out Lois that recent update puzzles me what had been updated? We will check this out.

Justin Durand - the original wording on this project is yours. I love how clear and concise it is.
I think the updates suggested by Private User are good ones, but I wanted to give you the chance to make the changes yourself. (I will if you're busy.)
Perhaps Mike Stangel can look over the final version to advise us if we've missed any other recent changes by Geni to the who/what people can do on the Big Tree.

+1 Sharon Doubell

+ 1 Sharon Doubell

Welcome to the project Private User

We've just been chatting about updates needed to make the front page 2014 current. A fresh pair of eyes would be useful.

Thanks Erica Howton! Hello All! It's been an amazing 2 years with GENI. As for what the World Tree project needs to have to make it "2014 current", list of new software developments & 3rd party collaborations on the front page perhaps, example the updates on a GENI app for IOS and Android platforms, and the tie-ups with the recent "BillionGraves" venture. It would be fruitful to keep both new & existing users informed when they visit the page. Also an expertise page, over geographical/ ethnicity coverage such as reflected on the GENI Curators page. I see there's an empty space for Middle Eastern (Arab) curators for now although there are very large trees present on GENI, and several of these are not necessarily "standalone trees". There's plenty of more ideas, but I wouldn't want to jump off topic. I believe this is more towards the qualitative feel of the World Tree rather than what merge work needs to be done, correct me if I'm wrong.

You are correct - this project is meant as a quick look / primer, with more details linked in other projects. The BillionGraves Partnership is a great suggestion.

Private User -- you are doing a great job. Glad to have you pitching in with the Middle Eastern branches of the Big Tree.

I did some updates to the project overview. Won't swear I got everything. If you want more changes, let me know -- either through public debate and drama, or by private message ;)

Will do Justin Durand! Public debates ;) Thanks Hatte Anne Blejer. Several of the data of the genealogies of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is backed from a famous Ismaili reference point which is 'Uyun al-Akhbar by Sayyidna Idrees bin Hasan al-Anf (c. 1388-1488 AD), a Dai' (Missionary) of the Musta' Ali Ismai'li faith. I believe you must have come across it through your Middle Eastern studies.

re: "A Basic user cannot initiate a merge" - NOT TRUE!

I just went in to my BASIC Account, and created a bogus sibling. Had no trouble, as Basic Member, initiating the merge with its sibling.

At the time this statement was first written, this was not possible. Now it is possible. A Basic Member can merge profiles within his Family Group - whether created by a Geni-system glitch, or human error, or a merge - such as created if a Basic Member invites a Family Member to his tree -- and that Family Member already also has a Tree. The Basic Members can now take care of these merges themselves.

You do not want to be setting Basic Members up to believe they need others to do for them that which they are perfectly capable of doing for themselves. So you need to carefully discover what is actually true now, as well as how to phrase it so everyone understands.

( I know "A Basic user cannot initiate a merge" is not true -- I honestly do not know what actually is true - ie do not know the full circumstances under which they can initiate them, and exactly when they cannot initiate them).

Just noticed: "Now, any PRO user can edit any public profile" unless locked -- This used to be true -- But - for a long time now, a Pro user in the Big Tree has been unable to edit a Public Profile in any Standalone Trees. And a Pro User in a Standalone Tree has been unable to edit any Public Profiles in any other Standalone Tree.

Do not know -- can a Pro User in a Standalone Tree edit Public Profiles in the Big Tree??

As far as I can tell, there is no longer any reason to add someone as a Family Group Member in order to facilitate Merges.

On the one hand, the Basic Member can now do the merges within the Family Group him/herself. On the other, a Curator no longer needs to be a Family Group Member to see and/or edit the Private Profiles in a requesting user's Family Group.

It is worth telling them what happens / the consequences of adding someone to your Family Group, since some may be thinking of doing it so their Friend can see something, or etc. But -- is there currently any need to do it to Facilitate merges?

oops - I said "Curator no longer needs to be a Family Group Member to see and/or edit the Private Profiles in a requesting user's Family Group." -- didn't say, but meant also the ability to merge profiles.

Actually -- should that new ability of Curators be spelled out more in the Project? Especially since merges that Curators can impose are different if in the Big Tree versus a Stand Alone Tree (and does anyone know for sure -- a Tree that has had a merge, but not to the Big Tree -- which rules is it under as far as merging by Curators??)

Lois - I believe you are on point entirely. It's been a long time since I was a Basic member & in fact I was meaning to ask about the "able to initiate" merge.

Can you check that a basic member can initiate merge in the world tree if both profiles are connected to the world tree, public, deceased ? I believe the difference there is "collaboration" & that may only be to accept the merge - in other words, anyone can propose.

I know of no reason anymore to be a family group member unless in fact you "are" a family group member.

I have never merged "within" a standalone tree. I presume I can but personally I'd rather not, as I curate to service the historic tree.

Good material, Lois, but I have no way to check. My "curator powers" (such as they are) keep me from seeing things from the perspective of a Basic user or even a PRO user.

I'm not willing to go very far in experimenting with "curator powers". From what I can see, I probably can edit a profile in a standalone tree but I get a very stern warning from Geni to remind me that I'd better not do it without permission from the user.

Hammer out the details, and I'll be happy to make the changes you recommend.

Possibly some other folks will help us here. As I said - I definitely know Basic Members CAN initiate some merges.

I also went into my Basic Account - which is NOT part of Big Tree!! - created another test profile, clicked 'More', then pasted in the URL of a Public profile in the Big Tree, and clicked 'Tree' on it -- could then 'move' the test profile onto the Public Profile and click "Yes they are the same' -- then got warning that they were in different trees, etc -- Did I want to Merge, etc -- at which point I panicked, since did NOT want the two trees merged, and it was possible someone else would approve before I could go back to other account and reject. Or maybe they would treat them as merged anyhow? In any case, looked like I could initiate the merge -- anyone else with a Basic Account willing to try further??

That Curators have no idea what the situation actually is does not speak well for Geni's documentation, nor for its communication with its primary volunteers.

Justin Durand -- can't Curators also create a separate - Basic - Account from an extra e-mail?? I can understand not be willing to pay to test out Pro - but Basic is free, just needs a separate e-mail.

I know, I could do that but the idea makes me squirm. Just a bit. It feels like cheating. No judgment ;)

Actually, if Geni wants Curators to be able to help Geni Users, I would think they should program a way for a Curator to choose to 'function as a Basic user' and 'funtion as a Pro User' [and return to 'function as a Curator', of course] -- have Curators requested this??

That would be super cool. More work, but cool ;)

I've never heard anyone suggest it, but maybe they have. My eyes glaze over when people start yammering about the tech stuff.