In posting a query, the connection to the board on which you are posting should be included in your query. If the board is a USA County board, the County connection must be mentioned. Use the State (Unknown County) board only if the county is not known, or multiple counties are involved. For International and Topic boards the connection to the topic of the board should be included. Messages posted on Surname boards must include the surname (or a variant thereof) in the message and the Surname Box.

Q. How do I select a subject for my post?
A. When you choose a subject you should try to be as concise as possible, but try to cover the basics of who, when, and where. For example, if you are posting a query about John Smith who was born in 1832 in Pittsburgh, PA an informative subject line would be exactly that: "John SMITH, born 1832, Pittsburgh, PA." Never use all purpose, non-informative, subject lines such as: "searching," "looking," "genealogy," "family search." Remember that everyone using these boards is searching and looking for their ancestors. Ask yourself if the subject you have posted will help others to understand the topic of your query. If the answer is YES you have chosen an informative subject line.

Q. May I include International characters in my messages posted on the board?
A. Many International Characters may be used in your posts. Please refer to this list: http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/help/code.html

Q. How do I post documents to the message boards?
A. The basics are the same as for posting a query only the document category selections are not used for queries, they are used when you are posting data from public or private records. Either complete transcriptions of documents, or abstracted information, is permissible. Documentation of source material is strongly encouraged. In the case of family Bible records it is most helpful to list who has possession of the Bible or how the information was accessed.

In the case of copyrightable material such as many Biographies and some Obituaries and other newspaper clippings, review the information found on this page before posting to the appropriate board.

You may also wish to include an image file uploaded as an attachment in connection with your data post.

Q. How do I reply to a query?
A. Posting a reply to a query is no different from posting an original query other than the fact that the reply is posted from the page on which the original query is located by clicking on 'Post Reply'. Posting a reply establishes a "thread" or topic of discussion and connects the reply to the query.

Q. How do I include a hotlink (URL) in a message?
A. You may include a hotlink (URL) directly in the message body by typing the exact URL starting with 'http://'. If you want the URL to be displayed as a hotlink do not add any HTML anchors, type in only the URL itself. When you post the message it will automatically be displayed as a link.

Hint: use links in messages to link two related posts together, or to link a message to a Web page or database. The possibilities are endless!

Q. How may I have a message edited or deleted once I post it?
A. You can request that corrections be made with regard to the message type (Classification), Surname Box, and/or Subject line. The message body cannot be edited once posted. You may request that a post you have authored be deleted by clicking on the link to 'Report Abuse' and selecting 'Other' as the reason for your request (preferred method), or by contacting the board administrator at the contact address located on the 'Links & Announcements' page for the board or, in the case of an unadministered board, by contacting the Message Board Administration Team at: messageboards@rootsweb.com. You may then repost a corrected message.

For additional information about posting and replying to a message, see Message Board Help.

Message Boards/Mailing Lists and the Gateway
Q. What are the advantages of the message boards versus a mailing list?
A. Both mailing lists and boards are valuable research tools. A mailing list is an excellent place for in depth discussion among list subscribers who are usually serious researchers of the list subject. Discussion on a mailing list tends to cover a topic at length, and when that topic is exhausted a new discussion begins on another subject. The strength of a mailing list is the ability to include a large number of people and opinions in an ongoing, in depth, discussion benefiting list subscribers immediately.

By contrast, message boards like those at Ancestry.com and RootsWeb.com provide a resource to be used by anyone who chooses to post a message or search the boards, quite possibly involving a surname or topic only indirectly related to their research. There is no requirement to subscribe to a discussion group to make a contact through a search, or post a query or reply on a board. A board is often a great place to post a query about your "dead end" or "brick wall" ancestors. A far larger audience will search the boards over a period of time than will subscribe to any one mailing list.

Q. What is the gateway which links message boards and mailing lists?
A. This exciting feature was designed to integrate a message board with the mailing list for the same subject (surname, locality, etc.). Many mailing list administrators opt to have a mailing list receive "gatewayed" messages--messages which are originally posted on a corresponding message board. When the list and board administrators agree to use the gateway all messages posted to the corresponding board are instantly copied in full to the allied list.

When you see gatewayed messages on a mailing list to which you subscribe, and you wish to reply to the message, you should be aware that the poster of the message is most likely not subscribed to the list. Replies should be made on the board by going to the URL (address) in the gatewayed message. Your reply on the board will then be "gatewayed" back to the list as well.

If you can click on the URL to access the message you should do so, and others (mainly AOL users) who cannot should copy and paste the URL into the browser window. By replying on the board you ensure that the poster will see the reply to the message he posted and also that the thread of the message is preserved on the board for the benefit of future researchers who may find the messages in a search.

For additional information, see Message Board Help.

Registration/Login
Q. I'm unfamiliar with having to register or login to use certain board functions. Why do I now have to register and login?
A. There are many benefits to the requirement of registering and logging in. Registration of account information enables universal changes of account information including e-mail changes. Registration also protects your identity, and greatly reduces the potential for abuse of the boards. If you register/login to post, you do not have to enter your name and e-mail information for each message posted. The information is on file for you and entered automatically.

Q. I don't want to have my full name and/or e-mail address on the posts I make on a board and yet when I login my full name and e-mail address automatically show up on any posts I make. Is there a way to avoid this?
A. Yes. Change/set up the Post Name and Post E-mail boxes in 'My Profile' to reflect a Name (alias) and/or e-mail address of your choice. Your actual name and e-mail address remain in our database but only your 'alias' is posted on the board.

For additional information about Registration and Login, see Message Board Help.

Reporting Abuse
Q. I've found messages on boards that are not appropriate for the board on which they are posted, which are offensive in nature, or violate message board rules. How do I let someone know to remove them?
A. If the board has an administrator you may report abuse in one of two ways. You can click on 'Report Abuse' and complete and submit the requested information, or you can click on the 'Links & Announcements' link to access the administrator's informational page. You will find contact information on this page. You can e-mail the administrator about the message in question. Be sure to tell him which board and post are of concern.

If the board does not have an administrator (staff administered boards) click on the 'Report Abuse' link on the board and complete the form with information for the Message Board Administration Team about the inappropriate or abusive post or write to: messageboards@rootsweb.com.

For additional information, see Message Board Help.

Requesting a board topic
Q. I've searched for a board topic I'd like to discuss with other researchers but no board is presently available for this topic. May I request a new board for this topic?
A. Yes. You may request that a new board be created for a Genealogical Research Topic, locality, or surname of interest to you if an appropriate board doesn't already exist. Complete the information requested after clicking on the 'Request Board Topic' link, and submit your request. You will be notified by e-mail informing you whether your request has been approved or denied.

Q. Do I need to take any administrative responsibility for a new board subject that I request?
A. No. Board creations are completely separate from requesting to serve as the administrator for a board. However, should you choose to do so, you may request to adopt a board after it is created.

For additional information, see Message Board Help.

Become An Admin (Adopting a Board)
Q. How do I adopt a board once it has been created if I would like to serve as the board administrator?
A. Click on the link to 'Become An Admin' located on any adoptable board while you are on the board. Complete the information requested and submit your request. You will be notified by e-mail informing you whether your request has been approved or denied.

For additional information, see Message Board Help.

Support
Q. How do I obtain answers to questions I may have that are not answered in the FAQ or Message Board Help pages?
A. There is a mailing list and a message board for discussion among message board users, and the Ancestry and RootsWeb HelpDesks are also always available to answer any questions you may have.

For information on locating these resources, see Message Board Help.

AOL
Q. I'm an AOL user and I cannot click on the URLs in the notices I receive about replies to my board posts, or URLs in notices from boards to which I subscribe. How can I access the board messages from the notices I receive?
A. If you are an AOL user and/or if you cannot click on URLs in e-mail notices, highlight the ENTIRE URL (address) of the response to your query, or new message notification, and copy the URL to the Windows Clipboard. Paste it into your browser window. Click "Go" or press Enter to access the message.

For additional information, see Message Board Help.