Navigation Help (Locating a Board)
Search Help
Post/Reply Help
Preview, Edit, and Post Message Help
Printing a Message Help
Gateway Help
Add To Notifications Help/My Notifications Help/Replies
Message Response E-mail Notification Help
Registration/Login Help
My Profile Help/Changing E-mail Address, Name, or Password Help
Report Abuse
Requesting a Board Topic Help
Adopting a Board Help
Support: User Support Help
Support: Admin Support Help
Add To Favorites Help/My Favorites Help
AOL (Accessing URLs in E-mail Notices) Help
'Info' link Help

The message boards are divided into three main categories: Surnames, Localities, and Genealogical Research Topics. Surnames are further broken down alphabetically. Localities start at the highest level with countries, then move to a second level such as USA States, and subsequently to a third level for USA Counties or their equivalent. Genealogical Research Topics are listed by topic.

To search for a board, type the name of the board you wish to locate into the 'Find a Board' box. Select the 'Soundex' option (available on many pages) if you are searching for a Surname board and are unsure of the exact spelling of the surname, or are interested in variant spellings of the surname. You may also select the Soundex option if you are unsure of the spelling of any board name.

Navigate or browse to a board by following category and sub-category folders, clicking on them until you reach the desired board. You can always identify where you are in the board hierarchy by looking at the yellow bar above the file folders which will show you the path to the page you are presently viewing. If you entered the boards from Ancestry.com the path may look something like this: Ancestry - Localities - United States - States - Pennsylvania. If you entered the boards from RootsWeb.com the path would look like this: Rootsweb - Localities - United States - Pennsylvania.

Clicking on the words 'Message Boards' above the search box in the upper left portion of the page will return you to the main page of either the Ancestry.com or RootsWeb.com Message Boards depending upon your entry point.

Clicking on Login/Log out in the upper right corner allows you to login to use board features that require Registration/logging in (such as posting messages, setting up 'My Notifications', or adopting a board).

'Thread' and 'Date' (Collapse/Expand) links allow you to view the messages on a board either in outline form (collapsed) or as full text messages (expanded) in groups of twenty five at a time either in threads reversed by date (most recent first), or by date alone reversed (most recent first). Clicking on 'Next' or 'Previous' allows you to view the next or previous twenty five messages on the board.

For additional information, see Message Board FAQ.

Search Help
Search all boards, search a category, or search only one board by selecting the appropriate button depending upon your location within the board hierarchy. Perform a simple search by typing in a surname (last name), or keyword or phrase, and click 'GO!' In all searches, keywords or phrases will be searched for the closest to the least exact match in that order.

For a more specific search click on the Advanced Search link. Complete any or all of the items on the Advanced Search form: 'Find Messages Containing:' (list a keyword or phrase), 'With Subject Containing:' (only the message subjects will be searched from this box), 'By Author:' (the poster's name will be searched), 'Posted in the last:' (select time period from drop down menu--week, month, 6 months, year, anytime), 'With Surname:' (searches the Surname Box entries only) with a check box to use a Soundex search for the Surname Box, 'With Message Type:' (Select from the drop down menu: All, Bible, Biography, Birth, Cemetery, Census, Death, Deed, Immigration, Lookup, Marriage, Military, Obituary, Pension, Will). When finished, click 'Search'.

Searches support trailing wildcards represented by an asterisk * following a minimum of the first three letters of the keyword or surname.

For additional information, see Message Board FAQ.

Post/Reply Help
If you are not already a registered Ancestry.com user, you must register before posting a message for the first time. Click here to register now. Once registered, you must log in before posting to the boards using the username and password you established for your account. Click here to login now.

Click on 'Post Message' to post a new message on any board. If you are viewing a message on a board, you can choose between posting a new message or posting a reply to the message you are viewing. If you elect to post a reply it will be 'threaded' with the message to which you are replying. Threading means that responses are grouped with the original message rather than standing alone. Posting a response as opposed to an original message also means that if the previous posters in the thread have elected to receive e-mail notification of responses (the default setting) they will be notified of your reply.

Subject Box: 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.

Surname Box: Only surnames (last names) should be listed in the Surname Box, and each should be separated by a comma. The Surname Box is used to index the surnames in your message and is not to be used for listing surnames not included in the message text.

Categories (drop down menu): Use this menu to select from a list of data types. Data categories (non-query) should only be selected when you are posting actual data and not queries about data. For example, a query about a will is still a query. The menu item for wills should not be selected for queries.

Also see: Message Board FAQ for tips on posting an effective message.

Preview, Edit, and Post Message Help
After you have composed your message and completed all required items, you can select either the 'Post Message' button (if you are absolutely certain that the message is exactly as you wish to post it), or the 'Preview Message' button if you would like to view the message as it will appear on the board BEFORE it is actually posted. The preview screen allows you to select from 'Edit Message' or 'Post Message' buttons. Use the 'Edit Message' button (and not your browser's "back" button) to edit the message if necessary prior to finally selecting the 'Post Message' button which will post the message on the board.

Printing a Message Help
While viewing a message, click on 'Print Message' to view a printer friendly text version of that message. Click on your browser's print icon, or follow your usual print procedure, to print the message. Use the 'Return to Message' link to return to the message in the normal display.

For additional information, see Message Board FAQ.

Gateway Help
The gateway 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.

For additional information, see Message Board FAQ.

Add To Notifications Help/My Notifications Help/Replies
If you are not already a registered Ancestry.com user, you must register before adding a board to 'My Notifications' for the first time. Click here to register now. Once registered, you must log in before adding a board to 'My Notifications' using the username and password you established for your account. Click here to login now.

'My Notifications' allows you to receive an e-mail notification whenever a new message is posted to a board. To receive notices, click on the link that says 'Add To Notifications' while viewing the board in which you are interested.

To remove your address from the notification list for a board, click on the word 'Remove' beside the listing for that board.

The notifications you receive include links (URLs) taking you directly to the new message on the board. AOL users and others who cannot click on URLs in e-mail notices, click here for additional information.

Message Response E-mail Notification Help
When you post a query or data on a message board, unless you uncheck the box on the board to be notified when someone replies to your message, you will receive an e-mail notice of the response. You will receive a notice if a reply is posted anywhere within a thread to which you have posted a previous message in that thread. AOL users and others who cannot click on URLs in e-mail notices, click here for additional information.

For additional information, see Message Board FAQ.

Registration/Login Help
First-time users must register to set up an account to use some features of the message boards. To register, complete all required items on the registration form. Select a unique username and password. Verify your password. Complete the entries for first name, last name, and e-mail address. Click submit when all information has been properly entered.

Registration of account information enables universal changes of account information including e-mail changes, as well as helping to protect your identity and eliminate abuse.

My Profile Help/Changing E-mail Address, Name, or Password Help
Changing your e-mail address, name, or password is accomplished in one easy step by clicking on the 'My Profile' link. Complete any changes in the 'Change My Information' or 'Change My Password' boxes and click 'Submit'. Your account information is changed universally.

For additional information, see Message Board FAQ.

Report Abuse
When viewing a message that you deem to be inappropriate, or in violation of board or posting rules, click on 'Report Abuse'. State your reason for objection: Spam, Obscenity, Impersonation, Personal Attacks, Other. Be sure to include any additional comments in the 'Comments' box. Click on 'Submit'. Either the board administrator or Message Board Administration Staff will review and approve/reject your objection.

For additional information, see Message Board FAQ.

Requesting a Board Topic Help
If you are not already a registered Ancestry.com user, you must register before Requesting a Board Topic for the first time. Click here to register now. Once registered, you must log in before Requesting a Board Topic using the username and password you established for your account. Click here to login now.

Click on the link at the bottom left corner of each page to request that a new board be created. New board creation requests may be submitted for Surnames (last names), localities, and Genealogical Research Topics. Surname requests must be for a single surname only. Localities must be countries, states, provinces, departments, shires, or counties/parishes or similar. Genealogical Research Topics must be specific subjects that would be of interest to a sufficient number of researchers.

Before requesting a new board, please search the already existing boards and use them where appropriate.

For additional information, see Message Board FAQ.

Adopting a Board Help
If you are not already a registered Ancestry.com user, you must register before adopting a board for the first time. Once registered, you must log in before adopting a board using the username and password you established for your account.

Adoptable boards have a link which states: Adopt This Board. Click on this link while viewing the board you wish to adopt. Click on the button to submit your request to adopt the board. You will be notified by e-mail whether your request has been approved.

For additional information, see Message Board FAQ.

Support: User Support Help
BOARDS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com is a mailing list designed specifically to assist message board users. This is a mailing list for board users helping other users with Message Board Administration Staff assisting when needed.

BOARDS-USERS Message Board is for queries covering use of the message boards at Ancestry.com and RootsWeb.com.

HelpDesk at Ancestry.com
HelpDesk at RootsWeb.com

Support: Admin Support Help
BOARDS-ADMINS-L@rootsweb.com is a mailing list designed specifically to assist message board administrators. This is a mailing list for board administrators helping other administrators with Message Board Administration Staff assisting when needed.

BOARDS-ADMINS Message Board is for queries covering the administration of the message boards at Ancestry.com and RootsWeb.com. (URL for board would go here but I don't know what that will be yet.)

HelpDesk at Ancestry.com
HelpDesk at RootsWeb.com

Add To Favorites Help/My Favorites Help
If you are not already a registered Ancestry.com user, you must register before adding a board/author to 'My Favorites' for the first time. Click here to register now. Once registered, you must log in before adding a board/author to 'My Favorites' using the username and password you established for your account. Click here to login now.

'My Favorites' allows you to create a list of your most frequently visited boards as well as a list of posts made by a specific author. 'My Favorites' provides you with quick links to all your favorites. While viewing a board, click on 'Add To Favorites' to add that board. To add an author, first click on the author's name to view a list of that author's posts. Then click on 'Add To Favorites'.

To remove an entry from 'My Favorites', click on the 'Remove' link beside that entry while viewing your 'My Favorites' list.

AOL (Accessing URLs in E-mail Notices) Help
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, included in the notice you receive taking care NOT to include any other text that may surround the URL. Copy the URL to the Windows Clipboard and paste it into your browser window. Click "GO" or press Enter to access the message. Some MAC users who are using AOL's integrated browser may not be able to directly access URLs with extensions. If this applies to you, you will need to start with the main message board pages and search, or navigate, to find the appropriate board. Click here to the message boards main page.

'Info' link Help
The 'Info' link takes you to a special page created by the administrator of the board you are currently viewing. This page gives you information to enable you to contact the administrator for help, and optionally, a welcome message prepared by the administrator, helpful links and suggestions, and any special instructions for posting messages on this specific board.