Record Seek/Tree Connect Part 1 of 2

 Google Image

Tree Connect is yet another feature that makes your Family History work more accurate and more streamlined.  Until recently we have been manually creating a source for Family Tree in The Source Box when adding any document.  Then we were able to automate this process internally in Family Search with the Record Search feature that was added for sourcing records from the FS Record Collections on the Family Tree's Person Details screen.  Now we have Tree Connect for sources outside of the Family Search Record Collections.

Tree Connect connects documents that are from other sites like ancestry.com or findagrave.com for example.  These third party sites were a lot more work to source as you had to copy the url and create a source for them in your source box on FamilySearch.  (Your source box is found on home page on Family Search, in the drop down menu, under your username at familysearch.org) 

Tree Connect allows you to bypass that process now and have a standardized, perfect source and citation created for you!  The best part is it connects it right to your person in Family Tree.  This tool is easy to use and wonderful.  

If you do not have the Chrome Browser on your computer you should install it there and on all your devices for optimum use with Tree Connect.

More simply stated by this Google image!
 

How to install  Tree Connect:  Click on this link: http://recordseek.com/#primaryContent  Click on the 'Need Help?' at the bottom right of the screen and it shows you how to just drag it to your Bookmark Toolbar.  2 seconds and you will be connected to a site that will save you tons of time.

Multiple Browsers can be equipped with the Tree Connect button on the Bookmark Toolbar.

Here is how it looks on my Mac.  You windows subscribers will have to check out how it looks for you.

You can install it on any of the main browsers, Firefox, IE, Chrome, Safari.  But we have tried it on several and it works the fastest and best on Chrome.

I was working with a friend and we had trouble getting that Bookmark Toolbar on Chrome, which has to be visible before you can drag something on to it, right?   So when it was time for me to add the bookmarklet to the Chrome browser on my own computer I Googled: chrome~tree connect bookmarktlet~install.  I found this handy little help there!

 These instructions made perfect sense and I got the Tree Connect bookmarklet right on, no problem.

In the process we learned a lot about how the various browsers work with Tree Connect.

 Why Chrome is the Best!

 The Chrome browser seems to be the most stable giving consistent results with Tree Connect.

One of the things that makes the Google Chrome browser unique is that you can sign in when you use it.

Signing in is the key to its mobility!  It now functions in The Cloud.   You can now access your Chrome Bookmark toolbar from any devise after installing the mobile app for the Chrome Browser for that device if you don't already have it.  It also enables you to use it on any computer anywhere that has the Chrome Browser as an option.  

This makes it perfect for any family history library that is running Chrome as one of the browser choices.  The OFSL does have chrome as an option.  Once you select it and sign in, your entire Chrome Bookmark Toolbar with your Tree Connect button is mobile.  This is particularity useful for people on the go.  Tree Connect has a very short learning curve and once you have used it a few times it will be automatic, quick and easy.

Coming up next...How to use Tree Connect.