Shortening URLs in URL Source Field

[Jeff89]

I would imagine this question has been asked before, but I did a search of the forum and also of the manual and wasn't able to find the answer. I've been cleaning up my sources and, where possible, using a Family Search URL in the URL Source Field so that I can click on it and look at the actual record if I have any questions about the data. Unfortunately, Family Search does not link to every record - some go to a "Partner" site, like Fold3 or Ancestry. The Reunion Source Field has a 254 character limitation but the URLs at Ancestry, unlike those at Family Search, are much longer than 254 characters. I don't know about Fold3 - I haven't looked. Is there some way to shorten these lengthy URLs from Ancestry so that I can link to the actual census from Reunion? I thought of using a URL shortening service, but that has its drawbacks. I'll call Ancestry to see what their answer might be, but if anyone has any ideas here, I'd appreciate them!

Thanks,

Jeff

[donworth]

Re: Shortening URLs in URL Source Field

Well, I suppose you could always use tinyurl.com - they claim their redirects never expire. Of course they would if tinyurl.com goes away someday but so far it hasn't - it's been there for several years.

I generally download all the record images from Ancestry and store them as JPGs on my computer. Makes it easier to share information with others in my family who don't necessarily have an Ancestry.com subscription.

Don

[Jeff89]

Re: Shortening URLs in URL Source Field

I generally download all the record images from Ancestry and store them as JPGs on my computer. Makes it easier to share information with others in my family who don't necessarily have an Ancestry.com subscription.Don

Well, I hadn't considered that. That would work for marriage records and gravestone pictures, I reckon, but I was thinking more of census records. It's something to mull over - Ancestry said that they'd refer my question to their programmers. I'm sure I'll never hear a peep out of them. I did notice that Fold3 also has short URLs, so I rather wonder if Ancestry has long URLs to prevent exactly what I'm trying to do. It just seemed like an easy way to look up a census record if, later down the road, I asked myself, "did the census really say that??"

Thanks for the thoughts.

Jeff

[donworth]

Re: Shortening URLs in URL Source Field

Jeff,

I download the census images too from Ancestry.com. Just click on the DOWNLOAD button in the viewer screen and then "to my computer". It goes into your Download folder on the Mac as a JPG. You have to rename it to something intelligible. Mine are like this:

JONESJohnPaul1850censusHighlandCoOH.jpg

That way all of John Paul Jone's census records sort together in my sources folder in chronological order.

In other places (Ancestry summary screens or on other web sites) I use the built-in screenshot function on the Mac to capture the pertinent part of the screen (command-shift-4) and rename the resulting PNG file as above and put it in the sources folder.

If you want, you can add all of your source image files to the Reunion record as media files. (I don't bother since I can find them easily enough in my source folder by the file name)

Don

[Michael Talibard]

Re: Shortening URLs in URL Source Field

If you want, you can add all of your source image files to the Reunion record as media files.

[Jeff89]

Re: Shortening URLs in URL Source Field

[QUOTE=Michael Talibard;39657]

[jcmurphy]

Re: Shortening URLs in URL Source Field

... I've been cleaning up my sources and, where possible, using a Family Search URL in the URL Source Field so that I can click on it and look at the actual record if I have any questions about the data...

I agree with donworth and Michael Talibard - grab the JPEG from the website. Or print the page as a PDF. These files become the multimedia in your Source documents. That way you will always have a copy - even if the website goes away.

URLs don't always remain the same. If Ancestry and Fold3 become one big happy website, then all of the URLs will probably change and none of the saved links will work. I'd suggest making note of the website (www.ancestry.com or www.fold3.com) and grabbing a copy of the JPEG.

[Jeff89]

Re: Shortening URLs in URL Source Field

I agree with donworth and Michael Talibard - grab the JPEG from the website. Or print the page as a PDF. These files become the multimedia in your Source documents. That way you will always have a copy - even if the website goes away.

URLs don't always remain the same. If Ancestry and Fold3 become one big happy website, then all of the URLs will probably change and none of the saved links will work. I'd suggest making note of the website (www.ancestry.com or www.fold3.com) and grabbing a copy of the JPEG.

Yes, I see the wisdom of your thoughts and will go through my sources, grab the necessary screen captures or whatever and store them locally so that they can be added as a multimedia item. Better late than never!

Jeff