Still feel out of my depth

Question

I've been on the site and slowly working individual by individual on my tree but I still feel like I don't have a clue what I'm doing. If I were starting from scratch, how would I learn everything this is to know. Is there a dummy's guide?

Comments

I can totally commiserate with you. I have been using Wikitree for about five years and still am constantly embarrassed by my ignorance. Every day is How did they do that? What are they talking about? 

Like this very sentence, I can't figure out how to turn off the italics! haha

 

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I just slowly learned more by practice. Still a very long way to go. Yes, there are help pages for everything, and when I want to see how someone has added a feature like a sticker or category, I look at it in edit mode.

Still, there are probably a million+ features here that I have yet to see, and that is what keeps it interesting.

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Learning the same way. Finding a profile that you like is a great way feel your way through, though.  Like anything else, I suppose, the chase is where most of the fun is anyway.

Answer 1

Did you look at these pages?

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:New_Member_How-To

Answer 2

It's completely normal to feel a bit lost when starting with Wikitree, but you're on the right track by actively working on your family tree.  Since Wikitree is a collaborative community, your efforts become part of a shared resource that others can build upon, rather than starting from scratch.

Here's a suggestion: choose a profile as an example and seek feedback on how to enhance it. You're likely to receive a variety of valuable suggestions. Take the advice that resonates with you, and make the necessary improvements. Repeat this process until you're confident in your understanding.

Additionally, don't hesitate to ask specific questions about any features or profiles you encounter and wish to comprehend better. The community is here to help you navigate the intricacies of genealogy and make your experience as smooth as possible.

Remember, there's no need to rush. The journey of genealogy is about enjoying the process and discovering your family's history over time. Keep adding profiles, asking questions, and learning from your experiences. You're contributing to a collective effort, and your work will benefit not only you, but also future generations of researchers.

Answer 3

I decided I wasn't very proficient at Wikitree and found a project to join that led me through the the steps of adding well researched profiles.  I was extremely happy with my progress and am now actively looking at sourcing or fixing profiles that need help.  I highly recommend looking at the project volunteer threads for a subject that interests you.   You could also reach out for a mentor that could guide you through the areas you feel less adept at.  Good luck and please don't give up.

Answer 4

Totally understandable! There is a lot here, and depending on how much "techie" stuff you knew when you started, the learning curve can be steep.

One this I do is to Google search "Wikitree" and then the thing I'm wanting to figure out, as best as I can describe it. Google is very well integrated with Wikitree and it's also good at figuring out what the thing you're trying to do is called. It's hard to look it up or find a Help page when you don't know the terminology.

Also, you might like to sign up for the Profile Improvement Project (PIP). You can find the thread posted here on G2G. A mentor will help you learn tips and tricks, one on one. Well worth the time.

Hope these help!

Answer 5

There is a lot to learn, and I’m still learning … tables is the next thing I ought to master!!

The thing is, you don’t need to master everything at once, I can always go back to profiles and change text to tables in the future, or if I leave it it’s still fine. There is not one set perfect way to produce a profile, rather gathering the information to share with others is more important. It can be refined in the future.