Indexes and finding aids to records are great, but there are still many records of genealogical value that are unindexed and have to be searched manually. Some of these records available in digital format and others are not. If you're only using records that are already indexed, you are probably missing out on a great deal of information.
Beware, the indexer may have mis-transcribed the name.
ReplyDeleteI can not open any of the indexed items that I find?
ReplyDeleteWhat site are you talking about Wendy?
DeleteI have not been able to open any files that
ReplyDeletehave came up in my research. Am I doing something wrong.
Depends on the site you are on, Wendy. You may be on a paid subscription site and if you are not a member, you can't open the file. For example, if you are not a member of ancestry.com, you can't access all their files except for the 1940 census and unless it is a free weekend, etc.
DeleteEven if you are using a free site, such as familysearch.org, the record may be one that has rights owned by someone else and you still won't be able to open it.