BJ, I have compacted and have my FTM back on manual sync just in case. I am on the family page and click on the spot usually beside the name in the column to the left. I click "add new source citation". Many times it is a book so I also add some citation text. When I click OK, the family file starts sorting. It is not blank, it has as you call it "the busy icon". I was just calling it resorting for a lack of something else to call it. Sometimes I'll leave it and it will finally come back up. With FTM 2011, I did have the busy icon for awhile when I merged two specific people, but not when I added sources. I can't understand the connection between people and sources either. I have found a sort of "get around" if I have to look for somebody while the busy icon is there. I can go to "person" then click on "index of individuals" after a minute or so a window will come up with the index, and I can search and go to a particular person in my database. But that takes more time and patience. Thanks for your thoughts and help, Susan -- --- Susan C. Johanson, Haymarket, VA http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=johanson http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/o/h/Susan-C-Johanson/ ...Searching for footprints in the sands of time...