> As you probably all have seen, the query board is down. > These are the changes that are being implemented. > ---------------------- Forwarded Message: --------------------- > From: Sharon Williamson <Watauga@att.net> > To: NCGENWEB-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [NCGENWEB] Re: [STATE-COORD-L] IMPORTANT MESSAGE BOARDS IMPROVEMENTS > Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2001 19:50:08 -0400 > > > > Tim Stowell wrote: > > Please forward to your CCs: > > IMPORTANT MESSAGE BOARDS IMPROVEMENTS > You have probably heard about the new message board changes coming about in > the next days and weeks. Ancestry.com and RootsWeb.com will be releasing a > new integrated message board system that is a combination of two powerful > message board systems (i.e., GenConnect and FamilyHistory.com). Users will > be able to take advantage of a much larger community in which to share > experience, tips, and genealogical information. Users will be able to access > these new message boards on either RootsWeb.com or Ancestry.com, and > message board access will remain free on both sites. > > We expect the new system to be more stable and have more features. > Improvements include the following: > > --- The new message boards database will be by far the largest collection of > such messages on the Internet. In fact, the FamilyHistory and RootsWeb > messages are extremely complimentary. The majority of the messages on > FamilyHistory are surname-based, while RootsWeb's strength is in the > locality and topic areas. Not only will the new combination enjoy a larger > set of data, but users will have access to a much larger audience. > > --- The new message boards can now handle attachments to e-mail messages in > the form of uploaded pictures (scanned documents, family photos, etc.) and > GEDCOM files. > > --- Users will be able to view the e-mail address of message authors and be > able to respond to them easily and privately. However, the message boards > cannot be "crawled" by unscrupulous third parties to gather e-mail addresses > for spam mailings. > > --- Search functionality will be improved compared to either the RootsWeb or > FamilyHistory systems. Search hits will be ranked by relevance and wildcard > searches are available. > > --- The hardware infrastructure supporting the new message boards is faster, > can handle larger traffic loads, and is more stable. The new system is also > less expensive over time and easier to maintain. > > The boards, however, will definitely be a change. One specific concern we > have is with existing hyperlinks to the old GenConnect system. We believe we > will be able to redirect most of the traffic to the proper destinations in > the new system, however there may be some adjustment required by USGenWeb > SCs and CCs. USGW CCs will still be able to use the new message board system > for their query requirements for XXGenWeb's. Actually, we hope that we have > preserved the important features > and conveniences from GenConnect as well as added a few new bells and > whistles. It is important to us that these new boards continue to serve the > needs of the USGenWeb users. > > We will be working hard to help you learn about the features of the new > system so that they can continue to function as important research tools. > Please help us by being communicative yet patient as we launch the new > system. For now you can direct questions/suggestions to vicki@rootsweb.com > > > ==== NCGENWEB Mailing List ==== > Formation of NC Counties: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nccatawb/countyfm.htm > >