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WELCOME BACK!
Greetings All!
First of all Ancestry Aid would like to wish all our members and staff a very happy new year!
Well, it has been a bit of a slog but we have finally got here in the end. As you can see Ancestry Aid has gone through a major update. There have been some great new features added and some features removed. I will do my best to list them all:
DESIGN
AA has had a complete face-lift for a cleaner and fresher look for 2008. The face lift was also required to support the new features that have been implemented.
EASIER SEARCHING
The main page now uses a single search form to search our various databases at the click of a button. The "Quick Search" form has been added for ease and speed. The facility for exact or near matches has also been implemented.
1841 CENSUS DATABASES
Streamlined into a quicker and more compact facility. Again, this uses one form only for searching all three databases rather than seperate pages. The census has also been updated with more records.
Search results now have a "Hover" feature for ease of reading and browsing.
AA GEDSEARCH SYSTEM
The new AA Gedcom upload system has now also been added. You can now upload your gedcom file to the database to allow others to help or ask for help with regards to your research.
Uploading your Gedcom file is a very simple and pain free task. Take a look for your self and you will soon see. Other features are as follows:
1: Upload your Gedcom file with a simple click.
2: Gecom files from the AA Tree Maker aswell as Genes Reunited are compatable with the system.
3: Search other files in the database.
4: Search results contain very useful information to help you with your query, these details include full name, DOB, DOD, Birth Place, Gender, Last Updated and any other additional information.
5: All records searched will also display the owner of the Gedcom file and the means to send the owner a message or a question if you need to.
6: Each time you upload your updated gedcom file your previous gedcom data will be automatically deleted. This will reduce double records.
7: The "Hover Here" system is also used here for ease of reading.
MOST WANTED SURNAMES OF INTEREST
The surnames of interest database has also had a shake up. The facility has now had more fields added to it so members can increase the informational content of their records. Features for this include:
1: Search by name or search by site member name. Searching by name will return results for the name searched whereas searching by site member name will return all records submitted by the member name entered.
2: Results are the same as above with the ability to contact the record owner by Private Message and the hover system is used.
3: Members can submit their records by using a simple form.
4: Members who have submitted records have the ability to edit their records at any time by clicking "Edit Your Records" found on the left of the page. This is handy to keep your records up to date.
AASTORE
The AAStore has now got a home within Ancestry Aid. This is an affiliation with Amazon.co.uk and Ancestry Aid will receive a commission on any items purchased through this system. These commission payments will then go to help us with the running costs of AA.
Please Note: This facility uses the latest secure technology from Amazon and is completely safe to use.
MESSAGE BOARDS
As you can see the forums have also had a facelift and have been streemlined to cope with the ever increasing usage of the site. I will now add a list of features added and features removed:
ADDED
1: The forums have been properly intergrated into the style of Ancestry Aid.
2: PM's to members from staff now carry a verified security certificate to show our members that it's contents are safe.
3: PM notification will now show you if you have any unread PM's.
4: Quoting previous posts have now been improved so the members can multi quote posts. i.e you can now quote more that one post at a time.
5: Infraction System has been implemented. Due to recent PM spamming issues we now have a system where staff members can issue non compliant members with an infraction. This comes in the form of either a warning or an actual infraction point. If infraction points are incured certain facilities within the boards will be inaccessable, such as the PM facility or posting etc.
REMOVED
1: The gallery has been removed. See **Security Issues** below.
2: AA Top List - This was removed to ease pressure on the database server load and for time pressures on staff members.
3: Personal Avatars - **Security Issues** - (members who currently have personal avatars are not affected by this but will be unable to change them).
4: Personal Pictures - **Security Issues** - (As above)
5: Vital Records - After much thought the vital records system was removed for a number of reasons. First, there was not very much usage on this system. Second, it was thought that with the improvement of the surnames facility and the added Gedcom facility these records would be just a duplication of records. Finally, the time to re-construct the whole system would be a long process.
**SECURITY ISSUES**
The item above that display the security issues text have been removed due to attempted hacks from outside the site. These flaws were not noticed until the update started and it was decided to remove these features rather than run the risk of damage to the site.
There are other features within the site that have either been removed or has beed added but the above are the more prominent.
AA CHAT ROOM
At the moment the chat room has been closed. AA owners are currently deciding wether to leave it out completely or to add it back in. It was noticed that the chat was not really being used that much hence why it has not yet been added back in. More info on this will follow.
We do hope that you are happy with the new site. More info will be added to this thread as and when more updates are available.
Happy new year to all and a big welcome back.
Kindest regards.
.gif "(talk)")
but past experiences of change have proved to me that I CAN adapt, and even embrace change, 
D and from what I've seen so far..........everything looks pretty dam* good, very tasteful and easy to navigate. So a big thank you and 
