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Ancestry.com's OneWorldTree SM Frequently Asked Questions:
What is OneWorldTree? OneWorldTree (OWT) is a new search engine that compares certain data in your tree to that found in all of Ancestry.com's trees and records such as the censuses and trees in RootsWeb.com's WorldConnect Project. It then compares the data and gives you the best possible matches for individuals in each. You can then review the matches and the sources and make your own decisions. It acts like your personal research assistant! Just like a human research assistant, OWT does not own or sell any information it finds. It merely does the electronic legwork of finding the best possible matches for you. OWT will increase the number of researchers who view your tree and thus increase the possibility of you making some new connections.
Are the trees on Ancestry.com and RootsWeb.com still free? Yes! Submitting a tree and accessing a tree online is still FREE — as always.
Am I required to use OneWorldTree to view these trees? No! OneWorldTree is an optional search engine service.
Do I still own my data? Yes! Nothing has changed. You still own what you submitted.
Are WorldConnect Project trees included in OneWorldTree? They are not included in the current preview version of OneWorldTree (OWT), but will be included in the future. Ancestry World Tree and World Connect are actually one database. Trees uploaded to either site will be included in OWT in the future.
What if I do not want OneWorldTree to take my data? OneWorldTree (OWT) does not take your data. It merely searches it and provides the subscribing user with possible matches. Think of it as a "Genealogical Google." Google.com does not own the pages it searches. It is a tool to help you find what you want more quickly. That is what OWT does. You can search all these trees yourself, but with millions of names and records, that can take a long time and you might miss an important connection. OWT will increase the hits on your tree and isn't that why you put it on the Internet? However, if you do not want your data included, you can delete your tree from Ancestry.com or WorldConnect Project. Click here for instructions. Trees removed before 21 May 2004 will not be included in OneWorldTree.
What if I update my tree? Will OneWorldTree update it too? Yes, OneWorldTree will be updated. However, due to the large amount of data it indexes this will occur approximately monthly.
What about living individuals in OneWorldTree? OneWorldTree (OWT) shows persons born after 1930 as "Living SURNAME" — unless they have a death date. If individuals in your tree lack a birth or death date entry it is possible that OWT will include them, just as happens in the trees currently posted on Ancestry.com or RootsWeb.com. Check your tree data to make sure you have included enough information in the birth or death entries so the living filter can process individuals in your tree correctly.
I prefer not to display my notes or sources. Will OneWorldTree display them? No. Even if you do display them, OneWorldTree will not. The only way to see your notes and sources is to view your tree on WorldConnect Project or Ancestry World Tree and whatever conditions you selected will still apply.
What if I change my mind? Can my data be removed from OneWorldTree later? Yes. However, it probably will not happen instantly. It might not disappear until the next monthly re-indexing process.
What about my private password-protected website at MyFamily.com? Will that be included in OneWorldTree?
No. Private MyFamily.com sites will not be made public. |
