Q. I hit the enter key before I was finished and lost all the information I had entered. Do I have to re-enter it all again to continue?
A. No, simply click on your back button/arrow and it will carry you back to the page that contains your information. Simply finish filling out the form and hit enter again. When you hit the enter key, the form is automatically sent to the proper state manager.  Each state manager knows to watch for duplicate submissions, and will use the last one that was sent. OR Another solution to the problem of an electronic form being sent before the submitter is ready is to fill out the form offline. You'll find the command "work offline" in the file menu. When you're ready to send the form, you can go back to the command and click again (the check mark will disappear). If you accidentally hit the "enter" key while you're working offline, you'll be told the email address you're sending the form to isn't available, but just click on the button for continuing to work offline.

Q. Can I send in a GEDCOM instead of a family group sheet?
A. It is not feasible for us to accept GEDCOM's due to the problems it creates for the individual FGS Project managers. To accept GEDCOM's, it would mean that each manager would have to own some type of special program that will open a GEDCOM, a special virus program that would scan the GEDCOM for a virus, then a special program to convert the GEDCOM into a FGS. FGS Project state managers are just volunteers, who may or may not have the resources to obtain and/or store such programs, so requiring them to have this would result in the loss of valuable workers for the project. If you would like to convert your own GEDCOM's into group sheets, (it is free and easy to do) you might consider doing this.

Q. Will you correct my spelling or typing errors?
A. Email the state manager with (state name) FGS Correction in the subject line and what you would like changed on the group sheet in the body of the email.

Q. I have new information I would like to put on the group sheet I previously submitted.
A. Email the state manager with (state name) FGS additional info in the subject line and your new information in the body of the email. OR Go to the online FGS that you need to change. In your browser, click "File," "Save as," and save the file
to your hard drive; do not change the file name. Open the file in Notepad and make your changes. Save the file. Copy it into an email with the state, file name and the word correction in the subject line and send it to the state manager.

Q. If I do not know when a person died, can I still place him/her on the sheets?
A. I am not allowed to place living people's names on the web site. If they were born after 1903 and you do not have proof they are deceased, then do not add them to the group sheet. Just put living instead of their name and leave the rest of their information blank. If you add their name & information, then I will either inform you that your sheet can not be added or I      may place "living" in the place of the name and delete all identifying data which was entered including dates and places. Estimate the date of death if you know they are deceased, but do not know the exact date

Q. I have a female head of household that isn't/never married but has children. How do I enter this family?
A  If they had children but were not married, in place of the husband's name, put the word None, then fill in the rest of the group sheet normally. If they had a common law husband and children, fill the group sheet out normally but stipulate it by putting (Never married) in front of both the names. If they had children by different men, put (1) or (2) or (3) etc behind each childs name and under the documentation area make a note of (1) child of Jane Doe and Harry Smith, (2) child of Jane Doe and John Brown, etc., or child of Jane Doe and unknown father.

Q. Who owns the FGSs?
A. The submitter owns the sheets that they submitted. The FGS Project does not own any of the group sheets, and does not give permission for anyone to use them. We simply put them online for the submitter.

Q. If I do not know the name of a child, should I leave the space blank?
A. Place "unknown" in the name space and enter all data you do know.

Q. Can I send you an attachment with FGSs?
A. Please do NOT send me attachments. I will not open them.

Q. I don't want to give my name. Will my email address be enough?
A. No, we must have your name & email address, or name and snail mail address.

Q. I found a bad link or broken image. What do I do?
A. Email the state manager with (state name) FGS bad link in the subject line, the problem in the body of the email, and I will fix the bad link ASAP.