This article is to help you manage stickies in networks. For help with something else, select what you want to do:
Stickies are a tool for collecting, organizing, and storing all your network-related notes and information in one place. You can use them to take notes, track research progress, and create tasks related to the group of people you’re researching.
Unlike people, media, and sources, stickies are not added to your tree and are only saved within your network. If you delete a network, its stickies will also be deleted, and you won't have access to them anymore.
Tips for using stickies:
- Note problems you're working on and questions you're exploring.
- Include important details like dates, places, and relationships.
- Keep notes concise for easy reference.
- Color-code stickies using research status tags to stay organized and track progress.
- Regularly review and update stickies to keep them relevant.
Creating stickies
- Go to the network and select the Stickies tab.
- Click Create stickie.
- In the opened panel, add details for your stickie.
- Use the rich text editor to format text and add links to other pages, media, sources, and sites. For help, read Using Rich Text Editors on Ancestry.
- (Optional) Add a research status tag (this sets the stickie’s color; custom colors aren’t available yet). Only one tag can be used at a time.
- (Optional) Link the stickie to someone in your network: Click Add person, type their name, and select it when it appears.
- Click Save stickie.
Managing stickies
To edit or delete a stickie:
- Go to the network and select the Stickies tab.
- Find the stickie you want to edit or delete and click the three dots in its top-right corner.
- Choose Edit to make changes or Delete to remove it.
- Edit: Make your changes and click Save stickie.
- Use the rich text editor to format text and add links to other pages, media, sources, and sites. For help, read Using Rich Text Editors on Ancestry.
- Delete: The stickie will be deleted immediately. Deleting is permanent and can’t be undone.
- Edit: Make your changes and click Save stickie.
Frequently asked questions
Select a question below to view the answer. Select the question again to hide it.
How are stickies different from notes and comments in trees?
- Notes record facts, stories, tasks, or thoughts about individual people in a tree. Only you and those invited as editors can see and write notes.
- Comments share thoughts about people, sources, media, and facts in a tree. Anyone who can see the information you comment on can read your comments.
- Stickies are private notes about a group of people in a network. They help you collect and organize information about the group of people you’re researching in a network. Only you can see and edit the stickies in your networks.
Are stickies saved to my tree?
No. Unlike people, media, and sources, stickies are not added to your tree and are only saved within your network.
Who can see my stickies and their details?
Only you can see and edit your networks and their stickies.
How many stickies can I have in a network?
There’s no limit. You can have as many stickies in a network as you want.
Can I copy stickies from one network to another?
Not at this time. But you can manually recreate them in each network.
What happens to my stickies if I delete a tree linked to a network?
Deleting a tree also permanently deletes any connected networks, including their stickies.
What happens to my stickies if I delete a network they’re in?
Unlike people, media, and sources, stickies are not added to your tree and are only saved within your network. Because stickies aren’t saved to your tree, they'll also be deleted if you delete their network.
Are networks and their stickies available in the Ancestry App?
No. Networks and their stickies are not currently available in the Ancestry mobile app. To use networks and their stickies, use the Ancestry website.
How do I set and change the color of my stickies? Can I use custom colors?
Stickies get their color from the "research status tag" you choose when you create or edit them. Each tag has a different color to help you organize and track your progress. You can change the color anytime by editing the stickie and selecting a new research status tag. Because each tag has a fixed color, custom colors aren’t available.
How many research status tags can a stickie have?
A stickie can have only one research status tag at a time. Pick the tag that best fits its current status.
Can I put links to media or sources in my stickies?
Yes, when you create or edit a stickie, you can add links to other pages, media, sources, and websites using the stickie’s rich text editor. For help, read Using Rich Text Editors on Ancestry.
Are the “research status tags” in my networks the same as in MyTreeTags?
No, the “research status tags” in your networks and MyTreeTags are different and don't affect each other. You’ll need to manage the “research status tags” separately for each.