FTM best practices?

[laberday]

I'm new to genealogy (6 weeks) and am wondering what is more
efficient. Is is better to make one huge database with everyone or
keep separate files and merge them for a big picture. I currently have
over 300 people.

[Charlie Hoffpauir]

On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:26:18 -0500, laberday
<laberday-genealogy@cox.net> wrote:

I'm new to genealogy (6 weeks) and am wondering what is more
efficient. Is is better to make one huge database with everyone or
keep separate files and merge them for a big picture. I currently have
over 300 people.

Since you're using FTM, I'd say it entirely depends on whether or not
you'll be including pictures and other multimedia items with your
genealogical data. since FTM includes everything in one large file, if
you have a lot of media, your file will rapidly become huge. Most FTM
users who have a lot of multimedia items tend to maintain multiple
data files.

However, if you do not incluce a lot of images, etc, then by all means
keep all your data in one database, it makes everything much easier.

If you want to keep everyone in one database AND include images and
multimedia items, switch to another genealogy program. There are
several good ones that link the images, etc, instead of including them
in the data file(s).

Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

[Hugh Watkins]

laberday wrote:

I'm new to genealogy (6 weeks) and am wondering what is more
efficient. Is is better to make one huge database with everyone or
keep separate files and merge them for a big picture. I currently have
over 300 people.

if they are all relatives one large master file is best

it is wise to export a specific tree for the purpose if you want to add
photos
or create a "book" or a one-place or one-name study

I do a LAPHAm one-name study so exported all my mothers relatives then
added to it
other LAPHAM researchers and transcribers from around the world
contribute to it from time to time

(1) learn to use CONTROL + S
to add a source
my biggest mistake at the begining was not adding ALL sources

(2) never merge another tree with yours

before importing a file (ged or ftw) read every single entry
I usually make a working copy of the second file and delete any
duplicates and merge just with one individual as the link

(3)
learn how to correct mistakes
read the help menu and follow the links to the online knowledge base
FTM is very big and complex and has many "hidden" featurs

get to know rootsweb.com
the major freebie and community
ask for help by location or surname or other / eg census or occupation
or . . .
learn to use lists and boards

unknown cousins find me - and brickwalls vanish

start with your living relatives and family photos and papers

Hugh W


--

Beta blogger
http://nanowrimo3.blogspot.com/ visiting my past
http://hughw36-2.blogspot.com/ re-entry
http://snaps4.blogspot.com/" photographs and walks

old blogger
http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ MAIN BLOG

[laberday]

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 03:01:27 +0000, Hugh Watkins
<hugh.watkins@gmail.com> wrote:

laberday wrote:

I'm new to genealogy (6 weeks) and am wondering what is more
efficient. Is is better to make one huge database with everyone or
keep separate files and merge them for a big picture. I currently have
over 300 people.


if they are all relatives one large master file is best

it is wise to export a specific tree for the purpose if you want to add
photos
or create a "book" or a one-place or one-name study

I do a LAPHAm one-name study so exported all my mothers relatives then
added to it
other LAPHAM researchers and transcribers from around the world
contribute to it from time to time

(1) learn to use CONTROL + S
to add a source
my biggest mistake at the begining was not adding ALL sources

(2) never merge another tree with yours

before importing a file (ged or ftw) read every single entry
I usually make a working copy of the second file and delete any
duplicates and merge just with one individual as the link

(3)
learn how to correct mistakes
read the help menu and follow the links to the online knowledge base
FTM is very big and complex and has many "hidden" featurs

get to know rootsweb.com
the major freebie and community
ask for help by location or surname or other / eg census or occupation
or . . .
learn to use lists and boards

unknown cousins find me - and brickwalls vanish

start with your living relatives and family photos and papers

Hugh W

Thanks Hugh.
I already made mistake 2 which is why I considered starting over. I
allowed FTM to merge a "one World Tree" line which I knew was mine. It
only showed the children when I viewed the wife, so I merged the
husband. Apparently, if you add children before a spouse, FTM created
an unattached relationship and doesn't want to merge the spouse later.
I need to do #3 now.

I like the idea of opening the gedcom separately and cleaning it up. I
could have prevented my problem by adding the parents of an individual
deparately.

I am actively using rootsweb and ancestry. I'm listening to podcasts
from genealogy guys and dear myrtle. I started with 15 names from my
grandmother's research and am over 300.

I also find these newsgroups and rootsweb message boards extremely
helpful. I am amazed at the generosity and mentorship from long-time
genealogists.

[Hugh Watkins]

No no don't panic

merged the
husband. Apparently, if you add children before a spouse, FTM created
an unattached relationship and doesn't want to merge the spouse later.

give the spouseless relationship "spouse" a name

I use Zz (also as a temporary extra surname when fixing my errors)
because in any list pressing the to the end arrow key takes me straight
there

menu > people > merge two specific individual

then open the grey "edit person" dialogue box
facts tab
edit or delete any unwanted or duplicated facts
including the extra Zz name or surname


for safety sake
when your family is merged

select each child in turn
menus > people >> other parents

and define what kind of relationship

to each parent
natural step adopted etc etc
(this affects trees step children get left out of genelogical blood lines)

you can bet millions of users make millions of mistakes
so we all go through the same process of learning the software

Hugh W


laberday wrote:

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 03:01:27 +0000, Hugh Watkins
hugh.watkins@gmail.com> wrote:


laberday wrote:


I'm new to genealogy (6 weeks) and am wondering what is more
efficient. Is is better to make one huge database with everyone or
keep separate files and merge them for a big picture. I currently have
over 300 people.


if they are all relatives one large master file is best

it is wise to export a specific tree for the purpose if you want to add
photos
or create a "book" or a one-place or one-name study

I do a LAPHAm one-name study so exported all my mothers relatives then
added to it
other LAPHAM researchers and transcribers from around the world
contribute to it from time to time

(1) learn to use CONTROL + S
to add a source
my biggest mistake at the begining was not adding ALL sources

(2) never merge another tree with yours

before importing a file (ged or ftw) read every single entry
I usually make a working copy of the second file and delete any
duplicates and merge just with one individual as the link

(3)
learn how to correct mistakes
read the help menu and follow the links to the online knowledge base
FTM is very big and complex and has many "hidden" featurs

get to know rootsweb.com
the major freebie and community
ask for help by location or surname or other / eg census or occupation
or . . .
learn to use lists and boards

unknown cousins find me - and brickwalls vanish

start with your living relatives and family photos and papers

Hugh W


Thanks Hugh.
I already made mistake 2 which is why I considered starting over. I
allowed FTM to merge a "one World Tree" line which I knew was mine. It
only showed the children when I viewed the wife, so I merged the
husband. Apparently, if you add children before a spouse, FTM created
an unattached relationship and doesn't want to merge the spouse later.
I need to do #3 now.

I like the idea of opening the gedcom separately and cleaning it up. I
could have prevented my problem by adding the parents of an individual
deparately.

I am actively using rootsweb and ancestry. I'm listening to podcasts
from genealogy guys and dear myrtle. I started with 15 names from my
grandmother's research and am over 300.

I also find these newsgroups and rootsweb message boards extremely
helpful. I am amazed at the generosity and mentorship from long-time
genealogists.

--

Beta blogger
http://nanowrimo3.blogspot.com/ visiting my past
http://hughw36-2.blogspot.com/ re-entry
http://snaps4.blogspot.com/" photographs and walks

old blogger
http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ MAIN BLOG

[laberday]

to each parent
natural step adopted etc etc
(this affects trees step children get left out of genelogical blood lines)

This is great! I have a step-great-great aunt who is an oddball
genealogically, but lived to 100 and is very important to our family.

[Gjest]

laberday wrote:

I'm new to genealogy (6 weeks) and am wondering what is more
efficient. Is is better to make one huge database with everyone or
keep separate files and merge them for a big picture. I currently have
over 300 people.

I don't know about FTM as I have used Brother's keeper and PAF, the
latter as it quickly built a web page for me, but I have now split my
database in to 5 - 1 for each of my parents, 1 each for my wife's
parents and then a 5th holding other people who may connect to one of
my families. Part of the reasoning was that the only people interested
in all are my children and me and it means that when new information
arrives I can add it and quickly create an up date to my web site
without having to rebuild hundreds of pages.

regards

Tony Reading

[Hugh Watkins]

newsgroups@reading-family.com wrote:

laberday wrote:
snip

Part of the reasoning was that the only people interested

in all are my children and me and it means that when new information
arrives I can add it and quickly create an up date to my web site
without having to rebuild hundreds of pages.

if you do family history and work broadly you will find second and
third cousins turning up from all over the place

some will contribute their genealogies

I am still finding descendants of great uncles
one in Australia sent me a picture of my father in Usk Monmouthshire
aged about 3 which I had never seen before
another picture is a great uncle of with an unknown wife and family

so I am far from finished
I use an automated web site builder

http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=hughw36
so just upload a replacement gedcom


Hugh W
--

Beta blogger
http://nanowrimo3.blogspot.com/ visiting my past
http://hughw36-2.blogspot.com/ re-entry
http://snaps4.blogspot.com/" photographs and walks

old blogger
http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ MAIN BLOG

[Dora Smith]

Best practice in regard to FTM is throw it in the trash, and get an actual
genealogical program.

Two good ones are PAF and PAF Companion, or Legacy Pro.

Legacy even encourages you to be obsessive-compulsive about best practices.

--
Yours,
Dora Smith
Austin, TX
tiggernut24@yahoo.com
"laberday" <laberday-genealogy@cox.net> wrote in message
news:p274m21s2ov98nurkkjmufigel9pvtun99@4ax.com...

I'm new to genealogy (6 weeks) and am wondering what is more
efficient. Is is better to make one huge database with everyone or
keep separate files and merge them for a big picture. I currently have
over 300 people.

[TomAlciere]

laberday wrote:

I'm new to genealogy (6 weeks) and am wondering what is more
efficient. Is is better to make one huge database with everyone or
keep separate files and merge them for a big picture. I currently have
over 300 people.

Avoid the temptation to add extraneous stuff in the date and place
fields, which stuff belongs in the notes and sources fields.

"Fell off boat in Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts and drowned 14 June
1978" is wrong.

Say "14 June 1978" for the date. For the place, use "Scituate, Plymouth
County, Massachusetts".

For note, say "Fell off boat and drowned in Scituate Harbor."

Tom Alciere
Webmaster@GedcomIndex.com