A word of caution about the fire-proof safe. Although the contents are protected from the actual flame of a fire, the safe may still be subjected to intense heat. FO backups on diskettes, CDs, and other magnetic media, as well as photos in the form of 35 mm slides could still easily melt or become too badly deformed to be of any use. Allan Plucinik Colorado Springs, CO NBBOONE@aol.com wrote: > I keep a copy of each backup in a small fire-proof safe, along with some > irreplaceable photos and documents. > > Nancy Burgett Boone

Keep a copy at a friend's or a relatives. I make sure I do that before I go on a trip. In a message dated 12/29/2002 12:33:50 PM Eastern Standard Time, prsmith@houston.rr.com writes: > An excellent suggestion, Bill. I keep backups on two hard drives in the > same machine in the likely event of a hard drive crash. Just keep in mind > that if all three systems are under the same roof, that roof just might burn > down. > > Anne (Percival) Kruszka

An excellent suggestion, Bill. I keep backups on two hard drives in the same machine in the likely event of a hard drive crash. Just keep in mind that if all three systems are under the same roof, that roof just might burn down. Good Hunting! -- Paul aka Graveseeker on Geocaching.com where YOU are the search engine. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill" <wharms@comcast.net> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2002 8:42 AM Subject: Re: [FO] Backup-Restore-Gedcom > There is another possibility for backups that I > don't recall seeing mentioned here, and that is > backing up the critical files on another computer > over the lan. I have a LAN with three computers. > I back-up the files to another machine. Also > about once per week, I back up the entire > directory and subdirectories where I have all of > my geneaology files. > > Keep smiling, > Bill Harms > > > ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== > The Genealogical Companion http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2399/tgc.htm > Browsable Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/family-origins-users/ >

There is another possibility for backups that I don't recall seeing mentioned here, and that is backing up the critical files on another computer over the lan. I have a LAN with three computers. I back-up the files to another machine. Also about once per week, I back up the entire directory and subdirectories where I have all of my geneaology files. Keep smiling, Bill Harms

When I print off a list of the sources in Family Origins, the file name in file manager does not show up on the printed list. The first thing that comes up is the author, not the name of the book or the name of the person who has a birth or death certificate (if I have put the state as the author of the document). In Clooz, everything is alphabetical by the name of the book or person etc. so it would be easier to coordinate the two programs if a similar list came up in FO. I am trying to check to make sure everything I have entered in FO is also entered in Clooz. To have similar lists, I would have to omit the author in FO so the name of the person or book etc. will come up, then it would be easier to compare the sources in the two programs. Does anyone have a good way to enter a source in both programs so the printed list of sources will come up with similar names without deleting the authors? Will Rootsmagic have a different way that sources are listed? I have ordered it and wonder if I should wait to get it before I try to coordinate my sources in the two programs. Treasure life....Dottie Nash CzechDot@aol.com Researching names Petr, Zeleny, Roman, Kosa, Ilek, Sutera, all from Moravia; places - Divisov, Rovne, Pohledec, Rokytno in Nove Mesto na Morave area

Dottie wrote [see original message below]: response: A printed list of sources [using Reports | Lists | source list] will print them in the same alphabetical order that you see when you "cite a source" -- the alphabetical order you created as the [source manager] NAME when you created the source. However, the printed list will show the DESCRIPTION field, which may vary from the "shortcut" NAME. For instance, you might (for sorting) name a source "WARREN, Billybob", but if you "describe" it as "Billybob WARREN, 123 Havitchur Way, Burgerville USA", then it will print [alphabetically in the "W's"] as "Billybob WARREN, 123..etc", which looks un-alphabetical for your list. I'd suggest planning to both "describe" and "name" each source in the same manner you use in Clooz, and then the lists will coincide. I love the source manager system in FO and RM, where I can have one "source", say "1890 US census", and then enter details for each person citing state, county, page, content, etc. When I print a list from source manager or reports | lists, I can get a list of each person's entry under source "1890 US census". For my database of 1400 people, I have 200 sources [could be consolidated to about 100] and 1400 citations. The list is 10 pages without citations, and 60 pages with all the citations included. The same principle applies to library collections, books with lots of people, and generic items like death index, marriage index, city directory, marriage license, Worldtree/AFT/other sites. I have no idea how to get that to happen in Clooz [probably another list at rootsweb!]. Mike RANSOM -----Original Message----- From: CzechDot@aol.com [mailto:CzechDot@aol.com] Subject: [FO] Coordinating Family Origins/Rootsmagic & Clooz When I print off a list of the sources in Family Origins, the file name in file manager does not show up on the printed list. The first thing that comes up is the author, not the name of the book or the name of the person who has a birth or death certificate (if I have put the state as the author of the document). Does anyone have a good way to enter a source in both programs so the printed list of sources will come up with similar names without deleting the authors? Will Rootsmagic have a different way that sources are listed? I have ordered it and wonder if I should wait to get it before I try to coordinate my sources in the two programs.

I've noticed several complaints about the incomplete and unhelpful search programs on various databases. I use them a lot, and have a couple of tricks to share. [none of this is special to me; I got them from other people, or the instructions.] The first rule is, LESS IS BETTER. Put in a surname and year; if there are too many hits, narrow it down with other fields, one-at-a-time. Using the wildcards can improve hits--just use the first 3 or more letters of a given or surname, then the asterisk *. Or use the "?" for a single letter. e.g., ranso* gets 12,664 hits like ransom/e, ranson/e, ransohoffer; ranso? gets only 11,865 hits for ransom, ranson, ransoh; ranso?? gets 775 hits, mostly ransome, ransone [given name] matilda gets 35,525 hits; using "matild*" gets 475 more hits[35,991], including matildah. Use every possible spelling you can think of. Sometimes, I go to SSDI and ask for metaphone & soundex on a name, and get 10-50 different spellings of the same name. Especially foreign names . . . e.g., my SEPETOWSKI list at http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/an/surnames.sepetowski/7 You can narrow a search engine to a neighborhood or all Germans, etc., if you leave out the names, just use the advanced filter features, like state-county-township, and page, or birth, or age, or birthplace. Look through the results for likely suspects. I finally found my great-grandfather in the index, years after I found him "the old fashioned way", because he was listed as "James DeGraves" instead of "James D GRAVES". A township may only have a hundred or three hundred families, which isn't a lot to look through, 10-at-a-time, in the results. A bonus is, you get to see all the neighbors. You'll quickly find all sorts of mis-spellings, and hopefully say a prayer for the saints who TRY to put these things together! But now you have clues about "George/Geroge [almost 40,000 Geroge listings!]" and "SIMTH/SMIHT/SMITH" [there are 139 SIMTH and 660 SMIHT listings in the indices]. So try all sorts of mis-spellings; you may find your [wo]man. I've found many married women by looking for only their first name and age, maybe a state or county if I get too many hits. You don't need a surname to search. Just an eye for likely suspects, by neighborhood, or by familiar name, or others-in-household. You can put in a Soundex code instead of a surname [same as using the Soundex dropdown, I suppose]. Ancestry also has the AIS indices, which are reported to have a 20% error rate. They are what we have used for years in libraries. The good part is, you can now search for all the things listed above, and get a whole lot more use out of an AIS index., like getting everyone on a census page [neighborhood] listed together. See http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/census/ais/main.htm The only trouble is, you have to note the census page, then go over to images and track it down manually if you want to see the actual entries. Not too difficult, especially for those of us who remember 286 computers and 300-baud modems. I hope other people will share their tricks at using the index features. I've had a lot of fun over the past few months, tracking down everyone in my FO database, and saving the census image in scrapbook, along with entering them in census facts. FO allows me to then print out the [e.g.] "1840 census" source list, and I can see everyone and everything I've entered. It helps me check off who "still needs to be found". Mike RANSOM

To the person asking about backups -- first of all you likely cannot have too many. Personally I back up after every hour or two of data entry both to my hard drive and to an Iomega Zip disk. That way there is one backup file on the computer's hard drive and one off the computer should the hard drive fail. Before my database became too large for a single floppy disk, I backed up there as well. Backing up to a cd is fine, but for beginners, it is easier to use a floppy or zip disk because you can backup to them directly. You can choose a particular directory for your data and backups, or just let those on the hard drive go to the default directory that FO uses, which I believe is the "My Documents" folder. It is always good to keep a series of backups over a period of time in case the database somehow becomes corrupted and you need to go back a week, month, etc. For database health, once you have done a lot of editing it is good to "pack" the database. Doing this regularly helps in cutting down the likelihood your data will become corrupted. Always back up before merging or packing your database, so if something went wrong with one of those events, you could simply restore your last backup and get back to normal. In addition to using gedcoms to share FO data in other genealogy programs, I also create gedcoms as a "super" form of packing. When you create a gedcom, it renumbers the people in the database that were eliminated by merges or deleting individuals. Every month or two I make a gedcom of my database, delete the original one and import the gedcom. Do this with care, however, and DO NOT do it if you have user defined events and sentence structure because you will have to go back in and create them. It never hurts to keep a series of gedcom files along with your backups just in case something goes wrong. Occasionally we read of someone who cannot get their backup file to work, but they could use the gedcom file they made Keeping copies at work or on a friends computer can be further insurance in case of a fire or similar catastrophe. Margaret Scheffler

----- Original Message ----- From: "gilbert9" <gilbert9@flash.net> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 5:28 PM Subject: [FO] Backing Up Files > I appreciate all the answers I've received regarding backing up my FO files. But, I'm still confused. Do/should I backup to a zip disk? If so, would I need a special program to unzip them if I ever needed them? > The *best* place is *SEVERAL* places (in the event of corruption or crash)... so save a backup to your Hard drive, a Zip disk, and even a floppy, if it fits. You can also use your CD burner (see below) > I also have a CD burner. Would/should I burn a CD and if so do I then need a special program to use the CD? > When a CD burner is first installed... it *should* have software that typically allows two choices, Music or Data. In order to create Data "files and folders" on a CD, the program typically uses some form of what is called "packet writing". Usually this support is installed and setup to load when your computer first boots up. Then all "save" operations from programs like FO or MS Word, etc. operate just like using your Hard drive or another drive, such as your Zip disk (choose a drive letter and make a folder, then save a file to that folder) If you attempt to save a file to the CD burner and get an error message, it may not be loading this support "automatically". If that is the case, you should go to your "Start Menu-->Programs" and find those associated with the burner and familiarize yourself with them *and* use the Help button. > As y'all can tell, I'm really confused on this issue. Please bear with me. > Ask away and the folks here will help, of that I'm positive!

I am trying to print out a list of Individual LDS ordinances and a list of LDS marriages from a selected portion of the database. The only way to do it print out the lists after making a separate GED because there is no way to select portions of the database otherwise like you can for other items. What else can I do, o have I missed something? Bill

Always learn backup and restore methods before spending a lot of time on linked images or special wording for reports. Had two experiences of mixed up pictures when I used genealogy database backups (not FO) so I used a copy of the FO 10 data folder with pictures for a move to this computer. Just a dozen or so pictures and no special wording. The mixed up pictures had been stored in different sub-folders and the backup for the database "assumed" that all pictures would be in a single folder. A family project is limited to very few pictures when there is a requirement to keep them in a single folder. It is worth keeping a GEDCOM as well as a backup for a favorite genealogy database, especially if the researcher skips updates. Distant relative had been using a Mac computer and kept a backup. He switched to a PC and his relatives switched to a newer Mac that could not open the old backup file. His backup had to be restored on an old Mac and then a GEDCOM was made. Sometimes genealogists use backup products supplied with a device. The backups might work okay on the same computer but not on a different computer with a newer version of Windows or different software. Elizabeth ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wayne Jones" > A GEDCOM is probably the worst method of backing up a data base - ALWAYS use > the backup facility that came with the database - all your multimedia links > will be preserved, any special citation wording will be preserved - these > two items alone can save you tons of time - not having to go back and > recreate the links and special wording.

----- Original Message ----- From: "gilbert9" <gilbert9@flash.net> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 1:24 PM Subject: [FO] New Databases > 1. As I said in an earlier email, I had a computer crash, with the help of people from this list I got my "main" database restored. > > I'm now trying to restore some smaller secondary databases but I get the following error message: > > CODEBASE ERROR > error# -210 > error# 94003 > unrecognized field name > d4field number > SORTORDER > > I then click OK and get > error# -935 > error# 94001 > null input parameter unexpected > d4 field > > It then exists the program. Any help? > The program's author (Have a Happy New Year Bruce!!) is about the only one to really understand the errors cryptic message but in general the description is below: -210 Unrecognized Field Name A function, such as d4field, was called with a field name not present in the data file. What *YOU* should do is follow the author's recommendation at the homepage for Formalsoft's Family Origins: http://www.formalsoft.com/faq.htm "I just got a "CodeBase" error in Family Origins. What does it mean?" CodeBase is the database engine which Family Origins uses. If you get a CodeBase error, it means that something may be wrong with your data. Each CodeBase error will also have a negative number associated with it that tells what type of error occurred. If you receive CodeBase error -40, or -120, you probably don't have enough free disk space to do whatever function you were trying to do (like importing a GEDCOM file). Error -60 means Family Origins couldn't open one of your files. This could either be because the file doesn't exist, or because you are trying to open two copies of the database at the same time. Any other error most likely indicates a corruption in your database. If this occurs, try the following: 1.Delete the FOWIN.INI (or FOWIN32.INI if using the Win95 version) fil e from your WINDOWS subdirectory. 2.Delete the xxxP.CDX data file (where xxx is the name you gave your database). For example, if your database is named SMITH.FOW, delete the file named SMITHP.CDX. 3.Run Family Origins and open the database. This will rebuild all the indexes. Check if this fixes the CodeBase problem. 4.If you still have problems, try exporting the database to a GEDCOM file, then importing the GEDCOM file back into a new database. You may lose some information (like photo links), but it should clean up any problems with CodeBase errors. > 2. What is the simplist, easiest way to backup and then be able to restore (in case you lost your data) a database? > From the Family Origins Help file: To back up your data, 1. Choose Backup from the File menu to open the Backup Current Database dialog. 2. Click the radio button preceding your choice of backup files. Choose the Normal option to back up your files to a compressed .zip file, or choose Disk-spanning backup to back up your files in their original form (not compressed or zipped). Click OK to proceed with the backup, or click Cancel if you decide not to back up the files at this time. 3. Enter the path and file name for the backup file. (See Using file selector dialogs for information about choosing a file from a file selector dialog.) If you have backed up this information previously, the name of the file will appear in this dialog automatically. Click Save or OK to back up the files. The .ZIP extension is added automatically. What is a GEDCOM file? GEDCOM is an acronym for Genealogical Data Communication, and was developed as a standard for exchanging computerized genealogical data. Most genealogical software programs can import and export GEDCOM files. This makes it easy to exchange and share information with relatives and others. GEDCOM files also are used for submitting genealogical information to the Ancestral File data collection and TempleReady programs (LDS users). Maybe both you and your uncle are working on your family tree, and he wants to be able to add the information you have discovered into his database without entering it manually. If he uses a genealogy software program that imports files from a GEDCOM format, you can send him your information as a GEDCOM file, and he can import it into his genealogy program. To export a GEDCOM file, 1. With the database containing the information you want to export open, choose GEDCOM from the File menu and then choose Export GEDCOM from the submenu that opens. If you prefer, choose the Export GEDCOM button on the toolbar. 2. In the GEDCOM File to create dialog that opens, indicate the path and choose a file name for the new GEDCOM file. The extension .GED will be added automatically. Click Save or OK when the file name and path are correct. 3. Indicate whether you want to export the entire database or only select individuals by marking the radio button preceding the appropriate selection. See Selecting people to export for more information about selecting people to export. 4. Choose the destination of the GEDCOM file you are exporting by clicking the radio button preceding your choice. Ø General - To exchange data with other software programs or other people using Family Origins. Ø Ancestral File - To submit your information to the Ancestral File data collection. Ø TempleReady - To submit your information to the TempleReady program (LDS users). The destination you choose will affect the data format of the export file. 5. Mark the check boxes preceding your choices of the following export options: notes, sources, addresses, correspondence log, todo items, and multimedia links. If a box is marked, that action will occur. For example, if the box preceding Export sources is marked, the sources in your database that are attached to the people you have selected will export along with the individual information. If the box is left unmarked, the sources will not be included in the export file. 6. Check whether you want to preserve word wrapping in your notes. Usually you will want this checked, but some older programs do not support word wrapped notes when importing GEDCOM files. 7. Click OK to create the GEDCOM file. The extension .GED is added automatically to the file, and it is saved in the location you specified in step 2 above. If the GEDCOM file is too large to fit on a single floppy disk, you will be asked to insert another disk to continue the file on. Copyright © 1991-2001 FormalSoft, Inc. All rights reserved.

I appreciate all the answers I've received regarding backing up my FO files. But, I'm still confused. Do/should I backup to a zip disk? If so, would I need a special program to unzip them if I ever needed them? I also have a CD burner. Would/should I burn a CD and if so do I then need a special program to use the CD? As y'all can tell, I'm really confused on this issue. Please bear with me.

Hi, When you do a normal backup as when you exit Family Origins, it ask to backup the file, when you choose yes FO then creates a zipped Backup by default, I believe. This file would then be copied to your CD-RW Drive, for safe storage off of your Hard Drive. Then if your database crashes for some God Aweful reason, you can do a File>Restore> from this CD Drive. I hope this helps. HAVE A GREAT DAY!!! Jim Mahan --- http://james.mahan.tripod.com --- http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm-cgi?db=jrmahan --- http://mahanscadsolutions.com --- "WE WILL NOT WAIVER, WE WILL NOT TIRE, WE WILL NOT FALTER; --- AND WE WILL NOT FAIL. PEACE AND FREEDOM WILL PREVAIL." --- --- President GEORGE W. BUSH --- "ALL INCOMING AND OUTGOING E-MAIL IS SCANNED WITH NORTON ANTI-VIRUS" ----- Original Message ----- From: "gilbert9" <gilbert9@flash.net> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 2:28 PM Subject: [FO] Backing Up Files > I appreciate all the answers I've received regarding backing up my FO files. But, I'm still confused. Do/should I backup to a zip disk? If so, would I need a special program to unzip them if I ever needed them? > > I also have a CD burner. Would/should I burn a CD and if so do I then need a special program to use the CD? > > As y'all can tell, I'm really confused on this issue. Please bear with me. > > > ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== > The "Family Origins® Wish List" http://formalsoft.com/wishlist.htm > ??? FAQ ??? -- http://www.graabek.com/fow/fofaq.html > >

1. As I said in an earlier email, I had a computer crash, with the help of people from this list I got my "main" database restored. I'm now trying to restore some smaller secondary databases but I get the following error message: CODEBASE ERROR error# -210 error# 94003 unrecognized field name d4field number SORTORDER I then click OK and get error# -935 error# 94001 null input parameter unexpected d4 field It then exists the program. Any help? 2. What is the simplist, easiest way to backup and then be able to restore (in case you lost your data) a database?

You did not say where you were sending the GEDCOM. It looks like you are trying to save directly to a CD. This is *not* possible without using "packet writing" software to prepare a CD-RW for this method. If you wish to put the GEDCOM on a CD, first save the GEDCOM to your hard drive. Then burn (copy) it to the CD. It is usually preferred to backup a database. Creating a GEDCOM is a secondary method. A GEDCOM is more useful when trading databases among different genealogy softwares. FL Rose ----- Original Message ----- From: "gilbert9" <gilbert9@flash.net> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 11:36 AM Subject: [FO] Creating GEDCOM file > I recently had a computer crash. Luckily I had some backups and with the help of people on this list I was able to finally restore my main database back to FO 9. I haven't been able to restore a couple of others I had. > > Anyway, my problem now is I'm trying to create a GEDCOM (isn't this actually the BEST way to backup or save data) and when I go to GEDCOM export and try to save it I get the following error message: > > You do not have permission to open this file. See the owner of the file or an administrator to obtain permission. > > Any help, AGAIN?

I recently had a computer crash. Luckily I had some backups and with the help of people on this list I was able to finally restore my main database back to FO 9. I haven't been able to restore a couple of others I had. Anyway, my problem now is I'm trying to create a GEDCOM (isn't this actually the BEST way to backup or save data) and when I go to GEDCOM export and try to save it I get the following error message: You do not have permission to open this file. See the owner of the file or an administrator to obtain permission. Any help, AGAIN?

A GEDCOM is probably the worst method of backing up a data base - ALWAYS use the backup facility that came with the database - all your multimedia links will be preserved, any special citation wording will be preserved - these two items alone can save you tons of time - not having to go back and recreate the links and special wording. Aloha Wayne -----Original Message----- From: gilbert9 [mailto:gilbert9@flash.net] Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 6:36 AM To: FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [FO] Creating GEDCOM file I recently had a computer crash. Luckily I had some backups and with the help of people on this list I was able to finally restore my main database back to FO 9. I haven't been able to restore a couple of others I had. Anyway, my problem now is I'm trying to create a GEDCOM (isn't this actually the BEST way to backup or save data) and when I go to GEDCOM export and try to save it I get the following error message: You do not have permission to open this file. See the owner of the file or an administrator to obtain permission. Any help, AGAIN? ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== Searchable ARCHIVES - http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=FAMILY-ORIGINS-U SERS

There is an AKA or "also known as" fact that would serve the purpose you describe. You can describe any details you want known in the note for the fact. Margaret Scheffler From: <Dianesowden@aol.com> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, December 27, 2002 5:27 AM Subject: [FO] HELP!! I CHANGED MY NAME BY DEEDPOLL > I change my name by Deedpoll in 1986. When I married I had my husband's surname i.e. SOWDEN. Then I added my maiden Surname and became MARGRIE - SOWDEN. How do I show this on my database please?

I am assuming that you are listed with your birth name, since that is pretty much the standard way most of us list entries. If that is the case, then there is an "AKA" fact for "Also known as" for the other names. Just enter anything else you were known by since birth, and you can also enter any details you wish into the notes for "AKA." I have quite a few entries like this, and it works quite well. David E. Cann decann@infi.net (NOTE: If responding, please do so to the above address, or use your "respond" e-mail option. Please do not send your response to the Hotmail address this message is coming from.) >From: Dianesowden@aol.com >To: FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [FO] HELP!! I CHANGED MY NAME BY DEEDPOLL >Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 05:27:36 EST > >I change my name by Deedpoll in 1986. When I married I had my husband's >surname i.e. SOWDEN. Then I added my maiden Surname and became MARGRIE - >SOWDEN. How do I show this on my database please? > >From > >Diane Sowden > > >==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== >Searchable ARCHIVES - >http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS > _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 3 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail&xAPID=42&PS=47575&PI=7324&DI=7474&SU= http://www.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/getmsg&HL=1216hotmailtaglines_smartspamprotection_3mf