To answer your question, yes. BUT - you need to have the correct software. First, find out what program created the file (the book). Assuming it was written with some type of text processor, and not one of the unknown ones, most of the current word processors can convert the file during the open process. Back then, it was a fad also to create documents in a spreadsheet program. The same still applies. Once you have the document, and if you need help, ask again. Dick ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joann Lerea" <joanninct@yahoo.com> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 27, 2001 3:02 PM Subject: [FO] Different Windows Versions > A new found cousin has offered to send me the book > length, prose family history which she wrote some time > ago using Windows 3. It is still on her old computer > hard drive. > The question is: If she sends it, will I be able > to download it on my Windows 98? Should I try to > put it somewhere in FO or in a separate file until I > see just what it is? > Suggestions most welcome. > > Joann > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger > http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ > > > ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== > PLEASE remove as much of the Original Message as possible when replying to a List Posting. Include only that part of the original message important to your reply. > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB

A new found cousin has offered to send me the book length, prose family history which she wrote some time ago using Windows 3. It is still on her old computer hard drive. The question is: If she sends it, will I be able to download it on my Windows 98? Should I try to put it somewhere in FO or in a separate file until I see just what it is? Suggestions most welcome. Joann __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/

Frank, For the place names, go to Edit, Place List. When you edit one place to match another, they will all automatically merge - it's magic! Sorry, can't help you on the individual's names. Charles Gohlke

It is here: http://www.formalsoft.com/utilities.htm J Davis ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Elting" <James.W.Elting@eltingweb.com> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 7:10 PM Subject: RE: [FO] re: modified register descendants report (book type) > There is a program designed by Rand Putnam called Ancestor Uplines which > will read a FOW book in RTF format and will create the uplines (i.e. the > lineage after a persons name). I am hoping someone else will add to this > because I do not remember where I went to get it. I think Rand has a website > where you can download it. I will keep checking. > > > James W. Elting > > Elting Family Genealogist > > -----Original Message----- > From: Mary Jean Hall [mailto:maryjesse@newwave.net] > Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 1:44 PM > To: FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [FO] re: modified register descendants report (book type) > > > Hi everyone, > I have just subscribed to the Family Origins list. Having used > another program for 10 years, I found that FO is much better and > I am so happy to have found it . It was referred to me by a > "cousin" when I asked her about what program she was using. I > have entered quite a number of people and decided that I wanted > to run a "modified register descendants report:. When I received > the report, I found to my dismay that there was no lineage > associated with each of the people that are in the report. Has > there been any discussion about this before I joined the list? If > so, could someone bring me up to speed? That is about the only > item that I really liked about the other program. > > Thank you for your time and information. > Mary Jean Hall > maryjesse@newwave.net > > ______________________________ > > > ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== > Very basic Windows: http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/created4/COMPUTERBASICS.html > basic HTML: http://freepages.computers.rootsweb.com/~pasher/ > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11H B > > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.265 / Virus Database: 137 - Release Date: 7/18/01

There is a program designed by Rand Putnam called Ancestor Uplines which will read a FOW book in RTF format and will create the uplines (i.e. the lineage after a persons name). I am hoping someone else will add to this because I do not remember where I went to get it. I think Rand has a website where you can download it. I will keep checking. James W. Elting Elting Family Genealogist -----Original Message----- From: Mary Jean Hall [mailto:maryjesse@newwave.net] Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 1:44 PM To: FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [FO] re: modified register descendants report (book type) Hi everyone, I have just subscribed to the Family Origins list. Having used another program for 10 years, I found that FO is much better and I am so happy to have found it . It was referred to me by a "cousin" when I asked her about what program she was using. I have entered quite a number of people and decided that I wanted to run a "modified register descendants report:. When I received the report, I found to my dismay that there was no lineage associated with each of the people that are in the report. Has there been any discussion about this before I joined the list? If so, could someone bring me up to speed? That is about the only item that I really liked about the other program. Thank you for your time and information. Mary Jean Hall maryjesse@newwave.net ______________________________

Mary Jean and James, You can find the utilities on the follow FormalSoft page: http://formalsoft.com/utilities.htm Good luck in your research! ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Elting" <James.W.Elting@eltingweb.com> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 6:10 PM Subject: RE: [FO] re: modified register descendants report (book type) > There is a program designed by Rand Putnam called Ancestor Uplines which > will read a FOW book in RTF format and will create the uplines (i.e. the > James W. Elting > > Elting Family Genealogist > > -----Original Message----- > From: Mary Jean Hall [mailto:maryjesse@newwave.net] > Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 1:44 PM > To: FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [FO] re: modified register descendants report (book type) > > ..................I found to my dismay that there was no lineage > associated with each of the people that are in the report. > Mary Jean Hall > maryjesse@newwave.net >

Thanks, FL, although I've used FO since its inception, I sure don't know everything about it! 8-{ However, having just done some editing via the GEDCOM and comparing that with trying to do it with Global Search and Replace in FO9, I find it easier to find the problems that need to be changed with the former than the latter. Frank Henderson (Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Cousin, Friend, Casual Acquaintance)

Thanks to those who tried to help me with reading these files. I was able to get back to the "open with..." screen by following your instructions, but still was not able to read them. I have asked the sender to try another format. Thanks again. Leslie

Frank, It depends on which version of FO you are using. Both versions 8 and 9 have a "Global Search and Replace" option under "Tools". This option allows the searching and replacing of data in several different locations including "Place Names". If you have a copy of "Getting the Most Out of Family Origins" 4th edition the explanation of this option is given on pages 188 - 190 (3rd edition pages 182 - 184). FL Rose ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Henderson" <fhenders@twcny.rr.com> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 3:16 PM Subject: [FO] Global corrections and changes > I have for about 8000 individuals and I'd like to standardize it so that it's consistent in spelling, orthography, punctuation, etc. For instance, instead of a capitalized county name, i.e., "ONONDAGA," I'd like it to be "Onondaga Co.," or whatever, throughout the whole entire file. Some places there are such punctuations as "..," which I'd like to clean up. This is a result of merging several different files that have been sent me. Now, the only way I can think to do this is open a GEDCOM of the file in a text reader and do Find/Replace for what I want to change. Can anybody come up with a more efficient way to do this? Can anyone foresee any problems? Hope this hasn't been covered before. Appreciate your input. > > Frank Henderson (Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Cousin, Friend, Casual Acquaintance)

I have for about 8000 individuals and I'd like to standardize it so that it's consistent in spelling, orthography, punctuation, etc. For instance, instead of a capitalized county name, i.e., "ONONDAGA," I'd like it to be "Onondaga Co.," or whatever, throughout the whole entire file. Some places there are such punctuations as "..," which I'd like to clean up. This is a result of merging several different files that have been sent me. Now, the only way I can think to do this is open a GEDCOM of the file in a text reader and do Find/Replace for what I want to change. Can anybody come up with a more efficient way to do this? Can anyone foresee any problems? Hope this hasn't been covered before. Appreciate your input. Frank Henderson (Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Cousin, Friend, Casual Acquaintance)

The only good way that I know is to go to the Place List and edit each entry. I have done this and it is time consuming but it works. Peggy Hooper My home page http://www.myroots.net/ mailto:hooperhous@earthlink.net -----Original Message----- From: Frank Henderson [mailto:fhenders@twcny.rr.com] Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 2:16 PM To: FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [FO] Global corrections and changes I have for about 8000 individuals and I'd like to standardize it so that it's consistent in spelling, orthography, punctuation, etc. For instance, instead of a capitalized county name, i.e., "ONONDAGA," I'd like it to be "Onondaga Co.," or whatever, throughout the whole entire file. Some places there are such punctuations as "..," which I'd like to clean up. This is a result of merging several different files that have been sent me. Now, the only way I can think to do this is open a GEDCOM of the file in a text reader and do Find/Replace for what I want to change. Can anybody come up with a more efficient way to do this? Can anyone foresee any problems? Hope this hasn't been covered before. Appreciate your input. Frank Henderson (Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Cousin, Friend, Casual Acquaintance) ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== PLEASE send personal replies and "THANK YOU" message privately. All messages on this list are archived and archiving takes up valuable space. ============================== Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp

This is the answer that I wrote to Norma Thompson. Decided to share it with all of you. Mary Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Jean Hall" <maryjesse@newwave.net> To: "Norma Thompson" <nthmpsn@concentric.net> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 11:22 AM Subject: Re: [FO] Modified Register Report > Dear Norma, > > You were correct in your assumption. I have published 5 > books/tomes so far (1 on my family, 2 on my deceased husband's > family and 2 on my daughter-in-law's family). It is too bad that > more families don't have the wonderful relationship our 2 > families have. I want my grandchildren to know their mother's > side of the family also. The cooperation from these families was > terrific. But I digress. > > The reason that I have used and liked the lineage denotation that > you object to is this. The books that I have published were > written with young children in mind. I am an educator. I have had > many, many wonderful comments on my books. Even some from the > teachers in the schools and some even wanting to use the format > that I have used. So many of the teachers have told the children > how very lucky they are to have such a book about their family. > Ancestry is taught in many, many schools across the United States > of America and usually in the 3rd or 4th grades. The children are > thrilled seeing their name in the book and seeing how many > ancestors went before them. It is hard for children of that age > to put a lineage all together and it is also difficult for many > adults. I have many books that were done by my ancestors in the > late 1800's. These were done in the New England area. I have > heard that the New England formats are the best to use. They all > used the lineage notation. Many were exceedingly long books and > mostly just names. If I had not had the notation, I would have > had a hard time finding my direct lineage. Toward the end of the > 1800's it was "the thing to do". Some people even hired > genealogists to prepare a book for them. Of course, if something > was not "up to snuff" it was deleted. I also found that some of > them did not carry on a line that descended from a female. > > The Descendant Report that you mentioned does not use the > notation. It is a listing from the oldest ancestor down to the > youngest. > Example: > 1 xxxxx > 2 xxxxx > 3 xxxxx and so on. The number designates the generation of > the person. > This is good to follow for descendants but does not provide a lot > of verbiage, pictures, etc. about the person. It is often called > a Descendant List. In appearance it is more like a list. > > The Register Report is often used. The first person is number > one, and the children are numbers two, three, four and so on. If > a person does not have children, the person is not given a > number. > > The Modified Register Report gives everyone a number and places a > "+" in front of the name. This indicates that there is more > information to follow on the person. > > On pages 102-105 there are other descriptions of reports for > books. I have had some books that have used the Indented Henry > and Indented D'Aborville formats. I have not used this format > because it is hard to explain to people. Many just start reading > the book as opposed to reading the Forward, Preface or > Introduction. These are difficult to explain to children in the > written form. They would lose patience trying to figure it out. > It was a good suggestion from Allen though and I appreciate it. > > Getting children to read these books early in life, may make them > aware of their ancestry and spark an interest in it to keep it up > to date. After all, our children are our most precious > possession. The object of my genealogy and books is to achieve an > awareness of their ancestors and pride in them . > > The National Archives has this carved above the entrance, "Those > who do not study history, are doomed to repeat it." I may have > this paraphrased but it is close. I cannot believe the history > that I have learned by doing genealogy! > > Mary Jean Hall > maryjesse@newwave.net > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Norma Thompson" <nthmpsn@concentric.net> > To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 4:27 PM > Subject: Re: [FO] re: modified register descendants report (book > type) > > > > I'm not quite sure what you mean by "no lineage associated", > but I assume > > you mean those (in my opinion god-awful) (John2 Doe, John1 Doe, > and so on) > > that follow a persons name. I think you only get those with an > ordinary > > Descendant register, not a modified register. FOW doesn't offer > a Descendant > > Register. > > > > Norma > > > > > > ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== > > The "Family Origins® Wish List" > http://formalsoft.com/wishlist.htm > > ??? FAQ ??? -- http://www.graabek.com/fow/fofaq.html > > > > ============================== > > Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > > Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time. > > http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com > > > > >

My apologies for this *mostly* off-topic (GRIN) post, but there was quite a bit of discussion on this list earlier in the year regarding creation of .pdf files for FO-produced books & charts. Adobe is currently running a promotion for a free trial that allows anyone that signs up, to create five (5) Adobe PDF files for free. seems like a chance to learn how it might enhance your information exchange with other family researchers. The link is as follows: https://createpdf.adobe.com/index.pl/1964774456.57478?BP=IE -=Kevin Benson=-

As Norma Thompson stated: "... (John2 Doe, John1 Doe, and so on)that follow a persons name" is probably what you are looking for. And it does not appear that FO offers this exact type of lineage information. However, it seems to me that both the Henry and D'Aboville Indented reports do something very similar using numbers. For example with the D'Aboville format: John Doe #1 is numbered as '1' His first born child John Jr. is 1.1 John Jr.'s firstborn child is 1.1.1, and so on. John Jr.'s 2nd born child is 1.1.2. But I agree it would be a nice enhancement if FO were to include the exact lineage info you are asking about. Allan Plucinik Colorado Springs, CO Mary Jean Hall wrote: > > Hi everyone, > I have just subscribed to the Family Origins list. Having used > another program for 10 years, I found that FO is much better and > I am so happy to have found it . It was referred to me by a > "cousin" when I asked her about what program she was using. I > have entered quite a number of people and decided that I wanted > to run a "modified register descendants report:. When I received > the report, I found to my dismay that there was no lineage > associated with each of the people that are in the report. Has > there been any discussion about this before I joined the list? If > so, could someone bring me up to speed? That is about the only > item that I really liked about the other program. > > Thank you for your time and information. > Mary Jean Hall > maryjesse@newwave.net > > ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== > Family Origins GenForum - http://genforum.genealogy.com/fo/ > Tech Support Knowledge Base http://www.familyorigins.com/support/ > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB

Hi everyone, I have just subscribed to the Family Origins list. Having used another program for 10 years, I found that FO is much better and I am so happy to have found it . It was referred to me by a "cousin" when I asked her about what program she was using. I have entered quite a number of people and decided that I wanted to run a "modified register descendants report:. When I received the report, I found to my dismay that there was no lineage associated with each of the people that are in the report. Has there been any discussion about this before I joined the list? If so, could someone bring me up to speed? That is about the only item that I really liked about the other program. Thank you for your time and information. Mary Jean Hall maryjesse@newwave.net

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "no lineage associated", but I assume you mean those (in my opinion god-awful) (John2 Doe, John1 Doe, and so on) that follow a persons name. I think you only get those with an ordinary Descendant register, not a modified register. FOW doesn't offer a Descendant Register. Norma

I could use some ideas. A couple of years ago, I published a book of ancestors and descendents for one of my family reunions. Now, they want an update to the book. I'm trying to figure out a way to easily generate an update (given that the next reunion is August 4th). I've managed to use the Individual Lists and Anniverary Lists to generate a list of all the events that happened SINCE the last book was published. The problem is that there is other information that I've acquired since the book was published that took place before publication. So, what I'd like is to find a way to generate a list of information ENTERED since the last book was published. I'm pretty good at sourcing information as I enter it, so if there was a way to generate a list of facts that had citations containing the year 2000 or something like that, it would help. But what I'd really like is some way to just generate a list of everything for a particular branch of the family that has been entered since a certain date. Is this possible? %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Jane Huggins, Ph.D., ATP "Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down janeh@umich.edu the highway." -- Andrew S. Tanenbaum %%%%%%%%%%%%% http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~janeh %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

John's StationeryI am looking for a program called estimator.exe. It is used with a gedcom file generated by FO, to estimate dates that are blank. Does anyone know the URL for this program? John S. Wilkinson jwilkins@twcny.rr.com

I am afraid you are out of luck for now. In my database, every individual has a User Defined Fact called Updated. It contains only the date and description fields. Each time I add or modify an individual, I update this fact. Examples: New individual- 7/25/2001, New Changes - 7/25/2001, Maiden name, dob, marr date To find all individuals who have been "updated" since any date, a simple Custom Report provides this data. The key is consistency of data entry. Once you have your database set up, maintaining it is easy. A number of variations of this method can be found in the archives. Several past discussions have been held in the group and many techniques have been presented. Dick ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jane Huggins" <janeh@umich.edu> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 9:24 AM Subject: [FO] Doable or Wish List > I could use some ideas. A couple of years ago, I published a book of > ancestors and descendents for one of my family reunions. Now, they want > an update to the book. I'm trying to figure out a way to easily generate > an update (given that the next reunion is August 4th). I've managed to > use the Individual Lists and Anniverary Lists to generate a list of all > the events that happened SINCE the last book was published. The problem > is that there is other information that I've acquired since the book was > published that took place before publication. > > So, what I'd like is to find a way to generate a list of information > ENTERED since the last book was published. I'm pretty good at sourcing > information as I enter it, so if there was a way to generate a list of > facts that had citations containing the year 2000 or something like that, > it would help. But what I'd really like is some way to just generate a > list of everything for a particular branch of the family that has been > entered since a certain date. > > Is this possible? > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% > Jane Huggins, Ph.D., ATP "Never underestimate the bandwidth of a > station wagon full of tapes hurtling down > janeh@umich.edu the highway." -- Andrew S. Tanenbaum > %%%%%%%%%%%%% http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~janeh %%%%%%%%%%%%%%% > > > ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== > FAMILY ORIGINS - Ordering, UPDATES, books, FAQ, FREE DEMO, Newsletter, etc. http://formalsoft.com For the 8.03 and 9.02 PATCHES and what they fix, go to: http://formalsoft.com/files.htm > > ============================== > Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate > your heritage! > http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog

Has anyone tried to upload a GedCom to the Share feature of ancestry.com lately? It seems to crash. Thanks. -Bob