Tony, Thank you for pointing this out. I looked up the rules on the Royal Mail website and you are correct. However, I also found this good news on the HMRC website: "If you order or send purchased goods other than alcohol, tobacco, perfume and toilet water from a country outside the EU then you: don't have to pay Excise Duty; may have to pay Customs Duty on goods with a value that exceeds £135; will have to pay Import VAT on goods with a value that exceeds £18. Note that on all goods from outside the EU, Customs Duty is waived if the amount of duty calculated is £9 or under." £18 = $28 at current exchange rates, so this parcel should be exempt from Customs Duty and VAT. Royal Mail did once add a demand for a handling fee to a letter I received from within the UK, because of some deficiency in the address or postage (I have forgotten the details). Our postie simply popped it through our door without any attempt to collect the fee. One of the advantages of living in a small market town, knowing the postie and making sure she gets a very decent Christmas box! Caroline On 11 September 2011 12:07, Tony Knight <tony@ritter.demon.co.uk> wrote: > Caroline > > If you get caught for VAT won't you then also have to pay a handling fee to > the Post Office which is £8? > > Tony > > -----Original Message----- > From: Caroline Gurney > Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 11:45 AM > To: beardshaw@tesco.net ; ftm-tech@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [FTM-TECH] version 2012 > > Correction - the first sentence below should read "I bought FTM 2011 > direct from the USA last year". I bought the CD upgrade, not the > Deluxe version. My apologies for the error. > > > On 11 September 2011 02:10, Caroline Gurney <caroline.gurney@gmail.com> > wrote: >> Haden, >> >> I bought FTM 2011 Deluxe direct from the USA last year. I've just >> checked my bank statement and it cost me $25.68, including postage. >> The exchange rate was $1.49563 = £1, so I paid £17.17. My parcel was >> shipped at the same time as US orders and arrived very promptly. I >> paid no VAT. I had the software two months before it was launched in >> the UK. When it did finally launch in the UK, the cheapest version >> initially available was the Deluxe bundle at over £30. I see that now, >> a year after release, the cheapest price for the CD only upgrade >> version is £20.80 including postage. >> >> I have pre-ordered FTM 2012 from the USA for $19.99 plus $9 postage = >> $28.99 in total. Yesterday my bank gave me an exchange rate of >> $1.55181 = £1 on a transaction in the US. On that basis FTM 2012 will >> cost me £18.68. If I am unlucky and VAT is charged by Customs that >> will only be an additional 20% on $19.99 = $4 = £2.58. >> >> I am highly sceptical that FTM 2012 will be available in the UK at the >> end of this month. There is no mention of it yet on the >> Ancestry.co.uk, Amazon UK or S&N Genealogy websites. My History and >> TWR Computing both offer discounts of up to 30% for pre-orders if you >> sign up to a mailing list. I've been on that mailing list for some >> time now and heard nothing. If they want me to buy from them, I need >> to know *now* how much it will cost and when it will be available. In >> the absence of any such information, I am buying the US bird in the >> hand in preference to the two UK birds in the bush. >> >> Caroline Gurney >> >> Family History Website: www.carosfamily.com >> Family History Blog: cmgurney.blogspot.com >> >> >> >> On 10 September 2011 23:53, Tony Beardshaw <beardshaw@tesco.net> wrote: >>> Caroline and others in the UK >>> >>> I think you may be mistaken in thinking you are buying FTM 2012 cheaper >>> by >>> buying from the US directly. At 32.99 dollars + 9 dollars postage and an >>> exchange rate of 1.5 dollars to the pound (if you are lucky) the price >>> works >>> out at about 22 pounds.  I see that UK companies TWR computing, My >>> History >>> and Genealogy Supplies (S&N) were selling FTM 2011 for under £20 (even >>> when >>> it first came out) and in the case of TWR it is postage free. Notice they >>> will ship in the last week of September.  I understand UK customers will >>> get >>> theirs shipped from the UK companies at the end of September just like >>> the >>> US customers so anyone buying directly from the USA may pay a higher >>> price, >>> delayed delivery and a risk of VAT. Not a good proposition at all, and >>> anyway why not give the UK companies a chance in these difficult times. >>> They >>> are not known for increasing prices year on year so I don’t expect they >>> will >>> be much more expensive than last year if there is any increase at all. I >>> made the mistake of buying from the US a few years ago and didn’t get >>> mine >>> until about three weeks after the US shipments went out. >>> >>> Just one last thought. It's not the exchange rate today that you pay. It >>> will be when they are ready to despatch your goods that the money is >>> taken >>> from your card and the rate on the day they do that might not be so >>> favourable. Even at 1.6 dollars to the pound the price still works out at >>> over 20 pounds if you buy from the USA. >>> >>> Haden >> > > ********************************** > List information page > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Software/FTM-TECH.html > > Online Support for Family Tree Maker > Version 16 and earlier > http://pastftm.custhelp.com/ > > Version 2008 - 2011 > http://ftm.custhelp.com/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FTM-TECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > > ********************************** > List information page > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Software/FTM-TECH.html > > Online Support for Family Tree Maker > Version 16 and earlier > http://pastftm.custhelp.com/ > > Version 2008 - 2011 > http://ftm.custhelp.com/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FTM-TECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Would some kind soul assist me, please? I know how to import a file into the new series of Family Tree Maker, but there are some serious steps to be taken I suspect. I know that the Place Name Authority is in these new versions, and just HOW to prepare a new file to cooperate with the PNA would be appreciated. [Yes, I have 2009 and have avoided doing these steps since before then!] If I overheard correctly, there is some variation is how titles of people are placed too. Likewise named places like ABC Hospital, Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA worked about as well as ABC Hospital/Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA. Does one need to prepare one's file or is it done "automagically"? Do these newer versions of FTM support dashed lines for non-natural parent-child relationships as FTM 16 does? I have several folks who depend on my advice and intend to upgrade, so whatever suggestions you might have would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. John Okerson Memphis, TN

The Place Name Authority in the "new" series is so easy to work with, that it doesn't pay or save time to prepare an old file at all. You can put in whatever you want in a location.  I have entered the word "County" after every name of a county, e.g.  Portage gets a county after it, to distinguish a county from a city.  It may be tedious to change the pre-entered name, but you only have to do each one once. Don't know about dashed lines, sorry. Jeanne From: John Okerson <johnokerson@gmail.com> To: ftm-tech@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 1:56 PM Subject: [FTM-TECH] how to prepare files for use under FTM 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, so then probably for 2012 also Would some kind soul assist me, please?  I know how to import a file into the new series of Family Tree Maker, but there are some serious steps to be taken I suspect.  I know that the Place Name Authority is in these new versions, and just HOW to prepare a new file to cooperate with the PNA would be appreciated. [Yes, I have 2009 and have avoided doing these steps since before then!]  If I overheard correctly, there is some variation is how titles of people are placed too.  Likewise named places like ABC Hospital, Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA worked about as well as ABC Hospital/Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA.  Does one need to prepare one's file or is it done "automagically"?  Do these newer versions of FTM support dashed lines for non-natural parent-child relationships as FTM 16 does? I have several folks who depend on my advice and intend to upgrade, so whatever suggestions you might have would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. John Okerson Memphis, TN ********************************** List information page http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Software/FTM-TECH.html Online Support for Family Tree Maker Version 16 and earlier http://pastftm.custhelp.com/ Version 2008 - 2011 http://ftm.custhelp.com/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FTM-TECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

> The Place Name Authority in the "new" series is so easy to work with, that > it doesn't pay or save time to prepare an old file at all. You can put in whatever you want in a location. I have entered the word "County" after every name of a county, e.g. Portage gets a county after it, to distinguish a county from a city. It may be tedious to change the pre-entered name, but you only have to do each one once. So easy? Sounds like the words my friends would like., especially the not having to prepare anything. So a couple of questions since you and I seem to be the only ones active this lovely afternoon. 1) If I have Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, USA as a 'usage' and another of Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, USA then just HOW does the PNA resolve which is which and help me choose the one I wish to use??? 2) I have heard of the entries being marked with a page mark and a question mark superimposed upon it. Do they disappear or stay forever? 3) I have heard of something called 'Resolve All Place Names' which has to be run before those 'marked' place names disappear. Any experience with Resolve All Place Names? 4) I have a bit over 130,000 individuals within my files, and guessing about 26,000 place names - just a wag. I know that I have many cases where I have meant to enter the same place, but have it with multiple variants. Does the PNA help me resolve this issue? 5) If I have a place, 'Flatbush, Kings County, New York, USA' as an example will the PNA come up with a variant on its own, hint me towards one it 'accepts', or just what? As for your county choice, is there a way to FORCE the PNA to make that the default? I detest seeing a name like Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee even though I know where it is. On the other hand, like you, without the word County in the place name, Beaufort, North Carolina is ambiguous as to whether one means Beaufort County, North Carolina or Beaufort, Carteret County, North Carolina. Additionally, my personal preference is to NOT employ the additional commas that some folks use such as Beaufort, , North Carolina. Makes NO difference to me what LDS or other standards might accept, I wish to have my database MY way! Sure, this seems like overkill, but it is important to me, and thus to those I assist, at least IMHO. John Okerson Memphis, TN

I see where you have received some excellent answers to some of your questions. I will add a few comments of how I might approach this. It has taken me a little time to think about FTM 16 and converting to FTM 2011 or FTM 2012. First I agree it is much easier to convert your file into FTM 2011/2012 and then use its tools to perform any clean up as the tools are simply better and easier to use. I've included some specific comments interspersed with your questions. Hope this helps a bit. BJ On 9/11/2011 11:56 AM, John Okerson wrote: > Would some kind soul assist me, please? I know how to import a file into > the new series of Family Tree Maker, but there are some serious steps to be > taken I suspect. I know that the Place Name Authority is in these new > versions, and just HOW to prepare a new file to cooperate with the PNA would > be appreciated. The Place Name Authority (PNA) is nothing more than a list of some 3 million plus place names (I think that estimated number is correct). Its purpose is nothing more than to suggest certain standardized names for your use if you so desire. Nothing compels you to use the suggested name. If you tire of seeing the flag that a particular name, you can elect to "Ignore" the flag. In which case it will be turned off for that place name. Personally I leave it alone just as a reminder of which one's I have chosen not to resolve. > [Yes, I have 2009 and have avoided doing these steps since > before then!] If I overheard correctly, there is some variation is how > titles of people are placed too. I don't remember how Titles were entered or stored in FTM 16 but they are entered as a Fact in FTM 2011/FTM 2012. So you can enter a preferred title as well as any number of alternate titles for each individual. > Likewise named places like ABC Hospital, > Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA worked about as well as ABC > Hospital/Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA. Does one need to > prepare one's file or is it done "automagically"? This is the one area where you may want to make the change in FTM 16 because FTM 2011/FTM 2012 have separate fields for the Comment and for the Place name. The conversion routine looks for the slash (/) to identify which part should go where. Any information preceding the first slash will be entered in the Description field. Information following the first slash will be placed Place field. If no slash is found, all of the information will be input into the Place field. So.... "ABC Hospital, Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA" will all be input into the Place field. Whereas "ABC Hospital/Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA will be separated as follows: Place: Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA Description: ABC Hospital While the place field will accept the ABC Hospital, Neptune.... as a place it inflates the number of place names. In other words, you might have the following place names: ABC Hospital, Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA DFG Cemetery, Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA I keep my place names to a minimum and for sorting purposes do I put the Hospital and Cemetery names in the Description field. This gives me one Place name, Neptune, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA. While the individual fact gives the precise building or house address. It is really of personal preference. > Do these newer versions > of FTM support dashed lines for non-natural parent-child relationships as > FTM 16 does? I don't think so. I remember it has been requested for the Pedigree charts but I couldn't find an option for it. Perhaps some one can provide a more definitive answer. > I have several folks who depend on my advice and intend to upgrade, so > whatever suggestions you might have would be appreciated. > Other areas which may need to be reviewed and cleaned up include: Sources titles - FTM 2011/2012 will use the Source records as you have them entered in FTM 16. If you have a duplicate in FTM 16, you will have a duplicate in FTM 2011/2012. You can review the Source Titles by using Edit, Manage Sources which lets you review the information and actually Replace one title with another title. Source-Citations - You can review them using the Sources work area. It is best to list them by Source title as this groups all source-citations linked to a single Source title. * FTM 16 has a single source-citation for each fact. While many may be exact duplicates they are stored as a single unique source-citation. * FTM 2011/2012 reviews the source-citations for possible duplicates. If it finds exact duplicates, it creates a single Source-citation and then links all facts using it to this one Source-citation. This is often a point of confusion to new users of FTM 2011/2012. To be and exact duplicate, all information in the following fields must be exactly the same. Any deviation even the addition of an extra space will cause the to be different. Fields which must contain duplicate information are: o Use the same Source Title o Citation Detail (equivalent to FTM 16 Page) o Citation Text (equivalent to FTM 16 Text) o Reference Note (equivalent to FTM 16 Footnote) Review the source-citations, you may want to override the way they were converted. You have the ability to Copy a Source-citation and then either * Paste it as a Link - in other words link this fact to the current source-citation (understand that any change to the single source-citation will be displayed for every fact linked to it). * Paste as Duplicate - this enters a duplicate but separate source-citation and links to the assigned fact. Any changes you make to this duplicate source-citation are applied only to it and not to the original source-citation. Scrapbook items are extracted and stored as separate files in a Media folder. These files have a thumbnail generated and stored in the Media work area. The thumbnail is linked to the media file. If you have duplicate copies of pictures in different scrapbooks, you will have multiple copies of these images. You should review the Media collection and link a single copy of the media file to all relevant individuals, facts or source-citations. Media files will be assigned file names based upon the individual's scrapbook plus a numeric suffix. E.g. John Smith 1. You can continue to use the assigned names or you can use the Media Rename feature to rename the file and update the media link. You may consider entering Captions and Descriptions for all media items. You have the option of displaying the media files by their file names only or by their captions and if there is no caption by file name. Captions and Descriptions can play an important role if you intend to use FTM 2012 and its sync feature to an online tree.