I'm sorry, I should have been more explicit about the term "Alternate" name. As Russ pointed out, it is simply a second Name fact entry. I quite often have a number of alternate names for individuals as I have found the additional names or alternate spellings on certain documents. By using multiple name facts, I can track the differences but I can also select the one that I prefer to be used. If I run a report, I can elect to either display only the Preferred name or alternately display all alternate names (those which are not marked as "preferred". I did not suggest using the "AKA" or "Also Known As" fact because I use that field for a very specific instance i.e. for a Nickname; for example John Fitzpatrick "Jack" Kennedy . You could certainly use the AKA fact to store the name "Eileen". However, there are a several of things I don't like about using the AKA. The Tools, Options, Names tab contains a couple of options for including the AKA fact. You can do either or both options. 1. The first option lets you include it within the preferred name so the Index displays it as Patricia Eileen "Eileen" Smith. 2. The second option is to display the AKA as a separate entry. When you use this option, the index will display, "Eileen" as its own entry which is sorted within the "E's". 3. You cannot use the AKA as a search parameter in the Web Search. If you are like me, I have an individual who was named Doublieu Saunders. When she was eighteen, she started using the name Eva Viola Saunders. Well I entered her name a Eva Viola Saunders with "Doublieu" as an AKA. I cannot get the web search to use Doublieu Saunders as a search parameter which is the name used on the first US Census on which she is found at the age of 1/4. Basically I find it much easier to use alternate names than I do to use AKA but that is my own personal preference. You should examine each circumstance and decide which technique accomplishes your goal. Hope that answers your question. BJ On 10/3/2011 2:48 PM, Ali wrote: > BJ > Where do you find the place to add an alternate name? Do you add the name as Eileen Smith or Eileen Patricia Smith? > Ali > ----- Original Message ----- > From: BJ > To: ftm-tech@rootsweb.com > Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 9:58 AM > Subject: Re: [FTM-TECH] Suggested entry fields > > > I simply add it as an alternate name which I then mark as "Preferred". > That way it is easy to to find and everyone knows how the individual is > called. If I need to use the complete name, I can always easily change > the "Preferred" option. > > I use this because many people "go" by many different variations of > their given name and trying to code the program to account for all of > the possible combinations is impossible besides the researcher would > still be faced with the problem of selecting and designating an option. > > BJ > > On 9/30/2011 6:35 AM, Bridgett Chapman wrote: > > Me too. Sometimes it is hard to find an individual when they were known > > by the middle name. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: ftm-tech-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ftm-tech-bounces@rootsweb.com] > > On Behalf Of LouDean > > Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 10:16 PM > > To: ftm-tech@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: [FTM-TECH] Suggested entry fields > > > > And it would be nice to have a choice for when only one given name is used > > and you want it to be the middle instead of the first. For example what if > > your name is Patricia Eileen Smith and you are called Eileen, not Patricia. > > I wish you could choose for Eileen to be used in the parts of reports where > > they only use one name. Lots of people go by their middle names. > > > ********************************** > 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 > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1410 / Virus Database: 1520/3935 - Release Date: 10/03/11 > >