Dear Friends and Cousins, I wonder if you would share with me your method of entering your genealogy data? By this, I mean do you create a separate family file for each major surname? Or do you put it all together in one huge database? I began my genealogy only a few years ago...being a newbie, I began by creating a SEPARATE family file for each surname. This is now causing me problems. I find that I miss SOOO much information. I will have added some data under one allied family name, and some under the main file name. My focus isn't the best at this particular time anyhow, but even when it is, I find myself making too many unnecessary circles due to my method. Guess it is partly because I don't always have time to type it ALL under each name; or perhaps at times sheer laziness <VBG> in not wanting to type it under each family name. We won't even discuss all the papers I have stacked up that NEED to be entered. "The pile monster." I am using Family TreeMaker v.8 if that matters. TIA for your input. Sharon

SHADRI** I have been using the LDS program PAF 3.01 for many years and it does a great job. You can record notes & sources with ease. I am not a morman, but they have helped me a lot. You can order the program from their website www.familysearch.org It only costs about $15 and if I can be of more help, let me know at bilmo9@yahoo.com I am almost blind and sometimes slow. I am researching the RUTHERFORD and all connecting families in Berrien County. Bill in Fresno,CA amilysearch.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "shadri" <shadri@gtcom.net> To: <GABERRIE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 8:48 AM Subject: [GABERRIE] Genealogy Data Question > Dear Friends and Cousins, > > I wonder if you would share with me your method of entering your genealogy > data? By this, I mean do you create a separate family file for each major > surname? Or do you put it all together in one huge database? > > I began my genealogy only a few years ago...being a newbie, I began by > creating a SEPARATE family file for each surname. This is now causing me > problems. I find that I miss SOOO much information. I will have added some > data under one allied family name, and some under the main file name. My > focus isn't the best at this particular time anyhow, but even when it is, I > find myself making too many unnecessary circles due to my method. Guess it > is partly because I don't always have time to type it ALL under each name; > or perhaps at times sheer laziness <VBG> in not wanting to type it under > each family name. We won't even discuss all the papers I have stacked up > that NEED to be entered. "The pile monster." > > I am using Family TreeMaker v.8 if that matters. > > TIA for your input. > > Sharon > > > ==== GABERRIE Mailing List ==== > To post messages to the Berrien County, GA discussion list, send them to GABERRIE-L@rootsweb.com YOU are an important part of this list! > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >

Sharon, I also use Family TreeMaker. And I agree with an earlier note that it would probably be easier if you did merge your files. FTM does have a merge option, but it can be a time consuming process if your files are very large and if you have lots of duplication between files. If you have overlapping information it will save both sets with one stored as an alternate if they aren't the same dates/places etc. I recommend you make backup copies of your family files before you try to merge. If the merge causes problems you can always go back to those backup copies. Jennifer > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "shadri" <shadri@gtcom.net> > To: <GABERRIE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 8:48 AM > Subject: [GABERRIE] Genealogy Data Question > > > > Dear Friends and Cousins, > > > > I wonder if you would share with me your method of entering your genealogy > > data? By this, I mean do you create a separate family file for each major > > surname? Or do you put it all together in one huge database? > > <snip> > > I am using Family TreeMaker v.8 if that matters. > > > > TIA for your input. > > > > Sharon > > > >

Sharon, Sounds like you need to merge your files into one database. I am not real familiar with FTM but I am sure they have a file merge option. Good luck. Donald Allen -----Original Message----- From: shadri [mailto:shadri@gtcom.net] Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 11:48 AM To: GABERRIE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [GABERRIE] Genealogy Data Question Dear Friends and Cousins, I wonder if you would share with me your method of entering your genealogy data? By this, I mean do you create a separate family file for each major surname? Or do you put it all together in one huge database? I began my genealogy only a few years ago...being a newbie, I began by creating a SEPARATE family file for each surname. This is now causing me problems. I find that I miss SOOO much information. I will have added some data under one allied family name, and some under the main file name. My focus isn't the best at this particular time anyhow, but even when it is, I find myself making too many unnecessary circles due to my method. Guess it is partly because I don't always have time to type it ALL under each name; or perhaps at times sheer laziness <VBG> in not wanting to type it under each family name. We won't even discuss all the papers I have stacked up that NEED to be entered. "The pile monster." I am using Family TreeMaker v.8 if that matters. TIA for your input. Sharon ==== GABERRIE Mailing List ==== To post messages to the Berrien County, GA discussion list, send them to GABERRIE-L@rootsweb.com YOU are an important part of this list! ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237

I sure do appreciate ALL the kind replies on this question. Sounds like I do need to try some merging...AFTER backing up all my files of course. Maybe a couple of times *Grins* The thought of merging these files makes me break out in a nervous sweat. I know I have mistakes in some, and some I have corrected in other files. Ohhh 'if only' I'd done it right the first time. LOL I thank those who recommended some other software to check out too, I will go and have a look at them. I was encouraged to read that FTM would not delete one of the files when merging, because some are much more detailed than others. Genealogists are the kindest of folks. I thank you for being patient with this topic that is of course genealogy but not strictly Berrien County. But hey, with your help, maybe my Berrien County notes will be much better in the future. ;-) Hey, you list members up there just north of me in South Georgia, take care of the weather heading your way. Looks like I will get just the tip end of it. Thomas Co was under a tornado warning just a little while ago. I'm abt 60 mi south of there? Stay safe. Sharon

I think you can import from another file to merge your data. ----- Original Message ----- From: "shadri" <shadri@gtcom.net> To: <GABERRIE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 11:48 AM Subject: [GABERRIE] Genealogy Data Question > Dear Friends and Cousins, > > I wonder if you would share with me your method of entering your genealogy > data? By this, I mean do you create a separate family file for each major > surname? Or do you put it all together in one huge database? > > I began my genealogy only a few years ago...being a newbie, I began by > creating a SEPARATE family file for each surname. This is now causing me > problems. I find that I miss SOOO much information. I will have added some > data under one allied family name, and some under the main file name. My > focus isn't the best at this particular time anyhow, but even when it is, I > find myself making too many unnecessary circles due to my method. Guess it > is partly because I don't always have time to type it ALL under each name; > or perhaps at times sheer laziness <VBG> in not wanting to type it under > each family name. We won't even discuss all the papers I have stacked up > that NEED to be entered. "The pile monster." > > I am using Family TreeMaker v.8 if that matters. > > TIA for your input. > > Sharon > > > ==== GABERRIE Mailing List ==== > To post messages to the Berrien County, GA discussion list, send them to GABERRIE-L@rootsweb.com YOU are an important part of this list! > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >