Philo, Good for you. You beat me to it. I too use RINs and MRINs all the time. In my GenCharts for PAF program I use them exclusively to identify people to print reports about. Lynn > Hello Group, > > I have been reading the discussion about RIN number > for some time and now want to tell who and why I use > RIN number. > > If is because PAF displays the RIN number that I use > PAF. > Other Genealogy program have a unique nubmer but they > do not display the number. > > When I first started to do my data entry into PAF 2.3 > in DOS years ago I created a 7 generation blank setup > for my ancestors in Ahnentafel order. As I entered my > direct ancestors into my database I used the RIN > number associated with them the Ahnentafel order until > I got past 7 generations. At that point I watched and > moved the direct ancestors to the proper RIN Number > when I reached about 30,000 names in the file to gave > up this > moving system. > > I am still using my original file after all these > years and so my RIN numbers have remained the same. > > I create ancestors and descendants book printout to > share either via E-Mail or printed form, listing the > RIN number on the file. I ask that when people want > to talk about any person on these reports that they > tell me the RIN number of the person they want to > discuss. > > My database is not at 51,600 names and with many names > exactly the same and many living about the very same > time period in the same places, I want to get to the > exact person another research is working with. > > I also use the RIN number when I want to Unlink and > Relink to a family. I know that using the RIN number > I have the same person and will not make an error. > > I do not know how anyone can do editing in there > database with out using the RIN number as the greatest > tool that PAF has given us for a great aid. > > Do not worry about blank RIN numbers. When a new > person is added to the database they will given the > blank numbers until all RIN numbers have been used. > > I can see if you keep making GEDCOM files of your > database and importing your file in a new name your > RIN number will changed. > > Also making reference to RIN in Notes is only useful > to the author and not others. A confidential tag > could be placed before this NOTE, if this type of > information is useful. > > Where can the program INSIGHT be obtained? I have not > heard about this program before. > > I hope that my usage of the RIN Number will give some > of you ideas of how they can be useful to you. > > Later, > Philo Redfield > RedfieldResearcher@yahoo.com > >

All of this use of the RIN is fine, but very dangerous. If you had to reconstruct your database the RIN and MRIN numbers would all be gone. The use you are making of the RIN is the purpose of the CustomID, which should be used for this identification. There are a number of ways to use the CustomID that helps identify the line and generation. I would recommend that you consider moving to the CustomID sometime in the future and not depend on the RIN. Bill > Philo, > Good for you. You beat me to it. I too use RINs and MRINs all the time. In my GenCharts for PAF program I use them exclusively to identify people to print reports about. > Lynn > > > > > If is because PAF displays the RIN number that I use > > PAF. > > Other Genealogy program have a unique nubmer but they > > do not display the number. > > > > When I first started to do my data entry into PAF 2.3 > > in DOS years ago I created a 7 generation blank setup > > for my ancestors in Ahnentafel order. As I entered my > > direct ancestors into my database I used the RIN > > number associated with them the Ahnentafel order until > > I got past 7 generations. At that point I watched and > > moved the direct ancestors to the proper RIN Number > > when I reached about 30,000 names in the file to gave > > up this > > moving system. > > > > I am still using my original file after all these > > years and so my RIN numbers have remained the same. > >