Joan, is it of any difficulty to add one little box to indicate there are sources listed? W. David Samuelsen JYoung6180@aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 3/25/01 6:53:54 PM Eastern Standard Time, > singhals@erols.com writes: > > > Actually, that won't "overcome" anything. It simply ADDS to the problem. > (g) > > I was hunting for something over there the other day and of 16 "hits" 4 > > appeared to be someone who had gotten into the database by accident because > > there was no data, no parent, no spouse. Four more had one piece of info > > each (NOT the same piece, of course). Three of the others had full data, > > and it differed wildly; the rest seemed to have done a pick'n'choose off > > the three with full data. Tossing a 17th "hit" in there will only > > complicate matters, EVEN if it's totally accurate and fully documented. > > > > But, even the LDS quit trying to merge GEDCOMs into one lineage-linked > > database because they faced too many "judgment calls". So we live with an > > embarrassment of riches. > > > Cheryl- > > This comment isn't directed at you personally, <g> but 10 years ago when > most of us did *all* our research in dusty, dimly lit courthouse basements or > hunched over microfilm readers in a Family History Center spending many > months to unravel ONE generation of one line of our ancestry, and snail mail > was the about the only way to contact others with information on our > ancestors, I think we'd have jumped at the chance to spend a few hours > "online" in the comfort of our homes sorting through 12, 14, or even 20 > GEDCOMs to see what documentation and sources are listed and what new > "cousins" we can chat with to overcome obstacles and sort out what is > accurate and what isn't. > > To sum it up...I think we've become spoiled. We want instant ancestors. I > don't think we can ever have TOO MUCH information. > > Joan >

I'm not sure a "box" indicating a record is sourced would be all that helpful. I've seen files that are "sourced" using LDS, someone's WFT Tree, or just the name of an individual. To me these aren't sources that are all that meaningful. I've also seen files with no sources at all, but with a note from the owner telling you he/she will provide sources upon request. My own file would not always show a source because I have placed the complete will (which proves the children) or other pertinent documents within the Notes section. My own technique is to ignore records that contain no dates, spouse, and/or locations. It is my assumption that the owner doesn't have any more info than I do on this individual. Just my rambling thoughts....... Nel