Jeannette, Thank you for sharing the book. What you sent does not use the Modified Register System. Quite simply, Gen-Book was wrong. The book uses the Ahnentafel numbering system, which is recommended for books of this nature. It has created the genealogical summaries in a format similar to that used by the Modified Register System, but does not use their numbering system--it can't. It would be a bit too difficult to explain what the difference is in a short note. If you are a member of NGS, take a look at Warren Bittner's article in the most recent issue of NGSQ. The family history uses the Modified Register System. I would also strongly recommend that you purchase and read the book *Numbering Your Genealogy: Basic Systems, Complex Families, and International Kin*, by Curran, Coen, and Wray, published by the National Genealogical Society and available at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/publications/ngs_special_publications/current_publications. To answer your question as to "what difference it makes if you number down for Descendants or reverse the process to make a book with the numbers going from person A to their parents, grandparents etc.": The NGSQ/Modified Register System starts at number 1 for the earliest ancestor, and numbers each of his children in order, then continuing with their children. For example: 1. John Smith . . . His children: 2. John Smith Jr. 3. Mary Smith 4. Joseph Smith 5. Elizabeth Smith [Next Generation] 2. John Smith Jr. . . . His children: 6. Isaac Smith 7. Ann Smith 8. Margaret Smith 3. Mary Smith married Joseph Brown . . . Her children: 9. John Brown 10. Elizabeth Brown 11. Mary Brown ... and so on. There are a few other details to the format, but this is the general format of the numbering scheme. Every single person is numbered. As you can see, this is a numbering system that was created specifically for descending genealogies. There simply is no way to "reverse the process" and go the other direction. It doesn't work like that. It was not an "arbitrary decision"--it is a fundamental aspect of the system. Any attempt to "reverse the process" would basically be the creation of a completely different numbering system. As for using Microsoft Word, yes, you would have to tag the Table of Contents and index entries. This can be time-consuming if you have a lot of names, but you also have full control over exactly how they are indexed. You also have full control over everything else in the book. So this is my preference. Michael Hait, CG(sm) michael.hait@hotmail.com http://www.haitfamilyresearch.com "Planting the Seeds" Blog: http://michaelhait.wordpress.com CG and Certified Genealogist are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic competency evaluation, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. -----Original Message----- From: Jeannette Maxey Sent: Monday, October 22, 2012 10:48 AM To: transitional-genealogists-forum@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [TGF] TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM Digest, Vol 6, Issue 573 Replying to Michael I sent him an early draft off line of one of the 11 generation books as I don't know how to otherwaise explain the Gen-book Set up but will not post it here. In the information with the Gen-book software - it describes itself as Modified Register. With the soft ware you choose either a Descendant format or an Ancestor format. I don't understand what difference it makes if you number down for Descendants or reverse the process to make a book with the numbers going from person A to their parents, grandparents etc. It seems an arbitray decision not an impossible feat to accomplish so I was also asking "why" it has been decided that way - what is the reasoning that it is not approved.. It seems so very clear, easy way to follow and 'pretty ' way to do a book. Why is it only approved for the Descendants?. 2. Not being versed in publishing - Nor do I know how I would take my data from my genealogy software and put it into a word processing document but it seems if you convert to using Microsoft Word (or the Word Perfect I use) that you are then stuck coding everything to be able to create your table of contents and indexes etc. Gen- Book was an easy way to get a nice format with all of my data which I would have used again if it was compatible with the currents softwares. Jeannette The Transitional Genealogists List was created to provide a supportive environment for genealogists to learn best practices as they transition to professional level work. Please respect the kind intentions of this list. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message