Family Tree Maker Version 2010 at Ancestry.com

A Google Search for "Family Tree Maker 2010" provided a link to the Ancestry.com Store:

A summary, from the website says:

Family Tree Maker 2010 - Direct Upgrade

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting on your family tree, Family Tree Maker 2010 can help you create a family tree faster, easier, and better than ever before. The end result is a family history that you and your family will treasure for years to come.

What’s New?

• Easy family tree download from Ancestry.com – Import your Ancestry.com family tree, along with attached photos.
• Improved organization – Enjoy new ways to organize photos and other media.
• Slideshows – Create slideshows from photos in your tree.
• Family books – Publish beautiful keepsakes and books to share with friends and family.
• Standard source templates – Cite the right information every time.
• A new person view – View relationships within the context of your entire family tree.
• Scanner support – Add photos directly from your scanner.
• Family migration paths – View timelines and interactive maps highlighting events and places in your ancestors’ lives.
• Better Performance – Experience faster load times and navigation.

The link above, may NOT contain the Image that is on the screen. Please go to Google.com and search for

family tree maker 2010

Data Base Clean Up - How to handle Names

My friend, Randy Seaver, of the Genea-Musing Blog has made another Challenge.

Are there standards for names in family trees?

I am quoting his blog so that responding to his Database Clean up is easier. He asks great questions. I am guessing that each of us have asked our selves the same questions. In fact, last eveing I was a Family Tree Maker, Version 2009, and some of these same questions came up. So, it's time for my take on them.

He starts:

"[For those wondering why I'm still working in FTM 16, it's a long story. Mainly it is because I am real comfortable with it and can work fairly quickly in it, and then I can import the native FTW file to FTM 2009 and RootsMagic.]

My guess is, each of use has done this, especially moving from Version 16 to Version 2008 or 2009. For me, it was the question of Which Version was easier to do the clean up. When I made this conversion, I checked or both versions with Copies of my Working Family File. I wanted to work with the Same Information with both Versions.

Actually, I started my clean up in Version 16, but quickly discovered Version 2009 was easier. Now, I was NOT dealing with the Name issue, I was working on the Place / Location entries. Since Randy was only addressing Names, I will post my thoughts on each question.

Before I start, I suggest two things. Back Up your Family File. Don't go forward until you do.

Second, make a Copy of the file to check out how you want that file to look like when you are done. Especially with the Names, run some test Reports and look at some Test Trees, to see if they look like what YOU want them to look like. In other words, look at the Output to help you determine how you want to do the Input.

Only my opinion and it's what I did.


Randy Continues:

"I would really like to create a genealogy database that I can be proud of, with standardized naming conventions and the like."

That is a Great statement. I can buy into that. Not being a professional genealogist, nor a "wanna be" professional I can only say what I understand what the 'standards' might be. Of interest, is the Comment made on Randy's Blog by Rebecca, referring to a standard that was proposed by Gary Mokotoff. It can be found on this website:

http://www.iijg.org/home/standards.html

I had not read it until today. What I will say below is not what has been proposed.>

Randy continues:

"When I looked in my index list for the names, I found that I have been very inconsistent with my naming conventions, including:

* (unknown) - I have some persons named (unknown) because I don't know either their first or last birth names. This is different from persons with no names at all who are listed as I deleted them because they had no connections to any other person in my tree. Should I use underscores like _____ for an unknown name? Should I use FNU for "first name unknown" and LNU for "last name unknown?"

Here is my take, and the reason why I suggested looking at Reports and Trees to see how you like the results. Try each of them.

For me, I have used 5 Underscores: _____ . Reason, I can live with the Reports and Tree format. The benefit is when you share your findings, I have found that people, knowing he information will "fill in the blanks".

When you look at Indexes or lists of names, they stand out very clearly what you have unknown Name information. It a reminder to fill in the blanks.


* known first name and unknown last name. I could use underscores or LNU.

* unknown first name and known last name. I could use underscores or FNU.

I use the 5 Underscores for Both. But, please see if you like what that looks like.


* Persons found with more than one first name in the records. Or a diminutive like Harry for Henry, Bob for Robert, Bert for Albert or Herbert, Molly for Mary, Abbie for Abigail, Peggy for Margaret, Sally for Sarah, etc. I've been putting these in as "Henry/Harry" (without the quotes) and getting a notice from FTM that there's an unrecognized character.

For Family Tree Maker, and that's the only program that I work with, has a Field for AKA, or Also Known As. The good news here, is that in most trees or reports, you can Specifiy IF you want the AKA to appear. That field will also be exported in a GEDCOM file. That is for Randy's Bert or Albert or Herbert question.

As for the "what was the real name", where you find in a your research, Family Tree Maker has the option to have more than one Name FACT.

In the example from last night. One document had Michael, another had Michael J. Which to I use. My answer is Both. Two Name FACTs.

The tricky part here is Selecting the Preferred Name Fact. Again, when reports or trees are created, Family Tree Maker has the option to see ALL of the FACTs or only the Preferred FACT. In the Example I have in my file, that I was using last evening, I found 4 different ways the name of the individual was presented in my Source information. Base on the other information and relationships, I could determine that the four names were the same individual.

Of course, there are Source-Citations on each of the names in my file.

Taking this one step further, and understanding of who is going to look at your research, in a tree or report is important. Lets say that everyone in the family knew a gentleman by "Uncle Harry". However, his full real name was Henry. The full NAME FACT would be Henry, but the AKA was Harry, or Uncle Harry. This is a case when the AKA field would be used in my file. Harry is in the AKA field, and the AKA is printed in the tree or report.


* Persons found with a first name in one record and an obvious nickname in another. I've been doing the same thing as the diminutive, e.g. "Henry/Skip." These are usually nicknames and I've seen them input as Henry "Skip" with the nickname in quotes.

I mentioned this above. My further comment is how do YOU want it to look in the Software begin used. In Family Tree Maker the quotes and slashes are not required, but can be entered. As Randy mentioned above, there will be an error Warning to deal with. I don't use those characters since I have control how the Name is displayed.

* Widows (and divorcees too) that marry again. I have a lot of "Mary Jones (widow Smith)" in my database because Tom Brown married Mary Smith in the records and she was the widow of Mr. Smith. Even worse, I have many of these loose widows without a known maiden name. I shouldn't be inputting her as "Mary Smith" because I don't know her maiden surname. Should I be inputting "Mary _____ Smith" or "Mary MNU Smith?' Or just "Mary _____," "Mary MNU" or "Mary LNU" and connect her to an unknown "FNU Smith."

In Family Tree Maker, it is expected that the Birth Surname is entered for the females. Having said that, from the example above, the unknown birth name or maiden name, I handle it like I handle any unknown name.

Within Family Tree Maker, again, you have the option to present the name, in reports or trees. When the married name is desired, the Contents, Items to include, has the ability to "Use married name for Female".

While we are here, the Name format option also includes the ability to "Display last name in all caps".

There is something that needs to be addressed here. In my family file, I have a married female, who did NOT, legally, take. This latter option might cause a problem. In the same file, there is a female who was married, then divorced. In the divorce papers, she took back, legally, her maiden, or birth surname.

This may present an issue for certain other family members, in printed trees and reports. Entering the data consistently and the use of the Name options are important to know and understand.

In either case, the use of the NOTES section is important to make use of.

In the Proposed Standard, by Gary Mokotoff, he makes a very important point. "Married women are identified by their maiden name, that is, their legal name ..." (page 4, paragraph 1.2). A little further down that paragraph, he discusses an immigrant, that upon entry into the U.S., the "changed her given name ... ". The key term here, for me, is "legal name".

Another entry on this Blog was on Searching Census Records, within Family Tree Maker for females:

Census Search for Females

The above use of the "_____" has little impact on the Surname. When I trying to use "unknown" as a name, there was a tendency to overlook the word "unknown" in the name field. I my experience, it was a little more obvious that an unknown name was being searched for.



* I've also seen the string "--?--" in genealogy periodicals and books for unknown names.

This standard suggests the use of the "?" for unknown portions of name (Paragraph 1.4). I tried that, but found when reading a report or looking at a tree, it was confusing to some of the readers.


Randy concludes:


"I note that the Rootsweb WorldConnect databases have:

* 60,920 entries for surname - LNU
* 11,052 entries for surname MNU
* 92,331 entries for surname - Unk
* 5,232,913 entries for surname Unknown
* 181,428 entries for surname (Unknown)
* 20,305 entries for surname --?--
* 124,687 entries for surname _____
* 1,166,278 entries for surname ?
* 8,117 for surname ?????
* 78 entries for surname Whoknows
* 64 entries for surname Dontknow
* 37 entries with surname Mystery
* 1,493 entries for surname Who
* 35 entries for surname Who?


Are there any standards for inputting these names into a genealogy database? Who has the authority to deal with this? Have there been extended discussions about these issues that I've missed in books, articles, blogs, message boards or mailing lists? What do you do in your genealogy software database?"


Again, one of the comments provide a proposed standard.

This topic comes up frequently on the Various Family Tree Maker message boards and email lists. There has only been discussions, and not one has seen a Name "standard". Not being part of any of the professional organizations, I wouldn't know if a standard is being worked on. I haven't seen a specific discussion, where a conclusion or recommendation was presented and agreed to.

As a User of Family Tree Maker, I can only offer how I use the Program, with my logic on how to handle the issue at hand. Just be consistent in how you handle these issues.

In Family Tree Maker, on the People, Family screen, the Left Panel provides some display options:

Note: Name index options.

• Use AKA if available as a middle name: If an alias is included in quotes after the middle name , both the given name and AKA (Also Known As) are listed in the Index.
• Use AKA if available as an additional entry: If an alias or nickname has been entered for an individual, both the given name and AKA are listed in the Index.
• Use titles if available: If a name includes a title, both the given name and title with name are listed in the Index.
• Use married names for females: Lists married females by their married name instead of the maiden name.

To open the Options: Dates/Names dialog box in Family Tree Maker 2009:
Click Tools > Options > Dates/Names.

The Knowledge Base website also has:

Two First Names: FTM: How do I enter someone who has two first names?

There is a Tool to convert a Name that had been entered in All Capital letters. The "standard" is the use of Upper and Lower cases, and it referred to in Paragraph 1.8 (Syntax. All portions of the name will be presented in upper/lower case.) This tool will help with this transition.

Convert Names Tool in Family Tree Maker 2009


Another name Knowlege Base article is:

FTM: How do I enter missing or unusual surnames?


PS - for Randy. You might want to look at what the Find and Replace feature will do for you, IF you choose to make any changes. BUT, don't forget to BACK UP your Family File BEFORE you state.

Thanks for listening.

Source Citation Template - Group 12 - Publications - Periodicals, Broadcastes, and Web Miscellanea

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills

Group 12: Publications—Periodicals, Broadcasts, and Web Miscellanea

Category: Periodicals
QuickCheck Model: Pages 779 - 786

Category: Broadcasts and Web Miscellanea
QuickCheck Model: Pages 787 - 790

Source Citation Template - Group 11 - Publications - Legal Works and Government Documents

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills

Group 11: Publications—Legal Works and Government Documents

Category: Book—Basic Format
QuickCheck Model: Pages 727

Category: Legal Reference Works
QuickCheck Model: Pages 728 - 734

Category: Printed Government Documents
QuickCheck Model: Pages 735 - 739

Source Citation Template - Group 10 - Publications - Books, CDs, Maps, Leaflets, and Videos

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills

Group 10: Publications—Books, CDs, Maps, Leaflets, and Videos

Category: Print Publications
QuickCheck Model: Pages 646 - 653

Category: Electronic Publications
QuickCheck Model: Pages 654 - 657

Category: Image Copies
QuickCheck Model: Pages 658 - 661

Source Citation Template - Group 9 - National Government Records

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills

Group 9: National Government Records

Category: Original Materials (United States)
QuickCheck Model: Pages 539 - 546

Category: Databases
QuickCheck Model: Pages 547 - 551

Category: Image Copies
QuickCheck Model: Pages 552 - 553

Category: Images Online
QuickCheck Model: Pages 554 - 556

Source Citation Template - Group 8 - Local and State Records - Property and Probate

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills

Group 8: Local and State Records—Property and Probate

Category: Original Records
QuickCheck Model: Pages 487 - 491

Category: Image Copies
QuickCheck Model: Pages 492 - 494

Category: Derivatives
QuickCheck Model: Pages 495 - 496

Source Citation Template - Group 2 - Business and Institutional Records

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills


Group 2: Business and Institutional Records


Category: Corporate Records
QuickCheck Model: Pages 161 - 166


Category: Lineage Society Records
QuickCheck Model: Pages 167 - 168


Category: Organizational Records
QuickCheck Model: Pages 169 - 170


Category: Professional Reports
QuickCheck Model: Pages 171 - 173


Category: School Records
QuickCheck Model: Pages 174 - 175

Source Citation Template - Group 7 - Local and State Records - Registration, Rolls, and Vital Records

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills

Group 7: Local and State Records—Registrations, Rolls, and Vital Records

Category: Local Records
QuickCheck Model: Pages 421 - 428

Category: State-Level Records
QuickCheck Model: Pages 429 - 432

Source Citation Template - Group 6 - Local and State Records - Court and Governance

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills

Group 6: Local and State Records—Courts and Governance

Category: Original Records
QuickCheck Model: Pages 373 - 377

Category: Image Copies
QuickCheck Model: Pages 378 - 381

Category: Derivatives
QuickCheck Model: Pages 382

Source Citation Template - Group 5 - Church Records

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills

Group 5: Church Records

Category: Church Books
QuickCheck Model: Pages 311 - 313

Category: Image Copies
QuickCheck Model: Pages 314 - 317

Category: Derivatives
QuickCheck Model: Pages 318 - 320

Source Citation Template - Group 4 - Census Records

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills

Group 4: Census Records

Category: Original Manuscripts
QuickCheck Model: Pages 237 - 238

Category: Digital Images
QuickCheck Model: Pages 239 - 243

Category: Microfilm
QuickCheck Model: Pages 243 - 252

Category: Derivatives
QuickCheck Model: Pages 253 - 256

Source Citation Template - Group 1 - Archives and Artifacts

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

The next series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu:

Figure 195

Figure 195 shows the list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills


Group 1: Archives and Artifacts


Category: Archived Material
QuickCheck Model: Pages 93 - 102


Category: Preservation Film
QuickCheck Model: Pages 103 - 104


Category: Private Holdings
QuickCheck Model: Pages 105 - 115

Source Citation Template - Group 3 - Cemetery Records

Continuing with the discussion on the use of the Source Citation Templates started

Source Citation Template - Source Group

This series of Blog posts will expand each of the Groups and show the various Categories that will appear on the Category menu. The list of Categories to select from. Each of these categories are referred to in Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills


Group 3: Cemetery Records

Category: Cemetery Office Records
QuickCheck Model: Pages 209 - 212

Category: Grave Markers
QuickCheck Model: Pages 213 - 215

Category: Memorial Plaques
QuickCheck Model: Pages 216

Category: Derivatives
QuickCheck Model: Pages 217 - 219

Source Citation Template - Source Group

In an effort to learn the Source-Citation Templates the many Template Screens were reviewed to help select the best Template for a specific Source that was on hand. An Earlier Blog entry

Source-Citation Template - County Marriage Index

was created. Thinking the others might be interested in a little more information about these templates, over time, other blog entries will be created to help select the correct Template quicker.

This is only ONE WAY to select the appropriate template, but this series will be to walk through that various screens involved.

As you will see, the terms being use with the Family Tree Maker resemble that of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills

To access the Source-Citation Template, go to the People Work Space, selecting the Person Tab, the appropriate FACT is selected. For this example, the Name FACT is used. In Figure 183, below we select New (1)

Figure 183

Select New, and a Add Source Citations screen, where New is selected.

Figure 184

The New, Add Source screen, has a new line (the top line), if you have been a user of Family Tree Maker. It is the Select Source Template line. For this blog, we will Manually select the template. In the future, other options for selecting the Template will be shown.

On the Right end of the Select Template line, is the More button. (2).

Figure 185

A list of Source Groups are shown.

Figure 194

It is not necessary to have Evidence Explained, but it is helpful. For those with this book, each of these groups, seen about will be listed below with the Chapter and Page Number for each of these Groups.

Group 1: Archives and Artifacts
Evidence Explained: Chapter 3, Page 91

Group 2: Business and Institutional Records
Evidence Explained: Chapter 4, Page 159

Group 3: Cemetery Records
Evidence Explained: Chapter 5, Page 207

Group 4: Census Records
Evidence Explained: Chapter 6, Page 235

Group 5: Church Records
Evidence Explained: Chapter 7, Page 309

Group 6: Local and State Records—Courts and Governance
Evidence Explained: Chapter 8, Page 371

Group 7: Local and State Records—Registrations, Rolls, and Vital Records
Evidence Explained: Chapter 9, Page 419

Group 8: Local and State Records—Property and Probate
Evidence Explained: Chapter 10, Page 487

Group 9: National Government Records
Evidence Explained: Chapter 11, Page 537

Group 10: Publications—Books, CDs, Maps, Leaflets, and Videos
Evidence Explained: Chapter 12, Page 643

Group 11: Publications—Legal Works and Government Documents
Evidence Explained: Chapter 13, Page 725

Group 12: Publications—Periodicals, Broadcasts, and Web Miscellanea
Evidence Explained: Chapter 14, Page 777

Source-Citation Template - County Marriage Index

In an effort to help understand the use of the Version 2009 Source-Citation Templates, this blog will attempt to help with it's use, by using specific examples provided by other users.

Here is what was provided:

We found some information on a Microfilm that was ordered from Salt Lake City and was reviewed ar the local Family History. The roll number is 1854080.

This was a microfilm of Muscatine Co. Iowa Marriage Index and Records

The information on the film where the data for my ancestor was found on Project # 07000 Roll 23; Book 2; Page 228.

The original material was housed with Muscatine County Iowa Clerk of the District Court.

In the People Work Space, selecting the Person Tab, the appropriate FACT is selected. For this example, the Name FACT is used. In Figure 183, below we select New (1)

Figure 183

Select New, and a Add Source Citations screen, where New is selected.

Figure 184

The New, Add Source screen, has a new line (the top line), if you have been a user of Family Tree Maker. It is the Select Source Template line. For this blog, we will Manually select the template. In the future, other options for selecting the Template will be shown.

On the Right end of the Select Template line, is the More button. (2).

Figure 185

A list of Source Groups are shown. In this example we have "a microfilm of Muscatine Co. Iowa Marriage Index and Records". It looks like "Local and State Records - Registrations, Rolls, and Vital Records" would be appropriate. Hi--light (1) that entry.

On the Category line, is a pull down menu(2). The Choice Selections are Local or State-Level Records. As this is a County Records, Local Record was selected.

Figure 186

The Template Selection also has a pull down menu, once the Category has been selected.

Vital Records Register is what is chosen in this example.

Figure 187

Below is our Selections for review, before clicking on OK. Notice the Registers Name Value information to help verify that you have made the correct selection for the item you are about to Cite.

Figure 188

Clicking on OK, will bring up the Add Source Screen, with fields that are required to complete the Citation. The Source Citation Template field is filled in.

The State is needed in the State or Country field. Iowa was entered.

The County is called for, Muscatine County was entered

As you are in each field, you will notice a hint below that field. See the Record Series entry below. Muscatine Co. Iowa Marriage Index and Records was entered.

Figure 190

The next entry is the Repository. Where is that Microfilm located, if it is needed again. Clicking on New will bring up an Add Repository window. Since this was found at the local Family History Library, that is entered in the Name, and the Street Address, City, State, ZIP, phone number on Email address information is filled in.

Figure 191

Clicking OK will go back to the Add Source screen, where the Roll Number is entered.

Figure 192

Clicking OK from this screen, will bring up the Add Source Citation screen. Again, notice the hint bubble that will appear as you are entering information into a field. Here more details, for the specific entry is entered. Project # 07000 Roll 23; Book 2; Page 228.

Figure 192

Clicking OK will return to the People Workspace, Person screen.

The complete Source-Citation of the above will look like this, on the Family Group Sheet for this individual.

Marriage Notes, Version 16 to Version 2009

Where did my Marriage Notes go when I moved from Family Tree Maker Version 16 to Version 2009?

Marriage notes in Version 16 (and earlier) could be found on the Marriage Line, with the Date and Location. There are three ICONS that are there.

Figure 178

When the the Edit Marriage window opens, click on Notes, and the marriage notes will appear.

Figure 179

With Version 2009, there are two ways to see the Marriage Notes. First from the People work space, and the Family View, with one of the spouses selected.

Figure 180

In the Right Hand (RH) Panel, the 3rd ICON is the Notes for that individual. In this example, there are a number of Individual Notes, but scroll down to the bottom of that screen and you will see the Relationship, and the Relationship with entry and the Marriage Notes are listed there.

Figure 181

You can also see the Marriage Notes, from the People workspace, Person tab, and on that screen, select the Relationship tab. Go down to the relationship you want to see. In the RH Panel, select Notes. The marriage notes are there.

Figure 182

This tree is on an Ancestry Tree.

Genea-Musings: Family Tree Maker 2010 software - what? when?

My friend Randy Seaver, of Genea-Musings has just posted information about Family Tree Maker Version 2010.

I invite you to see what he has to say:

Genea-Musings: Family Tree Maker 2010 software - what? when?

Thank you.