macOS Big Sur Compatibility for Family Tree Maker

macOS Big Sur Compatibility for Family Tree Maker

I recommend that you read this Knowledge Base Article for Software MacKiev

https://support.mackiev.com/944428-macOS-Big-Sur-Compatibility-for-Family-Tree-Maker

____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Reader Question - FamilySearch Citations

Reader question:

When I import from a FamilySearch tree the details of attached sources seem to be in the wrong fields - ie every citation belongs to the same source "FamilySearch Family Tree". Is there a workaround to bulk edit attached sources from an imported FamilySearch to make them more useful?

Simple answer and only my Opinion. I do NOT use ANY FamilySearch Source nor Citation Information. [ Period ] I ALWAYS Rewrite ALL Source and Citation Information. I want and move ALL of this Source and Citation information to a Source Template and complete the Citation Detail field.

As you said, "FamilySearch Family Tree" is a Source Group and is populated when you do a Merge of information from FamilySearch.

No Workaround, sorry. I suggest moving that Source and Citation information into the Source Template Feature. I have many blog posts on the blog on how to do that. 

____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Reader Question - FamilySearch 2.0 - Match vs Merge

Question from a Reader:

How to add a FamilySearch ID to a person without merging from web search. I just want to copy and paste the ID into my tree so I can keep it it in a way the program understands - but without taking a chance of merging something from someone elses tree that I don't want.

Easy question. With FTM2019, FamilySearch 2.0 was implemented, and I have blogged about this before. 

The feature that you want IS IN FTM2019, which is the MATCH feature. In the Web Search Workspace, following a FamilySearch HINT, you have TWO option's. Merge or Match. You want Match. 

Blue box = FamilySearch Hint

Clicking on the FamilySearch Hint will take you to the WebSearch Workspace

Compare the information in your FILE on the Left, data from FamilySearch on the Right. IF you think they are the SAME person, click on the MATCH option.

That will put the FamilySearch ID on the Profile of the person in your database. NO other information in brought into Family Tree Maker.

 

The result is the FamilySearch ID will be added. Please note, there will be no Citation for that FACT and NONE is Required and not reported in the Undocumented Fact Report.

____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Reader Question about Paste Duplicate vs Paste Link to Citations

A Reader Question about Citations:

When or under what circumstances do you use "Paste Duplicate Source Citation" vs "Paste Link to Source Citation"?

This is a great question and I have not posted about the differences, only how I use those options. Sorry, I haven't done that until now.

What am I talking about or what is the Question about ?

In the People Workspace, Person View, Right Panel, where a Fact is selected and you want to add a Citation to that Fact.

First, I do not link the term "Source Citation".It appears to be one thing, two words, but it is really TWO things, a Source and a Citation. "Source, Citation" with the comma, to indicate two things. 

This "New" button's pull down menu has 4 options:

• Add New Source Citation
• Use Existing Source Citation
• Paste Duplicate Source Citation
• Paste Link to Source Citation.

The first one, "Add New Source Citation", is really two steps, Create or add a New Source (Source Group), then Add a Citation to that Source and Link the Citation to a FACT.

The "Use Existing Source Citation" is where you Select an Existing Source (from the Source Group List in the Left panel), and Selecting an existing Citation from the Source's group of Citations.

An example us of this option, is that you have a Citation already and you want to add or link the SAME Citation to a new or different Fact. The ICON to the Right of "New" does the same function, Copy the highlighted Citation. You then would PASTE Link to the Source Citation, or the 4th item on that pull down menu. Remember this is a special, Family Tree Maker "clipboard" used for Copying and Pasting.

The Paste Duplicate Source Citation option, or third on the list in the menu, is similar, but the use for this is when you are going to EDIT the Citation Detail field creating a New Citation, in the SAME Source Group. OR, I want to make a Duplicate Citation, but I will Edit the Citation Detail creating a New Citation. Example: I want to change the NAME of the Person of Interest, in this new Citation.

I have a routine, where I will look at a Profile, but need to really view it when I have time. I created a Fact called "Profile Reviewed". That Fact is marked Private, as I am the only one who will see that fact, and have a Citation:

Worthington, Russ, [ ADDRESS FOR PERSONAL USE ], Profile Review; Reviewed 04 September 2019.

A year later, I find that I need to review it again. Usually after a Merge, or I have Conflicting Information. So, I Select the Copy Citation ICON (to the right of New), then use the Paste Duplicate Source Citation option, in the New Menu, then EDIT that new / copy of the Citation and change 04 September 2019 to 16 September 2020, creating a New Citation.

Worthington, Russ, [ ADDRESS FOR PERSONAL USE ], Profile Review; Reviewed 16 September 2020.

Taking this one step further, I have three more Profiles,  then can Copy the Citation (ICON to the right of New),  with the 16 September 2020 date, so it is in the Family Tree Maker clipboard, then go to the 2nd profile, where I am doing the same thing, adding a "Profile Reviewed" Fact, and Click New, and PASTE Existing Link to the Source Citation. Repeat the Adding of the Fact and the PASTE Existing Link to the Source Citation to the next two Facts for the three profile.

Summary:

New - want to Create a New Source (Source Group) and Citation

Use and Existing Citation - have a Citation that needs to be added to another Fact, where you Select that Citation

Paste Duplicate Citation - want a Copy of a Citation to be edited, creating a NEW Citation in that same Source Group

Paste Existing Link to the Citation - adding a Link to an existing Citation

____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Family Tree Maker - Data Security Article

Please read this post from Family Tree Maker

FAMILY-TREE-MAKER---Data-Security-Article

____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Reader Question: Unlinked Media Files

A Reader Question:

Hi have a question about FTM. On my tree the media tab has 1450 media files but the media file in my FTM media file on my PC has 1500 media files. Do both folders need to be the same? Which folder is correct? How do I make both media folders the same? Will I need to go through them manually to weed out? Thanks John

Go to Publish, Media Usage Report, Create Report. In the list of options, uncheck ALL but the last one: Show unlinked Media.

and you will see those images that are not linked. It will include the Filename and Caption.

____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Reader Question: Media Sort

Reader Question:

I have FT 2017. On an older version the photos in a persons media file could be arranged by the date of the photo. That doesn't work anymore. How can I arrange the photos by date without manually moving each one into position. Thank you.

Remember, you can Sort the Media files by Filename or Caption. So, your Filenaming can control the order of the media files and the way you Caption each media file will control the order they appear.

I have blogged about this (search for or scroll down the left column to Filenames. 

In the Media Workspace, I want to look at the images so that they appear by Person and in the Date order.

Surname-FirstName_MiddleName_Suffix-YYYY-Event

If no middle name or no suffix, it would be Surname-FirstName-YYYY-Event

The Caption is very similar

Firstname Middlename Surname Suffix - YYYY - Event

Note the Dash, Underscores, and Spaces. 

____________________________________________________________ 

Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Reader Question - Citation Formatting Errors

Response to a Reader Question:

I just wrote (and erased) a long screed about the formatting errors I found in using a source template (SSDI) for the first time. Since the workarounds either didn't work or took a lot of extra time, I hesitate to use another template, especially for more complicated citations. Your stats show that you're a confirmed template user. How do you deal with the formatting errors that don't have a workaround, e.g. the disappearing italics in the reference note? Or do you recommend the basic citation format for those of us who'd like to deal only with errors caused by our own input?

I do not find formatting issues when using the Source Template Feature.

I have run a number of the Full Reference Notes onto the EvidenceExplained website. Exact in all cases NO, but really close most of the time.

The trick, for me, is the correct Source Template, based on WHERE I found the information, and the Citation Detail field for the Citation information required.

There are about 179 Source Templates, but in reality, I end up by using 3 or 4 ,because most of the data so far comes from an Online Website.

I do NOT loose italics, they are where they belong.

I always do my Citations immediately on data entry. I have also spent much time, getting some of my very old Citations, into a Source Template format. 
____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ
x

Reader Question: Chart not complete

A Reader Question:

Descendant Chart 244" w x 24" high - Clips right side of a PDF - cannot save as a bmp, jpg or png image file - only as an EMP. Have Windows 10 & use FTM 2017.

That question needs to go directly to the support folks at Family Tree Maker ( https://familytreemaker.com ), and the Support tab. 

____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Reader Question: How to Export from FTB file from MacOS Catalina to PC

A Reader Question:

Export FTB file from MacOS Catalina to PC

Jerry,

FTM2019 for the Mac and FTM2019 for a Windows PC use the SAME file format. 

You can open a FTM2019 FILE from a Mac with a Windows PC with FTM2019. No Export involved.

(I am guessing that when you said FTB, you really meant FTMB (a Back Up). So, on the Windows PC, you would do a File, RESTORE.

____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Reader Question: Duplicate Facts

A Reader Question:

Is there a way to find duplicate facts on people without having to look at each individual person. As a example, I may have multiple Residence facts that occurred when I merged Census records at different times. I probably have multiple sources as well. If there was such a report, you could then go in to the specific person and delete the duplicates.

ANSWER: Short Answer is NO.

But, lets think about your example (Multiple Residence Facts):

I find many records that provide information for the Residence Fact. Mostly from Census Records, but City Directories, Newspaper Articles, Vital Records, Military Records provides us with information about where the person Resided at that specific time. That is NOT multiple residence Facts. They are Alternate Facts.

There are a couple of Census Records and Military Records in this list. I had to decide which is the Preferred Fact. I chose the 1940 Census Entry as preferred, because is got down to the City Level. I could have chosen the most recent entry, but that record provided the County Level.

I do know what you mean about seen a Preferred Fact and an Alternate Fact that have the SAME EXACT information, ALL fields. I suggest that you re-think just deleting the Duplicates. Consider the Merge Duplicate Fact feature. I have blogged about that before.

REASON: When you do a Web Merge, in FTM2019, you may not see all of the ALT Facts for a specific Fact, so you may end up with the Same Alt Fact. BUT, the Alt Fact you didn't see during the Web Merge will have a Citation and the one you did see, during the Web Merge has a Different Citation. Deleting that "duplicate" will also delete the Citation. Using the Merge Duplicate Fact feature, Right Clicking on the Fact Name, will merge the Facts and Citations, both of them (citations).

____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Research Log

Yesterday, I gave a presentation to a local group, talking about our Desk Top Genealogy Software, The Sub-title was Which is the BEST Genealogy Desk Top software program ? My answer is "It Depends" (to quote a dear Genealogy Speaker and friend, Judy G Russell, The Legal Genealogist. The title of the talk was Why I chose Family Tree Maker.

Of course I have been using it for a long time, since 1996 and Version 3.4 at I recall, and I blog about it, so there must be something about it that makes it different from the others. The biggest reason is the Workspace concept that was introduced in FTM2008, when the program moved from a DOS base program into Windows.

While I have been using the program, I also have been involved with assisting in teaching and learning the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS). I might note, that I have NO Brick Walls because of GPS. Just look at Step 1.

Today, I was reading a Blog Post, Organize Your Family History by Janine Adams. Her recent blog post My "good enough" Research Log caught my attention. Mostly because, in my talk, I mentioned the Research Log that is part of Family Tree Maker and I used that feature as an example of why I think this program sets it apart from other Genealogy Programs. Please read Janine's Blog Post.

My normal data entry, ALL within the People Workspace, Person View, gives my quick access to two important items. The RESEARCH LOG and my ToDo List for the Profile that I am doing dataentry for. I do NO Data Entry in the Tree View, ALL in the Person View.

When entering new information into my database, for a new person or an existing person is the Citation. Absolutely the FIRST thing that I do. Immediately after that is to Enter data into the Research Log. Absolutely the SECOND thing that I do. Once I got into that habit, I can almost tell that I forgot something. Cite my Source, Research Log, then go from there.

WHY ?

The Citation FIRST gets me into the habit of analyzing the information that I am about to enter into my database. It takes the most time to Craft a Citation (ALWAYS using the Source Template Feature), but I really have to Look at and Analyze what I am about to enter into my file.

From that Source Workspace, I click on the Link or Add a Link to the Profile for that Record I am entering into FTM2019. From there, I click on the Note Tab, which has the Research Log, and make a "good enough" Research Log Entry. Basically the DATA and the Record that was the Citation that I crafted. Most of the time, especially when the Record has more than one Person / Profile on that record. Then I will add the Profile's name. Nothing more, nothing less. I do that so that I can look at the FACTS and the Citations on the Fact to get more detail about what the Research Log is all about.

I can see the Facts that have been entered, with the Research Log below. That first entry in the Research Log was a Revolutionary War record. Looking at the Facts, I can see the Citation on the Right, for that Research Log Entry.

You may note that the Research Log is in a Bullet List, with the Date and Record, in Date Order. The Date or order of entry is not important, but I know WHEN I make that entry and can look at the Citation, with a Link to the Record, right there on the screen.

Note, that my "good enough" Research Log is the Positive stuff that I have done. Mostly from Hints. On that same screen, is the Task Tab or ToDo List for that profile.

The Task List or ToDo list tells me right away, what I need to resolve, things I need to do for that person. In this example, there are TWO Tasks that I have completed. I mark my completed Tasks with "RESOLVED" and how I resolved or completed the Task. I still have two items to complete.

I mentioned that I do ALL of my Data Entry from the Person View, so that I have quick access to My Research Log and ToDo List. Many items in the ToDo List / Task List can only be Resolved by a Record, Conflicting Information for example. I mark, in the ToDo List Conflicting Information.

Bottom line, for the Research Log, I can easily see what I have done, in the order which I did it. I know where to look to see what information I found on that Records, have a mouse click away from that record, all from that screen in Family Tree Maker.

For my "good enough research log" works for me.

Thanks Janine for your Blog Post



___________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Question from a Reader: Print List of Duplicate People

And here is the Reader's Question:

Can you print a copy of the duplicate list of people - this would be most helpful if you can. I have Version 2019

The short answer is No, there isn't a way to print a list of Duplicate People.

The good news is that you can SAVE that list after reviewing it, make changes, like indicating that these are NOT duplicate profiles. Saving the list will allow you to pick up where you left off.

I will have to look at my files to see if I have a good example of that and make a blog post.

Thank you for the question and the topic for a future blog post. Before I answered this question I did look at my working files and didn't see any.

____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ