User Question: Media Files

Response to User Question:

There are a number of questions but I will attempt to answer each of them here.

Where to Add New Media:

Where should I Add New Media (ex Photo) first? To..... 1) Person or 2) Media workspace w source & citation?

That depends:

I work on Media files in the Media Workspace. BUT, I also ALWAYS have a Citation on my Media Files. And I create Citations FIRST. So to answer your question, based on What I do, I start in the Sources Workspace, Create / Craft the Citation and ADD that Media File to the Citation. 

I started updating my media with sources & citations but notice that linking the photo to a person, person's name or other fact does not add to the Person media on the bottom left panel.

When I have the Citation, now with the media file, I then LINK to the Profile, Normally, just to the Person, not any Fact. (using a photo as the example). I would only link a media file to a Fact, if that media item was a document, saved as a Media File.

I don't and any media files in the People Workspace, Person Tab. (your bottom left panel). I want that media file with a Citation. In the Media File, Description, I also Paste the Citation. If it is a group photo, for example, above the Citation would me Left to Right: .... type of information describing who is in the photo.

Should I always add media to the Person lower left panel? I feel all media associated with a person should appear here then when you click on a fact in the upper panel the media will also appear in the right panel associated with a source/citation.

You certainly can do what you want, I can only share what I do.

What is this lower left panel's function?

Lower Left Panel, on what screen? 

Is that panel just for my viewing?

If you want to look at a Media File, Media Workspace and select the Media file and if you double click it will become larger. Not exactly sure what you are asking. 

I read that if you wish to have your family file backups smaller then do not add the Media by copying but rather choose the LINK option. Keeping my family file smaller and utiilizing a separate media folder on my computer is preferred.

It depends on what you want that back up to do, later on. Yes, if you do not include Media the FBC file will be Smaller, like an Automatic Back Up. No Media files.

Again, my opinion. I want ONE File for ALL of the Media Files for that one Family Tree Maker File. < filename > Media. The Media files in the Folder, will ALWAYS BE Copies, for me. The original media files will be in separate folders on my computer. The only Media files that I don't have elsewhere on my computer are Record Media files from Ancestry.

Is sounds like you are trying deal with diskspace in your question. I MOVE all of my Back Up files, including Media Files, from my Hard drive to an External Hard Drive. Both my hard drive and external drives are backed up to the Cloud automatically.

I tested with 2 different media by ADD NEW MEDIA to a PERSON one by top option (copy) and 2nd by bottom option (link) and cannot see what is really happening. I have read everything on your blog and the Family Tree Maker Companion Guide but nothing seems to show me this specific situation.

Sorry, don't understand. Try my suggestion then see if that gets at your question. Use a one or two person test file.

The link vs copy option seems to come up in a few situations when dealing with Media and the choice may be different depending on where/how it the Media was first added. If I understand what happens with one piece of new media then cleanup of existing media will be simpler.

As I said earlier, I ALWAYS use the Copy option, NOT Link. The Link allows you to use a Media file somewhere on your computer. When you do a Back Up, that Media file will NOT be included. The link will be there and there is a "find missing media" utility, but I want EVERYTHING for that file, using the Compact and Back Up feature, in the Tools Menu, where the Back Up includes the Media Files.

Lynn

FTM2019 (started researching in 1999 ... on an off again)

All of the above lets me sleep at night, knowing that if something happens to my computer or family tree maker database, I can recover quickly. Oh, and yes, it has happened to me. 

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Copyright © 2022 by Cousin Russ

FTM2019 - File Naming

File Naming that works for me:

Each of us needs to determine what Filenaming scheme works for us. Mine has certainly changes a bit over time, but as I work through my Media Files I am making sure that I have been consistent.

There are two things to remember about Family Tree Maker and it's sorting of Media Files. Sort by Filename OR Sort by Caption. Keep in mind that when you Sync to an Ancestry Member Tree (AMT) File Names are NOT involved. Ancestry sorts by Caption.

Here is a example of a Record for a Profile:

File Name

Surname-Firstname_Middlename-Suffix-YYYY-Event

Caption (for the same record)

Firstname Middlename Surname Suffix - YYYY - Event

Same information but the order is different

But, what  about same named people. This works, at least in my database. The biggest reason is the Date and Event, in both the Filename and the Caption. My grandfather, father, and I all have the SAME Name. My Dad would be a Jr, and I would be a III. Those are the preferred Names, that are documented that way. So, the Preferred Name is in the Filename and Caption. Yes, they may change over time. So, I just Rename the File (within Family Tree Maker) and redo the Caption.

What about Females ?

I ONLY use Maiden / Birth Surnames.

But, I don't know her birth surname ! -  ALL Unknown names, I use 5 Underscores [ _____ ] for both Firstnames and Lastnames or Surnames. I have blogged about this in the past.

Place Names:

Smallest to Largest in the Place Name field for a Fact.

City / Town, Township, County, State, County

I ADD the word Township and County, as appropriate that meet the Place Name Authority in Family Tree Maker. The exception is Historical Place names, again, I have blogged about that.

Now, I have Pictures, in the "Cemetery" Database. What about them?

Caption:

Cemetery Name, City / Town, Township (if appropriate), County, State (no Country, if it is in the USA)

Filename:

State-County-City-Cemetery

The caption is smallest to largest, the Filename is Largest to smallest.

This works great, for me, using either way of sorting in Family Tree Maker.

There is a Trick, that may or may not be obvious.

My Goal is for the filenames or captions to be Readable. People's name or Place names.

A DASH separates the pieces of the Name, as described here. AN UNDERSCORE keeps the fields together. For example, the Firstname and Middlename are separated with an Underscore. I want those to be a different part of a person name, from the Surname. (I do NOT use ALL Caps anywhere).

The filename for a Cemetery, where I want to spell out the word County, is

New_Jersey-Camden_County-Haddonfield-Grace_Episcopal_Church_Memorial_Garden

State - County - City - Cemetery

No spaces in a Filename, Normal Spaces in the Caption.

Another example: I add the Time that I do a Back Up

Master-2019-2021-09-23-1507

My Master File, in FTM2019, backed up in 2021, September 23 at 1507. 

Filename-Version-YYYY-MM-DD-TIME

ln my Custom Back Up folder my Back Up files are in Filename order date and time order, so I know which is the most recent.

I have a Fan_Club Family Tree Maker file, so it's filename is Fan_Club.

The use of the Underscores replace a Space, the Dash separates the elements of a Filename.

The choice for the Sort by Filename or Caption is in the Tool, Options, General Tab

Again, it is your choice, but this one works for me. Not just in Family Tree Maker, but ALL of my computer Filenames. I don't have to think about 'what to call this file'?

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Copyright © 2021 by Cousin Russ

FTM2019 - I've got Photographs & Bookmarks

Another in the series on Changes I am making in Family Tree Maker based on the Changes at Ancestry.

   

 Thinking through this process, I will, most likely, end up by making my Ancestry Member Trees (AMT) public and making the AMT more Cousin Bait. I wanted some why to let a visitor know that I have photographs of the Profile being viewed. ____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2021 by Cousin Russ

FTM2019 - Remove Person Notes from AMT

This is a follow up to FTM2019 - Remove Media files from an Ancestry Member Tree 

Ancestry had made some changes to their Terms and Conditions on the Website that impacts me, and probably everyone else, we read what had been provided. 

The Legal Genealogist blog is on MUST READ blogs, as I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV or on a blog. The bottom line for me, is that I have less than 30 days to remove my Media Files from the Ancestry.com website, on any of their properties, including an Ancestry Member Tree (AMT). 

Another MUST READ Blog is Genea-Musings. The author expresses his concern and plan of action.

This post is handling of Person Notes in FTM2019. They were created by me, each note has a citation below each item in the Person Notes. I consider that, my content.

Over time, I have been working on bringing all of my Notes up to My Standards. That is, has been, and will be a work in progress. But, I want to pull them all down, for now. Do some more clean up then I may, or may not include the Person Notes in the Ancestry Member Tree.

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Copyright © 2021 by Cousin Russ

FTM2019 - Remove Media files from an Ancestry Member Tree

Ancestry had made some changes to their Terms and Conditions on the Website that impacts me,  and probably everyone else, we read what had been provided.

The Legal Genealogist blog is on MUST READ blogs, as I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV or on a blog. The bottom line for me, is that I have less than 30 days to remove my Media Files from the Ancestry.com website, on any of their properties, including an Ancestry Member Tree (AMT). I probably have 3,000+ images, in my master file that needs to come down.

Another MUST READ Blog is Genea-Musings. The author expresses his concern and plan of action.

This Video explains how I intend to remove my Media Files from the AMT.

Ancestry has updated their initial change.

Making Our Terms and Conditions Clearer: Modifications to our August 2021 Update (05 August 2021)____________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2021 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.

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Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ

Reader Question: One Photo, Many People

Here is the question:

DEAR ALL

I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS WITH UP TO FIFTY PEOPLE ON THEM AND WOULD LIKE TO IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE IN THEM BY SOME METHOD SO THAT THEY CAN BE EASILY CROSS REFERENCED TO A LIST OF NAMES. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT I MAKE A GHOST OR OUTLINE PICTURE THAT I COULD NUMBER THE INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY COULD BE IDENTIFIED ON THE LIST , BUT I AM NOT SURE HOW TO DO THIS .

I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER MANY THANKS PATRICK

(first, please don't use all caps, it's difficult to read -- Thank you)

Actually, FTM2019 added a New feature, which I will have to blog about, where you can use ONE Image, and use that one image to be the Person Profile picture in Family Tree Maker. There may be a limitation as to how many you can do that for, my Max, so far, is 4. I have a photo of my grandmother, and 3 of her siblings, as young children.

I used that one photo, and selected each of the four children, and made a profile picture for them. Not additional photos are in the Media file.

You can do as you suggest. I have a FlipPal, which allows my to scan an image, then make a 2nd scan, and write a number of a name on that image.

https://worthy2be.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/flip-pal-mobile-scanner-sketch/

You still need to know who is in that photo.

The issue that you did not mention, is How and Where are you going to present or show that picture with 40 people in it.

The other option, probably an easier solution is to use the Media Description field in the Media Workspace, where you type in the Names by Row.

Back Row, Left to Right

Name 1, Name 2, Name 3.

Just like you would on the Back of that photo, in the good old days.

Russ
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Copyright © 2019 by Cousin Russ

FTM2019 - Media Workspace

A Couple of new features in the Media Workspace

AlbumWALK Media Player

Photo Darkroom Tools

Profile Cropping

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Copyright © 2019 by Cousin Russ