Reader Question: Streamline Source Group List

Here is a Question from a reader:

I want to streamline my Source Group List - for ex. Can I have all 1900 Censuses within one large Source group with subgroups for each State? I would like to see an in depth way you select source groups and your list of source groups. I have narrowed mine to 383 source groups as of now. I didn't see this topic on your website except for the video where you said don't just merge Censuses because they are from different locations. Thanks in advance.

I don't want to streamline my Source Group List. So, I am not sure I can help you. You can submit your request from the Help Menu of FTM2019.

Having said that, why don't I want to streamline my Source Group List. 

First, I don't normally work from that list. That is starting to do something from the Source Group list. I do go the Source Workspace frequently. I do want to see, in your Census example, the Census Year, by State, and County. The Census Source Template feature allows for just the Year, or Year and Location. I want the Year and Location.

I spend a lot of time on my Sources and Citations, but I want to see the details. 

Another example, for me, Email Citations. I have a Source Group for each "cousin" that I have emailed with, as the "cousin" as a Source Group. I would also have a Source Group for myself and each of those "cousins". The Cousin Source Group would be those emails FROM that Cousin, and My Source Group would be TO that Cousin.

Remember, please, that I use the Source Template Feature 100% of the time.

IF that doesn't answer your question, Please (Marnie) help me understand what you mean by "streamline". I am guessing shortening the Source Group List. The way I use them, I need to understand what you are trying to accomplish.

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Copyright © 2021 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. 

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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

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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. 
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Copyright © 2020 by Cousin Russ
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And a Citation to the rescue !!!

And a Citation to the rescue !!!

In Family Tree Maker, when you do a Web Merge (probably the Real Reason, I rely on that feature. When you do that, you get a Web Address for the Record. But there is also a "View Source Online"

I went to one of the Fact, so that I could click on the Globe on the Right, to look at the Record, from the Sources Workspace. JAW Dropped, not globe, no link.

I then went to the Source Workspace to see what was going one. There was a link in the Citation just above I was looking at and there was a Link, so I clicked on it. Something is wrong. It looked like I have not merged every one.

But, half of the family was on one of the citations and the other have on the 2nd one. Then I looked at the Citation.

Sheet 14A Lines 38 - 40 and Sheet 14B, Lines 41 - 43.

HeadSlap: The family was on two pages, so I was NOT missing a link after all.

Since what we see on the Record from Ancestry, it's one Link, and I use the Head of Household for ALL census record, Copy/Paste the Link in the 2nd Citation.

Citation to the Rescue

1940 U.S. census, population schedule, Delaware, New Castle County, Delaware City,S.D. No. 1, E.D. No. 243, Sheet No. 14B, lines 41 - 43, 312 Fifth Street, House Visited No. 35, Fouracre, R. Roger household; NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 546; digital image, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : accessed 11 November 2017).

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Copyright © 2019 by Cousin Russ