Naming files in Geneology Programs

[JAP]

Olivia E,

In my view, keeping information about the same person in two different, overlapping, computer files is a recipe for disaster!  However hard you try, you will update one but not the other, or will enter information differently in each, etc.

I put everything into the one big computer file (some 10,000 people now) including the couple of amateur one-name studies I'm doing.  I use TMG (The Master Genealogist).

But my papers trails are in different family etc folders ..

Good luck,

Judy 

[suttontrust]

My problem is the expanding file of "not directly relevant but might come in useful sometime" material.

[Kennington]

My problem is that I bought Rootsmagic and loaded it at home  and at work, as I research on both computers. Now I have to keep both of them up to date.

I agree on keeping paper copies of everything though, and I need to go out and buy another wide binder this week.

also, I have used the back of a roll of wallpaper to write up one history. Can anyone suggest anything better ?

Mary

[familysearcher]

My problem is that I bought Rootsmagic and loaded it at home  and at work, as I research on both computers. Now I have to keep both of them up to date.

I agree on keeping paper copies of everything though, and I need to go out and buy another wide binder this week.

also, I have used the back of a roll of wallpaper to write up one history. Can anyone suggest anything better ?

Mary

why not try wallpaper lining paper instead of wallpaper itself - we used to use this to paint on as kids and it worked really well.

[Kennington]

Thanks familysearcher,

will try that.

Mary

[genjunction]

Hi Mary,

regarding you running two computers with your family tree on.

I've the normal pc and a laptop that I take to my cousins and share info.

I find it quite simple to keep them both up to date - I do a gedcom each time I update info.  Keeping the main gedcom on the pc and copying that  to a floppy or 'stick' to put on the laptop and then visa versa.  Gedcom from the laptop and save on disc or 'stick'.

Easy when you've done it a couple of times.

I've just been doing my cousins husbands line and had one programme open with 3 databases open at the same time and today must have done more gedcoms and backups  than enough just to make sure that when I imported/ copied/ or included info, I still had a true family tree.

Woh  betied anyone that interupts when this is happening - but who said doing your family tree was easy and it certainly is not boring.

You probably do this anyway, but just incase

regards

Carol

[JAP]

I too have my genealogy program - The Master Genealogist (tm) - on the desktop and the laptop.

To avoid possible errors I find it works best to do data entry just on the one computer - but that's up to the individual to decide.

One great thing about TMG (tm) is that one doesn't have to cope with the limitations of GEDCOMs.  I just 'backup' the current version on the data entry computer then 'refresh' the version on the other computer from that backup (either via the ethernet connexion, or using floppies/CD).  With TMG (tm) ALL the information is transferred across.

JAP     

[Burrow Digger]

I have 3 separate databases.  One for my mothers STEPHENS family - which is mostly in Cornwall, one for my fathers  BURROW family in Devon, and the third for my fathers Scottish line.

And of course a folder file for all the certificates and other documents.  

If I find out that my mothers paternal line is actually from Ireland (according to the rumours), that will be a 4th database.

BD