Colour coding matches

[brigidmac]

On Ancestry there is a colour coding system that many people do not know about
or do not  know how best to use

I think it would be good to have a topic about this in the orange posts on this forum .

But for now here are the first steps and examples

When you look at your shared matches there is a filter button on left

If you press this
You will get


The started matches and colours were created by me
I chose brown for Birkenhead group  and add any matches with people from Birkenhead on their trees or profiles to this group .

I put stars on any match of interest
+ Remove the star when I work out the link

[Gadget]

See

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=858301.0 

and

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=838636.0

[brigidmac]

thanks gadget i knew there had been discussions before

the second link gives interesting examples of what colours and categories people use.

but i think there is still a need for a step by step ..how to method

Ive been doing colour coding for several years
now we dont need colours for fathers side /mothers side as ansestry does that for us

so have started to remove those colour groups to free up colours for two new groups one for innkeepers barmaids
+one for sailors

professions can  be useful for explaining some  links to adoptees or fathers unknown matches

[Gadget]

My line's misbehaving

Here's a relevant  article in Ancestry -

https://support.ancestry.co.uk/s/article/Grouping-and-Filtering-AncestryDNA-Matches

[brigidmac]

Next step with new matches

If you want to put them in a group press + sign and you get option add to group or create a group

For example I can look at this persons shared matches with me and put into SMITH JONES FELLMAN or ROBERTS group even if they don't have those surnames on their tree I will usually know which grandparent they link to

Or I could add to a location group if they have small tree and no shared matches

[brigidmac]

As well as a colour you can add a specific note .

I have a colour group for anyone who matches grandmother's legitimate son ie half cousin ..he doesn't have a tree himself .

[Gadget]

Before you go any further, Brigid, the use of the colour codes is covered by this link that I gave.  I think people might want to use the colour coding for various reason and it is often best to help with particular queries.  There is a danger of, by using egs specific to your results, you might confuse.

Here's a relevant  article in Ancestry -

https://support.ancestry.co.uk/s/article/Grouping-and-Filtering-AncestryDNA-Matches

[brigidmac]

Thanks gadget I posted at same time as you so didn't see link to

Line misbehaving

That's exactly what is needed.

It's also interesting to read what others do and what has worked or not.

Ive been freeing up some colours so I can have spare groups

I find specific examples useful when it's clear that the topic is general.( I've cropped out identifying people in my examples)

The ancestry explanation is well worded

[Gadget]

There are many discussions and instructions of how to colour code. The links below are good examples

https://thednageek.com/quick-tip-color-code-your-ancestry-tree/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLKfRykQ-GI

https://www.danaleeds.com/the-leeds-method-with-dots/

Also -

How to get around the 24 colour limit:
https://youtu.be/0nCAbhNrdrI