Colour coding matches

[Biggles50]

This is the link to Dana Leeds’s website where she has a detailed explanation of her method.

https://www.danaleeds.com/

Anyone trying the Leeds Method should read the explanation in detail before clicking on the Spreadsheet or getting the coloured markers and a batch of paper out.  The reason being is that there are criteria to be followed and its accuracy can be questionable for very high or very low cM matches.

That said the real limiting factors are matches having trees and the numbers of DNA matches you have that are in the sweet spot range for the Leeds Method.

My Wife has only four DNA matches over 60cM and hence the Leeds Method is useless for her.  I have 20 DNA matches over 60cM but many relate to an NPE event which is proving very difficult to resolve and also the Leeds Method is not helping me.

[Rosinish]

Why do it on paper, the same result can be achieved digitally on your computer and future changes more easily effected, plus it keeps everything in one place.

Guy...

Brigid has admitted on numerous occasions her lack of computing skills...

"Computer incompetent but stiil trying"

I'm trying to help her realise not everything has do be done on computer/laptop/ipad or any other techy device but will produce the same results via the old fashioned way

Annie

[Guy Etchells]

Why do it on paper, the same result can be achieved digitally on your computer and future changes more easily effected, plus it keeps everything in one place.

Guy...

Brigid has admitted on numerous occasions her lack of computing skills...

"Computer incompetent but stiil trying"

I'm trying to help her realise not everything has do be done on computer/laptop/ipad or any other techy device but will produce the same results via the old fashioned way

Annie

Yes but she has also mentioned she has moved a number of times and paper records are all over the place. Using a computer is an easy way to keep all records in one place even if those records started life as written records they may easily be photographed or scanned and stored digitally.
An option she may not have thought about and as she says she is still trying.

A number of years ago I used to teach many computer novices (of the older age group) how to do simple tasks on their computer, avoiding the use of a computer is not the way forward as the problem is never addressed.
Providing solutions that the person has confidence to try removes the fear of the techonlogy and encourages their use of what seemed like a difficult thing to master.
Cheers
Guy

[aghadowey]

A computer isn't always the easiest way to do genealogy. Yes, it can be very good at keeping records all in one place, etc. but some people, even those who are computer literate, find it easier to visualise and retain details from using paper.

[brigidmac]

Thanks for your concern .

Yes I like having things on Ancestry in one place but I do work things out on paper too.

Recently I've had panic attacks about using computer so it may not be the way forward but Often I'd rather pay for someone to do the work than " learn "

I know it's a bit mixed up.

[Guy Etchells]

A computer isn't always the easiest way to do genealogy. Yes, it can be very good at keeping records all in one place, etc. but some people, even those who are computer literate, find it easier to visualise and retain details from using paper.

Yes I totally agree, I have been using computers since the days of the Commodore 64 (cir. 1983) I also use computers in a professional capacity producing data disks & files, since 2005 but I still prefer to print text and read it on paper rather than on a screen.
Cheers
Guy

[trystan]

Guy,

Good point.

Me too to a large extent (in my case Sinclair ZX Spectrum, then an Atari ST when they came out later.)

I also still find a print-out a lot easier to work with than something on a screen.

Trystan

[Rosinish]

Why do it on paper, the same result can be achieved digitally on your computer and future changes more easily effected, plus it keeps everything in one place.

Guy...

Brigid has admitted on numerous occasions her lack of computing skills...

"Computer incompetent but stiil trying"

I'm trying to help her realise not everything has do be done on computer/laptop/ipad or any other techy device but will produce the same results via the old fashioned way

Annie

Yes but she has also mentioned she has moved a number of times and paper records are all over the place. Using a computer is an easy way to keep all records in one place even if those records started life as written records they may easily be photographed or scanned and stored digitally.
An option she may not have thought about and as she says she is still trying.

We were/are discussing the use of a spreadsheet (LEEDS METHOD) using the data which is already on Brigids' family tree on ancestry & her DNA matches which doesn't need any of her lost or misplaced bits of paper in several house moves.
It's more about her being able to see at a glance on a spreadsheet (off computer) exactly where her matches descend from which is far easier than viewing them on ancestry itself.

You have actually contradicted yourself as you've not read the whole thread to understand Brigids' dilemma, something which has been apparent to me for a long time as a follower of many of her threads.

The visual (on paper) is so much easier than trying to work through ancestry matches as it's all in one place, all matches are visible on the spreadsheet & any overlaps can be seen at a glance.

In my view, the LEEDS METHOD is 2nd to none & the way to go.

Annie

[Biggles50]

Why do it on paper, the same result can be achieved digitally on your computer and future changes more easily effected, plus it keeps everything in one place.

Guy...

Brigid has admitted on numerous occasions her lack of computing skills...

"Computer incompetent but stiil trying"

I'm trying to help her realise not everything has do be done on computer/laptop/ipad or any other techy device but will produce the same results via the old fashioned way

Annie

Yes but she has also mentioned she has moved a number of times and paper records are all over the place. Using a computer is an easy way to keep all records in one place even if those records started life as written records they may easily be photographed or scanned and stored digitally.
An option she may not have thought about and as she says she is still trying.

We were/are discussing the use of a spreadsheet (LEEDS METHOD) using the data which is already on Brigids' family tree on ancestry & her DNA matches which doesn't need any of her lost or misplaced bits of paper in several house moves.
It's more about her being able to see at a glance on a spreadsheet (off computer) exactly where her matches descend from which is far easier than viewing them on ancestry itself.

You have actually contradicted yourself as you've not read the whole thread to understand Brigids' dilemma, something which has been apparent to me for a long time as a follower of many of her threads.

The visual (on paper) is so much easier than trying to work through ancestry matches as it's all in one place, all matches are visible on the spreadsheet & any overlaps can be seen at a glance.

In my view, the LEEDS METHOD is 2nd to none & the way to go.

Annie

Not a totally valid statement.

The Leeds Method does not work for either my DNA matches or my Wife’s.

Leeds Method prime criteria:-

1) Use only matches between 90 & 400 cM.

2) Do not use matches that start sharing at Grandparent level.

3) Use 2C and 3C.

Using this criteria I cannot group many of my DNA matches into a specific Grandparent as per the method.

My Wife has only 1 DNA match in Criteria 1) which is the Son of her Cousin and hence is well known but he has no tree.  All her other matches and well below 90 cM.

Ergo

The Leeds Method is not the be all and end all of techniques.

Same thing with DNA Painters WATO tool, it has limitations that apply to my own use of it yet the website is adamant that it is valid.  It to is a tool but should be considered accurate only if other supportive research validates the chosen probability.