I have returned

[Robert Fletcher]

Greetings everyone,

I'm back after a few years of absence and have been looking at my tree, which is an absolute mess. I've just sent off for a DNA kit, but in the meantime, I need to clean up the tree. Honestly, it's less of a tree and more of an overgrown shrub that hasn’t been touched in years—it’s nearly impossible to work through!

I'm trying to find an easier way to get things sorted and am looking for tools that might help with the process. First off, I’m dealing with a huge number of Ancestry hints, and the more I go through them, the more new ones pop up. The problem is, I don’t want to develop any collateral lines, which is where I think a lot of these hints are leading me.

I’ve also heard about Pro Tools, but from what I've gathered, not many people seem to be in favor of them, likely due to the cost.

Anyway, it's nice to be back, and thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[Ayashi]

Welcome back!

I do have Pro Tools, but it is unreasonably expensive imo. It has helped a bit in a DNA way, so I can group some less responsive people together who are closely related to each other.

My tree is also an abomination. I've always meant to organise it properly but I procrastinate and it just gets worse...

[Robert Fletcher]

Thanks for the reply. It really needs an AI to sort it out.

[Ayashi]

Given the amount of garbage I've seen (presumably) human people write about their family trees, I dread to think what an AI would do to it 

[David Nicoll]

Hi,

   Welcome back, this may be preaching to the converted, but I would recommend to anyone to use a stand alone package, that links to Ancestry.
   I am agnostic about which one, but the reporting and visualisation tolls are generally better, and are “a one off “ cost. Unless you choose to upgrade to get new features.
    Ancestry seem to be charging more for less recently.
  If you have gone the DNA route to get matches to get through brick walls, I recommend building all those collateral links.
  It gives more for the “AI” matching algorithm to get its teeth into,
  One last thing, check any links yourself. It is very much best guess, at its best amazing, at its worst the link is there somewhere but not what it suggests.
  It is only as good as the trees people have added.

Happy Hunting

[brigidmac]

Welcome back

If your tree is large and messy it may be easier to start a new tree link your DNA results to yourself as home person

Do NOT accept ancestry hints without
At least 3 paperwork trails

If you trust someone to co manage then it's a good idea to get help with the pruning

I have done this for 2 people
One had a large tree but lots of doubles  thru lines didn't show because they had 4 variants of their own grandmother
( Lots of deleting & merging of duplicates )

The second person has given me management of their DNA results but hasn't managed to link me to her tree anagemt so I m Tryingn to make my own tree for her then make her manager of that & she can make

Ps I've not given up being a search angel 😇 for people with family connection
Or in dire need of help &

will be making YouTube or FB vlogs
But now make sure I cover my own costs

[Biggles50]

Welcome back.

As you have sent off for a DNA kit can I suggest you buy at least three more.  One for a Paternal Cousin, One for a Maternal Cousin and the third for a Sibling or Nephew/Niece.

A Family Tree is a Genealogical Tree where only documents, citations and records are included with each and every person, add in validating close relations via DNA test results and via the DNA Matches that you will be presented and your Tree becomes a Biological Family Tree.

Initially I would build a Family Tree going back to Great Grandparents and their children and complete the lines for each of them.  Then use your DNA results to validate and include close DNA Matches in your tree.

The aim being to DNA validate each of the eight Great Grandparent lines.  Once you have this then your tree will have a solid foundation.

Taking a DNA test is not for those of a nervous nature as it may show up results like a Sibling or Cousin not being a biological relation, or only being half related, so be prepared that this might happen.

Additionally you might find a close totally unknown DNA match that might be the result of a relation having an child with an unknown person.

Do read up on using DNA before you get to far forward.

[Biggles50]

Do read this thread.

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=863488.0

[g eli]

I use pro tools and it has helped me sort out major mistakes which is useful but it is time consuming to sort out every detail my tree has gone from 9.6 to 9.8 so still a lot of  tidying up to do.