Week 7 (May 15-21 2015)

Topics:
1) Reviewing Genealogy Database Software
2) Digitizing Photos and Documents

Once again this week's topics are things that I have done and/or do on an on-going basis.  I don't believe I'm an expert on things, but I do find it reassuring that I continue to be going about my genealogy research in the right way.

Reviewing Genealogy Database Software

In early days of my computer use, I had purchased a genealogy programme - I believe it was called Roots.  This was pre-internet, so access to information was limited.  Although I worked in the library system at Queen's University and their Special Collections Unit was a repository for the Canadian federal government, and therefore housed microfilm copies of the Canadian Census, I never took the time to investigate the resources.  I simply recorded the information I knew into that simplistic database.  I borrowed some family information from Aunt Dora and recorded that information as well.

I eventually purchased FamilyTreeMaker (version 7, or possibly earlier) and embraced the internet in its early stages.  (Another benefit of working at an academic library.)  I discovered eBay and people selling various dataCDs compiled by FTM.  As time went on, I found numerous trees on WorldCat and other sites with names that I recognized from both my father and mother's lines.

I upgraded to each new version of FTM, even sticking with them when there was a major change to its layout.  But I eventually grew tired of a new version released each fall, with very few changes - at least for my use.  The kicker was the year when Ancestry.com, by then the owner of FTM, was not offering a reduced rate for existing users of their product. 

I was in a dilemma at the time as my FTM database had gotten corrupt and before I realized it, any backups I had were from the corrupted data.  As I tried to reconstruct my database, it was too large to back up to a CD (this was before recordable DVD were available), so the only option was to backup to the harddrive.  As I was making multiple backups as I never knew when I would hit corrupted data, my harddrive kept maxing out. 

At the same time, a new version of RootsMagic was released - and the purchase price for a new user was cheaper than the "upgrade" for FTM!  I had read some good reviews for RootsMagic and one of the new features with the newly released version was the ability to save to a thumb drive for mobility purposes when it wasn't feasible to lug one's laptop.  So I decided to spend the $20US and start fresh, entering my data.  Strangely enough, the corrupted FTM datasbase allowed me to export gedcom without too much trouble, although some fields didn't import properly due to how FTM recorded data in some fields.

I really really loved the fact that I could save my data to a thumbdrive to carry in my purse to access at work during my breaks and lunchtime.  I had often done research at work but would have to make notes or printouts and then enter the data on my computer at home.  Now I could enter the new information into the database and then synch the thumbdrive on the home computer.  More efficient in my opinion.

Before the discovery of my corrupted FTM database, I had started attaching media to individuals.  Which is why my database had quickly ballooned to over 1 gig in size.  I wondered if the size of the database was what corrupted the file as there wasn't always a consistency in what records were corrupted.  When I started fresh with RM, I decided to split my massive tree into multiple branches.  [Now with the Do-Over, I'm merging the branches back into one massive tree.]

Before switching to RootMagic, I had looked at some other databases, including Legacy.  I can't remember just what it was about Legacy, but I didn't care for the way records were presented.  But I've always been comfortable with RootsMagic.

For the purpose of this week's Do-Over assignment, I have not taken the time to review genealogy database software.  I am happy with RootsMagic and the changes they make with the new versions released since I started using the programme.  Unlike FTM, RM hasn't released new versions on an annual bases.  They do provide updates throughout the duration of a version and when I new version is released, they continue to offer a reduced rate for an upgrade. 

The last couple of years, as I spend more and more time on genealogy research, I wondered whether I should change to Master Genealogist, but I knew it was expensive.  And it has now been discontinued, so that is no longer an option. 

I know I definitely do not to only have my data in a cloud based database.  I do have a tree on Ancestry, but I purposely only entered some basic records to make use of the waving leaves.  If Ancestry will do the searching for me, it would save me time inputing search strategies.  And, as many other have done, use the published tree as 'cousin bait'.

I still really like RootsMagic for the To Go feature previously mentioned as well as the fact that the database is not bloated with media.  The programme saves a link to the media file.  Granted, the media is not available to me when I use the thumbdrive (I could take the time to copy all the media files, but I don't want to run the risk of running out of room on the thumbdrive).  Having access to the media isn't crucial to me "out in the field".  Any digital records I save "out in the field" do have to be transferred to my home computer, so it is easy to know what to transfer if those are the only media on the thumbdrive.  And usually, the database will display an image of the record with an 'x' in the corner.  So, I do have an idea what the attached file should look like.

Another feature of RootsMagic that I like is the fact that the database only stores a link to the media file.  As part of my on-going organization (long before Do-Over encouragement), I set up a file organization for the media records that mirror the databases.  RootsMagic data is stored in a folder 'RM Data', the media in 'RM Images' with subfolders associated with each database.

With postings I've read on FaceBook, there really only seems to be two major Windows based genealogy programmes: RootsMagic and Legacy.  Users of both really love features of the programme they use.  I'm Team RootsMagic, so I'll continue using it until something else comes along that I feel better fits my needs.


Digitizing Photos and Documents

Once again, I've been digitizing photos for some time.  Granted, there is more I could be doing, but for genealogy purposes, I don't need or want every photo in my collection digitized.  Several years ago, we gave my mother a digital photo frame as a Christmas gift.  I had scanned a number of photos from my collection, as well as hers, for the frame and I have made use of those for my genealogy needs.

I have not collected many print documents, so I don't have many to be digitzed.  I have had an Ancestry subscription for a number of years now and I always save a copy of any image I find on Ancestry, as well as any others on the internet.  With my connection to Queen's University, I have access to their databases of historical newspapers and again, I save digital copies of any stories or death notices I find.

The routine I established long ago was to enter information from an image as soon as I had found the image.  So I don't have a backlog of relevant documents waiting to be digitized in preparation for entry into my database.


Summary

Although I continue to not actively do the weekly assignments, I am satistified that, for the most part, have already been doing the steps in some fashion.  

If I had been following the Do-Over in proper fashion I would not have been entering any information into my database for the past 7 weeks!  I am too antsy and eager to enter data into my database.  I've continued entering documented data into my database, evaluating data on the fly and making notes of what to pursue or investigate further.