* Sources for Residence

[Johnr65]

I want to know how to combine sources for residences on the censuses? I've one man married to a lady and they both lived at the same address through the 1871-1911 censuses and so did some of their children. How can I use only 1 source citation for all the family, instead of duplicating them and amending the named person? There must be a way so as to save space and duplication or more?

[tatewise]

I have started a new topic as it is not directly related to the Sources (11262) thread.

Since you have posted in the Ancestral Sources Forum, I assume you are using AS to created your Census Events and Residence Attributes that cite the same Census Source.

It is not usually recommended to use both Census Events and Residence Attributes because all the residence details are included in the Place & Address fields of the Census Events.
From a purists point of view, you only know for certain that the Individuals were resident at their Address on the Census night.

However, if you wish to have a Residence Attribute covering a Date Range (such as 1871-1911) for each family member, then they can all have the same Source Record Citation. You just have to choose a Source Record Title that perhaps identifies the Address rather than the people. I assume this Address Source Record would then cross refer to all the Census Source Records as evidence.

[Johnr65]

I didn't know where to post my question! I'm not using Ancestral Sources as I don't know where to find it and from the guide it seems a bit complicated to set up bearing in mind that I've FH5 not 3 or 4.
Due to previous problems with Ancestry and their FTM2014 I've migrated to FH5 and have uploaded my original gedcom of 13000 names to FH5. However some of my source data has been corrupted and I'm trying to correct it or update it by using the 'unsourced facts' report. It is OK but time consuming and that is why I'm asking about 'a better way' to do joint census citations.
I can see that Ancestral sources would be OK if one was starting from scratch but with a files as large as mine it seems a bit daunting!
Help!

[tatewise]

Since it is not an AS topic I have moved it to the General Usage Forum.

Actually Ancestral Sources is even easier to setup in FH V5 than earlier versions, because there is a Plugin to invoke AS directly from FH. But you are correct that AS is primarily used to create new data entries, however when some users are reviewing an old database they progressively re-enter data via AS to obtain a consistent revised structure.

It might still be useful to work through the ancestralsources:ancestral_sources_tutorial_entering_census_facts|> Ancestral Sources Tutorial ~ Enter Census Facts because it illustrates how to cite the same Source Record against several Facts.

Was your source data corrupted before migrating to FH V5 or as part of the migration process.
If the latter, then please check you are running FH V5.0.9 by using Help > About Family Historian as earlier versions do not import so well. Also did you follow the advice at how_to:import_from_family_tree_maker|> Import from Family Tree Maker (FTM)?

I am not sure whether you are discussing Census Events or Residence Attributes, but I shall assume Census Events.
So you have a Census Event dated say 2 Apr 1871 for each member of the family named on the Census Return.
You have or will create a Source Record with a Title such as 1871 RG10 0420 057 01 SMITH that identifies the Census Page and contains perhaps a transcript of the family Schedule in Text From Source and a linked Multimedia image of the page.
For the first family member, in their Property Box for the Census Event you use the Add Citation button to cite the Source Record, and finally click the Copy Citation button.
Then switch to the next family member Census Event and use the Paste Citation button, and repeat for each member of household.

It is this somewhat tedious repetition that AS seeks to simplify.

[Johnr65]

Thank you Mike for all the info. Looks like you're the author of the plug in for AS so should be good.
In the video guide it starts with doing things to the 'sample project' but not about my own project-presumably this is the same? I don't want to lose my precious research by doing something wrong initially.
I'd suspected for some time that the FTM program was corrupting my source and other data as it was very slow and unresponsive at times, so I was glad to migrate to FH5 to get things corrected at last. Being a bit old in the tooth it's always difficult to learn new tricks but am gradually getting the hang of the layout here and forgetting the FTM one. I've got the correct version of FH5.
I'll give AS a go.
Thank you once again for your help.

[tatewise]

Do NOT experiment on your main Project, use the Family Historian Sample Project instead.
The AS tutorial Configure Initial Settings explains what to do.

Do spend time learning about FH, and use how_to:family_historian_documentation|> Family Historian Documentation as an initial shortlist.

[Johnr65]

Unfortunately I started on my main file but I was pleased with the results and the AS system works well.
However I had to download the original AS file after your one-can I re download your plug in? Currently the AS file is on my desktop.

[tatewise]

If you also downloaded the AS Plugin to your desktop PC then it is still there in Tools > Plugins.
Checkout plugins:about#downloading_and_using_plugins|> About Family Historian Plugins.

[Johnr65]

Thanks Mike-found it.

[Johnr65]

Recently been using AS for censuses and everything works fine until I try to save the info. It then says that my file name exceeds 248 characters despite the fact that I make up my own file name! It won't let me amend it and says it's already been set up, no matter what I do I can't change the file name and lose the information I've typed in-what a waste of time and effort!
How does it make up it's own file names?

[ColeValleyGirl]

How long is your directory path -- there is a Windows limitation of 248 characters on a directory path (and 260 characters on path+file name).

[Johnr65]

It tells me it's above the limit which means it's above 248 and/or 260 but I don't know how to change it to be shorter?

[ColeValleyGirl]

You may have to modify your directory structure to arrive at a shorter file path -- or save to a directory "further up the tree."

[tatewise]

The normal path for your FH Project GEDCOM file is:
C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Family Historian Projects\{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\{projectname}.ged
where {username} is your Windows login Username
and {projectname} is your Project Name shown in File > Project Window.

So the easiest way to shorten the file path is to use File > Project Window > More Tasks > Rename Project and choose a shorter name.

This problem has further consequences if you organise you Project Media folder into sub-folders with long names.
See how_to:organise_your_files|> Organise Your Files for details.

[Johnr65]

How do I do that Mike? I'm a technophobe and don't know how to do that.

[tatewise]

Have you never used the Project Window John?

Open the Family Historian program.
Click on File top left and choose Project Window from the drop down menu.
Select your Family Historian Project Name in the popup window.
Then click the More Tasks button and choose Rename Project.
Enter a new shorter Name and click OK.

While you are there click the Help button and click Features of the Project Window.

You can also set your Project as the Default Project if you have not already done so.

[Johnr65]

It won't let me do that-it's greyed out?
I see also that I've several gedcom files that must now be out dated-how can I delete them?

[Johnr65]

I've obviously started on the wrong foot. Is it possible to uninstall FH5 and reinstall it and reload the saved gedcom from today as my only project?

[tatewise]

John, you don't need to re-install anything, in fact it would NOT change your Project data.

Please tell me WHAT IS GREYED OUT and I might be able to help.

Did you highlight the Project Name before clicking More Tasks?
Otherwise FH does not know which one you want to Rename.

Did you look at the Help ?

[Johnr65]

I've had a look at file statistics-it says my file is:
File Name: C:\Users\John\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Rosser 030714\Rosser 030714.fh_data\Rosser 030714.ged

How does it get to have so many Rosser names in it? And how to get rid of the initial ones?
I renamed it Rosser 030714 but it still shows that lot above?

[tatewise]

That is PERFECT and exactly as I illustrated earlier at 11:02 am.
The repetition is the FH Project folder structure that you will grow to know and love
i.e.
Rosser 030714 is the primary Project folder that also holds the Public folder and the special Project File.
Rosser 030714.fh_data is the essential FH data sub-folder.
Rosser 030714.ged is your GEDCOM database file of Individuals, Families, Sources, etc...

It is only 104 characters long so that is GOOD. (I have much longer ones including Family Historian Sample Project)

So we need to recap exactly what AS is complaining about when creating Census data.
Were you using this Rosser 030714 Project?
Are you attaching a Multimedia image of the Census?
If so what filename are you giving it because that may be what is too long.
e.g
C:\Users\John\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Rosser 030714\Rosser 030714.fh_data\Media\{possible census folder name}\very long Census Image File-name.jpg
and that is only 160 characters!

[Johnr65]

So far so good, have added some more census reports without problems. Hopefully by changing the project name, I've resolved the problem.
Thanks again for your help.
It's so difficult to learn new tricks after years of using the old ones.

[tatewise]

That old motto 'More haste less speed' springs to mind.

It might help others if you have an explanation of what caused the AS long file path error message.
Was it that you had a long Project name?

Do spend time learning about FH, and use how_to:family_historian_documentation|> Family Historian Documentation as an initial shortlist.
Similarly, work through all the ancestralsources:index|> Ancestral Sources Tutorials.
BUT always experiment with the Family Historian Sample Project or the FH Tutorial Projects as part of Help > Book: "Getting the Most From Family Historian 5".

Many FH users have said:

If only I had spent longer understanding the FH features, then I would have done things differently"