Family Historian User Group

<> Firstly apologies for this rushed response and hope my internet connection is OK and it gets on the forum.

<> The discussion between Mike and Lorna has been very useful and interesting regarding the new _PLAC feature in FH6, I hope it clarifies a few issues for other people too.

<> Terminology, those that Mike used sound good to me, I suppose the important thing is to try and use the same:
- PLACe field values (I described as "Fact Place Fields") = standard Gedcom.
- _PLACe records (I described as "new PLACE" record) = extended Gedcom.

Anything better to help differentiate, e.g. GedcomPLAC, FH_PLAC?

<>an observation:

tatewise says

"PLACe field values and their linked _PLACe records will always change in tandem.
This is true even if you edit the GEDCOM directly, because as soon as it is opened by FH any missing _PLACe records get created."

- yes, except I understand that with normal FH editing when the last PLACe field value is deleted, then the previously linked _PLACe record stays, or the PLACe field values are deleted from the Gedcom file and again the previously linked _PLACe record stays. i.e. You can have _PLACe records without PLACe field values, but not the other way around.


<> So, thanks for the step by step Mike, I hope it helps others too. Your excellent S+R has so many options it is sometimes easy to miss them, but I am not complaining:

<> Where I went wrong - Your"1,a - Search Scope: Place Records (_PLAC)". I had been using "All records and events/attributes thinking that included Everything including Place Records (_PLAC). Works a treat now.

Yes, it does take a little getting used to, but the concept of records not linked to anything is not new.
It has always been possible to create Note, Source, Media, etc, records not linked to anything.
Even if they had been linked, deleting the links, does not discard the unlinked records.

The only real difference is the method of linking.
Until now records were only linked using their Record Id, which allows their Name/Title to be changed, or even duplicated, without affecting the linkage.

The new _PLACe records are linked differently.
It is the Place Name that links them to PLACe fields.
That is why changing Place Names has the side effects we have been discussing, and why every Place Name must be unique.

Perhaps it would be good idea if I added some Examples to the S & R Plugin Help & Advice for dealing with Place Names.