* Stripping back

[Devonjon]

Hi

Due to different programs, different users and changing protocols over time (6-7 yrs) my GED is a rather inconsistent jumble.

I am very closely minded to starting a fresh rather than stumble along for an age trying to correct. However, the front end (the facts associated with individuals) is not too far gone and the prospect of re-entering all that data for some 2100 people is a lip wobbler. The problem is the behind the scenes media links, media file names, sources, source refs etc that are duplicated, inconsistently done, unnecessary, wrong etc.

Is there any GED editor (I'm guessing this can't be done with FH6) which would allow me to:

- strip out all source and media links and refs basically and anything other than people names, structure and facts from the GED
- give me a clean name and facts only GED
- which I can then import into FH6
- start process of re-assessment , naming, ordering and consistently connecting media and attributing sources (using my existing as memory jolt where needed).

Grateful for view ?

Many thanks
J

[mjashby]

If you really want to take that drastic route, or just initially test the impact of a start again approach, then I would say:

1. Do full backups of your existing Project including everything associated, and copy your existing Project to New Project - leave the 'old' one in tact for reference/security of existing information.
2. In your New Project go to the Sources Window and delete all of those sources you want to completely remove - that will remove all references to those sources but not the People, Facts, or the Media files (which you may want to rename and relink).
3. Start re-entering source info in a consistent way (consider using Ancestral Sources) - delete any 'facts' you no longer want or log them for further research.
4. Check back against your original Project frequently to ensure you haven't missed anything.
5. Delete the old project when you are certain that you've 'transferred' everything you want to retain.

Mervyn

[tatewise]

If you want, you can delete all the Media Records in a similar fashion.
This will not delete the Media Image files, but simply removes the connection between them and your GEDCOM.

However, you cannot simply open the Records Window, choose the Sources or Media tab, select all the Records and Delete them all.

The best method is to use File > Project Window > More Tasks > Copy Project to create a copy.

Then use File > Split Tree Helper to remove the Records you don't want.
Leave Individual Records as Do not delete any Individual records.
Under Other Records choose what you want to delete, e.g.
Delete all Multimedia Records
Delete all Source Records
Delete all Repository Records
Finally click the Delete button at the bottom.

Notice that you can also delete Note Records if you wish, and any specific Facts (events/attributes).

As suggested by Mervyn it is advisable to use ancestralsources:index|> Ancestral Sources to enter your Source Citations afresh, and pull in the Media Images from your old Project.

But do spend some time experimenting with what style of Source Citations and naming conventions you wish to adopt. There is plenty of advice in the Knowledge Base and Forums on the subject. See the how_to:index#beginners_guide|> Family Historian > Beginners Guide especially Using Pictures and Using and Recording Sources. Do work through the Getting the Most From Family Historian book and its Tutorials involving the Family Historian Sample Project. In fact that is pretty much covered by the how_to:key_features_for_newcomers|> Key Features for Newcomers I mentioned before.

[AnneEast]

In actual fact 2100 people is not that many. I would recommend starting again as an excercise in checking all your work. You would be amazed at how many incosistencies you have and how much more data there is to find these days. That would be my choice.
However I'm sure there are clever ways of sorting your Gedcom file, which would probably be equally satisfying if you are into all the nuts and bolts of how the programs work. Hopefully the end results would be the same ..... a sorted out GED!
Anne