* Build Witness Events for Census Data

[David Potter]

Hi Forum

Wasn't sure where to post this question so placed it here.

I'm using AS extensively to create my FH database. I use Source Method 1 (One Source per Household/Family Group). This is perfect from a Source/Citation point of view but for Census records I lose the advantage of having a witnessed event whereby I can see all Individuals within the same household easily. IE, click the witness button.

I can't find any settings in AS that would handle this. Is there anyway this can be achieved directly by mass change or by use of a Plug-In (something like the reverse of the Give Witnesses their own Facts)?

Many thanks

David Potter

[tatewise]

There are a great many consequences in choosing between distinct Census Events per person, and one Census Event for a Principal with Witnesses, so I advise you choose wisely.

See how_to:recording_census_records|> Recording Census Records for a summary, and I can expand on the pros and cons if anything is not clear, but here are a few examples.

• The Publish > Miscellaneous Reports > Individual Census Report for a person only lists their distinct Census Events not where they are a Witness to a Census. Similarly, the Individual Summary Report doesn't list any Witnessed facts.
• The fhugdownloads:contents:property_box_tabs_census_uk|> Property Box Tabs: Census UK only shows distinct Census Events and it is impossible to show a Witness to a Census.
• The Lookup Missing Census Facts Plugin currently only checks distinct Census Events so will continue to list persons who are a Witness to a Census as missing their Census facts.

There is a fairly quick way to list all members of a Census household assuming you are starting from a Census Event:

• With a Census Event selected, and yellow Sources for pane open, click the blue Go To Source Record arrow.
• In the Census Source record Property Box click the Go To Record disk icon in toolbar at top.
• Use Tools > Where Used Record Links Plugin to list all members of Census household in Result Set.
• Click each member of Record Where Used column to show their Property Box in what was the Source Property Box.

That description sounds longer than it is in practice; about 5 clicks to get from Census Event to any member Property Box.

The Witnesses route is not much different in terms of clicks:

• Right-click a Census Event and choose Witnesses.
• Select a Witness name and click Go To and Locate Event for Witness to show their Property Box.

That takes about 5 clicks to get from Census Event to any member Property Box, but those last 3 clicks must be repeated for each Witness whereas the Record Where Used column only needs 1 click. So to review several member Property Boxes takes fewer clicks with distinct Census Events. Although, to get to an initial list of member names the Witnesses route only needs 2 clicks, compared to 4 clicks for the Plugin route.

[David Potter]

Hi Mike

Quick and Thorough as always The technique to drill from the census event > source > list of individuals works for me. That really helps thank you. And as you say not much in it re both techniques.

BR

David