* Reviewing historic tree

[heathermary]

I have used FH from the start and have accumulated a large tree over many years. I have had several breaks from research but always return with good intentions of sorting through all my records to verify accuracy. Years ago I merged someone else's tree with mine and I would rather go right back to basics and check everything particularly as so much more information is easily available. I need to check sources etc. because I have used my own way of entering data and probably haven’t understood where or how to enter the details correctly. It is all rather daunting.
I consider myself computer literate but there are so many wonderful things on the site that I have either not used or don't understand eg plug-ins or even queries. I do have the manual for version 6 but I am feeling overwhelmed and not sure whether to split off, say, my direct lines back (if I can work out how to) because I can’t face starting over again. I’m really asking for encouragement as much as advice on where or how to start! Has anyone else refined their tree successfully?

[Jane]

Think you are considering a "Genealogy Do Over" you might find this page useful
https://abundantgenealogy.com/genealogy ... 018-bonus/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGhP7mLe-jE

It's something I have been considering for a while, but at the moment I don't have the time to restart, perhaps when I retire

[DavidNewton]

Do over is a good idea if your file is a bit of a shambles. Mine certainly was, still is in fact, and I've been revisiting it for over a year. Get ready for some tedium, but added to that you will almost certainly find stuff you have missed to relieve the tedium.
I'll detail what I did but I am offering it only as suggestions. I dealt with family records alongside the individual records.
1. make decisions about how to enter data and sources and stick to a pattern. I use OneNote a lot so I recorded all these decisions in OneNote.
2. to tackle individuals in order of importance use Named Lists and then find some way of marking in the named list where you are. I use an asterisk in the CustomID field to denote checked.
3. decide what to do with data that seems to have mysteriously appeared out of nowhere (spouse names, parents, dates etc) and for which you can find no source. Don't discard it unless you are certain it is incorrect. I suggest that you create a source "Unsourced" and cite it for such data adding notes to the citation as to what steps you have taken to find a source. The reason I do this is that it is a simple matter to use View>Record Links to see them all and create a named list of research to be done.
4. Gaps in data. I found this a hard decision. Do I try to fill in all the gaps, missing BMD, census etc or not? Some gaps were easy, the new GRO Birth Index including mother's surname is a great resource and an obvious check. Missing census records not so easy for me as I have no current subscriptions and alternate sources (FamilySearch, FreeCEN) do not provide images.

Despite all the effort I think the end result in terms of reports is worth it.

David

[tatewise]

I've retitled this Reviewing historic tree because that is what you would like to do rather than just extract a basic tree.

Many users have done exactly what you are planning and for much the same reasons: inconsistent details, new records online, etc.

Take some time to look at how_to:key_features_for_newcomers|> Key Features for Newcomers as that introduces features you will find useful, especially Sources Methods 1 & 2, Ancestral Sources, and Plugins, all of which assist with standardising your data.

Also look at research:index|> Genealogy Research especially under Hints & Tips including Getting Started.

Use a scheme that you are comfortable with to track which records have been reviewed and updated.
That allows you to work piecemeal with breaks in between, and to investigate new discoveries without forgetting where you got to.
See how_to:create_work_in_progress_or_research_to_do_lists|> Create Work In Progress or Research To Do Lists and focus on the Named Lists Approach initially.

[heathermary]

Thank you for all the above, very helpful and lots of food for thought. While I agree that my main objective is to tidy up my tree completely, I do actually want to extract a basic tree as well because I have recently renewed an old subscription to Ancestry and am wondering whether (and how) to upload my tree but I will want just a basic tree on there, with branches but not hundreds of distant twiglets.

[tatewise]

OK, to upload a sub-tree to Ancestry follow the steps in how_to:exporting_gedcom_with_multimedia|> Exporting a Family Tree with/without Media under how_to:exporting_gedcom_with_multimedia#export_to_website_without_sensitive_data|> Export to Website Without Sensitive Data.

If by 'basic tree' you mean just your direct bloodline ancestors, then when selecting Individuals in Export > GEDCOM File you can use the standard Ancestors query.

[heathermary]

Thank you and apologies for being slow to reply. I have to think seriously before I either upload a gedcom or start a new tree on Ancestry as I find them both daunting prospects. It is taking me time to get back into FH anyway so I will plod on working my way through parts of the manual.

[tatewise]

Heather, I only mentioned Ancestry because you said you were wondering about uploading there, but you are wise to spend more time becoming familiar with FH itself first.