* Adding notes to Named List

[SpencerDudeUK]

I use Named Lists for, among other things, Records Office research, so I have lists such as 'Records Office - Bristol' for instance. Having entered multiple individuals into multiple lists, I find it difficult to get back to the original reason I put that person on the list in the first place. Notes against individuals I find are somewhat haphazard, and I think it would be good to be able to right-click someone in a named list and 'add note'. I realise that I may get comments like 'you can't redesign the way the database works', or 'you're doing it all wrong', but if there's a better way of collating research information for when I visit a records office, can someone please enlighten me? I'm always willing to admit when someone shows me a better way, or points out something I've missed...thanks in advance

[ColeValleyGirl]

Have you looked at how_to:create_work_in_progress_or_research_to_do_lists|> Planning and Tracking Your Research for ideas?

[SpencerDudeUK]

I have, and within the section on Named Lists, it suggests that you can 'Create and add a Note Record', but I can't see how?

[ColeValleyGirl]

You can create a Shared Note (aka Note Record) linked to an individual and add that to a Named List, just as you add any other record).

From within the Named List, you'd right click on the individual, choose properties to bring up the Property Box and add a Shared Note on the Notes tab.

I don't do it that way, as I use the Research Planner.

But you could also explore

The unlabelled pane below the Records list allows notes to be added to each record that only apply to the list. For example, they can be used to explain why the record is in the list.

The size of this notes pane and the two panes above can be adjusted by left-click & drag on the horizontal and vertical borders of the panes.

[tatewise]

It is not obvious, but the unlabelled white box below the Named List is a local Note for the selected Individual.
So you can type anything into that box that is relevant to the selected record in the Named List.
Those Notes are entirely local to each entry in the Named List.

The Shared Note technique described by Helen implies that the Note record must be linked to the Individual record before it can be added to the Named List, but that is not so.
You can create an unlinked Note record in the Records Window on its Notes tab.
Such a Note record can be added to the same Named List as the Individual records, using the same method.
The records, both Individual and Note, can be moved up & down into whatever order you prefer.
BUT right-click the Named List in the top pane and choose Keep Current List Order if that is what you need.

Furthermore, you may want to keep notes about a Named List as a whole that are more descriptive than its short name.
So right-click on any Named List in the top pane and choose List Properties.
Enter whatever descriptive text you like into the List Note box.

[ColeValleyGirl]

It is not obvious, but the unlabelled white box below the Named List is a local Note for the selected Individual.
So you can type anything into that box that is relevant to the selected record in the Named List.
Those Notes are entirely local to each entry in the Named List.

So, what I said then...

[SpencerDudeUK]

Thank you all - terrific responses as usual. That's just what I was looking for, although it wouldn't have seemed hard to me to add a label to that bottom pane to make it obvious.
Anyway - thanks again all

[HeatherW]

I also find Named Lists very useful and was wondering if there is some technical impediment as to why a Named List Note cannot be entered and displayed in the unlabeled bottom pane without opening the List Note's properties. Why can't that greyed out/beige pane be put to good use? Such a function would obviate the need for a clunky "more visible" workaround, such as adding a dedicated Note record to the top of the Named List and adding a list description/detail in that Note records's bottom pane, as suggested.

Note: FH v.7's List Report (Miscellaneous) does include the "less visible" List Note as well as any local record notes for that list. So, if one adds a Note record for the detailed description, the description will be duplicated in the report(not a big deal and it can be deleted if saved to a non-PDF format, just more to do.)

Addition for the Wish List?

[tatewise]

Heather, I don't understand your suggestion. That unlabelled bottom pane is reserved for adding a specific Note to each selected record in the Named List. If it showed the Named List Properties List Note where would the Note for each record appear?

[HeatherW]

Thanks for the prompt response, which answers my question. I mistakenly thought the greyed out pane was separately available, potentially.