* Migrating Repos and Sources between projects

[Glenn Webby]

Hi folks,

First time on the forum and new to FH, but I’ve been involved with family history for decades with other platforms. Steadily working my way through playing with FH7 and am really impressed with how configurable it is — a great example is the ability to set up source citations in the way I want, the first of any of the platforms I’ve had before.

I work on other people’s family history so being able to recycle common sources/repos between projects as well as source templates (which are very helpfully held above the project level) is important to me. Is there an elegant method within (or outside) FH7 that will allow me to reuse Sources and their corresponding Repos in new projects?

I’ve looked at exporting GEDCOM files for sources/repos only and scripting removal of all GEDCOM lines except the relevant ones, but I’d like to know if there is a more efficient, ‘elegant’ method of achieving this.

Many thanks …

[tatewise]

Welcome to the FHUG Glenn.

This is quite a common question and I believe the various solutions have been used successfully by others.

The File > Import/Export > Export > GEDCOM File... command is quite flexible.
It may not be obvious but you can choose to include/exclude almost any type of record.
So for Source and Repository and perhaps Source Templates tick the Records to Exclude for all other records.
To include records that are not linked to other records do not tick Unconnected records.
e.g. Most of the Source records will not be linked to anything.
Do not Select... any Individual records.
Media Records need consideration as you may have Media linked to Source records.
Source Records must be Included.

When you click OK, ignore the warning regarding no Individual records.

The resulting GEDCOM file can be used to start a new Project or File Merged into an existing Project.

However, most Source records (assuming you are predominantly using Method 1 'splitter' Sources) will be so unique that they are unlikely to be useful in another Project. Only Method 2 'lumper' Sources shared by an entire class of sources such as GRO BMD Index records are worth migrating.

So to give greater control over which Source records and associated Repositories and Media records are worth migrating another technique is to use the File > Project Window > More Tasks > Copy Project command.
Then in the copy use the File > Split Tree Helper... command to delete what is not required.
i.e. Delete all Individual records using the All Individuals query, and maybe Delete all Note Records.
After that in the Records Window choose which Source records to delete and then delete all Media records with no links.

The resulting GEDCOM file in that Project can be used as above to start a new Project or Merge into a Project.

[Glenn Webby]

Brilliant, thanks Mike.