* Should I repeat previous old data entries using AS

[Benny Hill]

I’ve been researching both my Maternal & Paternal family trees since about 2013 and using Family Historian, but only discovered AS recently. Should I repeat previous old data entries using AS.

[ChrisRead]

That depends how many people and sources you have in your tree to 're-do'. It's not essential, but can tidy up the 'Text From Source' with the Rich Text auto-text templates in AS. It can be a slog to re-generate hundreds of source records.

[fhtess65]

In the end, it's up to you. I switched to using FH last year for my main database and since then have been working through AS and with modified FH templates to redo my sources. Previous programs have left them a mess. It's a long, slow process, but to my mind, well worth the time and effort. In the end I hope my database will be far more consistent and the reports I generate, including the sources, easier to read and follow.

I’ve been researching both my Maternal & Paternal family trees since about 2013 and using Family Historian, but only discovered AS recently. Should I repeat previous old data entries using AS.

[Benny Hill]

Thanks for the advice Chris.

[Benny Hill]

With so many entries I just wondered if it would be beneficial and assist my research? Or just use AS from now on?

[fhtess65]

Going over old work is always beneficial - we often find things we missed. AS will definitely help as you create a transcription as well as a source/citation. Of course, AS works for specific events only - birth, marriage, death, baptism, burial, and census - so other sources will still need to be added in FH. For me, this means all my newspaper clippings, directory listings, electoral registers, etc..

With so many entries I just wondered if it would be beneficial and assist my research? Or just use AS from now on?

[Valkrider]

For me, this means all my newspaper clippings, directory listings, electoral registers, etc..

Don't forget that electoral registers can be input through AS.

[fhtess65]

Where? It's not a birth/marriage/death/baptism/burial or census... I'm happy to use AS for ERs, just not sure what module to use to do it.

Thanks.

For me, this means all my newspaper clippings, directory listings, electoral registers, etc..

Don't forget that electoral registers can be input through AS.

[NickWalker]

It is a 'census like' source. So choose Census and then choose Electoral Register from the Type drop-down list. Only UK register templates are included, but it may be possible to create register templates for other countries using the Census Templates... screen.

[NickWalker]

With so many entries I just wondered if it would be beneficial and assist my research? Or just use AS from now on?

As other's have said, this is obviously your decision. It depends on how satisfied you are with your current methods of recording sources, the benefits you feel you would get from doing this. I know a lot of users of AS have done this and have ultimately been happy with the results. It can be good to 'start again' and go back through sources as you may find mistakes in the information recorded previously and perhaps be more methodical in your recording. Certainly that was the case for me. I still have plenty of baptisms, marriages, etc. that are not fully transcribed and/or don't have an image linked that I recorded between 15 to 30 years ago that I occasionally replace/update in AS as I get to them. I expect when I retire in the future I'll do a lot more of this (a lot of 'family history time' has been taken up working on AS).

[fhtess65]

Ah, ok - that makes sense. I hadn't noticed I could select Electoral Register. Most of mine are UK based anyway, though I have some Canadian ones as well. Will try it out and see

Thanks!

It is a 'census like' source. So choose Census and then choose Electoral Register from the Type drop-down list. Only UK register templates are included, but it may be possible to create register templates for other countries using the Census Templates... screen.