Family Historian User Group

Hi,

Let me set the scenario. I have a Family Tree built using Ancestry, I also have FH which contains many of the names that appear on the Ancestry Tree. However, there is one particular family line that is primarily contained in the FH version of my Tree.

I accept that I have likely caused myself a great deal of confusion and unnecessary work by working in two separate programs, but what I would really like to do is concentrate all my actual recording work in FH. I don't however want to risk losing any of the work I have accrued in either.

Predictably, in Ancestry I have a number of Census, Birth Index and Marriage Index images, together with a few media files, some of which may also presently exist in the FH version.

Do I download a Gedcom from Ancestry, create a new project in FH and then merge my present FH content into it? Another possibility which someone suggested to me is to download the Ancestry gedcom, bring it into a copy of Family Treemaker which I also have on my computer and then do the FTM/FH merge. What do you think is the better, perhaps most efficient way?

I would welcome guidance on the above, so that I can then progress with confidence, knowing that FH is up-to-date, with all the individual entries and media files I have. I am sure that initially quite a bit of work will be involved but if I can work towards the desired result of harmony and accuracy in my final file it will be worth it.

Questions about source records and citations may be for another day, but I sure would like to get the main file in FH fully up-to-date.

Regards,

Alan

I suspect it is better to download GEDCOM directly from Ancestry into FH rather than involve a third program.

See how_to:import_from_ancestry|> Import from Ancestry for advice on exporting the GEDCOM from Ancestry.

Your last comment about 'the main file' as opposed to 'source records and citations' warrants some comment:
There is no such thing as a main file in FH. The one GEDCOM file holds everything (except Media files) and includes all Individuals, Families, Source Records, Citations, Note Records, etc. If the Ancestry GEDCOM has Source Records and Citations, etc, then you cannot easily merge with your main FH Project without including them. If you do discard them at this stage then it may make merging them later even more complex. I would advise biting the bullet and merging everything you have. You can always review your merged FH Project later to check Sources and Citations.

You do NOT need to create a Project from the Ancestry GEDCOM.
It is a good idea to make a backup copy of this GEDCOM and make it Read-Only just in case!
Simply open the GEDCOM file in FH and use File > Validate and Tools > Find Uncategorised Data.
In how_to:index#importing_to_family_historian|> Importing to Family Historian there is advice on fixing Dates and UDF fields.
Use File > Backup/Restore > Small Backup to preserve this GEDCOM.

When the Ancestry GEDCOM file is problem free proceed as follows to merge your data.
Open your current FH Project and use a File > Backup/Restore > Full Backup just in case.
Now use File > Merge/Compare File and select the problem free Ancestry GEDCOM file.
It is worth spending some time understanding the Merge dialogue and all its options.
You can retain or discard whatever data you wish from either or both GEDCOM.
Remember to check and merge every record type on the seven tabs Individuals, Families, Notes, etc...

Be aware that Ancestry's GEDCOM format resembles the GEDCOM standard - just not particularly closely.

You may therefore want to use the FH format file as the master and be prepared to throw away big chunks of the Ancestry file, on the basis that you think those people are up to date in FH and you started out with the intention of carefully checking all the data but by now you're screaming in frustration....

Yes, I've been there with various forms of import.