* Custom ID's

[jbtapscott]

After running a Gedcom import (generated by TMG 9.05), the Custom ID field on all my Individuals in FH is populated by a number matching the Record ID. Just wondering if this is "normal", and if so, how do I remove the field and / or content?.

By way of explanation, I don't currently have any plans for using the Custom ID field, but if I ultimately do, I would want it to start "empty". I also don't want "excess" / duplicate data in the FH Gedcom file. Not a major issue but just wondering!

[jimlad68]

don't know if you can fix the import, but as regards the Custom Id. It is easy to delete a few or many via a simple All individuals query, amended for extra column of Custom Id (resides in Miscellaneous), run the query then just select the whole column (or the cells you need) then delete them all. As ever do a backup first for these powerful commands.

[BillH]

jbtapscott,

There is a standard query called Record Identifiers which already contains a column for Custom ID.

Bill

[jbtapscott]

Excellent - that works for me Bill, although I still wonder why the field gets populated in the first place!!

[BillH]

Brent,

Glad it worked for you. I can't explain how it got there in the first place, but I'm sure someone can help you out.

Bill

[tatewise]

Brent, are the Custom Id created in the GEDCOM file by TMG?

Are you sure all Record Id in the GEDCOM file from TMG are purely numerical?
i.e.
0 @I1234@ INDI
0 @F1234@ FAM
0 @S1234@ SOUR
Where each Record Id between @ symbols starts with capital letter matching the record type, and then just digits.

If there are any other characters between the @ symbols then FH will create its own numerical Record Id and put the imported Record Id in the Custom Id.
The same is true if the imported Record Id is very large, but I cannot recall the maximum allowed.

BTW: Does the same problem apply to the direct import from TMG?
If not, then as I said in another thread, just be patient until the next FH free update is available.

[jbtapscott]

Mike - thanks for the pointer. The Gedcom file includes a REFN tag value which is equal to the Record ID - the TMG export configuration gave an option to "Export Reference field as..." and I hadn't picked up that this was actually the TMG Record ID being output (again). It is, as you said, also output as a numeric value in the @I1234@

Although I now have the instruction for clearing this value once the import has completed in FH, I'll probably use an online option to remove the entire row in the Gedcom file with the REFN tag (much as I am for the _SDATE rows) before importing the file, although as you suggested, I will be waiting for an FH update before making the final transition from TMG to FH.