* Ancestry, FTM, FH and workflow ~ Sources

[tatewise]

This thread continues from Ancestry, FTM, FH and workflow (12388) but focussed on Sources issues associated with capturing the Ancestry/FTM hints using the round trip from FH to FTM back to FH.

[tatewise]

In how_to:exchange_with_ftm:step_1_prepare_your_fh_data_for_exchange_with_ftm|> Step 1 Prepare your FH data for exchange with FTM it is suggested that "Perhaps quite radically, and certainly optionally, delete all Census and vital record events and related sources and images."

I suspect that will be unattractive to most users, including me, because their Sources will have been collected from many sources (sic), such as artefacts handed down through their family, online records from many web sites, and data collected from actual records, registers, tombstones, etc.

So it is important that all Sources, including those derived from Ancestry/FTM hints, survive repeated FH/FTM roundtrips.

[Nick-V]

Yes, I agree existing sources need to survive. I have also kept some sources from elsewhere.

The ones that might optionally be deleted before embarking on the first export are those that you will match again using Ancestry. The step is not necessary but it will mean that everything is recorded and technically stored consistently. Further, I am concerned that duplicate census information will be created, an existing and a new Ancestry one.

It really depends on volumes and personal preferences. User are going to have to make some decisions where issues cannot be automated perfectly and in full. For me and my volumes the decision is easy. If you choose Ancestry as your preferred source for vital records then do it right with FH and FTM from the start! Don't manually put in loads into FH then change your mind. If you have been using Ancestry anyway then downloading to FTM then to FH would work for you.

[tatewise]

I think this needs a LOT more investigation.

1) After the first roundtrip, Ancestry/FTM Sources will be 'existing' Sources, so how is duplicating them prevented?

2) How do users know what hints and Facts & Sources Ancestry will generate in order to choose which Facts & Sources to remove beforehand?

3) You routinely refer to Ancestry/FTM Census Sources as if there are no other Source types associated with hints. What about BMD Source Records, etc?

[Nick-V]

1) Ancestry certainly has its own additional data in the FTM database and at Ancestry. I have merged data back to FTM and my census info, hints there all remain intact. You are right that once sources have gone thru FH they may be regarded as new Sources when being reimported. My thinking was to reimport them just as exported from FTM in the first place - I should not assume this will avoid the problem and should check further.

2) Judgement...not an exact science. Suffice to say that Ancestry provides all Census hints and all certain other data. Other users need to investigate and consider. In theory its an issue...in practice, for many, it may not be...deletion of duplicate (your orginal records) afterwards might be feasible and safer for some.

3) I refer to primarily to Census info because I regard it as slightly more complex than other sources. Mainly for the reason that Ancestral Sources program is useful...updating multiple people automatically from one record. I imagine all sources work much the same including BMD info. A birth will flag against one individual...you need to manually check it applies to the right individual and in doing so may discover other info like the mother's maiden name which you can update manually.