* FTM/GEDCOM/FAMILY HISTORIAN census misreads

[BarbW]

Hello

I haven't done any serious family research for about 10 years. I found my old backed up tree on a CD it was made on Family Tree Maker v 9 (!!), Family Historian couldn't read the gedcom file as it said it was corrupt.

So I installed the FTM disc and imported the ftw (Family Tree Maker ext) file and re saved it as a gedcom which Family Historian seems to have dealt with just fine except for one thing.

When I look at the published files ie Descendants there is a discrepancy about how the census information reads. Some say

"Fred Bloggs was born in 1881. He appeared in the census in 1891 in 25 Smith Street, blah blah"

BUT some say

"Mary Bloggs was born in 1881. She experienced Census 1891 in 1891 in 25 Smith Street, blah blah.

I really need to correct this before I start entering any more census data that I have in my files as these are in the same family, some appearing, some experiencing!!

I've tried to find out how to input census data for a family with say 2 parents and 8 children but all living at the same address, I fear I may have to copy and paste like I used to do?

I am not a computer newbie but I don't understand too complex solutions as I am only on day 3 of my free trial of Family Historian and just trying to get my head around it all.

[jimlad68]

Have you amended any "sentences/templates"? Otherwise I can only think it may be because one is a "real" Gedcom type census (giving appeared in), and the other is a generated EVENt with census for the event title with your census data in it (giving experienced Census).

Is it all male for one and all female for the other, that would suggest template etc.

[tatewise]

Welcome to the FHUG.

The two forms of sentence are caused by two different Facts.

The first is due to a Standard Gedcom "Census" Event that is recognised and predefined in FH with a Sentence Template.

The second is due to a non-standard Fact with the name "Census 1891" that is not predefined in FH and so is using a default Sentence Template.

If you use Tools > Fact Types the Census Event is listed but Census 1891 is not.

The discrepancy is due to inconsistent data entry using one event for him and another event for her.

There is a Plugin "Change Any Fact Tag" that will convert the undefined event into the defined Census Event. But Plugins are not supported by the FH V6 Trial. This is a well trodden path and easily fixed once you purchase your licence.

As a newcomer I advise you study how_to:key_features_for_newcomers|> Key Features for Newcomers and investigate all topics before going too far. Copy & Paste is largely avoided by capturing source data such as Census records for a household by using Ancestral Sources.

[BarbW]

Thank you everybody I won't put anymore data in until I understand what I am doing.

Interesting about the plug in. When you say Ancestral sources does this mean the paid programme affiliated with FH? I am subscribed to The Genealogist (trial) and Find My Past for the moment and can only really to subscribe to one package.

[mjashby]

Ancestral Sources is a 'free to use/donations welcomed' piece of software that can directly edit your Family Historian Project GEDCOM or any other GEDCOM file. It was created and is maintained by a Family Historian User and you can find more information at http://www.fhug.org.uk/wiki/doku.php?id ... rces:index

It's widely used and very well tested.

Mervyn

[tatewise]

Ancestral Sources is one of the topics in how_to:key_features_for_newcomers|> Key Features for Newcomers which is why I referred you there, and why it is important you review all those features.

I think you were getting confused with the FH Automatic Internet Data Matching with MyHeritage.

[jimlad68]

BarbW - If you do change the fact from "Census 1891" to the standard "Census" you will have to make sure you have the date somewhere (the fact date being the obvious), otherwise you will not know which census.

[tatewise]

Jim, the sentence clearly shows the Date is recorded as 1891.

[BarbW]

Thank you all for your replies.

I have done a bit of looking at my tree and it doesn't matter which sex or which year I still have this discrepancy. I can only think as somebody said it's the way I entered them in the first place. I am wondering if I shouldn't just delete all those in censuses and start again?

I have just purchased the registration key so will look into these plug ins later. Once again thanks for all the help.

[jimlad68]

Yes, for some of us we love to play around and try to automate/fix things so we do not have to key data again. But if there is not too much data, and you are not "data manipulative" inclined, rekeying can often be easier, especially if you want to use something like Ancestral Sources in the future.

[BarbW]

Yes I am going to delete each census error, I can see them in the little window to the right at the bottom which ones are good and which aren't, then I will use the plug in thing to start uploading my census data correctly.

Still trying to get my head around this programme.

[BarbW]

I've had a little play with the plug in and it seems great so please excuse this newbie question.

I can see if you have a fresh census entry how to get all the family in at once, but what about when you already have family in your tree? Do you have to link it to each person individually (mum, dad, 6 kids for instance) or would I be better off starting a whole new tree from scratch? My surname is VERY common and so many people have the same forenames as well I'm not sure how this will work?

I have looked through the FAQ but can't seem to find the answer I am looking for. TIA

[tatewise]

First of all work through the tutorials in the ancestralsources:index|> Ancestral Sources User Guide for the application program.

It is also advisable to install the Ancestral Sources Data Entry Plugin.

Ancestral Sources will add the Census details for a whole household.
As you build up the central Census Grid you can either add existing Individuals from your database using the pane on right, or use the Add Parent/Spouse/Sibling/Child links for new relatives.

You will be able to choose whether to replace/retain any existing Census Events. Probably replacement is what you will want.

You need to practice how to use these tools on the Family Historian Sample Project and it will all become clear.

Ancestral Sources is designed to add a great variety of Source Documents to existing families in you data to corroborate assumptions or add new relatives to existing relatives.
e.g. All the Census returns from 1841 to 1911 can be added to existing families as they evolve, plus Birth, Marriage & Death details.

[BarbW]

Thank you Mike I have downloaded that plug in Ancestral sources, are you saying this is another one? Also a book for v 5 which I don't suppose (I hope) will be that much different from v 6??

I also downloaded a plug in called Find Date Phrases which I thought might help with my census problem but I can't figure out how to get it working

[tatewise]

There are two components to using Ancestral Sources:

1. The Ancestral Sources program that must be downloaded and installed as a Windows application.
2. The Ancestral Sources Data Entry Plugin that simplifies invoking the Ancestral Sources program from FH by ensuring the correct Project database is used and the main Individual of interest is preselected.

At the risk of repeating myself, most of your recent questions are answered in how_to:key_features_for_newcomers|> Key Features for Newcomers so do please take time to look through those key topics.

Family Historian Documentation says:

Note that ƒh V6.0 does not include the Getting the Most From Family Historian book nor its Tutorial Files, but you can download them here for V5 and much is the same or similar.

Plugins refer to plugins:index|> Family Historian Plugins that under plugins:about#downloading_and_using_plugins|> Downloading and Using Plugins answers your question.

[BarbW]

Thank you Mike for both your help and your patience.

I am on a very steep learning curve here.......