Family Historian User Group

This is my first day on this forum. I hope someone can assist me.

Is there a table that explains the column headings for FH?
REFN P.NAME
P.SEX P.CHR.DATE
P.CHR.PLAC P.CHR.SOUR>TITL
P.BURI.DATE P.BURI.PLAC
P.BURI.NOTE1 P.BURI.NOTE2
P.BURI.SOUR>TITL PF.REFN
PM.REFN S.REFN
P_S.MARR.DATE P_S.MARR.PLAC
P_S.MARR.ADDR1 P_S.MARR.Address2
P_S.MARR.SOUR>TITL P_S.MARR.AGE:P
P_S.MARR.AGE:S P.OCCU
P.OCCU.DATE P.OCCU.PLAC
P.OCCU.SOUR>TITL P.OCCU.SOUR.PAGE
P.OCCU.SOUR.TEXT1 P.OCCU.SOUR.TEXT2
P.OCCU.SOUR.DATE P.OCCU.SOUR.NOTE
P.NOTE1 P.NOTE2
P.NAME.SOUR>TITL P.NAME.SOUR.PAGE
P.NAME.SOUR.TEXT P.NAME.SOUR.DATE
P.NAME.SOUR.NOTE1 P.NAME.SOUR.NOTE2
P.SOUR>TITL P.SOUR.PAGE
P.SOUR.TEXT P.SOUR.DATE
P.SOUR.QUAY P.SOUR.NOTE1
P.SOUR.NOTE2 P.CENS.DATE
P.CENS.PLAC P.CENS.ADDR
P.CENS.SOUR>TITL

I have a csv file with data from a different family tree software. The column headings are different so data will not import. I need to know what these headings mean so I can update the csv file. In the csv file I have columns for parent names, spouses, and other headings that don't seem to fit the headings above. I hope to import everything (3,000 names) and not have to do manual entry into FH6.

Thanks for any help. I'm excited but don't want to redo my dad's decades of work.
Gina

Welcome to the FHUG Gina.

Could you please explain a couple of things.

Firstly, what is the "different family tree software" product that you are exporting from?
It may have an export GEDCOM feature that should be far easier to use.

Secondly, where did you discover the CSV column headings that you listed?
Are they from plugins:help:flexible_csv_importer|> Flexible CSV Importer Plugin?
As it says there, the FIELD and SUBFIELD tags are derived from the GEDCOM specification.
FH is based on that specification and it would take a while to provide a tutorial for all possible tags.

It is possible with the Plugin to define your own Field Interpretation on the second tab.

The software is Generations Family Tree. Dad's version is from Windows '98 but is no longer available or supported. I was able to download a gedcom file but FH6 won't recognize it.

I got the column headings by using the sample family tree on FH6 that I somehow found. I'm not sure I could do it again.

I did see the second tab but I couldn't determine how to define my own Field Interpretation to the program. I'm really new at this and am learning as I go.

I was not aware of this link (Knowledge Base > Flexible CSV Importer Plugin). That may be the information I am seeking.

Thanks for responding.
Gina

There is advice in how_to:import_generations|> Import from Generations Family Tree on using GEDCOM.
If we can get the GEDCOM method to work that would be so much simpler.

I don't understand how you "got the column headings by using the sample family tree on FH6" because the headings you listed do not exist in that form within an FH6 Project. They only exist in the Flexible CSV Importer Plugin advice.

Please provide as much background as possible so we can help you migrate your data into FH6 as quickly as possible.
e.g.
Is that old version of Generations Family Tree still running on an old Windows 98 PC somewhere?
How and when did you obtain the GEDCOM file?
How and when did you obtain the CSV file(s)?
How big are those files either in bytes or in terms of people in the database, etc?

It would be very useful if you could attach either the whole or a sample of both the GEDCOM and CSV files via the ATTACHMENTS tab below the message box. It is important to include the start of both files.
You are probably aware that software can be very fussy.
However, with the GEDCOM sample we may be able to suggest some minor edits to get FH6 to accept it.
Seeing the actual CSV file with its headers may also allow us to suggest how to customise the Plugin.

Here are my answers

Is that old version of Generations Family Tree still running on an old Windows 98 PC somewhere? Yes
How and when did you obtain the GEDCOM file? I downloaded it from the old computer last month.
How and when did you obtain the CSV file(s)? I exported the info from Generations Family Tree into an Excel document and then saved it as a CSV file.
How big are those files either in bytes or in terms of people in the database, etc? The GEDCOM file is 365 KB. The CSV file is 328 KB. There are 2095 names in the file.

Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

Thank you for those answers and attached files.

Well Gina, I've just imported that GEDCOM file into FH6 using File > Project Window > New Project.
The Window > Log Files report a couple of minor issues that can easily be fixed.
There is an unusual 'fact' called CLAW and the Wife link problem is due to duplicate records for Janice Faye BROWN.

The more significant issue is that there are no Source Citations, so none of the data is verified.
Or maybe you didn't tick 'include sources' as advised in how_to:import_generations#export_your_gedcom_file_from_generations|> Export your Gedcom File from Generations.
If that setting does supply Source Citations then there may be extra problems to fix as explained in the KB advice.

So forget about the CSV and focus on the GEDCOM.
I don't understand why you thought FH6 would not recognise the GEDCOM.

When I try to Import a GEDCOM file, the next screen says, "An error occurred during the file processing."

When I click OK, the screen says, "Unrecognized file format. If you are trying to insert a picture, video, document or other media file into Family Historian, you should click on the Insert menu and choose the appropriate menu item. To restore from a backup, use Restore on the File menu."

After I click OK, the last screen says, "Unable to import file 'D:\MY FAMILY FILE.GED'"

So I am perplexed. Should I try to uninstall the software and reinstall?

The reason there are not sources listed is probably because the information is from family files...boxes and boxes of family files. Dad has lots of emails from family but I haven't found much from online or "official" sources. But I have only looked through one box to this point.

Gina, please try and use exactly the My Family File.ged that you attached to your last posting.
Try downloading that file to your Desktop and import that to FH, which is what I did.

I suspect you are trying to import a My Family File.zip file containing that My Family File.ged GEDCOM file.
If I do that it produces exactly the error message that you are reporting.

It is mysterious that you & I are getting different effects with the 'same' file, so please confirm a few things.

1. What version of Windows are you running?
   e.g. Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10?
2. What version of FH are you running?
   Use Help > About Family Historian... and it states the version at the top.
3. Post a screenshot of a Windows File Explorer window listing the My Family File.ged file you are importing.
   See info:forums#posting_topics|> Posting Topics for advice on attaching screenshots.

Oh, my word! I have been trying to import the file from a cd. Once I moved it to the desktop, it loaded in a heartbeat...literally that fast.

Thank you for all the time you spent helping me with this! I am so excited to be able to move forward with more research!

So...virtual hug to you from the great state of Kansas across the pond!

Gina

Not sure why it dos not like a CD, but success anyway.

Refer to my comments about the few reported issues that I posted last Friday.

I found that running the Clean Up Notes Plugin moved all the Note Records to local Notes that are much more accessible.