* Issues with Narrative reports of Custom Events

[TimM]

I have a number of custom events, one of which is called “Events” which I use to record things like: someone changed their name; someone got knighted; someone became mayor, etc. This wasn’t a problem until Narrative reports came along. The problem is the grammar you get in the sentence. Custom Attributes are fine, it’s the Custom Events which come out wrong. This is because Attributes have a description field which is included in the narrative sentence using the code. Events don’t have a description field, so all I get in my narrative sentences are typically “He experienced Events on 12 May 1780.” Changing the word “experienced” won’t improve it much!

This brings me to a number of points I’d like to raise:
1. I’m using a general purpose Custom Event instead of creating specific Custom Events for each type of thing. Am I doing this wrong? What does anyone else do to record miscellaneous events?
2. Can you please add to the wish list:-
a) Description field for events (Similar to that for Attributes)
b) Narrative sentence template to have a ‘value’ code to pick up the event description.
3. If Events were to have a description field, then there would be little difference between Events and Attributes. How and when would they be distinguished, either by the user or the programme?
4. The Custom Attributes Template contains . What do each of the , ‘’, & () do?

Thanks
Tim


ID:671

[Jane]

I tend to either use a simple note or a custom event for each event type.

Since most of your post was wish list items I have moved it to the wish list section.

[Fiona]

I was going to add something like this to the wish list myself.  'Experienced' just doesn't fit with all custom events (I have a similar problem with some of my attributes as well).

I have a range of custom events, but I try to make the 'event name' something that is not too specific, so that I can use it for more than one person.  With something like becoming a mayor, I use an attribute I have called 'position' (I suppose 'public office' would also be suitable) and then just put the in the dates using the 'period' tab - it seems to make sense that way.

[Jane]

On wish list as
Customise Event and Attribute Texts on Narrative Reports