Record ID numbers

vliet · Post by **vliet** » 20 Mar 2005 10:21

My tree has been extended quite a bit over the last year or so. A lot of individuals etc. have been added but in earlier generations that my great grandfather who, at the time, was the first person, as it were and therefore has the Record ID 1.
When I used GEDMill, which is a nice little program by the way, it created the tree fine but started with No 1. The earlier generations were in the index but the tree didn't open with them.
Is there a way in FH to re-number all the individuals, re-starting with No 1 applied to the earliest individual?
I'm blowed if I can find it!
thanks in advance.
Nigel

ID:844

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 20 Mar 2005 11:18

The easiest way is to use the Work With Record identifiers tool to copy the current numbers to a custom set.

Change the numbers you want to change and copy the numbers back.

vliet · Post by **vliet** » 20 Mar 2005 21:01

I see your point but what I want to do is to put a different person, namely my great X 4 Grandfather from record (as it happens in my tree from record 282 to record 1, replacing my great great grandfather. AND, to have all the links in place. In other words, the tree would start at a new No 1 person but some generations back.
Is there a way? I don't quite understand your copy instructions at all. Would that preserve all the links in the tree, for example.
Hope to hear soon.
Nigel

Post by **nsw** » 20 Mar 2005 22:18

I haven't used Gedmill though it certainly does look good. Just a thought... I'm sure it would be fairly easy for the author of Gedmill to add a feature to the program to allow you to choose the person you want to start with, rather than forcing you to renumber your records? Perhaps suggest this to him?

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 21 Mar 2005 07:20

Obviously renumbering using FH to renumber retains all the relationships.

Simply go into the Tools, work with record identifiers and use the copy.

Or just edit the GEDMILL index page to start with the page you want to start with.

vliet · Post by **vliet** » 21 Mar 2005 10:09

Sorry but I'm still not sure about this. Do yu mean I have to copy & then manually re-number the 600 or so records? I was hoping there was a way to re-number the first person & the rest would sort themselves out, as per the relationships already in existence.
I'm afraid it looks like you're going to spell it out for me, Jane!
I agree about changing the index page but I really could do with the whole thing changing once & for all.
Nigel

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 21 Mar 2005 10:40

No just renumber the one record you want to be number 1.

Personally my file starts from the most recent and I do not worry about numbers after than.

vliet · Post by **vliet** » 21 Mar 2005 11:32

Will that change everything everyone else, accordingly?
Nigel

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 21 Mar 2005 16:26

The numbers are just numbers if you chance one its the only one to change.

There is no need to change any others.

The numbers do not mean anything.

vliet · Post by **vliet** » 21 Mar 2005 21:09

Sorry Jane, I just can't seem to get this simple thing right. How the heck do I change a record no 313 0r 275 to 1, and make him the 'top of the tree' as it were?
Just can't get it.
Nigel

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 22 Mar 2005 13:49

Make a safe copy of your file.

Go into Work with Identifiers
Copy Existing record ID's into the Custom ID Field

Follow the on screen prompts to select induviduals.

Go into the person you want to make number 1

Change the custom ID to 1

Go back to work with Identifiers
Select
Generate New record IDs by copying the Custom ID Values

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 22 Mar 2005 13:58

This is the work with Record Identifiers screen

vliet · Post by **vliet** » 22 Mar 2005 20:59

I did this and record 313, changed Custom ID to 1, then repeated the second task, Custom ID went to 589.
I really must be doing something badly wrong here.
Would it help if yu had a look at the GEDCOM?
Nigel

vliet · Post by **vliet** » 22 Mar 2005 21:23

Just realised, I don't get an option to select individuals at all. i just does 'it' to the whole lot.

vliet · Post by **vliet** » 22 Mar 2005 21:45

I get the message that the record chosen can't be duplicated, or something like that, so the person selected as no 1 goes to the end.

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 23 Mar 2005 07:17

Move the one already at number 1 as well

vliet · Post by **vliet** » 23 Mar 2005 09:42

I still can't select an individual or individuals separately. the 'action' applies to the whole of the 580 people or so all at once.

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