Surname Advice, Please

brian1950 · Post by **brian1950** » 23 Jul 2009 12:55

I have a record with the surname DeRomana (family members advise me it should be correctly written without a space between the lower case 'e' and the upper case 'R' and I have documents to support this).

However if I type 'DeRomana' in the Property window's Main field obviously FH insists on recording this surname in the Focus and Record windows as DEROMANA.

Does anyone know of a way of forcing the Record and Focus windows to record it as 'DeROMANA' and not 'DEROMANA'? My family sources say this would be the best solution. Unless anyone knows better!

Thank you,

Brian1950

ID:3884

gerrynuk · Post by **gerrynuk** » 23 Jul 2009 13:43

Brian,

I think you will find that, by default, FH stores the name as you enter it; ie DeRomana, but displays it DEROMANA. You can check this in the Properties for the individual.

To get the name displayed 'correctly' in diagrams you need to edit the Text Scheme. Display the diagram you want; click on Diagram Options and then select the Text tab. It should be highlighting the text scheme you are currently using. Click on Edit and change the Name Format to Stored. Click on OK and then 'OK' out of the Diagram Options box. The changes will, of course, apply to all the people in the diagram.

Gerry

PeterR · Post by **PeterR** » 23 Jul 2009 13:53

Brian,
I have a similar issue with various Scottish surnames. I don't think there is any way to achieve what we need currently (v.4.0.2), so I have added a new Wish-List Request:
http://www.fhug.org.uk/cgi-bin/index.cg ... 85&start=0

gerrynuk · Post by **gerrynuk** » 23 Jul 2009 15:36

Who is right, then?

Gerry

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 23 Jul 2009 16:02

Personally I display my surnames in Mixed Case.

To change the focus and record windows to do this go to tools, preferences General and untick display surnames in uppercase.

PeterR · Post by **PeterR** » 23 Jul 2009 17:08

Unfortuantely the use of mixed-case surnames often produce ambiguity since so many in my tree have surnames such as Martin, Roy, and James and/or forenames like Richmond, Balfour, Hossack, Scott, and Campbell, which are also used by others as surnames. And despite my best efforts, I do have quite a few individuals without a surname, as well as a few without a forename. Upper-case surnames at least make it easy to distinguish these cases. Another option (discussed elsewhere) could be to use bold font for (mixed-case) Surnames as well as underline for Given-Name-Used.[wink]

brian1950 · Post by **brian1950** » 24 Jul 2009 15:09

Many thanks to all who have responded.

I'm not in favour of mixed-case surnames for the reasons outlined in this thread.

However I do support PeterR's Wish List post - I too have an increasing number of Irish records with Gaelic spellings.

For now, I'll have to live with all upper case surnames, with the hope that in future Calico Pie provide an option for surnames to be shown as, for example, DeROMANA or MacQUEEN.

Brian

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