gedcom census and ancestral sources

skeptik4321 · Post by **skeptik4321** » 23 Apr 2010 10:57

Ancestral Sources sounds a very interesting and useful development, thankyou Nick. What I am wondering is if I can transfer all the census entries I have made on Gedcom Census without having to re-enter them. If so I shall certainly download it.[smile]
val

ID:4520

Post by **nsw** » 23 Apr 2010 11:54

Your existing census entries won't be touched by Ancestral Sources, they will continue to sit in your family history file, attached to individuals and sources, etc.

When you create a census entry in Gedcom Census all it does is save the information into the file you use in Family Historian.

Ancestral Sources does exactly the same thing, you enter the census details and they get saved into your file. Apart from the various additional features of Ancestral Sources, the main difference you'll see is that Ancestral Sources provides a lot more census columns for you to fill in (if you want to), whereas Gedcom Census only had the Age, Occupation and birth details. If you are used to using the 'Auto Text' features of Gedcom Census then you will find that the transcriptions produced in Ancestral Sources using the same feature are more detailed.

Cheers

Nick

skeptik4321 · Post by **skeptik4321** » 23 Apr 2010 13:37

Thanks Nick, that sounds great I shall certainly investigate further!
Val[smile]

paulf · Post by **paulf** » 08 May 2010 20:30

Sorry Nick, but to my mind you did not answer the previous question.

Is it possible to migrate all of ones existing Gedcom census information into ancestral sources without re-entering it all.
Obviously more convenient than having to work from two sources.

Post by **hsw** » 08 May 2010 21:09

All the information entered by both GEDcom Census and AS is held within your Family Historian file so there is no migration or re-entry to do. Neither AS nor GEDcom census hold any data of their own (other than their own configuration options).

Post by **nsw** » 08 May 2010 23:06

Paul Froggitt said:
Sorry Nick, but to my mind you did not answer the previous question.

To my mind I did

paulf · Post by **paulf** » 13 May 2010 13:36

Nick Walker said:
Paul Froggitt said:
Sorry Nick, but to my mind you did not answer the previous question.

To my mind I did

Accepted - fair comment.

gihe · Post by **gihe** » 15 May 2010 20:30

The way I interpreted the OP and Paul's comments was that existing census sources and images entered using Gedcom Census do not appear in AS. This gives one the slightly dispiriting feeling that all the existing information would have to entered again (even though I know that's not true). I suspect it's down to the new interface.

To illustrate - I use Method 1 of Gedcom Census to enter a census as a source (with linked multimedia record/image) which is also linked back to the individuals concerned. So from FH, I can click on the census fact and view the actual census sheet.

Now, from AS, one clicks on a person's name, then a census from the census history pane and expects to see the left-hand portion of the screen light up with existing linked images, address, references, other householders in the grid etc. In fact, there is nothing - as if it had never been entered.

I presume this is because AS is not really reading the existing information; it is only designed to enter new information. Once that information has been entered, it is no longer viewable from within AS (other than as an item in the census history window).

Somehow, the new interface suggests more power than is actually there. That was my experience, anyway.

gihe · Post by **gihe** » 15 May 2010 20:48

..and I've just spotted the other post that refers to AS not being able to re-read/edit information. Guess that's what I was trying to say.

It's a shame that FH can do this fine but AS can't.

Post by **nsw** » 15 May 2010 23:02

It's a shame that FH can do this fine but AS can't.

Its also a shame that Ancestral Sources is something I supply free of charge (though some kind people do donate money), whereas the developers of Family Historian (presumably) earn a living from it... Comments like this make me wonder why I bother.

I don't understand why you feel the interface suggests you can view or edit previous census data. It does not say that anywhere in the program, in the help file or anything I've written on this website.

The facilities you want don't just appear as if by magic. After a day at work and putting my young children to bed I occasionally find a couple of hours to work on the program. Do you want me to spend the next year or two adding the abilty to view census records (which as you say you can do in Family Historian already) or do you want to be able to add baptisms, births, marriages, etc? I'm trying to create something which adds value to Family Historian rather than tries to do the same things.

GladToBeGrey · Post by **GladToBeGrey** » 16 May 2010 10:07

I'm trying to create something which adds value to Family Historian rather than tries to do the same things.

... and you do a d*mn good job of it, Nick. [smile]

ireneblackburn · Post by **ireneblackburn** » 16 May 2010 12:10

Hi Nick

Stick to what you are doing, I am sure we are all very grateful.

Irene

gihe · Post by **gihe** » 16 May 2010 12:31

You are, of course, correct.

I guess I was hoping for something that would ease the burden of converting my existing census records from 'Method 2 recorded' to 'Method 1' - so I dived straight in. I should have read the manual. [oops]

It's a good program. I 've sent you a donation by way of apology.

Stevebye · Post by **Stevebye** » 16 May 2010 12:36

Go Nick Go Nick Go Nick.

Your program is a delight to use.

Post by **hsw** » 16 May 2010 14:31

Nick,

I am immensely grateful for all the work you put into AS and view it as I believe you intend it -- a wonderful complement to FH and NOT a replacement.

Thank you

Helen

Post by **nsw** » 16 May 2010 14:42

Thanks for the support everyone but I think its best to leave this thread now. Gihe has apologised and kindly made a donation so all is forgotten and forgiven

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