* Focus Window/Research Notes/Named Lists

[SpencerDudeUK]

I am very confused as to how Research Notes and Named Lists are used, and how they correlate back to the person they're about.
I have several entries for records offices in the Named Lists Pane, and have added individuals to that list along with notes about what I need to research against each individual, but there is no correlation back to the person in the Focus Window view. This means that sometimes I stumble across an answer and add to the Fucus Window facts about that person, but forget/don't realise I have a note to research the same thing when I get to the records office. When you have thousands of people in your tree, this is a real headache to keep clean.
It would be great, for instance, if there was some way of identifying in the Focus Window against a particular person if there were any entries in the Named Lists (and also general Research Notes), or being able to see what Named Lists that person is in directly from the Focus Window....perhaps there is some sort of identifier, but I can't see it, or I'm using the wrong methods to record research items - either way, I could use some help and advice

[SpencerDudeUK]

...although I've just realised I can use the 'Go To Record' icon, which takes me to the Records view for the Named Lists. Would really like to think there was something like that for the Research Notes as well...?

[tatewise]

I suspect that when talking about the Focus Window you really mean the Individual Property Box.
You can use the Property Box Notes tab to add, remove & inspect shared Research Notes.
The 1st Research Note can be shown on the Main tab too.

That works for any type of record and not just Individuals. There can be any number of linked Research Notes.
From the Research Note use View > Record Links... to discover what it is linked to.

You are correct that it is not easy to indicate in their Property Box that a record is in a Named List.
Theoretically, the =IsInList(...) function could be used but that is not allowed in a Property Box tab custom field.
I suspect it could be added to the Caption at the top of the Property Box but I'd need to check how.

Your technique for checking if an Individual is in a Named List only works reliably if they are in only one list.
Otherwise, it is random which Named List is shown.

[SpencerDudeUK]

Thanks for the quick response - it was helpful. However, my underlying question really, is how do you know you have information there in the first place? In other packages I've used, the tab would be highlighted if it had information in, rather than having to click on it. If it's not related to a specific fact, you wouldn't know there was information there - certainly not in the Named Lists, for instance. You can click on the 'Go To Record' which takes you to the Records View, but you have no idea if that person appears in any of your named lists without going through each one...?

[SpencerDudeUK]

Ah! You replied while I was writing - sorry.
I'll digest what you've said and come back - Thanks