* Importing from 'Generations'

[BillH]

Paul,

I'm not sure that it is part of a zip code. 2482 is not part of any zip code in Fairfield, California that I was able to locate. Could it be part of a phone number or address?

Bill

[Paul Wigan]

Hello Mike and thanks for that guidance.

I have followed it step-by-step, nothing more and nothing less. I have ended up with a results log of 24 items, and re-running the UDF list plugin has reduced the number of records thereon from 1,173 to 1,149.

I will await your further instructions.

Many thanks.

Paul

[Paul Wigan]

Hi Bill

Yes, it could well be part of the address. The current exercise that I am conducting under Mike's expert guidance has revealed quite a few inconsistencies in my Generations data, which have built-up over its twenty-odd years of use. I should add that some of my data got into Generations via Gedcom created in an even earlier program known as "Expert Roots for Windows".

Once all of the data has been successfully recovered from the Gedcom and is in FH, there will inevitably be something of a manual tidy-up job to carry out, possibly involving reference to forty-odd years of notebooks and manual records that are in the loft.

I really should have undertaken this exercise several years ago !

Thanks.

Paul

[tatewise]

Paul, do you now have Physical Description, Height, Weight and Eye colour attributes in the Facts tab for several people,
i.e. you ran the Change Any Fact Tag plugin four times.
If that only resulted in 24 changes then presumably you only had 24 instances of those four types of UDF in total.

Hopefully, the UDF List no longer lists DESC, HEIG, WEIG, or EYES at all?

In the UDF List, if you click the Item Tag column heading to sort them alphabetically, which is the most prevalent tag?
i.e. Converting which UDF tag would reduce the list the most? Is It HIST or ADDR or what?

[Paul Wigan]

Hi Mike

>> Paul, do you now have Physical Description, Height, Weight and Eye colour attributes in the Facts tab for several people,
>> i.e. you ran the Change Any Fact Tag plugin four times.
>> If that only resulted in 24 changes then presumably you only had 24 instances of those four types of UDF in total.

Yes, I ran it four times. A quick look through some of the records includes :-

Capture1 - 13 March 2022.JPG (13.06 KiB) Viewed 2465 times

and

Capture2 - 13 March 2022.JPG (14.97 KiB) Viewed 2465 times

So I've found, at a quick glance, a couple of examples of Height and one of Eye colour.

>> Hopefully, the UDF List no longer lists DESC, HEIG, WEIG, or EYES at all?

>> In the UDF List, if you click the Item Tag column heading to sort them alphabetically, which is the most prevalent tag?
>> i.e. Converting which UDF tag would reduce the list the most? Is It HIST or ADDR or what?

I have just analysed the remaining UDF list, ie that no containing 1,149 rather than the original 1,173 entries, in Excel :-

Capture3 - 13 March 2022.JPG (118.92 KiB) Viewed 2465 times

So yes, we have no DESC, HEIG, WEIG, or EYES remaining. ADDR, HIST and MILI are the most prevalent tags.

I feel like we are making slow but steady progress and await you next instructions.

Many thanks.

Paul

[tatewise]

You now know how to use Tools > Fact Types... create a custom Individual Attribute (e.g. Eye Colour) and then how to use the Change Any Fact Tag plugin to convert a UDF tag to that Attribute.

So you can work through the remaining UDF tags and convert them where you are happy that is the best solution.

WARNING
Some of the UDF tags you say were associated with the Generations Marriage tab.
In the UDF list, they will be prefixed with the FAM tag (Family Record) instead of the INDI tag (Individual Record).
So when creating a custom attribute you must Set Record Type: to Family instead of Individual.
When using the Change Any Fact Tag plugin you must select the Family Records tab.

If you have any doubt about suitable conversions from UDF tag to Attribute then post your proposal here for my comment.

When the majority have been converted we can review what is left and also move on to the final stage of conversion.
i.e.
Several of your attribute values appear to start with a year followed by the attribute value.
e.g. Height: 1877 - 5ft 5 & half inch that I assume means he was that height in 1877 that needs moving to the Date field.

[Paul Wigan]

Hello Mike and thanks once again for your reply.

I will work carefully through your latest guidance, and I certainly can see some UDF list entries that are prefixed with the FAM tag (Family Record) instead of the INDI tag (Individual Record). However, please note it will be Wednesday evening before I tackle that, report back and enable us to move on to the final stage of conversion.

A couple of other points :-

1. you mentioned in your post of 26 February 2022 (21.33) that you suspected that I had "....not dealt with Inline Sources for Notes or Clean Up Notes that may reveal more Notes". Certainly, as far as the latter is concerned, I believe that I can see Notes in Generations that are not on the UDF list. So I would like us to explore that at an appropriate point please.

2. is there any guidance available on how to backup these changes to system settings ? I am familiar with backing up both UDS and Gedcom files in Generations, and I have fathomed out how to backup data within FH. But can I backup the custom attributes that I am creating in FH ?

Many thanks and I'll be in touch on Wednesday evening.

Paul

[tatewise]

I will await your feedback on Wednesday.

Yes, we will return to your point 1. eventually...

Regarding point 2. many customisations can be saved separately by using the File > Import/Export > Export command and then Fact Set > Custom Fact Set... or whatever.
To perform a comprehensive backup of all customisations use the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings plugin from the Plugin Store.

[Paul Wigan]

Hello Mike

Firstly - good news. I am down to 25 items on the UDF list. All things that I have tried, from both the Individuals and Family records sets, have worked well.

We won't worry about the "Fax" entry. I have brought it across as a fax number and I'll look at it in due course - it's a research and recording problem rather than a FH import problem.

My one query now concerns UDF items when one event covers multiple UDF items. For example, I have got three separate UDF items for a marriage, the date of that marriage and the place of that marriage.

Similarly, I have one man who was awarded a military medal. I have got four separate UDF items for the medal itself, when it was awarded, in what place it was awarded and how I found out about it (London Gazette).

So can three or four UDF tags all be targeted towards the same FH tag ?

I'll finish off the UDF items on receipt of your response and also have a look at the backup guidance that you kindly provided. I will then be looking for you to take me on the next stage of this journey please.

Many thanks.

Paul

[tatewise]

A screenshot of the 25 item UDF list would be invaluable
You can then refer to the specific problem entries and I can offer solutions, otherwise I'm guessing.

[Paul Wigan]

Hi Mike

The 25 item UDF list is here :-

Capture - 17 March 2022.JPG (131.62 KiB) Viewed 2351 times

I hope that helps.

Many thanks.

Paul

[tatewise]

OK, just convert those eight INDI.HONO and FAM.CLAW facts as for the other UDF you have converted.

I suggest that INDI.HONO becomes an Individual Attribute whereas FAM.CLAW becomes a Family Event.

The subsidiary fields of DATE, PLAC & NOTE will become OK once each UDF tag is converted to a Fact.
It is simply that every tag subsidiary to a UDF tag is also a UDF by definition.
Once the top UDF tag is corrected the subsidiary tags are reassessed.

[Paul Wigan]

Hello Mike and thanks for that.

When I try t run a UDF list, I am now getting :-

Capture1 - 17 March 2022.JPG (11.95 KiB) Viewed 2331 times

I think that's what we were aiming for !

I will now await my next set of instructions from you. In the meantime, I will work through your guidance from a couple of days ago on backing up my custom settings.

Many thanks.

Paul

[tatewise]

That INDI.HONO fact has a valid DATE but the PLAC is Medaille Militaire which sounds like the name of the Honour.
I suggest that on the Facts tab you cut & paste that from the Place field to the box next to the attribute name above.

I've asked this before, but you must have missed it, and is crucial for one of the final fixes...
Several of your attribute values appear to start with a year followed by the attribute value.
e.g. Height: 1877 - 5ft 5 & half inch that I assume means he was that height in 1877 that needs moving to the Date field.

[Paul Wigan]

Hello Mike and thanks for getting back to me so quickly

> e.g. Height: 1877 - 5ft 5 & half inch that I assume means he was that height in 1877 that needs moving to the Date field.

Yes, that is correct. 1877 is the year and hence will need moving please.

Thanks.

Paul

[tatewise]

OK, I had expected that, so attached is the Generations Attribute Values Fix plugin that performs that move.

I suspect there are other converted facts where the attribute value has the format @N123@
Also attached is the Generations Attribute Notes Fix plugin which uses that format to find a Note record with Record ID=123 and copy its text to the local Note box of the attribute.

If after running either of those plugins the resulting changes are unsatisfactory then use the Edit > Undo Plugin Changes command immediately before closing FH.

[Paul Wigan]

Hello Mike and thanks for that.

I have run the Attributes Values Fix plug-in and have manually checked a sample of the changes made. It seems to have worked well and to have done what it was meant to do.

The Attribute Notes Fix was slightly more curious as it told me it had made two changes, but did not stipulate what. That has stopped me from checking what has changed, but as it made just two changes, I am not overly concerned.

What is the next step in this process please ?

Many thanks.

Paul

[tatewise]

Paul, your UDF list screenshot on Sun 13th Mar 2022 14:49 has many INDI.HIST entries with @N321@ format values.
Your earlier UDF list screenshots are very similar.

The plugin only counted the changes as I expected there to be dozens.

So I wonder why all those INDI.HIST @N321@ style facts have not been detected by the plugin.

Edward George GREENWOOD has at least two such facts and a similar INDI.MILI fact.
Those INDI.HIST and INDI.MILI tags have been converted to Individual Attributes but I don't know their labels.
What do those Attribute fact values look like in his Facts tab?

Also what records exist in the Records Window on the Notes tab?

[Paul Wigan]

Hi Mike and thanks for the response.

Looking back at the screenshot of 13 March 2022, we have three UDF tags for Edward George GREENWOOD, and then a further one that is INDI.HIST @N377@. I think that the reason for the block of three and then one separate one are that these probably relate to different men - there are two persons named Edward George GREENWOOD in this dataset.

What I am struggling to work out is what data relates to the now-processed UDF tags. If we take the second Edward George GREENWOOD and INDI.HIST @377@, there would seem to be two possibilities, a residence note and a research note :-

Capture - 19 March 2022.JPG (114.47 KiB) Viewed 2243 times

Meanwhile, this is his Facts tab :-

Capture1 - 19 March 2022.JPG (77 KiB) Viewed 2243 times

And this is his Notes tab :-

Capture2 - 19 March 2022.JPG (64.23 KiB) Viewed 2243 times

I am somewhat unsure as to how we move forward and hope to receive further guidance please.

Many thanks.

Paul

[tatewise]

In converting the INDI.HIST UDF, I was hoping that you would recall which FH Individual Attribute those UDF became.

Let us assume it is the Research Notes fact in your top screenshot with a Note Record.
The text of that Note Record is Birth and Baptism details from St Barnabas Parish Register...
Please scroll that display as far as possible to reveal the end of that text which should have a number in [square brackets].
What is that bracketed Record Id number?
Is it by any chance [386] or [377]?

There are several different Notes tabs.
I asked you to look in the Records Window and open its Notes tab, as opposed to the Notes tab in the personal Property Box.
In the Records Window on its Notes tab you should find the Birth and Baptism details from St Barnabas Parish Register... note text mentioned above and identify its Record Id number. What is that number?

I suspect 'another' Edward George GREENWOOD also has a Research Notes fact and a Military fact and a Cause fact saying Cerebral Thrombosis & Ateriosclerosis, judging by the first few lines in that earlier UDF list.
Can you find that person and perform the same Note Record analysis as above.

[Paul Wigan]

Hi Mike and thanks for your response.


>> Let us assume it is the Research Notes fact in your top screenshot with a Note Record.
>> The text of that Note Record is Birth and Baptism details from St Barnabas Parish Register...
>> Please scroll that display as far as possible to reveal the end of that text which should have a number in [square brackets].
>> What is that bracketed Record Id number?
>> Is it by any chance [386] or [377]?

Yes, it is 377.


>> In the Records Window on its Notes tab you should find the Birth and Baptism details from St Barnabas Parish Register... note text mentioned above and identify its Record Id number. What is that number?

Is this what you mean ? if so, it's 377 :-

Capture3 - 19 March 2022.JPG (198.05 KiB) Viewed 2215 times

>> I suspect 'another' Edward George GREENWOOD also has a Research Notes fact and a Military fact and a Cause fact saying Cerebral Thrombosis & Ateriosclerosis, judging by the first few lines in that earlier UDF list.
>> Can you find that person and perform the same Note Record analysis as above.

This is the individual record :-

Capture4 - 19 March 2022.JPG (101.62 KiB) Viewed 2215 times

So the research note about the Baptism details is 386 ; the Cause of Death doesn't have a number ; and the Military Service note record is 108.

Continues......

[Paul Wigan]

Continued....

Capture5 - 19 March 2022.JPG (25.54 KiB) Viewed 2215 times

Capture6 - 19 March 2022.JPG (20.59 KiB) Viewed 2215 times

I hope that is what you required and look forward to receiving your next instructions please.

Thanks.

Paul

[tatewise]

Yes, if you check the Note Record Id against the earlier UDF list @N***@ numbers they all agree.
It seems that the Change Any Fact Tag plugin was cleverer than I thought at handling those Note Record references.
Let me sleep on it and propose the next steps tomorrow Sunday.

[tatewise]

To recap, can you see that we have followed the Importing to Family Historian advice to Import from Generations Family Tree including Handling Uncategorised Data Fields that mentions Tools > Fact Types..., the Extended Set, and Change Any Fact Tag plus other plugins.

You raised a point about Clean Up Notes...
The investigation of Research Notes shows each one is linked to a Note Record, but its text is only shown on the All tab of the Property Box and not in the Note box on the Facts tab nor in the Notes tab of the Property Box.
If each Research Notes fact is uniquely linked to one Note Record then its text can be moved to be a local Note that does show in the Note box on the Facts tab and in the Notes tab of the Property Box.
To perform that move, run the Clean Up Notes plugin available from the Plugin Store.

BTW: With your new-found knowledge of where Notes are shown, have all the Notes in Generations been imported to FH, or are some still missing?

There are a few more tidying up steps that can be usefully performed after the Notes have been resolved.

• Review Cause of Death facts.
• Fixing Dates and Date Phrases
• Check Project Statistics & Exceptions

[Paul Wigan]

Hi Mike and thanks for that.

I have worked through the first half of that post, including running the Clean Up Notes Plugin, and have reached.....

>> BTW: With your new-found knowledge of where Notes are shown, have all the Notes in Generations been imported to FH, or are some still missing?

I do believe that there are still notes missing. I have done a very quick check of two individuals and have found that :-

for (ID 250), the Facts tab on Generations has :
Minister at baptism ; William Henry Chepwell, Curate

for (ID 49), the Facts tab on Generations has :
Minister at baptism ; Joseph West, Minister
Witness at wedding ; William Cook & Eliozabeth Long

for (ID49), the Notes tab on Generations has :
Misc Notes ; Name at baptism - William Francis

I think that you mentioned that there is a further trick to try to locate missing notes. Can you explain to me how to give that a try please before we move onto the further tidying up steps that you mentioned at the end of your post ?

Many thanks.

Paul