* Testing Ancestral Sources v7.5.7

[BillH]

Hi Nick,

I have run into an odd problem on two of my 1880 USA censuses. The other 75 converted with only minor corrections required. Here is an example. Notice that a lot of data is getting lumped into the first column. I can't figure out why that happened. Also, there are no column headings and the first person is showing where the headings normally do. I tried inserting headings which did seem to work, but didn't fix the issue with a lot of data getting dumped into the first column.

At first glance these two censuses look just like the other 75. I must be missing something. Do you see anything that would cause this? I would prefer being able to fix the source text rather than having to fix the grid which would be a lot of work.

image1.jpg (192.39 KiB) Viewed 1760 times

Thanks,
Bill

[NickWalker]

Would you mind emailing me the unconverted source text?

[BillH]

Hi Nick,

I have sent the source text for both problem censuses via email.

Thanks,
Bill

[PyreneesPirate]

I have started to look at converting England Census Sources for 1841, all of these have been created through older versions of AS. It gives me the opportunity to tighten up my links and references at the same time (as I have been a bit lazy in the past).

A couple of things come to mind......

When I select the census from the pick list it automatically populates the information on the screen and converts to RTF with all the columns neatly spaced which is great. But, after I have saved the changes and go back into FH, it puts up the normal message of the data has changed and refreshes FH. However, when I go to the actual 1841 Source Census entry in FH and click through the tabs...look at the Text to source option, yes the RTF is there, but not formatted like the original in the conversion program which means that I have to drag/size the column widths again. Is this normal?

Secondly, in the conversion process, I have updated the id ref to something more appropriate and from what I can gather this should update the Publication Field in FH. However, again after saving the conversion and going into the Source in FH, it does not appear to be carrying the new data across into the Publication field, so I have to re-enter.

I think you already know about the Psate spelling.

Looking good.....thanks again,
PP

[NickWalker]

When I select the census from the pick list it automatically populates the information on the screen and converts to RTF with all the columns neatly spaced which is great. But, after I have saved the changes and go back into FH, it puts up the normal message of the data has changed and refreshes FH. However, when I go to the actual 1841 Source Census entry in FH and click through the tabs...look at the Text to source option, yes the RTF is there, but not formatted like the original in the conversion program which means that I have to drag/size the column widths again. Is this normal?

Not in my experience, but I guess it could be an issue if your default font is different from the default font in FH. When AS is installed it looks at the default font and font size set in the FH options but if that was changed in FH and not in AS then that could cause a mismatch.

Secondly, in the conversion process, I have updated the id ref to something more appropriate and from what I can gather this should update the Publication Field in FH. However, again after saving the conversion and going into the Source in FH, it does not appear to be carrying the new data across into the Publication field, so I have to re-enter.

No the page will not do that. It can purely be used to convert the source text and/or to turn a generic source into a templated source. It won't edit the data in the facts, etc.

[NickWalker]

I have sent the source text for both problem censuses via email.

Thanks Bill. That issue should be fixed now - see new download v7.5.3 in the first post on this thread.

When I select the census from the pick list it automatically populates the information on the screen and converts to RTF with all the columns neatly spaced which is great. But, after I have saved the changes and go back into FH, it puts up the normal message of the data has changed and refreshes FH. However, when I go to the actual 1841 Source Census entry in FH and click through the tabs...look at the Text to source option, yes the RTF is there, but not formatted like the original in the conversion program which means that I have to drag/size the column widths again. Is this normal?

This comment helped me to spot an issue with the font and font size for the rich-text control on the Source Convert Screen. The default font was always set to Tahoma 10 (the default for Family Historian) and wasn't using the setting in Ancestral Sources Options. The default setting in AS options is for the rich-text font and font size to match those in Family Historian so if they are changed in FH then they change in AS too (the next time AS runs). I've fixed this in the new v7.5.3 (see first post in this thread for the new download). So you could have a look at your font and font size in Family Historian under the Tools->Preferences->Notes and in AS under Tools->Options->General settings-Source Text and compare them.

[NickWalker]

Thanks to everyone who has been testing this version so far. I've just released test version 7.5.3 which fixes a number of issues. See the first post in this thread for details of the changes and for the download links.

[BillH]

I have sent the source text for both problem censuses via email.

Thanks Bill. That issue should be fixed now - see new download v7.5.3 in the first post on this thread.

Hi Nick,

Works great now for those two censuses.

I want to thank you for adding the conversion process to AS. I had just under 1050 censuses that I had entered previously with AS. I had used the comma separator which resulted in me having to make manual adjustments to maybe 50% of these by shifting things to other columns. Even with that I completed the entire process of converting all 1050 censuses in about 3 hours. Your dedication to making AS such a great program is much appreciated by all who use it.

Thanks,
Bill

[fhtess65]

I'm testing it on a secondary project as I want to see how it works without risking my primary one. I have custom templates in FH7 that have been added to that secondary project, yet AS tells me they're not there. Very frustrating. All I keep getting is this window.

TemplateSourceNotLoaded.png (37.27 KiB) Viewed 1634 times

TemplateSourceNotLoaded2.png (154.04 KiB) Viewed 1634 times

TemplateSourceNotLoaded3.png (28.9 KiB) Viewed 1634 times

Most likely operator error, but have no idea what I'm missing

[fhtess65]

And just to confuse the issue further, the customized Census template IS loading in AS.

T

[Valkrider]

Nick

I can confirm that the problem I reported with templated sources is now fixed.

A UI comment to consider:

If I want to delete a column I need to select the grey box above the yellow column header box more naturally I would expect to highlight the column name and not the box above it.

[NickWalker]

I'm testing it on a secondary project as I want to see how it works without risking my primary one. I have custom templates in FH7 that have been added to that secondary project, yet AS tells me they're not there. Very frustrating. All I keep getting is this window.TemplateSourceNotLoaded.png

I can't look at this until I'm at home later and as I don't use templated sources I tend to have to remind myself of how they all work rather than just remembering off the top of my head. I have noticed that your screenshot in Family Historian highlights a template in the 'Custom' collection, whereas the screenshot in Ancestral Sources is referring to a template in the 'Custom (2)' collection so my guess is that these are different templates you've created (or copies of the same template) but in different collections. So although they may have the same name they are technically different templates. In AS, try going to Tools->Source Templates and importing the template into Ancestral Sources from the Custom collection.

[tatewise]

Considering Nick's point from the FH perspective, in the FH Source Template Definitions dialogue is there a Collection called Custom (2) that is mostly empty?

Past use of the Export... and Import... buttons with the Custom collection can easily create a Custom (2) collection in error.
It can easily be Deleted via the Collections... button.

[fhtess65]

Thanks, I knew it was operator error. I think I have it sorted now... I still find workflow in AS difficult, but I will persevere. I should never have attempted it last night after hosting 8 young people over the weekend for our Thanksgiving celebration.

Teresa

I can't look at this until I'm at home later and as I don't use templated sources I tend to have to remind myself of how they all work rather than just remembering off the top of my head. I have noticed that your screenshot in Family Historian highlights a template in the 'Custom' collection, whereas the screenshot in Ancestral Sources is referring to a template in the 'Custom (2)' collection so my guess is that these are different templates you've created (or copies of the same template) but in different collections. So although they may have the same name they are technically different templates. In AS, try going to Tools->Source Templates and importing the template into Ancestral Sources from the Custom collection.

[fhtess65]

Indeed there is, Mike. I wasn't sure what to do with that second collection - good to know I can safely delete it.

Thanks

Considering Nick's point from the FH perspective, in the FH Source Template Definitions dialogue is there a Collection called Custom (2) that is mostly empty?

Past use of the Export... and Import... buttons with the Custom collection can easily create a Custom (2) collection in error.
It can easily be Deleted via the Collections... button.

[jelv]

When creating a marriage using the Parish Registers 1837- (England/Wales) auto text there is a place for the number (Marriage No: in the plain text & first column in the rich text table) but there doesn't seem to be a place to enter this number on any of the data entry tabs. Is this something that can be added (perhaps above Minister on the Further Info tab)?

[NickWalker]

When creating a marriage using the Parish Registers 1837- (England/Wales) auto text there is a place for the number (Marriage No: in the plain text & first column in the rich text table) but there doesn't seem to be a place to enter this number on any of the data entry tabs. Is this something that can be added (perhaps above Minister on the Further Info tab)?

There's no need to type the number into a data entry tab, just type it into source text directly during the phase where you're editing the source text after the auto-text feature has done its work. Obviously it would be potentially possible for me to add another text box in the future, but ultimately it isn't going to save any extra time as it still needs to be typed in whether in the source text or into a dedicated box. If you're not using the 'other information' text box you could use that to type in the number and edit the auto-text template to use that.
e.g.:

{RTF-HEAD}<row> No. | When Married. | Name and Surname. | Age. | Condition. | Rank or Profession. | Residence at the time of Marriage. | Father's Name and Surname. | Rank or Profession of Father. </row>{RTF-HEAD.OFF}
{RTF-NORMAL}<row>{OTHER} | {DATE} | =LINKIND[{KEYPERSON.ID}%{KEYPERSON.FULL}] | =IF[=EQUALS........etc.

[jelv]

I do enter the number after auto text has done it's work - when I remember! That's the point of my request, having a text box would be a reminder.

It's also annoying if after entering the number in the source text, you realise something else is missing or wrong as by then the auto is off so you may have to reselect the template and then enter the number again.

[NickWalker]

You would still have to remember to enter into the box at the the top though - there could be a reminder as there are for some things but that might get annoying if entries don't have a 'number' field.

Does the suggestion of using the 'Other Info' box help you?

[jelv]

I will be using the {OTHER} suggestion. Having decided to do that, the fact that that box is immediately below Ref ID will be sufficient reminder.

I'm also making a similar changes to the other templates (using =IF[{OTHER}%No. {OTHER}%] so that the label only appears when a number is entered on some).

[johnmorrisoniom]

Census conversions are going well, but a couple of minor niggles

The Census country does not get picked up correctly

The Address: label encroaches on the data.

In some cases the top three lines before the table are also included in the table and are stopping names being picked up initially.
I also usually have a line after the table which is being included in the table

Screenshot 2022-10-16 115945.jpg (128.24 KiB) Viewed 1357 times

[NickWalker]

Hi John

Can you email me the plain text version (before conversion) of this census entry?

Thanks

Nick

[NickWalker]

If I want to delete a column I need to select the grey box above the yellow column header box more naturally I would expect to highlight the column name and not the box above it.

I know what you mean, but it is standard behaviour for a grid like this to highlight based on the actual column header being clicked rather than a cell within the grid, even it the cell represents a heading. This is how Excel works for example. To implement the change I'd also have to alter the way the insert and delete buttons work currently which I don't feel inclined to do, so I'll leave it as it is for the time being. Thanks for the comment though!

Cheers

Nick

[NickWalker]

I've released another test version, v7.5.4 now, first post in the thread has been updated and the changes and download links are below.

Thanks to all who have helped with the testing so far!

Changes in v7.5.4 (Beta Test)

• Improved the detection of the census country on the Census Source convert screen. If there are multiple census countries with census records on the date specified then it will look to see if the country name appear in the place record as well as the source title (as it did already). If not it will now use the previous country that was used in the current conversion session. This was inspired by an issue reported by John Morrison when converting Isle of Man entries.
• Changed the default setting for the source title name to be generated by Family Historian rather than Ancestral Sources when using templated sources.
• Response was incorrectly spelt reponse on the image copy screen.

The 64 bit version is available to test here: Ancestral Sources v7.5.4 64 Bit
The 32 bit version is available to test here: Ancestral Sources v7.5.4 32 Bit

Please report in this thread any issues you spot or email me (nick at ancestralsources dot com).

[Valkrider]

I know what you mean, but it is standard behaviour for a grid like this to highlight based on the actual column header being clicked rather than a cell within the grid, even it the cell represents a heading. This is how Excel works for example. To implement the change I'd also have to alter the way the insert and delete buttons work currently which I don't feel inclined to do, so I'll leave it as it is for the time being. Thanks for the comment though!

Cheers

Nick

Nick

Excel has something in those boxes to indicate that they are an application rather than data header A-Z / 1-100 etc. What about colour coding them / putting A-Z in those boxes like Excel to indicate what they are. The heading row in AS is yellow and the one above we are talking about is gray, the same as the table contents. Maybe something like darker gray for the header and yellow for the row above?