* Invalid Date Field

[BEJ]

I created the Source Template Definition shown in the attached screenshot and loaded it to FH7 and AS. I get an error when trying to use the template in AS. A screenshot of the the AS main window follows and the error message content is pasted below.

screenshot 2023-06-10 12.48_as-screen-min.jpg (147.19 KiB) Viewed 857 times

The Date field is invalid (sometimes being populated with mystery text from somewhere). Swedish censuses (church examination books) cover a range of years, not a single year. For instance the one I am trying to record now is for 1861-1870.

Suggestions on how to solve the issue?

[NickWalker]

I've removed the error details having made a note of it. I'm hoping this particular error may have been resolved in the version that is currently being tested on this site. Please download the latest test version here: https://www.fhug.org.uk/forum/viewtopic ... 34&t=21801 and see. It is very close to being released so I think you can trust it.

You have to enter a date into the date field. It can't be a range. If it has to be a range then either enter this information without AS or enter a date in and then after saving, go into FH and edit the date in all the facts that were generated.

Nick

[BEJ]

Ahhh -- I missed something in my initial post. The " mystery text" I had noticed was not in the Date, but rather in the Year: see earlier screenshot. Downloading 7.7.7 did not solve the problem.

Where does the Year information come from?

[NickWalker]

You said that v7.7.7 doesn't solve this so are you getting exactly the same error message? I can see why you would have got that error with v7.7.2 but I can't see you would get that error with v7.7.7. If you are still getting an error please can you email me the detailed error message to Nick at ancestralsources dot com rather than posting it on here.

There aren't any census templates for the Sweden census built into Ancestral Sources so I'm assuming either you've created it or you've downloaded it from somewhere. The year in that Census template (Tools->Census Templates) seems to have been set up with the text 'Clerical Survey Reco(ord)' and doesn't have a date specified . Both of those shouldn't cause any issues (The UK Electoral Register templates work like this). However, the page is telling you (via the big red exclamation mark in your screenshot) that it requires a date to be entered so you have to type a date into the Date field on the main screen before proceeding.

Nick

[BEJ]

I created the Source Template Definition shown in the attached screenshot and loaded it to FH7 and AS.

Yes, the template is my creation.

Shouldn't the "Year" label actually read "Year or Description" as it does in the Census Template Editor? That would avoid one point of my confusion.

When I opened the Census screen and saw the exclamation mark after installing 7.7.7 I thought it was still an error. However, I now understand that the exclamation is telling me that Date is a "required field" rather than "invalid." I believe everything is working as intended. Now I can get on with entering some data!

Thanks for your prompt responses.

Screenshot 2023-06-10_edited.jpg (243.12 KiB) Viewed 785 times

[NickWalker]

I created the Source Template Definition shown in the attached screenshot and loaded it to FH7 and AS.

Yes, the template is my creation.

I knew you said the Source Template was one you had created, but you hadn't mentioned the census template.

Shouldn't the "Year" label actually read "Year or Description" as it does in the Census Template Editor? That would avoid one point of my confusion.

There isn't the space on the main screen to fit 'Year or Description' in! But actually I had expected the Year field to be used to describe the years so the 'Year' label would still apply. For example with the Electoral Registers the Type would be 'Electoral Register' (as it isn't a census), Region would be 'UK' and the Year/Description would be e.g. '1918-1927'. So in your case I would have expected the Type to be 'Clerical Survey Record' rather than 'Census' and the Year/Description would be whatever years this particular template covers (e.g. 1880-1930). I don't know if there are other formats for Clerical Surveys with different columns but if there are, this then allows you to create further templates for Clerical Survey Record with different year descriptions.

I'm glad the latest test version resolved the error.

Best wishes

Nick

[BEJ]

Thanks.
(1) I'm confused. What is a census template? Is it the rich text grid? If so, yes I did create it.

I don't know if there are other formats for Clerical Surveys with different columns but if there are, this then allows you to create further templates for Clerical Survey Record with different year descriptions.

(2) The format of the surveys differ by year AND location. So the use of a grid is a bit of a gamble. I may abandon the rich text version and just type plain text. Still experimenting.

(3) The only options under the AS Type dropdown menu are: Census, Electoral Register, and Register. How would I add a new type selection? I've spent the last 45 mins in FH and AS trying to find a way to edit and have failed to locate a method. "Type" and "Source Type" in AS search did not produce any specific info. Your suggestion makes sense, I just can't figure out how to implement it.

(4) Furthermore, I have some "clerical survey records" created as Generic Sources that I wish to convert to templated sources. Am I correct that I can only use the Census Source Converter tool if the Source Type is Census? Would it work if the type was Clerical Survey Record? (These church records are the official census records for the Swedish government.)

[NickWalker]

1) Yes the Census template is the one that defines the columns in the census grid.

3) You can just type your own title into the Type combo box, you don't need to select one from the list.

4) Yes the converter should work regardless of the type of 'census'

[BEJ]

Sorry to appear dense . . . Are we both talking about the same screen in Ancestral Sources? I can only selected from the existing options in the dropdowns for Type: and Region:, and cannon change Year: . I am not able to manual type any data in those fields. I can enter Date:. Please see screenshot.

I expect this may seem simple, but I just can't figure it out. Thanks for your responses.

Screenshot_FHUG.jpg (476.59 KiB) Viewed 656 times

[NickWalker]

I'm referring to the Census Template screen where you created the census template in the first place (Tools menu and then click on Census Template...).

Census Template 1.png (133.53 KiB) Viewed 627 times

As you've already created the template you can't edit the 'Type' so what you would need to do is to is select the template (Census, Sweden, Clerical Survey Record) and then click on the Copy button (towards the bottom). Then start a new template by entering Type: Clerical Survery Record, Region: Sweden and Year: the range of years this template applies to. e.g.:

Census Template 2.png (84.64 KiB) Viewed 627 times

Then click the New button and then Paste. This should populate the new template with the settings from your existing template. Once you've saved this and made sure it is all working as required, you could select the original template and delete it.

I hope this makes sense

Nick

[BEJ]

I see. I was confusing the Census Template with the Source Template. I will read up on the AS Census Template and decide on next steps. Guess I didn't think I would have keep creating new templates . . . guess I don't have complete grasp on the concept. Thanks again.

[NickWalker]

I see. I was confusing the Census Template with the Source Template. I will read up on the AS Census Template and decide on next steps. Guess I didn't think I would have keep creating new templates . . . guess I don't have complete grasp on the concept. Thanks again.

Well normally you wouldn't have to. For example in England/Wales there are only 9 census years available (1841 to 1921) so that is 9 templates and they are all included with AS. If the columns used for these Swedish records change regularly then you would ideally need to have a template for each. If they are not too dissimilar then using the Copy/Paste method I mentioned you could create a new template based on a previous one and then add/edit columns as required.

Cheers

Nick