* Editing FH Source ID Numbers

[dlitzer]

Hello All,

I just took the plunge and purchased FH6 as the new home for my 12,623 closest relatives, which I've been accumulating in TMG (most recently TMG9) for a decade or so.

The direct import went reasonably well--it got hung up at the exhibits, which I deleted (only 3 of them, fortunately) and at the witnesses (which I also deleted--there were only 77 and I can reconstruct that later).

However, I have a similar situation to jbtapscott (Brent Tapscott) who posted here in November 2014, and I didn't see a satisfactory answer to his post--I hope times have changed since.

In TMG, sources are numbered. FH sources have Source ID numbers as well, although they aren't as prominently featured in data entry fields.

Similarly to Brent, all of my research notes and papers are identified and filed by one of 872 TMG source numbers.

When I migrated from TMG to FH6, the TMG source numbers migrated to the FH6 Source ID field--sort of. Similarly to Brent's experience, gaps of apparently random size and location appeared in the source numbering. Specifically:

TMG source numbers 1-2 are FH source IDs 2-3 (there's no FH Source ID 1)
TMG source numbers 3-4 are FH source IDs 5-6 (there's no FH Source ID 4)
TMG source numbers 5-7 are FH source IDs 8-10 (there's no FH Source ID 7)
TMG source numbers 8-9 are FH source IDs 14-15 (there's no FH Source ID 11, 12, or 13)
TMG source numbers 10-388 are FH source IDs 17-395 (there's no FH Source ID 16)
TMG source numbers 389-872 are FH source IDs 422-905 (there's no FH Source ID 396-421)

While I suppose I can live with using a conversion chart to double-number every supporting document in seven storage bins (or scan everything and attach to the appropriate source, if I live long enough), it would be highly preferable to "close the gaps", so to speak, in the Source ID numbering sequence in my new FH6 database.

So, if Brent or anyone else has a solution or decent workaround, I'd be pleased to hear it. With greetings from Wisconsin's northwoods,

Don Litzer

[tatewise]

Welcome to the FHUG Don.

Different products seem to use various ways of identifying records.
Usually FH is pretty good at preserving Record Id when importing.
So it is possible that TMG Record Id and TMG Source Numbers are two different fields.

So, the first thing to check is have those TMG Source Numbers imported to some other field.
In the Records Window on the Sources tab, click on the [+] icons to expand all fields revealed in red.
Are there any fields such as Custom Id or Automated Record Id with the correct numbers?

If so, then there may be ways of making them more visible, or transferring them to the Record Id.

If not, then it should be possible to resequence the Record Id to match the TMG Source Numbers as long as they both ascend in the same sequence with respect to the Source records.

I await your reply before suggesting the next course of action.

BTW: As a newcomer I advise you study how_to:key_features_for_newcomers|> Key Features for Newcomers and follow its links that branch out into the rest of our [kb]|[/kb] wiki.

[dlitzer]

Thanks Mike! After snooping around the Forum, I also found the Tools > Record Identifiers functionality.

For my situation (because there are also a few dozen gaps in numbering of my own making, from TMG source records I merged and deleted over the years), I plan to assign my old TMG9 source numbers as Custom IDs to the sources, and then "Generate new record IDs by copying Custom ID values".

Thanks again for your prompt reply, and I'll take a good look at it!

Don

[tatewise]

Yes Don, that would have been one of my suggestions.
Once you have gone to the trouble of creating Custom Id for every Source record, I would suggest you stick with that, because you are in complete control of the Custom Id fields, and they do not have to be numeric. Whereas, FH is in charge of Record Id which must be numeric and are the unique record keys if that means anything to you.