* fresh start (ish)

[Devonjon]

Hi
My tree has become out of control and a mess and in dire need of hefty prune to remove widely speculative and down right daft.

Considered a fresh start but would rather work out some clean way of removing all data beyond my 5 xGG's.

Split tree looks daunting and not obvious how I use that to achieve.

Can anyone help / thoughts?

Many thanks
DJ

[davidf]

You could "remove" the data and lose all contact with it, by going through record lists or diagrams and deleting (note that to delete multiple records from the record window requires adding them to a named list first) More details in the Knowledge base.

You could use the split tree function - but it is daunting.

Alternatively you can prune your tree but leave the "clippings" in your GEDCOM file - in case you later decide that you have made a mistake or your want to keep a record of family groups that you have decided are NOT part of your tree (which saves you adding them back in in a few years when memory has dimmed - as it does). This is the approach I have taken. It is also a useful preparation for a more confident use of the split tree function (if you want to throw your clippings away).

You sound as if you are confident about your ancestral tree back to 5xG GPs. So

• Open an ancestor tree diagram to show all your 5xG GPs
• In the property box for each of your 5xG GPs go to the "All" tab and find and click on the tag "Parents Family" - which will identify the parents of the particular 5xG GP.

  

  Selecting Parents for Pruning

  Screenshot from 2020-04-29 18-27-25.png (25.56 KiB) Viewed 2250 times

  Press delete; that is the equivalent of putting your secateurs through the link between the individual and their parents. The parents and their details are still in your file, but as a clipping. Do the same for each of your 5xG GPs. You will now have a pruned ancestral tree.
• How do you feel about some of your more distant cousins, x times removed - under-ripe and qualifying for similar pruning?
  • Go through each couple/individual in your pruned tree and look at their children. Do some not qualify for retention?
  • In either of the parent's property boxes, go to the "All" tab and find the "Spouse Family" - but don't press delete! Instead click on the spouse's name to get into the Property Box for the Family and select its "All" tab.

    

    Selecting a Spouse to go to the Family

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  • You will then see a list of children (if any). If you want to prune a child (and who doesn't at times?). Click on the relevant child tag and then press delete - and the child goes into your genealogical compost bin.

    

    Selecting a Child for pruning

    Screenshot from 2020-04-29 18-28-59.png (26.38 KiB) Viewed 2250 times

  • Repeat for any couple/individual in your pruned ancestral tree who has children that you are not wanting to keep.

Your will now have your pruned family tree and a whole lot of clippings of individuals or varying sizes of family groups.

If you look at the main records window for Individuals you may have a column "Pool". If not right-click on the column headings and select "Configure Columns". From the list on the left of the resulting dialogue box select the last item <other>. Add Pool as the heading and =RelationPool(%INDI%) as the Expression. Click "Add".


You will then have a "Pool" column - which gives a number to all the clippings and to your main ancestral pruned tree (I think the numbers are re-determined every time FH is started - so do not rely on the number to identify your main tree). You can then sort on "Pool" or use the Pool number to Split your Pruned Tree off into a new file.

Personally I leave the "clippings" in the file; you never know when they might come in useful or when you can actually confirm how they are really related to you.

[dewilkinson]

I am in the process of doing something similar and one thing I found very useful was to add a Flag which I called "Of Interest" and added this to the Individuals record view. I populate this using the All Relatives query for any branch(pool) I am interested in as I am collating data for a number of one name studies as well as direct relatives. This enables me to see the 'wood for the trees' and identify records that need closer inspection and possible pruning.

Best of luck in your endeavor.