source citations

[harringg]

I have a report from a user who I found on Ancestory.com who has my family history (and I confirm that it's correct by the matches I already have which I know are correct) who has not listed source (at least not included them).

I am updating my database and listing the names as entered with their source information and the booklet.

Since I all have is this information, is it proper to cite just the names (using the auto Source feature of Reunion), or should I be citing each detail? Birth, death, marriage, etc...?

The keyboard shortcuts for adding sources makes quick work of it, but if it's not necessary from a 'proper' citation standpoint, I'd just like to cite the names as they are entered.

Thanks,
Grant

[AE Palmer]

I have a report from a user who I found on Ancestory.com who has my family history (and I confirm that it's correct by the matches I already have which I know are correct) who has not listed source (at least not included them).

I am updating my database and listing the names as entered with their source information and the booklet.

Since I all have is this information, is it proper to cite just the names (using the auto Source feature of Reunion), or should I be citing each detail? Birth, death, marriage, etc...?

The keyboard shortcuts for adding sources makes quick work of it, but if it's not necessary from a 'proper' citation standpoint, I'd just like to cite the names as they are entered.

Thanks,
Grant


AFAIK, the General Source is precisely what is used for your request. That said, it is a matter of preference as to citing individual facts and events or not. If the resulting individuals are peripheral to your main interest and there will be little or no other data, then a General Source is ideal. For those who have other sources already attached, I would make the effort to cite each fact or event. Extra work? Yes. But I would have the satisfaction of knowing where the otherwise unidentified information came from.

Unless you are entering the data via the keyboard, you should not enter such data into your master file directly. Create a separate file first, massage the data there, and [only] then merge the two files. It sounds like extra work, but it saves time and aggravation as you are working with a smaller dataset. Besides, you can catch any obvious errors (i.e. spelling mistakes) beforehand.

[harringg]

AFAIK, the General Source is precisely what is used for your request. That said, it is a matter of preference as to citing individual facts and events or not. If the resulting individuals are peripheral to your main interest and there will be little or no other data, then a General Source is ideal. For those who have other sources already attached, I would make the effort to cite each fact or event. Extra work? Yes. But I would have the satisfaction of knowing where the otherwise unidentified information came from.


That's what I was hoping to hear. It's just been time consuming and as long as the General Source is the same, with auto Source it's no extra work.


Unless you are entering the data via the keyboard, you should not enter such data into your master file directly. Create a separate file first, massage the data there, and [only] then merge the two files. It sounds like extra work, but it saves time and aggravation as you are working with a smaller dataset. Besides, you can catch any obvious errors (i.e. spelling mistakes) beforehand.

This confuses me. I should enter new data in a smaller New Family File first and then import to my main Family database? The data as presented is a PDF which I've printed and am typing data in by hand.

Thanks

[AE Palmer]

That's what I was hoping to hear. It's just been time consuming and as long as the General Source is the same, with auto Source it's no extra work.

This confuses me. I should enter new data in a smaller New Family File first and then import to my main Family database? The data as presented is a PDF which I've printed and am typing data in by hand.

Thanks

The process of citing sources is very much an individual preference. I normally cite each event and fact whenever there is more than one reference to a person. As a line wanders further from the tree trunk, there will be lots of people for whom there is only the one reference. In these cases, the General Source is perfect as it is unlikely I will be adding any other source material.

As for entering data into your master file, since you are keying it in, you have complete control and putting it directly into the master file is fine. However, anytime you receive a GEDCOM file from a distant cousin, it is vital that you do NOT import it directly into your master file! Using a separate file gives you the control needed so that the new data fits your methodology and to catch both human and machine introduced errors.

As an after thought, the use of a separate file for keying in such data may offer a distinct advantage in that the small dataset is much easier to fact check, thus reducing the probability of errors in the master file.

HTH.

[AE Palmer]

That's what I was hoping to hear. It's just been time consuming and as long as the General Source is the same, with auto Source it's no extra work.

// cut //

Thanks

You may want to take a look at a great utility called COPYPASTE. it allows you to put chunks of repeatable data into copy boxes, ready to use at a simple click of a mouse! It speeds the process greatly and reduces errors as well.

Not only can you use it for places and names, but entire events (including pre-defined citations) as well. i have found that I can enter data by as much as 60% faster than straight keyboarding.

[kmgenealogy]

You may want to take a look at a great utility called COPYPASTE. it allows you to put chunks of repeatable data into copy boxes, ready to use at a simple click of a mouse! It speeds the process greatly and reduces errors as well.

Not only can you use it for places and names, but entire events (including pre-defined citations) as well. i have found that I can enter data by as much as 60% faster than straight keyboarding.

I use my iMac's free Stickies (post-it type notes) to hold text and images I might want to use more than once. The app comes with the Mac. You can color-code for categories. The first line of text becomes the label for the collapsed note. If I'm saving an image, I type a short description which then becomes the label. I haven't used them for complicated info but it's better than spending $30.00 for CopyPaste Pro.

There are several copy apps on the Mac App Store. One which looks promising is CopyPaster for $1.99. However, until I need/want more complicated capacity, I'll "stick" with the free Stickies on my iMac.

[Robert Godfrey]

You may want to take a look at a great utility called COPYPASTE. it allows you to put chunks of repeatable data into copy boxes, ready to use at a simple click of a mouse! It speeds the process greatly and reduces errors as well.

Not only can you use it for places and names, but entire events (including pre-defined citations) as well. i have found that I can enter data by as much as 60% faster than straight keyboarding.

Yet another free method of saving and reusing clippings is to use the Mac's Text Clippings feature. Simply select a block of text, and then drag it to the finder. A Text Clipping with icon is created. Double-clicking on it opens it. Although the clipping cannot be edited directly, it can be dragged and dropped into a document.

The Text Clipping files are automatically named with the beginning text of the clipping, although, the filenames can be edited.

Text Clippings can be organized in a Text Clippings folder. That folder can contain additional folders, arranged by category.

After viewing the CopyPaste software videos at...
http://www.plumamazing.com/mac/copypaste/
... though, it has numerous useful features, including ease of use. It appears to be well thought out and capable.

[harringg]

Thanks for the advice. I'm really not sure I'm understanding the advantages of these apps. I'm working from a printed copy of a PDF. Reunion can only handle single lines of text for pasting as far as I can tell.

I copied four lines of names from the PDF and when pasting them into a First Name field, it wouldn't paste. What advantage does having the large chunks of data for data entry?

I do use a program called LaunchBar which is a keyboard launcher for applications as well as many other uses. It has a Clipboard History that stores up to 40 items at a time and quickly pastes items once selected. I also use Typinator, which lets me set any block of text and use a few keys to auto-expand it.

As far as citing sources in Reunion for items like Events, it's as simple as Cmd-Shift-N, and then typing the Source Number, so that's not an issue for me. Again, maybe I'm misunderstanding the workflow suggestion (I'm always looking for a way to speed data entry).

Thanks,
Grant

[AE Palmer]

Thanks for the advice. I'm really not sure I'm understanding the advantages of these apps. I'm working from a printed copy of a PDF. Reunion can only handle single lines of text for pasting as far as I can tell.

//cut //

As far as citing sources in Reunion for items like Events, it's as simple as Cmd-Shift-N, and then typing the Source Number, so that's not an issue for me. Again, maybe I'm misunderstanding the workflow suggestion (I'm always looking for a way to speed data entry).

Thanks,
Grant

Reunion can handle text blocks up to 64,000 characters in some fields, most notably in the Notes section and the Free Form part of Sources.

Perhaps an example will help to clarify the situation. The following will work even with the standard Copy/Paste function in Mac OS:

Suppose you have found a census record for a family of 14 people (Mom, Dad and 12 kids). To key this data one person at a time is slow and error prone.

A better solution is to:
1) create the source as usual
2) for the head of household, create the event as per normal procedures
3) add the citation normally
4) HIGHLIGHT THE EVENT and copy it!
5) goto the next person and PASTE the event.

Not only did you insert the event, but the citation tagged along for the ride as well! In effect you are getting a twofer, the event AND the citation in a single paste! This method of using the Copy/Paste function is not only faster, it is also less prone to typos.

Adding CopyPaste [app] simply allows the generation of as many of these snippets as needed. I find it to be very powerful and a great time saver.