Tips

App Store

The Macintosh App Store was made available in January, 2011. It was pointed out the you can download a given app multiple times with no extra charge as long as you're using the same Apple account on the machine you're using. It is thought there is a limit of about five machines where you can use register your Apple accoun. One other thing with the Mac app store is that you have to be careful what you click on or you might buy something you don't want.

Gedcom information

There was a recent article in the geneamusing.com Blog (http://www.geneamusings.com/2011/01/source-citation-templates-and-gedcom.html) that discussed issues different genealogy programs have with saving source information to gedcom format and losing detail. Good information about Gedcom issues are hard to find.

TNG

There is a web-based software product called "The Next Generation" (TNG) which will allow you to set up a genealogy web site. It allows gedcom file uploads and much flexibility in the layout of the web site. Here are several examples:

• Darrin Lythgoe
• Kloosterman Family

January 22nd Genealogy Report Comparison

The speaker was Patrick Lofft from L-AGS who described aspects of genealogical investigation, the Genealogical Proof Standard and sourcing of genealogy work. A standard set of four reports (see below) was provided for members to circulate amongst themselve so they could compare each other's work. Patrick suggested a Genealogy Maturity Model article from the Ancestryinsider Blog

After viewing several of the reports, inadequate source citations seemed to be a frequent occurence. The delimna of Lumpers vs Splitters was discussed. Genealogists have the ability to lump many sources into one, for example lumping all US Census Records into one source called say, "US Census Records" or "U.S. Census records 1920". By doing this you reduce the number of sources, but increase the number of citation detail records. If you split records, having one family's census records as one source, you will reduce the number of detail records, but increase the number of sources. The genealogist has to make up his/her mind how they want to do their work. From the exercize we did however, it must be stated that the sources must be entered in such a way that the citations are properly documented.

Four Reports

All reports are based on either yourself or a set of grandparents

1. Family History Report
Family Card: One set of your grandparents (your choice)
Generations: 3
Preferred pictures
Destination: RTF File
Layout: Max
Person Fields - All Checked
Family Fields - All Checked
Spouse Fields - All Checked

2. Ahnentafel Report
Family Card: Yours
Generations: 3
Preferred Pictures
Destination: RTF File
Layout: Max
Layout: Max
Person Fields - All Checked
Family Fields - All Checked
Spouse Fields - All Checked

3. Descendant Chart
Family Card: One set of your grandparents (your choice)
Generations: 3
Preferred pictures
Destination: RTF File
Layout: BMD
Person Fields - Birth, Death
Spouse Fields - Birth Death
Family Fields - Marriage

4. Pedigree Chart
Family Card: Yours, choose yourself
Generations: 7
Limit to one Page: Checked (nothing else should be checked)
Layout: Default except Name setup should be "Name (b-d)