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Archiver > BYGONES-USERS > 2005-04 > 1113429147


From: Kathy Cardoza <>
Subject: The way I use Bygones
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 14:52:27 -0700


Hi Everyone

There seems to be a lot of new users posting on the list these days so I
thought I'd share how I use Bygones. Now, please keep in mind that this is
just my system that works for me. It may not be how you would want to do it
or how you organize your files. Then, it could get more complicated. I'm one
of those that follow the KISS method .......keep it simple stupid, LOL. So,
this is good for me but might not be for you if you use a different type of
setup. I invite others who have been using Bygones for a while to share how
they use it to give new users some different ways to go about it.

First of all, my genealogy files are set up very simply. I have a file for
each couple in my direct line. The file folder for them might say "Jones,
John & Mary Smith." Everything for John and Mary from the time they became a
couple (married or whatever) is in that folder.....census, marriage, birth
of their children, land transactions, death certificates, probates, etc.
John and Mary's birth records or early life records are filed in the folder
of their respective parents. Like I said, very simple. :) (I also have
a file numbering system in place for each folder with an index as a first
page so that I can easily find a document, but that does not impact on the
way I do things in Bygones. So, consequently, my Log files correspond to
that file naming system that I use. My Log file names are something like
this: JONES, John; SMITH, Anthony; JONES, Charles. You get the idea. I do
not have a special Log name for female ancestors, choosing to include them
under the Log name of their husband as my home filing system is. I also have
Log names for general surname searches where I may not know the given name
or which person is my ancestor for sure. (HINKLE, SPIDLE, etc.)

So, when I do a new search, I start a new extract. I like to have the
extract umbers be sequential within the whole database and not just for each
Log file. In other words, each extract, no matter what Log file it pertains
to, has a different number. Some folks like to have all the Jones, John
extracts, for example, have their own numbering sequence. I don't, but to
each their own. :)

If it is a source I will likely use again, I will click on the source
database button to open it. I will then enter all the relevant source info.
Now, I go back to my new research extract and click on the button in the
upper right corner "Paste Source Info from Sources DB". It will paste in all
that source data I just entered into the Source DB......BUT, remember, if
you have added other info to that new research extract, it WILL erase
it.....so that is why you want to do this step before you enter in your
research data. This is great for templates such as census. Now, if I'm not
likely to use this source again, I will just enter the information right
into the Source field of the research extract. Then, I select locality,
record type, repository, etc. for the new extract. If I have to add a new
locality, I add it in at this time. Enter in your research and any other
fields you care to do and you are finished with this one. :)

BTW, I also have Log files (in Bygones only) that are ORDER, and ORDERED
WAITING just for FHL films I want to order and when I actually do order
them. Then, when they come in, I change the Log field to reflect the
ancestor it is for.

Now, I record both positive and negative searches. I prefer to enter the
data into Bygones as I find it, then enter into in my lineage based program
at a later time.

I do NOT use the document number or indexing capabilities of Bygones. They
seem to not fit in to my way of doing things and indexing is too time
consuming and, in my opinion, not necessary.

I use the Maps DB a lot and Scans a little.

Anyway, I apologize for the length of this post. I wanted only to share my
methods, such as they are, with others who are new to Bygones or are
considering using it. If you use Bygones in an entirely different way that
works best for you, then I think that's great! It is, after all, designed to
assist you in keeping track of your research data and that is a very
person/personalized thing. And, let's face it, there are as many different
ways of doing things out there as there are researchers! :)

I hope this might help some and encourage the rest of us to share how
Bygones works best for us.

Kathy

*************************************************
Visit my web site for Genealogy and Azores Information:
http://www.pacifier.com/~kcardoz
and
The Azores/World GenWeb Project:
http://www.pacifier.com/~kcardoz/azoresindex.html

Make your little corner of the world a better place today!
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