FTM-HELP-L Archives

Archiver > FTM-HELP > 2007-03 > 1173509532


From: "bill-lewis" <>
Subject: Re: [FTM-HELP] Merging files
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2007 01:22:06 -0600
References: <005501c762c5$c5ffbf20$030aa8c0@bill><008a01c762c6$0108d070$5102a8c0@your6jnhhu0520>


Here is my preferred method to start pick the file that you think is the
most accurate and rename it so you can recognize it later. You will
consider this your main file. Now in FTM click on file open and browse
and locate and choose one of the other files that has some names in
common with the main file.

You will now have a second FTM window open with your second file
displayed you can now use copy and paste for individual items or copy
and paste individual for all the data about a person. You also have
available Copy Individual and all Ancestors or Descendants this works
best with no or only a very few names you will after the paste have the
chance to see and revise any duplicate individuals in the information
copied be sure to look at each name that FTM matches and approve or
disprove it.

This is the only way I move data between Gedcoms or FTM files and My
Data Files. Also by moving in individual or small groups it is easier to
correct items as they are entered and not find them for months after the
fact.

Your family data should have a sort of seal of approval prior to your
adding it and the data should be from a reliable source and if possible
provable.

Bill

Bill or Jo Ann Lewis

Bookwizards
1857 Provine St.
Fort Worth, Tx 76103


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bobbi Harrison" <>
To: "bill-lewis" <>; <>
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 9:41 PM
Subject: Re: [FTM-HELP] Merging files


> The only merging I ever do now if the option of "specific individuals"
then
> you have control of knowing if you're selecting the correct person to
merge.
> More time consuming, but safer in the long run. Also be careful about
the
> "find and correct". When I decided to spell out the counties and
states in
> full, I ran into big problems with one state abbreviation changing a
similar
> word thru out my files because I hadn't selected to use only the same
upper
> case selection. I'm still running across those changes. So now I'll
put
> the Co. State into the search window and then the full spell out in
the
> replace window and I don't run into that problem anymore.
>
> Bobbi
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "bill-lewis" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 7:39 PM
> Subject: [FTM-HELP] Merging files
>
>
> > Over all the years I have started lots of files.
> > Now I find I don't know which file is which---is there a way to
merge
> > these files and keep the info but eliminate all the duplicates names
and
> > info?
> >
> > Helen
> >
> > I would consider a merge as the very last resort.
> >
> > You will get many bad pieces of information. from these merges. If
you
> > want to see what happens just merge one of the files with itself and
> > check facts, parentage, duplicate spouses, double notes and other
> > problems and this is from merging two files that are exactly the
same.
> >
> > In reality you will have Betty and Bettie and Betty B and Betty and
born
> > 12 Oct 1898 and born abt 1898 one file will have her married to
James
> > and one to Jim or James J and we all know about creative spelling of
> > surnames so it might be that the person is under different spellings
in
> > some of the files these create multiple marriages between two people
and
> > these are difficult to clear up and you will likely have parentage
> > issues with some or all of the children my experience showed these
> > Parentage issues can trickle down over several generations making
> > cleaning the data even more difficult.
> >
> > I spent several months over a period of 10 months recovering from a
> > merge of my data with my data in order to recover truncated notes as
> > suggested by the FTM Help line. I never merged again
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > Bill or Jo Ann Lewis
> >
> > Bookwizards
> > 1857 Provine St.
> > Fort Worth, Tx 76103
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> > 10:58 AM
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>


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