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Archiver > GENMTD > 2000-05 > 0958446595


From: "FitzAlan" <>
Subject: Re: Numbering system?
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 20:09:55 -0700


> I'd appreciate suggestions on a system for numbering the small but
> complicated family tree that I've been amassing for a few years.
>
> There are 6 generations (gg grandparents thru my children). The
> starting point is my maternal grandmother -- going back to as many
> of her ancestors as I can find in the US; haven't explored the
> German and Swiss connections yet.
>
> She had lots of cousins, who had spouses and children.
>
> Her children (my parents' generation) married, & I have information
> on the spouses' parents and siblings -- plus the the same
> information for members of my generation and my children's
> generation.
>
> I'm looking for a numbering system that will make it clear at a
> glance which generation a person belongs to, plus which family line.
> Does such a thing exist?
>
> Barbara
>


A numbering system? By hand? Serious?

You are posting to a newsgroup. You are familiar with computers. I
would highly recommend that you don't do a thing until you can start
your database on your computer. Really. (And document everything!
I wish I had, rather than rush into it, feet first (brains last).)

Numbering system's aren't really going to handle what you want to do.

You've probably heard of the Ahnentafel numbering system. I'm #1,
my dad is #2, my mom #3. Her father is #6 and mom #7. My dad's dad
is #4 and mom #5.

My male line goes #1, #2, #4, #8, #16, etc;. I figured the formula
once for calculating generation from than (natural log?) but I'm
tired.

Of course, as you can see, you can number your cousins therein
easily.

There is a register format. Where the Ancestor is #1, and the
descendants are sequentially numbered downwards. Father 1, children
2, 3, +4, 5, +6. The plus would denote children with (recorded)
children of their own. From 4, we would have then 7, 8, and so on.

This would catch your cousins, but it wouldn't include their spouses
and the ancestors of the cousins children.

What are the numbers you are looking for to do? Organize your
relatives in a report format, or just organize them period?

If you use software to do your genealogy, you don't have to worry
about the numbering. Every individual has their own unique id#. It
doesn't matter what the particular number is, the individual is kept
in the proper family by the software, not the number.

Then, based on the reports you do, you can have any number of
resulting numbers therefrem. Ahnentafel numbers, register number,
etc;.

Too, since every individual has his or her own number, storing
information "off-line" on them is as easy as creating a folder with
their number on it. I get a lot of information on-line and bring it
into spreadsheets. I create a column in the spreadsheet, and store
my id#'s therein. (My Smock Marriages in KY to 1850 file is about
1/4 populated with Smock's in my file. )

Anyway, in short, don't worry about numbering you kindred. Let
software do that for you.

"FitzAlan" <>

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