TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2000-04 > 0956954098


From: Richard Brogger <>
Subject: [TMG-L:] Re: TMG-L:Beginner's problems
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 15:34:58 -0500
References: <20000428.074503.-143635.2.BuddRice@juno.com>


Hi Budd,

I am green as grass when it comes to TMG and I am just learning but I
see the answer to the phantom spouse problem. It seems that TMG thinks
that it takes two people to create a child. If you enter just one
parent TMG adds the other one as (??). When you add the second parent,
TMG already has one, your phantom, TMG's (??), listed so you are adding
a second spouse. You do not need to eliminate persons. If you go to
the child's Person View I think that you will see either the mother or
the father shown at the bottom but not both. Click on the button for
the missing parent and in the dialog box you will see the parent has "0"
for a number, just enter the number for the "second" spouse and the
first spouse disappears.

That may be about as clear as mud but I just tried it and it works so
experiment.

Although many will not agree, I am of the opinion that someone starting
from scratch and entering their first person into a genealogy program,
will not find TMG that hard to learn because they can learn as they go.
For someone who has built a large database and learned other programs
first, learning TMG is harder because we have to unlearn old methods and
learn new ones. Because of the need to unlearn old ways, some of which
are bad genealogy, and the need to learn new ways, I think it is a
disservice to beginners to recommend some other genealogy program just
because they are easy to learn and/or cheaper, maybe even free.

I don't know how many people change from "It's just a hobby" to being
serious about genealogy. Whatever the number, it is those who are
serious that will find the easy program is limited. I would prefer to
recommend a program that the beginner can stay with no matter how
serious they become.

Another factor that I like about TMG is the level of involvement from
the top. I was on the FTM Tech list for many years and I never saw a
message from 'Top Brass'. If you think the CEO of Mattel gives a hoot
about the FTM users and would address a question, I have five acres of
land in Tennessee with a view of the Pacific I will sell you. If you
get an answer from ANY employee of Mattel, you are very lucky.

To sum it up, I disagree with you. "The Master Genealogist" is for
Master Genealogists AND anyone who may become serious about their
genealogy. Since everyone starting out has the potential to become
serious, why not start with the best?

Yes, TMG will require a larger investment of time and money but that
becomes a pittance when compared to the time one will spend on
genealogy. In 1966 I thought the price for TMG was too steep and went
with something cheaper, that was a bad mistake. Had I spent a few extra
bucks and the extra time to learn TMG, I would be way, way ahead now.
Instead I am a greenhorn with large numbers of people to transfer to a
better program.

Hang in there. We will make it and be glad we did.

Richard

Budd Rice wrote:
>
> Harry,
>
> I agree with you. "The Master Genealogist" is for Master Genealogists.
<< snip >>
>
> I have just started entering data and am surprised at the number
> of men who have non existent first wives when I only entered one
> wife and she ends up being the second wife. TMG appears to want all
> men to have multiple wives. In fairness, I am sure if I had entered the
> women first I would have TMG generating phantom husbands.Obviously
> I have erred in the inputting process. The only remedy I have found to
> date
> is to start eliminating "persons" until the phantom wife disappears and
> then
> start reentering data. A long and laborious process.
>

>
> Budd Rice
> Seattle, WA
>
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