Copyright: Copyright © 1998 Sierra On-line, Inc.


Welcome to Generations!
Introduction

Generations® family tree software is your complete source to documenting, storing and displaying family history and genealogical information. With the tools of Generations you can record thousands of names, dates, facts, notes, sources of information, and even pictures! And when you're ready to present your family research to others, Generations can print and display your family heritage in simple, elegant, graphic charts and reports.

Note about using this Help system

The topics in this online Help system are packed with great information about using Generations, EasyTree, EasyChart, and the special Generations Centers. A single topic may have a lot of related information in it, so please remember to scroll down the page to see all of the available content for a topic.


Starting Generations
Introduction

To start Generations:

1.	Click the Start button and then select Programs.

2.	Choose Sierra and then select Generations 7.0 Millennium.

3.	Select Generations 7.0 Millennium.

4.	The Launch Screen below will appear.

Generations® is composed of several tools working together to help you collect, edit, and present the many facets of your family heritage.  The main tools included in Generations consist of EasyTree, EasyChart, the Research Center, the Internet Center, the Family Center, and the Heritage Quest Archive Center.

The EasyTree application is the heart of Generations. It's where you will record names, dates, notes, sources, photographs – just about anything you associate with your family history.

EasyChart is a separate application that works with EasyTree to display and print large, elegant, high-resolution, family tree and timeline charts. With EasyChart you have the ability to edit chart objects and attributes by simply dragging, dropping, cutting or pasting family photographs, clipart and other graphic elements right on your screen. EasyChart will even make elaborate wall charts!

The Research Center provides a great starting point for your family research needs. With applications like the Generations World Name Index and the Ellis Island records, you have genealogy information and records right at your fingertips.

The Internet Center helps bring together a huge pool of genealogy resources now available on the Internet. As more and more records and genealogy related materials are offered on-line, family research is becoming increasingly rich in easily accessible resources.

The Family Center gives you access to the great photo editing application, SnapShot Express, and more Internet sites that you and your family will enjoy.  The Names Glossary rounds out this center, providing the origin of many common names.

The Heritage Quest Archive Center links you to census, marriage, and land records provided by Heritage Quest.  Internet links are also provided to the Heritage Quest catalog and On-Line magazine, GenealogyBulletin.com.

For more information on these tools, click on their links below.

EasyTree

EasyChart

The Research Center

The Internet Center

The Family Center

Heritage Quest Archive Center


Upgrading Family Files
Introduction

If you previously created family files using Generations 5.2 or newer, there is no need to upgrade your family file. Generations 7.0 can read your 5.2 or newer file as is. Simply locate your family file and select it as the file you wish to work with when prompted.

If you previously used Generations 4.2 or Reunion 4.0 for Windows, you can upgrade or convert your family file to the new Generations 7.0 format. To do this, open EasyTree and click the Upgrade button. (If EasyTree is already running, choose Open from the File menu and then click the Upgrade button.)

When you click the Upgrade button, another window appears asking you to select your EasyTree 4.2 file. You can also select your Reunion 4.0 file from this window. This may require you to search through the files on your hard drive to locate the family file you wish to upgrade. It's a good idea to know the exact name of the file and where it is stored on your hard drive before beginning the upgrading process.

When you have the family file that you want to upgrade highlighted, click the Open button. You will then be prompted to save the upgraded version of your family file in the Gen7m folder and name your file. (EasyTree will automatically provide a name for your file, but you can rename it at this point if you wish.) When you're ready, simply click the Save button and EasyTree will make the conversion. Your original Generations 4.2 or Reunion 4.0 file will not be altered in any way - the conversion process has been designed to keep all your information intact.

Please note that if you wish to upgrade from earlier versions of Reunion for Macintosh (1.0-3.0) to Generations 7.0, you will need to upgrade first to Reunion 4.0 and then follow the instructions provided in the Cross-Platform Instructions. See Upgrading and Exchanging Files.


Late-Breaking News
Introduction

Inside your Sierra\Gen7m folder is a file called Readme. Be sure to double-click this file for any last-minute changes that you need to be aware of and other useful information that will help you have a successful experience with Generations.

Readme

Another source for late-breaking news regarding Generations 7.0 is our Generations Web site, which can be accessed by clicking the Web button at the top of the family card window. For this button to work, you must be connected to the Internet. You can also just visit us anytime at http://www.sierra.com/sierrahome/familytree.


EasyTree Overview

EasyTree automatically creates common genealogical reports, charts, and forms, as well as birthday calendars, mailing lists, questionnaires, indexes, and other lists. It even calculates relationships, ages, and life expectancies.

The Stack of Cards Method of Storing Data

When you think of storing your data in EasyTree, picture a stack of 3x5 index cards with one immediate family per card. EasyTree uses this method on-screen to graphically show you the family information you have in your database. We call this a family card. Family cards for different generations are linked to one another in ways that describe the varying relationships among family members. A family card will exist for each couple and unmarried person in your records.

The family card, the main window of this program, is where you will do most of your navigating. Visually, think of each card as displaying information about one immediate family—a person and their spouse in the middle, their children at the bottom, and their parents at the top.

To climb up and down the branches of your family tree, you simply click the parent or child buttons to move you either backward or forward in time. When you click a parent's button, you will immediately be shown that parent's family card. This will show the parent and their spouse in the middle of the screen, with their children listed below and their respective parents listed above.

By clicking a child's button, you will navigate to the child's immediate family, where the child appears in the middle of the screen.

A toolbar is located on top of the family card. The menus at the top of the screen and the buttons on the toolbar are used to enter and edit information, create reports and charts, and navigate through your family file. You will find that some functions of the menus and buttons overlap. This allows you to choose whichever navigational method works best for you.

You will find that the windows in EasyTree are sprinkled with pop-up menus. The visual clue to a pop-up menu button is a rectangular button with a black drop shadow or a downward-pointing triangle.

The tutorial in Chapter 2:Getting Started with EasyTree will help you learn how to create a new family file, enter names, dates and other genealogical information that will be stored in the family file. Don't worry about making a mistake! One of the wonderful things about using EasyTree is that you can always change your mind, correct mistakes, or decide to start over with no harm done.

See also

Let's Make a Family File!

The Family Card Window and Navigation

Understanding the Toolbar and the Window Features


Let's Make a Family File!
Tutorial

Working through the tutorial that follows will help you to get started entering information into your EasyTree database. This tutorial will be very general in scope and will refer you to other topics for more specific, and in some cases, more advanced instruction. So let's get going!

To start Generations in Windows® 95 or Windows® 98:

1.	Click on the Start button and then select Programs.

2.	Choose Sierra and then select Generations 7.0 Millennium.

3.	Select Generations 7.0 Millennium.

4.	The Launch Screen will appear.

5.	Click EasyTree to begin making your family file!


Choosing Applications That Work With Generations
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

The first time you launch Generations, a window will appear asking you to specify your word processor and Web browser. Using the Word Processor pop-up menu, select the word processor you wish to use with Generations. Then use the Web Browser pop-up menu to select the Web browser you want to use. Generations needs to know this information in order to open certain reports in other applications and to access your Web browser from EasyTree.

To choose applications that do not appear in the pop-up menus, choose Other from the appropriate pop-up menu. This will open a window that will allow you to select the executable file of your word processor and/or Web browser from your hard disk.

If you wish to change your default browser or word processor later, go to Reports in the Options menu.  Double click either Web Browser or Word Processor and then choose your application from the drop down list.


Start With Yourself and Your Family
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

It's a good idea to learn how to use EasyTree while entering information about yourself and your immediate family. Before beginning, you'll want to gather any family notes or records you wish to add to your family file. Once you've done that, you're ready to go!

Upon opening EasyTree, click the New button in the Open Family File window and type in a name for your family file, such as "McGregor Family." EasyTree will make a new, empty family file for you, and soon you'll see an empty family card. For now, this is the home card that appears each time you open your family file.

You can always return to the home card by clicking the Home button or by choosing Home Card from the View menu.


Step 1: Begin with You
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

•	If you are male, begin by entering information for the "male" of the current family card - your family card. Choose Add a Male Person.

•	If you are female, begin by entering information for the "female" of the current family card - your family card. Choose Add a Female Person.

•	The Import GEDCOM and Import Family File buttons allow you to open a previously created family file.

•	The Cancel button will close this window and put you into the EasyTree database with an empty home card.

When you add a new person to your family file, an Edit Person window will open. This box is the one you will use to enter all the data about an individual. The data entry boxes within the window are called fields.

You can point and click the mouse to reposition the cursor within any of the fields, or use the TAB key to advance the cursor from field to field. Pressing SHIFT + TAB will move the cursor backward through the fields. Each text field in the Edit Person window holds a basic genealogical fact (a name, date, place or title).

Names

As you can see in the Edit Person window under the name file-folder tab, EasyTree records your last name, or surname, separately from your first name(s). Type your first and middle names into the First Name field and then type your last name into the Last Name field.

Maiden Names

A woman's name should be entered using her maiden name. If her maiden name is unknown, we suggest that you leave the Last Name field empty or enter a question mark (?). This can serve as a signal that you still need to find it!

Titles

If your name carries a title such as Jr., Sr., II or III, type it into the Suffix Title field. If you want to include a prefix, such as Dr., Rev., or Capt., type it into the Prefix Title field. We don't recommend that you record everyday titles like Mr. or Mrs.


Step 2: Entering Details About Yourself
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

After you are done filling in your name, click the Events file-folder tab. This displays a section where you can enter dates for common events in people's lives. For starters, enter your birth date and birthplace. (You can add all kinds of other events too. This is explained in more detail in the Events: Dates and Places section.)

Dates

EasyTree will let you enter dates in a variety of formats, but will convert what you type into a particular format that is specified in the Dates window of the Options menu. You can change the default date format at any time. See Date Format for more information.

Watch Out!

EasyTree will have fits if you try to use the capital letter "I" or lower-case "L" as a substitute for the number "1" in a date entry. They may look similar on the screen, but to the computer, they are worlds apart. Also, don't use the capital letter "O" in place of a zero (0).

What if You Don't Know a Date?

If you aren't sure about a date, or have no idea when an event occurred, you can leave the date field blank or approximate the date by typing something like...

bef 1912

aft 1949

ca 1901

circa 1800

about 1934

bet 1850/1855

1850

? 1850

approx 1755

Jan 1870

? Jan 1870

?

EasyTree will let you know if you type something it doesn't understand. You will have the option of making EasyTree accept a date entry that it can't decipher (these are called custom dates, which are explained in the Custom Dates  section), but it is better to enter a "valid" date.

What if You Don't Know a Place?

If you don't know where an event occurred, simply leave the field blank for that event. For example, in the Christening Place field, if you don't know where you were christened, or if you were never christened, just hit the TAB key and skip the Christening field.

Likewise, if you are still living (and we hope you are!), you can simply hit the TAB key and bypass the Death Date and Death Place boxes - leaving them blank.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

When recording places in your family file, it is important to record the place name as completely as possible. For example: Seattle, King, Washington gives the reader the city, county, and state. With larger, well-known cities, this may not seem important. However, when you are dealing with smaller towns, townships and villages, which may not exist anymore, it is important to give the county name as well.

The same holds true for foreign locations. Try to be as specific as possible by recording the town, parish or county, province and country. You can never go wrong by recording too much information!

Blank Entries

If you begin typing something into a field and then decide you want a blank entry, just clear the field using either the DELETE or the BACKSPACE ( · ) key. Then press the TAB key or click the next field to continue entering information.


Step 3: Entering Facts About Yourself
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

EasyTree gives you the ability to record a myriad of details about the individuals in your family file. If you click the Facts file-folder tab, a section will be displayed that shows the three default facts that you can record (occupation, education, and religion). To fill in these facts about yourself, just click the field you want to enter your facts in or use the TAB key to navigate through the various fields.

The facts you record for each person in your family file can be as unique as they are! We discuss how to customize these in Facts.


Step 4: Entering Notes
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

After you are done filling in a few events and facts, click the Notes file-folder tab. This displays a window where you can enter several different kinds of notes. The left side of this window will have "Misc. Notes" highlighted, and the scrolling text field on the right side will be where you enter your miscellaneous information. Notes can include any information you want, including, but not limited to: immigration details, personal stories and accounts, obituaries, land transactions, heirlooms and artifacts, aliases, unusual death circumstances, etc.

Helpful Tip!

EasyTree has only a few windows where pressing the ENTER key is not the same as clicking the default button (the one with the fat black outline). This is one of them. However, pressing CTRL + ENTER is the same as clicking the Save button.

When entering notes, if you press the ENTER key while the cursor is inside the text field, you'll make a new paragraph. New paragraphs (or blank lines between paragraphs) will make your reports and forms easier to read.

There is room for 64,000 characters (about 10,000 words) of text in the Miscellaneous Notes field for each person. Other more specific note fields (e.g., Military, Medical and Research) can be added, and you can even make up your own categories! This will be discussed in detail in Adding Note Fields.

Saving Your Information: Names, Events, and Notes

When you are done entering some notes, click the Save button to accept your entries. Once you click Save, you'll be looking at the family card you just created, and you will see some of the data you just entered.

The Home Card

Now that you've gotten your family file started by adding yourself, EasyTree has created a family card for you. For now, this card is the home card that will appear every time you open this family file. If you need to, you can always return to your home card by clicking the Home button on the toolbar at the top of the screen, or by choosing Home from the Find menu.


Step 5: Adding Your Spouse/Partner
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

Note: If you are single or have never been married, steps 5 and 6 will not apply to you while you are progressing through the Tutorial. However, it would still be beneficial to walk through the process.

To add your husband, wife, or partner, click the Add button (the green plus sign above your name) and select New Spouse from the pop-up menu.

The big Edit Person window that will appear is the same type of window you used to enter your own data. You can begin entering information for your spouse (name, events, facts, and notes). If it is necessary to change the gender of your spouse or partner, click the down arrow in the Sex field.  A menu will appear from which you can select the appropriate gender. When you're done, click the Save button and your spouse's data should appear next to your information on the family card.


Step 6: Entering Marriage Details
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

To enter your marriage date, marriage place, and marital status, click the Marriage field that appears just above and between your names (or choose Marriage from the Edit menu).

Once the Marriage section of the Edit Family window opens, type in your marriage date and place under the Marriage file-folder tab.

Documenting Divorce

To document marital status (other than married), click the Status pop-up menu button. This button only appears if the family card contains a married couple. Once the menu pops up, click the appropriate marital status.


Step 7: Adding Multiple Spouses
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

EasyTree makes recording multiple spouses easy. The program gives you the ability to record up to 50 spouses for each individual in your family file.

If you have been married more than once, click the Add button that appears above your name and choose New Spouse from the pop-up menu.

The Edit Person window will open, ready for you to enter the name, dates, and other information for the additional spouse. As we mentioned before, female spouses should be entered using their maiden name as their last name. When you're finished entering the data, click the Save button.

EasyTree will make a new family card for the immediate family of you and your other spouse. The other spouse you just "added" will be shown as your spouse on the new family card.

It's easy to tell if someone has multiple spouses because a little red triangle will appear next to their name. This red triangle is a pop-up menu button that, when clicked, shows all spouses for that individual. Depending on which marriage you want to see, click the spouse's name and that couple's family card will open up.

In a Nutshell

In a nutshell, a family card will be made for each marriage to each spouse. For example, if you have been married three times, you will appear on three cards - one for each family of which you were a part. Upon adding additional spouses, a family card will automatically be made for you and your current spouse, you and your first spouse, and you and your second spouse. Three times married - three different family cards. The natural or adopted children of each of the three separate marriages will appear on the family card showing the children's natural or adoptive parents as the husband and wife.

See Multiple Spouses for more details and examples regarding documenting multiple marriages.


Step 8: Adding Your Children
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

Now that you've added yourself and your spouse, you can add your children - beginning with the oldest and working your way down to the youngest. When adding children to your family card, add only the natural or adopted children of the marriage shown on that card. If you have stepchildren or children from a previous marriage, they will be added later as children on the family card that shows their natural parents. For more information on how to handle the children of multiple marriages, please see Children.

To add a child, click the Add button (the blue plus sign) that appears in the lower-right corner of your family card. The Add Children pop-up menu will appear and you can select either New Male Child or New Female Child. Once you've done this, the Edit Person window will appear, and you can enter the name, dates, and other details about your child.

From your family card, click your child's button, and the screen will show your child's family card. When adding your married female children, remember to use their maiden name. When you are finished, click Save or press ENTER. Don't worry if corrections need to be made, you can always come back and make changes later!

Child Buttons on the Family Card

As you enter children, EasyTree creates new child buttons that will appear on the lower part of the family card. Female names will appear in round buttons; male names will appear in rectangular ones.

Clicking the child's button will open his own family card. On the child's family card, the names of the child's parents will appear in buttons above the child's name. Clicking either the mother or father's button will take you back to the parents' family card.

Helpful Tip!

In case of an error in entering children, or due to the discovery of new information, the birth order of children can easily be rearranged. Simply drag and drop a child's button to the spot where he belongs (i.e., on top of another child's button on the family card). Another way to renumber children is to select Children from the Edit menu and then drag and drop the children into their appropriate place in the list. For more help, see Children.

Complete the Children

To add the next child in this family, choose New Male Child or New Female Child from the Add Children pop-up menu and repeat what you've already done. Continue to do this until all your natural and/or adopted children are entered.

The Family Card Concept

EasyTree is designed so that each person in the family file will appear in the middle of a family file card - even if he is not married. This may seem confusing at first - having a "family card" for your two-year-old, for example - but just think of it as a future family card. There's a good chance that your two-year-old will have a spouse whose information you can enter on your future PC. In the meantime, remember that each person will appear on the left or right side, in the middle of their own family card - even if the person is unmarried.

Let's Do a Little Tree Climbing!

Let's take a minute and try navigating through your family file using the links between your family card and your child's family card.

From your family card, click your child's button, and the screen should show your child's family card. Then click your name in one of the parent buttons - the upper-right or upper-left corner (you and your spouse should be in one of these corners, husband above the wife) and you'll go back to your family card. Try it again - click your child's button and go to their card; click directly on one of their parents (you or your spouse) and return to your card. See? Pretty simple!


Step 9: Moving Up the Tree: Adding Parents and Siblings
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

Adding Your Father

To enter information about your parents, click back to your family card (or click the Home button on the toolbar). Now click on the Add button (the green plus sign) just above your name and choose New Father from the Add pop-up menu.

The Edit Person window will then open and you can enter all the information about your father that you want to record. When you're finished, just click the Save button and you'll be looking at your father's family card, which will now include your child button. A new family has been created in your family file!

Adding Your Mother

For your mother, choose New Spouse from the Add pop-up menu that will appear above your father's name when you click the Add button (the green plus sign). Enter your mother's details in the Edit Person window and click Save.

Having added your father and mother, they will appear together on their own family card. When you click your child button on their card, your family card will appear and their names will appear there above your name.

Adding Your Siblings

Click on one of your parents' names to bring up their family card. When you get there, enter their children (the natural or adopted children from this marriage) by using the Add Children pop-up menu button (the blue plus sign) in the lower right-hand corner. Just follow the same procedure outlined earlier in the Adding Your Children section Step 8.

Adding Your Spouse's Parents

When you are finished adding your siblings, click back to your family card and create a new card for your spouse's parents. To do this, choose New Father from the Add pop-up menu that appears when you click the Add button (the green plus sign) above your spouse's name.

Now you can add your spouse's mother and siblings by repeating the steps outlined above, and voila! You now have 3 generations entered into your family file. Congratulations!


Step 10: Let's Try a Few Features
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

This section of the tutorial will outline a few of the fun and helpful features included in the EasyTree program and how to go about using them.

The Pedigree Overview

Navigate to your child's family card and click the Overview button on the toolbar. This displays a five-generation pedigree chart. You can use this window as a navigational tool. It can help you visualize what data you have entered, and can point up where further research needs to be done. Later, you'll learn how to create and print large, graphic pedigree charts.

Clicking anyone except the source person in the Overview will move that person to the source position. Clicking the blue triangle button (to the left of the source person) will show a pop-up menu of the spouses and children of the current source person. By selecting a name in the pop-up menu, you force the five-generation Overview to start with the selected name.

When you have the correct person in the source position on the left side, click their button, press ENTER, or click the OK button to open that person's family card. You can also double-click any name in the tree to open a family card for that individual. Click the Close button to return to the family card that was showing before you opened the Overview window.

How Are You Related?

Click back to your family card and choose Relationships from the List menu. Select the button next to your name and click Identify. Then click Close.

EasyTree will figure out how you're related to all of your blood relatives and display the relationships (father, 1st cousin, etc.) just above their names on their family cards. As you click through the family cards in your family file, you'll see, at a glance, how your blood relatives are related to you.

Let's Make an Index

Click the Index button on the toolbar. This opens the Index window with an updated, alphabetized index.

Double-click directly on a name in the index and EasyTree will open that individual's family card. You can view the index at any time, and you can use the index to help locate individuals in your family file. See also Index.

How About a Birthday Calendar?

If you want to create a birthday calendar, select Calendar from the List menu. This opens the Calendar window. Now click the List button.

Your name should be in the calendar list. Double-click directly on your name in the calendar and EasyTree will open your record.

You can view the calendars at any time. For more details, see Creating a Calendar List.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

You may want to store a second copy of your file in a safety deposit box, or in another family member's home in the event that your backup disk and computer happen to both be damaged. This may seem a bit extreme if you have 50 people in your family file, but when the number gets upward of 3,000 it doesn't seem quite so outlandish!

What Day of the Week Were You Born?

Return to your family card and select Ages from the List menu. A window will show you interesting details about you and your spouse, including the weekday of your birth date and your marriage date. It will also show you exactly how old you are and how long you've been married (assuming that the date you have set in your computer is correct!). If you're interested, it also shows you how young you were when you got married.

When you are done peering into the past with the Ages window, click the Close button. See Ages for more information.


Step 11: Saving Your Family File
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

EasyTree has no Save command for saving a person's data per se, since EasyTree saves each individual's data automatically as you enter it.

However, the more information you enter into your family file, the more imperative it becomes to back up your files. The last thing you want to have happen is to lose all your data if your computer has some sort of hard disk failure, or in case of natural disasters.

When it comes to backing up your entire family file, use the Save a Copy feature in the File menu. If your file will take more than one floppy disk, you will need to use a program like WinZip or Pkzip to "zip" (compress) your file down to a size that will fit on a single floppy. For particularly large family files, many zip programs allow you to save across several floppy disks. Check the particular program's on-line help for more information on these features.

To make a backup of your family file, select Save a Copy from the File menu. This will open the Save a Copy window. Make sure you have a floppy disk in the drive and select that drive from the Save In field by clicking the triangle to the right of that field.

The Type pop-up menu gives you three different types of backup files to choose from: an Exact Copy, a Compact Copy or a Clone. For now, to make a back up, select Exact Copy. The other options are explained fully in The Basics of Family Files.


Summary
Tutorial / Let's Make a Family File

By now you probably understand that EasyTree is designed to link your family information in a way that's easy to visualize and navigate.

It's important to understand the family card concept - that each family card shows an immediate family. If you click a child button, you'll open that child's family card (which will display the previous card's husband and wife as parents). Likewise, if you click a parent button, you'll open a card that lists the parents as husband and wife on their own family card, and shows the previous card's husband or wife as a child.

Linking More Families

With EasyTree you can easily link lots of individuals and families, as well as navigate through generations of your ancestors. To expand the tree, you must enter more families, which will give you more individuals (along with their data) to link together. All family cards work just like your family card. Simply follow the path outlined in this tutorial as you did while entering information about your own family.

The online help contains more details and examples of entering, editing, and linking information.


The Family Card Window and Navigation

The Family Card Window is the workhorse portion of EasyTree. It's important to understand the workings of this window and its many wonderful features! In this chapter, we're going to: 1) discuss how to manipulate the window, 2) learn how to use the toolbar and the pop-up buttons that are part of the window, and 3) customize the window to show the information that you want to see.


Manipulating the Family Card Window


Manipulating the Family Card Window
The Family Card Window and Navigation

Resizing and Moving the Family Card Window

When working in EasyTree, you may decide that you want to change the size of the family card window and move it around in order to see other applications behind the family card. There are several ways you can do this:

•	If you want to shrink the window to allow you to see behind it, click the Maximize/Restore button in the upper-right corner of the window. While the screen is minimized, you can make it even smaller by placing your cursor over any of the window's edges. When the cursor turns into a double-headed arrow, just click and drag that edge toward the center of the window. When you are finished looking at your other applications, click the Maximize/ Restore button again, and your family card window will be restored to full size.

•	If you'd like to move the family card window once it has been minimized, just drag the title bar to where you'd like to place the window. The title bar is the bar at the top of the window that contains the name EasyTree and the name of the family file currently open.

•	If you'd like to make the window disappear altogether, but would rather not close EasyTree, click the Minimize button in the upper-right corner. This will minimize your window to a button on your Windows toolbar at the bottom of your main desktop. To return it to full size, simply click on this button and you will be ready to go!

•	If you'd like to simply close EasyTree, click the Close Window button (the "X") in the upper-right corner of the family card window.

Helpful Tip!

We recommend that you keep the family card window fully maximized at all times so that you can see the greatest amount of information. Remember, to maximize the window, just click the Maximize/Restore button in the upper right-hand corner of the window.

One at a Time

Easy Tree allows only one family card to be open at a time.


Understanding the Toolbar and the Window Features
The Family Card Window and Navigation

The toolbar is a row of buttons that perform some of the more commonly used commands in EasyTree. The toolbar is displayed at the top of the family card. If you have your active window reduced in size, you may not be able to see all of the buttons on the toolbar. However, one of the nice features about EasyTree is its scaleable window. This means that your family card will get larger or smaller, depending on how large a window Generations is running. If you have the size of your window reduced, you can still see the entire family card, but not all of the toolbar. In this situation, the Web button, the Images button, and the Forward button will be removed from the toolbar in that order. They will, of course, be restored when you maximize your window.

The Big Status Bar

The big status bar is a line of information located at the bottom of the family card window. The big status bar is always visible.

The Little Status Bar

The little status bar is an optional line of information that contains three sections, which is located underneath each person's details on the family card window. The definition of the current view determines whether or not the little status bar is displayed. To turn this status bar on or off, open the Define Views window by clicking the View button on the toolbar and selecting Define Views. If the check box next to "Include Little Status Bar" is marked, the bar is turned on; if not, the little status bar will be hidden.

Messages

This area of the big status bar provides a way for EasyTree to communicate with you. When you click a child button with an associated status (e.g., adopted, twin, foster, step, etc.), the status will appear here. You can also get some quick help by placing your cursor over almost any button in the EasyTree window and the message there will tell you what that button represents.

This area of the big status bar will also display any messages you send to EasyTree. These are called letter-key shortcuts and are described in EasyTree Letter Key Shortcuts.

ID Numbers

Located in the middle section of the big status bar and on the left of the little status bar are the family ID number and the person ID number, respectively. In EasyTree, each new person is assigned a unique person ID number and each new family is assigned a unique family ID number.

These numbers are assigned serially. This means that when you add a person or a family to the family file, EasyTree starts at 1 and counts upward until it finds the first unused number and assigns that number to the new person or family. Person and family ID numbers assigned by EasyTree are independent and cannot be edited or replaced.

If you wish to navigate by ID number, you can click either of the ID boxes on the big or little status bars and enter an ID number in the Find ID# window, or you can choose ID# (Person or Family) from the Find menu.

User-Defined ID Numbers

If you want to record your own ID numbers for people, use the User ID field that appears to the right of the Last Name field in the Name section of the Edit Person window. You can also make the User ID number appear in place of EasyTree's ID number within the little status bar. To do this click on the View icon, select Define Views, and checkmark the box next to Show User ID.

ID Numbers in Lists, Reports, and Charts

Many of EasyTree's lists display ID numbers and allow you to select people by ID number. See List Options to read more about List Options within the Index.

If ID numbers are included in reports and charts they will be appended to names. Although some feel that ID numbers printed on charts are annoying, others like to use them for cross-referencing different genealogical documents. Common Layout Settings shows you how to include ID numbers in reports and charts.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

Think carefully about the kind of information you print out on charts and forms that you will send to others. ID numbers are often not required (unless they are somehow referenced in your notes) as they are unique to your database, and they often confuse the person who receives the printed reports.

Changed Date

The middle section of the little status bar shows the last date when that person's information was changed. This could also say "New" if a person has been added but not modified, or "Imported" if the person was created through the process of importing a GEDCOM file that contained no date for when the file was last modified. The changed date will be appended to most reports and forms.

To learn more about importing and exporting GEDCOM files, read Importing and Exporting GEDCOMS.

Marking

The little status bar contains a check mark button that, when clicked, will mark or unmark a person. As you navigate through a family file, marked people will appear with this button checked.

The left and right arrow buttons on the big status bar are used to open the previous or next marked person.

To learn about marking cards, see Marking.


Views on the Family Card
The Family Card Window and Navigation

Although the family card displays a snapshot of an entire nuclear family, the primary focus is at the center of the family card - a person and his spouse. In a box just beneath an individual's name you'll see some of the details you have entered about that person.

You can replace the view of facts (the collection of details beneath the husband and wife's names) with miscellaneous notes, custom notes, or other spouses. The display of facts is the default view.


Changing the View
The Family Card Window and Navigation / Views on the Family Card

To change the view, use the View pop-up menu button on the toolbar. You can also select the View option from the Window menu. A bullet or a checkmark in the menu shows the current view. The view selection you choose applies to everyone in the family file. When the view is set to anything but the default view at the top of the list, clicking a person's name will return you to the default view.


Customizing the View
The Family Card Window and Navigation / Views on the Family Card

You can customize the view that appears beneath a person's name. EasyTree includes a few different views. The default view is the view you see when you start EasyTree for the first time. There are a few more choices (Misc. Notes, User Notes, and General), but you can also create and name your own custom views. It's easy to switch between the different views by using the View pop-up menu.

To customize views, choose Define Views from the View pop-up menu. You could also choose Define from the Options menu and then select Views. This opens the Define Views window, which will allow you to select a view on the left side and then edit the view on the right side.


Working with Views
The Family Card Window and Navigation / Views on the Family Card

To rename a view, click on its name in the list and then edit the name directly in the list.

Remember that the view that appears when you open a family file will be the view at the top of the list. To reorder views you can drag and drop them anywhere you want them in the list.

To save changes you've made to the views, click the Save button.


What if I Want a Whole New View?
The Family Card Window and Navigation / Views on the Family Card

To create a new customized view, click the Add View button in the Define Views window. You will want to give it a name that describes what you will see in the view. Then you can go over to the Fields portion of the screen and add or delete fields until you see a view that is best suited to the work you want to do.  If you select a fact sample button and shift click on the delete field button, all fields will be deleted and you can redefine the view.


The Fields in a View
The Family Card Window and Navigation / Views on the Family Card

To delete a field from a view, click the field and then click the Delete Field button.

To add a field to a view, use the Add Field pop-up menu button. If the view is already "full" of fields, EasyTree will let you know. To add a field to a view that is already full, you must first remove a field.

To reorder the fields of a view, click and drag fields to the place you want to put them in the view.


Options for Event and Note Fields
The Family Card Window and Navigation / Views on the Family Card

To resize an event or note field, click the lower-right corner of the field. The "handle" (the black square) will appear and you can then drag it up or down. Event fields that are smaller in height will display the date and place on the same line. Taller event fields will show the date and place on separate lines.

Event fields permit the option to display age. Note fields permit the option to show the title of the note field and the option to wrap the text in the note field.


Other Options
The Family Card Window and Navigation / Views on the Family Card

Soundex code numbers can automatically be appended to a person's last name, which can be helpful if you are doing research among records that are indexed by their Soundex codes. To append the Soundex code to a person's name, check the Append Soundex to Name check box. If you'd rather leave it off, leave the box unchecked.

This part of the Define Views window also includes the box that can be checked to either display or hide the little status bar, which was discussed earlier in this chapter.

If you would rather have the contents of the User ID field in the little status bar (rather than the number that EasyTree assigns), check the check box next to Show User ID.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

The Soundex code number system was developed for use in filing and searching for names, and compensates for different spellings of the same name (for example, Johnson, Johnsen, Jonson, Jonnson, etc.). Often these spelling anomalies occur when a clerk misspells a name while recording an event. The Soundex system has been used to index more recent census records, as well as immigration lists and other records.


Navigation and the Family Card Window
The Family Card Window and Navigation

Child and Parent Buttons

It's easy to see that the family card represents an immediate family with a person and their spouse in the middle, their children at the bottom, and their parents at the top. To navigate up and down your family tree, or backward and forward in time, you'll use the child and parent buttons.

By clicking a parent's button, you go immediately to the parent's family card (i.e., the parents become the husband and wife in the middle of the screen), their children's names will appear in buttons below, and their respective parents will be listed above.

By clicking a child's button, you travel to his or her immediate family (i.e., he or she becomes the husband -if male- or wife -if female).

Moving Between Family Cards

In addition to child and parent buttons, EasyTree has several other tools for navigating between family cards.

Backtracking

Anytime you wish to see the family card that was showing just before the current one, click on the Back button on the toolbar, or you can select Back from the Find menu. This feature will allow you to backtrack through the last 200 family cards you have viewed on the screen.

Retracing

If you have used the Back button to backtrack, you can also use the Forward button to retrace your steps forward.

Helpful Tip!

To see a pop-up menu of the couples that EasyTree keeps track of as you're moving backward and forward through your family file, right-click the Back or Forward button.

Returning to the Home Card

To return to the home card, simply click on the Home button on the toolbar, or you can choose Home from the Find menu.

If you would like to designate a new home card, just drag that person's name to the home button and voila! You now have a new home card!

Navigating with Lists

You can navigate by double-clicking names in any list created by EasyTree. These include the index, the calendar list, the relationship list, and the found list.

Sibling Pop-Up Menu

The Sibling pop-up menu button appears above each person's name on the family card. Pressing it will show a menu listing that individual's siblings. To open a sibling's family card, select a name from the pop-up menu.

There is also another way to open a sibling's family card. For example, if you are looking at your own family card, and would like to see your brother or sister's family card, simply click one of your parent's names. This will bring up their family card, which shows you and your siblings as child buttons at the bottom. Then click on the sibling whose family card you would like to view and you'll have it!

Helpful Tip!

In addition to the Sibling pop-up menu buttons, you can right-click a person's button to show a pop-up menu for their siblings.

Spouse Pop-Up Menu

If a person has multiple spouses, a small red triangle will appear at the end of the person's button on the family card. This is called the Spouse pop-up menu, which is used to open a family card for an individual and one of her spouses.


The Overview Window
The Family Card Window and Navigation

The Overview window resembles a five-generation pedigree chart where each person's name is a button. You can use these buttons to quickly navigate through your family file.

To open the Overview, click the Overview button on the toolbar or select Overview from the View menu.

Clicking anyone except the source person in the Overview will move that person to the source position.

Clicking the blue pop-up menu button (to the left of the source person) will show a pop-up menu of the spouses and children of the current source person. By selecting a name in the pop-up menu, you force the five-generation overview to start with the selected name. When you have the correct person in the source position on the left side, click the button their name appears in, press ENTER, or click OK to open his or her family card. You can also double-click any name in the tree to open that person's family card.

Clicking the Back or Forward button will allow you to backtrack or retrace your steps forward.

Clicking the Close button returns you to the family card that was showing before you opened the Overview window.

To print a five-generation Pedigree Overview, click the Print button. To create larger pedigree charts, cascading pedigree charts, or descendant charts, use the Chart menu.


Recall List
The Family Card Window and Navigation

The Recall button activates a pop-up menu that provides a quick, alphabetized list of the last 50 people added to or edited in your family file. To show the Recall pop-up menu, click the Recall button on the toolbar. To navigate to a person's record, simply select a name from the menu. As the limit of 50 names is reached, names are removed from the recall list on a first in, first out basis.  Once the list gets too long to fit on your display, a small arrow will appear at the top and/or bottom of the list if there are more names to view.

If a person on the current family card is in the recall list, his name will be preceded with a bullet in the list. (This does not apply to child or parent buttons.)

Adding Names to the Recall List

A person's name is automatically added to the recall list when:

•	you save changes in the Edit Person or Edit Family window.

•	a child is added to a family.

•	a spouse is added to a person.

Dragging Names to the Recall List

You can manually add people to the recall list by dragging and dropping their buttons onto the Recall button on the toolbar.

Clearing the Recall List

To clear all the names from the recall list, choose Clear from the Recall pop-up menu. Removing names from the recall list does not affect the data you have stored in EasyTree in any way.

Activating the Recall List

The recall list can be turned on or off by choosing Turn On or Turn Off from the bottom of the Recall pop-up menu. When the recall list is turned off, no new names are added to the list. However, whatever names you placed in the list before turning it off will remain there for you to use.

Some people like to fill their recall list manually and then turn the list off. For example, you could put the names of your eight great-grandparents in the recall list and use them to locate these specific lines in your tree.

Using the Recall List

You might want to clear the recall list each time you begin working on a different branch of your family - maybe even each time you start using EasyTree. In this way, the recall list will provide a handy summary of any records you have added or made changes to during a particular session in EasyTree.

For very large family files, this list is extremely useful for navigation, while the index should be viewed more as a "master list" because it is more comprehensive.


The Display of Information
The Family Card Window and Navigation / Changing the Family Card Appearance

The number of characters that can be displayed in different fields on the family card depends largely on the size of your screen, the letters you use, and the amount of uppercase letters in your entries. A wider screen allows for a wider family card and thus will display more information. Keep in mind that your entire entry will be saved and will appear on all documents, but could be cropped off as it appears on the family card, especially on small screens. If you have lots of long entries, you may want to abbreviate certain words (for example, you could abbreviate cemetery as cem.). Field Lengths shows the actual limits (number of characters) for each field.

Family Card Fonts

Some fonts allow a few more characters in the same amount of horizontal space. Thus, if you have longer entries that are being cropped on the family card window, you could try using another font. You can also try changing the font size or style. For example, if your family data has lots of gigantic last names, you can condense the names by choosing a smaller font size. Your choice of font size is limited, due to the height of fields on the family card.

To change the font used to display information on the family card, choose Fonts from the Options menu and click the Family Card file-folder tab. You can select a different font for each of the following categories:

•	primary names - typically the husband and wife, in the middle of the screen.

•	secondary names - parents and children (at the top and bottom).

•	data - everything else.

Your font choices apply to all family cards.

If you have defined a fact or note field to use a custom font (using either Define Person Field [or Family Field] in the Options menu), the custom font will override the setting in the Fonts window.

Changing the Background and Button Colors on the Family Card

To change the background and button colors in the family card window, select Display from the Options menu and click the palette pop-up button. This will open the color palette and allow you to click on the color you want. Any changes made will apply to all family cards viewed in your family file.

Display Options will also allow you to set the color for the Child Status, which designates children with descendents.


Family Files


The Basics of Family Files

The Basics of Family Files

Family files are the files used to store your genealogical data. It is important to know how to use them as a tool to make doing your family history research even easier. In the next few sections we'll talk about creating, maintaining, and saving your family files, as well as using the research log built into EasyTree.

See Also:

Using One Family File

Using Multiple Family Files

Opening a Family File

Making a New, Empty Family File

Using the New Window

Family File Name

Family File Location

The Begin Window

Linking Family Files

Saving a Copy of (or Backing Up) Your Family File

Saving a Compact Copy of a Family File

Saving a Clone of a Family File


Using One Family File
The Basics of Family Files

In EasyTree, only one family file can be open at a time. And for many people, working with one family file will suffice.

There are many advantages to keeping all of your genealogical data in one family file:

•	There is no duplication of records.

•	Searching and finding records is limited to one file.

•	Reports and charts may contain more depth. For example, a pedigree chart for your child will be more complete if the ancestors of both of your parents are in the same family file.


Using Multiple Family Files
The Basics of Family Files

There may, however, be some advantages to splitting your research into several family files. For example:

•	Some features are faster on smaller family files, for example: finding, creating reports, calculating relationships, and creating certain other documents (such as calendars).

•	Reports will be focused on a particular branch of the family.

•	It's simpler at times to split up the family file between family members in order for them to research different branches of the family.

•	You can use a separate file to store data on unrelated families.

Helpful Tip!

Another good reason to use multiple family files is to keep unproven data, which you think may eventually tie into your line, separate from your main, documented family data. This is especially true when downloading files from the LDS Ancestral File or when you have received a GEDCOM disk from a distant cousin and aren't certain how accurate their research is.


Opening a Family File
The Basics of Family Files

To open a family file, simply choose the appropriate family file when you first start EasyTree. If you are already in one family file, and wish to open another, select Open from the File menu and select the family file you wish to go to. Please remember that this will close the family file that you were looking at before you opened the new one.


Making a New, Empty Family File
The Basics of Family Files

To create a new, empty family file, choose New from the File menu (or click New in the window that appears when you open EasyTree). Then enter a name for the new family file (up to 33 characters), click Save, and you'll have a brand new, empty family file ready to go.


Using the New Window
The Basics of Family Files

The New window is a standard window for naming and creating new files in Windows. It shows the contents of the Generations 7.0 folder as the default. If you want to open a file in another location, or perhaps store your data in another folder on your hard drive, use the Save In drop down menu next to the folder name. Choose one of the drive letters, depending on where you want to look for a file or start a new file. Once you have located the new file, determined where you want it to go, and have given it a name, click the Save button.


Family File Name
The Basics of Family Files

When you create a family file, you are asked to give it a name. When a family file is open, you'll see its name in the title bar of the family card window.

To change a family file name, you must quit EasyTree or choose Close from the File menu. Then locate the file you want by clicking your Start button on the toolbar at the bottom of your Windows desktop. This will activate a pop-up menu. Select Find from that menu, choose Files and Folders, type in the name of your file (don't forget the extension, which is ".uds"), and specify the letter of the drive you want the computer to search.

Once the file is located, you can right-click the name, select rename from the pop-up menu and then just retype the name right there! Windows will accept file names of up to 33 characters. Again, don't forget to add the correct extension to the end of the file (.uds), or EasyTree will not be able to open it in the future.

As a safety feature, Windows will not allow you to rename a file while it is still open in EasyTree.


Family File Location
The Basics of Family Files

A family file can be located anywhere on your hard disk. Windows also has a safety feature that will not allow you to move a family file when EasyTree has that family file open.


The Begin Window
The Basics of Family Files

Immediately after you create a new family file, the Begin window will appear. The purpose of this window is to help you get started with your family file.  You can begin your family by adding a male or female person, by importing a GEDCOM, or by importing another family file.  By importing another family file into your new family file, a copy o f the original is created with a new name.  For more information on GEDCOM files, see Importing and Exporting in Chapter 16.


Linking Family Files
The Basics of Family Files

If you split a family file into family file A and family file B, you won't be able to click on a parent or child button in file A and automatically open a family card in family file B. The two files are independent of one another and cannot access each other's records. You cannot link the two family files together in EasyTree, but you can make a GEDCOM of one and import it into the other; thus combining the two files. For more information on GEDCOM files, see Importing and Exporting.


Saving a Copy of (or Backing Up) Your Family File
The Basics of Family Files

In EasyTree, backing up your family file is accomplished using the Save a Copy command in the File menu. We recommend that you make a backup copy of your family file at the end of each EasyTree session. For extra safety, we also recommend that you maintain more than one backup copy on different disks. The purpose of creating backup copies of family files is to enable recovery from computer disasters such as hard disk crashes.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

You may even want to store a second copy of your file in a safety deposit box, or in another family member's home in the event that your backup disk and computer happen to both be damaged. This may seem a bit extreme if you have 50 people in your family file, but when the number gets upward of 1,000 or more it doesn't seem quite so outlandish!

To save an exact copy of a family file, choose Save a Copy from the File menu. Next, enter a name for the family file copy (a default name will be entered for you, but you can change it) and click the Save button.

The Save a Copy window is similar to the New window. You can click the black triangle to the right of the Save In field and navigate among your folders and drives to choose a new location for the copied file.


Saving a Compact Copy of a Family File
The Basics of Family Files

EasyTree will create a compact copy of your family file, in which it attempts to remove holes or unused links in your family file. "Holes" are deleted records that, over time, result in accumulation of free space within your file. In addition, the compact copy has no lists stored inside the family file (like the index, calendars, etc.). However, if you open and work with a compact copy, it will behave normally, and the lists can be regenerated and saved.

To save a Compact Copy of your family file, choose Save a Copy from the File menu and select Compact Copy from the Type pop-up menu.

Repairing Family Files

EasyTree performs another important function when it creates a compact copy, as it attempts to repair invalid links and corruption in your family file.


Saving a Clone of a Family File
The Basics of Family Files

To save a clone of your family file, choose Save a Copy from the File menu and then select Clone from the Type pop-up menu.

A clone of a family file is an exact copy minus all names, dates, families, sources, logs, and marked sets. One reason to create a clone is if you have customized a family file with elaborate report layouts, field definitions, defaults, etc. Rather than repeating all of that work in a new family file, you just create a clone of your current file, and add the new names, dates, places, etc.!


Family File Information
Family Files

To see information and statistics on the current family file, your operating system, and Generations, select Get Info from the File menu.

The Information window has two sections: Family File and System.

The Family File section provides details about the files in your Generations folder and the current family file. You should keep an eye on the Reports number. Every report that Generations opens in your word processor is saved in the Reports folder on your hard drive - this can include person sheets, family group sheets, Register reports, etc. If you have numerous practice report files or outdated report files in the Reports folder, delete them by opening the Reports folder on your Windows desktop and dragging the files to the Recycle Bin.

The System section provides details about file versions of your software and information about your hardware.

If you would like to create a report of the information in the Information window, click the Report button.


Logs
Family Files

Family file logs provide places to document your research efforts. For example, you could define a log for each major branch of your family and chronicle what research you have done relating to each branch: your library visits, your written correspondence, your upcoming tasks, etc.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

Recording your research activities is important in helping you to avoid duplicating your research efforts. It may be helpful to make these notes as specific as you can. For example, if you've already extracted a census record from a particular county, having that noted in your research log will help you avoid doing it again the next time you happen to be searching that county for another family.

To record information in a log, choose Logs from the Edit menu. The scrolling field on the right side displays the contents of the log highlighted on the left side. To select a log, click a name in the list of logs on the left. You may enter and save up to 64,000 characters in each log. Text in each log can be edited using standard windows cut and paste commands:

•	To cut something out of a field, press CTRL + X. Doing this removes the text to the clipboard, ready to paste somewhere else.

•	To copy something in a field, press CTRL + C. This will copy the text to the clipboard, but not remove it from the field.

•	To paste something into a field, press CTRL + V. This will paste the text that is currently on the clipboard into the field where your cursor is.

The Today button in the Log window provides a shortcut for date-stamping a new log entry.

Adding and Naming a Log

To add a new log, click the Add Log button. A new log will appear in the list. To name a log, click the name in the list, then click again to edit the name directly in the list.

Deleting a Log

To delete a log, select the log name in the list on the left, and click the Delete Log button.

Reporting the Log

Clicking the Report button opens a window wherein you enter a title and destination for the report. The destination is the place where the report is going or is being directed. There are several destinations to choose from: your word processor, your Web folder, an .RTF file, a plain text file, or straight to the printer.

Text Style and Color

The text in logs can be styled and colored. To change the style of selected text click the Text Style pop-up menu button in the upper-right corner above the log text. Next to it is the Color pop-up menu button that, when depressed, will bring up the color palette for you to choose a color from.


Startup Options
Family Files

To set Startup options, choose Startup from the Options menu. This opens the Startup window, which has two sections: Home and Calendar.

Choosing a Home Card

The home card is the family card that is displayed when you open a family file. It is also the family card that opens when you click the Home button on the toolbar, or choose Home from the Find menu.

To pick a home card, click the Change Home Card button and select a name from the index.

To use the current family card, click the Use Current Family button.

Shortcut

The easiest and shortest way to designate a new home card is to click on any button (child, parent, husband, or wife) and drag it to the Home button on the toolbar. This will automatically designate the person you just dragged to the Home button as the home card.


Splitting Family Files
Family Files

The best way to divide your family records is to set up separate family files before starting to enter data. For example, you may want to put your mom's side of the family into one file, and your dad's side of the family into another file.

Splitting an Existing Family File

If you decide to break an existing family file into smaller family files, you must duplicate your current file (by opening your family file and choosing Save a Copy from the File menu) and selectively delete overlapping people in the resulting family files. A step-by-step example of this feature is given below.

Example: Splitting Files for Mom and Dad

Let's say you've entered 1,000 names into a family file called "Everybody". Then a cousin calls saying she has collected information on 500 more people on your mom's side of the family and wants to help you enter the data into your family file. After explaining to her how addicting the Generations software is, you decide to split your family file - creating one file for your mom's side of the family and another file for your dad's. This will allow you to send your cousin just the data from your mother's side of the family to work with. Here's how to get the job done:

1.	Open the family file called "Everybody."

2.	Choose Save a Copy from the File menu. Name the copy "Dad."

3.	Again, choose Save a Copy from the File menu and name it "Mom." You'll now have three family files: Everybody, Dad, and Mom.

4.	Select Open from the File menu and open the Dad file. Delete all the people on your mom's side of the family. To automate the process of deleting Mom's relatives, follow the instructions below, Deleting Mom's Relatives.

5.	When you're done deleting people on your mom's side in the Dad file, repeat step 4, only with the Mom file. (Open the Mom file and delete people on your dad's side of the family.)

6.	When you have successfully split your Everybody file into two separate smaller files (Mom and Dad), you should avoid entering more records into the Everybody file, as they would not be included in your new Mom and Dad files.

Deleting Mom's Relatives

1.	Open your Mom's family card.

2.	Choose Relationships from the List menu.

3.	Select Mom as the source person.

4.	Click the Identify button.

5.	Click the Cancel button.

6.	Choose Mark Groups from the Find menu.

7.	Click the Relationship radio button.

8.	Click the Mark button - this will mark all people related to your Mom.

9.	Click Close.

10.	Choose Delete People from the File menu.

11.	Click the Delete Marked People button.

Merging Family Files

EasyTree lets you add records from one family file to another using its Import features. You can combine entire family files or just subsets of family files. For more information on this process, please see Importing and Exporting.


Adding and Linking People

The bulk of your work in EasyTree will be entering data on the people who make up your family tree. In this chapter, we will be covering how to go about doing that, as well as some tips on unusual situations you may run across while entering your family's information.

See Also:

Data Entry

Adding People

Children

Editing Child Buttons

Parents

Multiple Spouses

Fields


Data Entry
Adding and Linking People

The core of this software is a database designed for genealogy. Databases typically have many records (people, families, sources, etc.), and records contain fields for entering information (names, events, facts, notes, addresses, etc.). Information garnered from the fields in records is presented in reports and charts (family group sheets, pedigree charts, etc.).

See also

Editing Information

Removing Individuals and Families

Data Entry Fonts

Special Characters


Editing Information
Adding and Linking People / Data Entry

The windows used to enter information are also used to edit information. Clicking either the husband or wife family card will open their corresponding Edit Person window. If you want to edit information for one of the children, simply click their child button to bring up their family card and then click their name. You can also use the Edit menu if you'd like to. To do this select Person (Husband or Wife) from the Edit menu and their Edit Person window will open. Data entry windows open and show previous entries, waiting for your corrections or additions.


Removing Individuals and Families
Adding and Linking People / Data Entry

EasyTree lets you delete individuals and families. However, if you need to correct data entry mistakes, it is almost always better to edit existing information or links. For example, if you misspell someone's name, you don't have to delete the person! Just rename the person in the Edit Person window. Likewise, if you put a child in the wrong family, you don't have to delete the child, just remove the child from one family and link it to another. In Removing or Unlinking People, how to move a child button, remove links, and delete individuals will be discussed.


Data Entry Fonts
Adding and Linking People / Data Entry

To change the font used to display information in data entry windows, choose Fonts from the Options menu and click the Data Entry file-folder tab. Your choice of data entry font and size affects all data entry windows; however, it is possible to override this if you need to define special fonts for notes or facts fields. To learn about defining special fonts, see Fields.

Your choice of font size is limited, due to the limited height of fields in data entry windows.


Special Characters
Adding and Linking People / Data Entry

Windows supports unusual text characters including diacritical marks of non-English languages. These are often referred to as extended characters.

There are two ways to insert extended characters into an EasyTree data entry field:

1.	Position the insertion cursor where you want the character to appear and type ALT + the ASCII code for the character. (The Windows Character Map can be used as a quick reference for extended characters, including their ASCII code. You will find this code number in the lower-left corner of the Character Map once you highlight the character you want. For more information about extended characters, consult the Additional Accessories chapter in your Microsoft Windows User's Guide.)

2.	Copy the character from a text or word document and paste it into your notes or fields using the standard Windows cut and paste shortcut keys.

Examples of Extended Characters:

Norwegian: æ ø å Æ Ø Å

Swedish: ä ö Ä Ö

German: ü Ü ß ö

Spanish: ñ é í ó

French: ç é è " œ

Advanced Users Tip

It is also possible to download shareware character sets off the Internet to use in your data entry. Particularly if you'd like to use character sets for Eastern European languages such as Polish, Russian, Czechoslovakian, etc.


Adding People
Adding and Linking People

You can add people to your family file as children, parents, or spouses, depending on their relationship with other people in your family file. Or, if you don't know how a person is related to someone else, you can simply add an unrelated person.

Are You Adding a New Person or Linking to an Existing Person?

The essence of data entry into the EasyTree database is to determine if you are adding a new person (someone not yet entered in EasyTree) or linking two existing people (two people already entered into the database).

See also

Adding Related People

Adding Unrelated People

Using EasyTree as a Scratch Pad

Entering a Person's Sex


Adding Related People
Adding and Linking People / Adding People

If you are going to add someone new to the database, and this individual is related to another person in your family file, then you need to first find the family card containing the existing person (the person already in the database). There are several ways you can find an existing record. Here are a few:

•	you can right-click the Back or Forward buttons and check to see if they are in the pop-up list of the last 200 records you have looked at,

•	you can use the Recall button on the toolbar if you know you've bookmarked that individual, or

•	you can use the Index button on the toolbar to find them in the alphabetical listing of individuals.

Once you have found and opened the desired family card, you can use the Add pop-up menus to add the new related person. The Add pop-up menus appear as green or blue plus signs. For example, if you were adding a child to a family, you would click the blue plus sign and choose to add either a New Male Child or a New Female Child. On the other hand, if you want to add a new spouse or parents, you would click the green plus sign and add either a New Spouse, New Father, or New Mother.

Now, let's say that you have two different individuals already in your family file that you just discovered are related to one another. Rather than adding these people, we are simply going to link them. The method is much the same as for adding someone new. To do this, simply find one of the individuals on their family card. Then, using the Add pop-up menu buttons, you would choose one of the Existing options. More examples of adding and linking individuals will be given later in this chapter.


Adding Unrelated People
Adding and Linking People / Adding People

If you have information about a person but can't establish a link to someone in your records, you can still enter the person by choosing the Add Unrelated Person (Male or Female) command from the Edit menu.

If you later learn that this person is the child, parent, or spouse of somebody else in your records, you can easily link the people together by choosing the correct Existing command from one of the Add pop-up menus, thereby linking the records together.

For example, if you enter an unlinked person named Tasha and later discover her parents are also in the same family file, you can pull up her family card and link her parents by choosing Existing Father from the Edit menu.


Using EasyTree as a Scratch Pad
Adding and Linking People / Adding People

EasyTree will mostly be used to collect information about people and families who are related to you in some way. However, while doing research, you may stumble upon information about people who you believe might be related to you, although you may not be certain at the time of discovery. Rather than discard this information, you can use EasyTree to record these people, even though they may not be linked to each other - or to any other people in your family file. Using EasyTree in this way is like using a notebook to record fragments of data for later use.

Helpful Tip!

If you receive a small file about an unrelated line, you may want to add it to the family file to which you think it is connected. However, if you receive a large file, you may want to start a new family file and add it to that file. One reason for not adding a large amount of unrelated information to your main family file is that it will affect the speed of your searches, as well as the sheer amount of data you have to sift through in features such as the index.


Entering a Person's Sex
Adding and Linking People / Adding People

If you don't know whether a child is male or female, you can still choose either Female Child or Male Child from the Add Children pop-up menu and then set the sex to Unknown in the Edit Person window.

The sex of a child is also shown in the Edit Children window.


Children
Adding and Linking People

The Display of Children

The first and middle names (given names) of children are displayed on child buttons near the bottom of family cards. If you have entered children in chronological order, the children's buttons will be displayed oldest to youngest, moving top to bottom and left to right. EasyTree supports up to 50 children per couple.

See also

Child Button Names

Male or Female

Children with Multiple Marriages

Entering Children

A New or Existing Child

Information About a Child


Child Button Names
Adding and Linking People / Children

The text that appears on a child button is the first and middle names (given names) entered for the child. Thus, to change the name of a child button, you must change the name(s) of the child.

Child button names can be up to 75 characters in length but the text displayed on a child button will be limited to about 30 characters. The exact limit depends on four things: the letters in the name, the number of uppercase letters, the font selected for child buttons, and the size of the family card window (which also determines the width of the child buttons). Thus, assuming your family card is maximized, longer names will appear more complete on a 17" monitor than on a 15" monitor, for example.


Male or Female
Adding and Linking People / Children

The sex of a child is indicated by the shape of its child button. Boys will have rectangular buttons; girls will have rounded buttons; children with unknown sex will have pointed buttons.


Children with Multiple Marriages
Adding and Linking People / Children

The child buttons for people with multiple spouses will appear with a little red triangle near the end of the button. If you click next to the red triangle, a Spouse pop-up menu will appear.

If you just click a child button the normal way - if you don't use the Spouse pop-up menu (the red triangle on a child button) - EasyTree will open the family card for the preferred spouse. The preferred spouse is the spouse that you typically want to appear with a person as you navigate through the family file. Later in this chapter we'll discuss how to change the preferred spouse.


Entering Children
Adding and Linking People / Children

Children should be entered starting with the oldest and working down to the youngest. However, should you have children listed in the wrong order, it is easy to rearrange them (see Rearranging Child Buttons). To add a child, first navigate to the family card showing the parents in the center of the card, and then use the Add Children pop-up menu (the blue plus sign) that appears in the lower-right portion of the family card.


A New or Existing Child
Adding and Linking People / Children

As you're about to add a child to a family, you should ask yourself if the person is already entered in the family file. If not, you add a new person. (You can check the index if you're not sure.)

If a child is already entered somewhere else in the family file, you would add an existing child. Anytime you choose to add an existing child, EasyTree opens the index and lets you select the child there.

In most cases, you'll be adding new children to your family file. However, if a child has already been entered in the family file, then you should not add a new child. Doing so would create duplicate entries for the same person.

One reason why an individual could already be entered is because he is related to somebody else in the family file and was previously entered in some other line of the family. A classic example is when cousins marry.

Advanced Users

Letter key, command key, and other shortcuts can also be used to perform a lot of the functions described in this chapter, as well as other chapters. Please see Easy Tree Control Key Shortcuts for more information on how to use these shortcuts.


Information About a Child
Adding and Linking People / Children

Anytime you add a new child, the Edit Person window will appear waiting for you to enter the name, dates, and other information for that child. The father's surname will appear, by default, as the surname of each child; however, you may change it if necessary. For married female children, use the maiden name. When you're finished, click the Save button or press ENTER. Remember, you can always come back and make corrections later if you need to.


Editing Child Buttons
Adding and Linking People

To edit the child buttons on the current family card, click the Children button on the toolbar or choose Children from the Edit menu. This opens the Children section of the Edit Family window, which contains several options.

See also

Changing Text Color on a Child Button

Rearranging Child Buttons

Name, Birth/Death Dates

Child Status

The Sex of a Child

Bold Child Buttons, Showing Direct Lines of Descent

Removing or Unlinking a Child Button

Moving a Child Button

No Children

Stepchildren

Adopted Children

Duplicate Child Buttons

Duplicate Child Buttons = Multiple Sets of Parents

The "Duplicate" Child Status

Calculating Relationships for Duplicate Child Buttons


Rearranging Child Buttons
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

On each family card, child buttons are displayed oldest to youngest moving top to bottom and left to right. This is essential in order to list children correctly in reports and charts.

There may be times when, because of a mistake or due to discovery of new information, the order of child buttons on a family card must be changed. There are two ways to put the child buttons in chronological order:

1.	On the family card, click and drag a child button to the spot where the child belongs - right on top of another child button on the family card.

2.	Choose Children from the Edit menu and click the Sort Children button. However, if some birth dates are incomplete or unknown, you can click and drag children up or down in the list.


Changing Text Color on a Child Button
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

The Child Button text (i.e., name) appears blue by default when that person is listed as having descendants of his or her own. You can change this color if you wish in the Options menu. To do this,  first select Options from the main menu and click on Display. This will bring up the Display window. From here, use the color drop down box under "Child Button Text Color for child that has descendants". You can choose from 88 different colors. If you do not wish to use a color indicator, simply select black as the text color.


Name, Birth/Death Dates
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

The Children section of the Edit Family window contains fields for name, birth date, and death date for each child. You can edit the information in these fields; however, to edit other information for a child, it's better to open the child's Edit Person window. From the Edit Family window, you can do this by double-clicking any child in the list.


Child Status
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

Each child button can be assigned one of 15 different child status types. Each status can be associated with a different outline color - giving you a visual clue as you click through the family file. The first status type, None, is predefined by EasyTree. You can define and pick an outline color for each of the remaining 14 status types.

To assign a status to a child button, choose Children from the Edit menu and select a child's name in the Children section of the Edit Family window. Then use the pop-up menu under the Status column. You can also assign child status by right-clicking a child button on the family card, and choosing the desired status from the pop-up menu.

When you click a child button with a status, the status name will appear in the message area of the status bar - just in case you forget how the colors are assigned.

Defining Status Types

To change a status definition, choose Child Status from the Options menu, click inside one of the 14 boxes in the Child Status window, and type in a different child status. Child status definitions can be a maximum of 25 characters.

Assigning Colors to Status

Each status (except None) can be assigned one of 88 different colors. To assign colors to status types, choose Child Status from the Options menu and use the Color pop-up menu buttons to the right of each status field. When a child button is assigned a status, the color of the child button outline will match the color selected in the Child Status window.


The Sex of a Child
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

To assign a sex to a child, choose Children from the Edit menu and select a child's name in the Children section of the Edit Family window. Then use the pop-up menu under the Sex column. You may choose Male, Female, or Unknown. Changing the sex changes the shape of the child button.

The sex of a person can also be changed in the Edit Person window by clicking the Sex pop-up menu and choosing Male, Female, or Unknown.


Bold Child Buttons, Showing Direct Lines of Descent
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

The Edit Children window lets you manually designate child buttons as bold by checking on the check box in the Direct column. This creates a nice visual aid for seeing direct lines of descent from generation to generation - making it easier to navigate through your family file.

The Direct Lines Bold window, lets you automatically make bold child buttons for all direct ancestors of a person. Using this feature will be discussed in Direct Lines Bold.


Removing or Unlinking a Child Button
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

If the wrong child appears on a family card, the easiest way to remove it is to drag the child button to the Recycle Bin in the upper-right corner.

Another way to remove a child button from a family is to choose Children from the Edit menu, select a child, and click Remove Link. This does not delete the child from the family file - it only removes it (unlinks it) from the current family card.


Moving a Child Button
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

If you have entered and linked a child button to the wrong family card, you can easily correct the problem without losing any information or links. Here's how:

1.	Navigate to the card where the child button appears.

2.	Drag the child button to the Recycle Bin to the right of the toolbar.

3.	Navigate to the family card where the child button should appear.

4.	Click the Recycle Bin icon. A window will appear showing the contents of the Recycle Bin.

5.	Click and drag the child out of the Recycle Bin and into the area at the bottom of the screen where the child should appear.


No Children
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

When you see a family card with no child buttons, it can mean one of three things:

1.	The couple had no children.

2.	You haven't yet entered any children.

3.	You don't know if the couple had any children.

If you desire an explicit reminder that a couple definitely had no children, you should choose No Children from the Add Children pop-up menu button. Doing this will put the words "No Children" on the family card in the area where child buttons appear.


Stepchildren
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

A child should be entered on a family card showing his biological or adoptive parents. Normally, stepchildren and biological children are not displayed on the same card. Stepchildren of one couple are really the biological children of another couple, and, in EasyTree, are entered and displayed that way.

However, there are rare cases involving stepchildren where you may want to create duplicate child buttons - where one child appears on two family cards.

For example, in a family file that has family cards for the biological and stepparents of a child, situations arise where the child is legally considered to be part of the family of one biological parent and one stepparent - but he or she is not adopted. Here the researcher wants to document the child on…

•	a family card showing both biological parents and

•	a family card showing one biological parent and one stepparent - because the child has legal rights and is considered to be part of this family.


Adopted Children
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

Normally an adopted child is entered on the card showing the child's adoptive parents. However, duplicate child buttons are necessary if the researcher wants to document the child on:

•	a family card showing the child's adoptive parents and

•	a family card showing the child's biological parents.


Duplicate Child Buttons
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

To create duplicate child buttons, you'll have to add the child button on both family cards, however, you don't want to create duplicate records for the child.

To enter a child on the first card, find the desired parents and, from the Add Children pop-up menu, choose New Male Child (or New Female Child). Then enter the name and details of the child. To add the duplicate child button:

1.	Find the desired parents for the second family card.

2.	From the Add Children pop-up menu, choose Existing Male Child (or Female Child).

3.	Select the correct child in the index and click the Link button.

4.	Click the Save button.


Duplicate Child Buttons = Multiple Sets of Parents
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

When a person has duplicate child buttons, it also means that multiple parents are linked to the same person. You can easily select which set of parents appear above the person's name by choosing Parents from the Edit menu and designating the preferred parents.

The issue of which parents are designated as preferred is crucial when it comes to printing a pedigree chart for someone (or any of their descendants). It's important because the chart will flow backward in time through the preferred parents - the parents that appear above a person's name.


The "Duplicate" Child Status
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

Since duplicate child buttons should be very rare, and since the issue of linking the correct parents is important, you might need a visual clue for duplicate child buttons. We suggest that you use a custom status for this purpose (call it Duplicate). If you do, you'll be able to see at a glance (by the child button outline color) that a child button is a duplicate.


Calculating Relationships for Duplicate Child Buttons
Adding and Linking People / Editing Child Buttons

When you calculate relationships for a source person, the relationships are calculated assuming that the parents shown on the source person's family card are the only parents.

For example, let's say that a child button for Vladimir appears on his biological parent's card (A), and on his aunt's family card (B).

If you select Vladimir's aunt and uncle (from family card B) as the preferred parents on Vladimir's family card, then calculating relationships for Vladimir as the source person would result in Vladimir's brother on his biological parents' family card as a "1st cousin."

However, when choosing another person as the source person, EasyTree ignores which parents are chosen when calculating relationships. Using the example above, if you choose Vladimir's aunt as the source person, Vladimir will appear as "son" regardless of which parents you choose to display on Vladimir's family card. EasyTree uses the first relationship it finds. In this example, EasyTree found Vladimir as a "son" before finding him as a "nephew."


Parents
Adding and Linking People

The Display of Parents

The parents of a person appear above a person's name, near the top of the family card. The full names of parents are displayed on parent buttons.

A parent's birth and death dates are shown underneath the parent's button. You have the option to display complete dates, or just the year of birth and death. To change this, choose Display from the Options menu and click one of the two radio buttons under the title Short Dates for Parents.

By clicking on a parent button, you go immediately to the parent's record - typically the parents become the husband and wife (in the middle of the screen), their children's names will appear in buttons below, and their respective parents will be listed above.

See also

Adding Parents: New or Existing?

Adding a Father

Adding a Mother

Multiple Parents

The Parent Pop-up Menu Button

The Preferred Parents

Removing or Unlinking Parents


Adding Parents: New or Existing?
Adding and Linking People / Parents

As you're about to add a parent to a person, you should first find out if the parent is already entered in the family file. (You can check the index if you're not sure.) If not, you add a new person. When you add a new parent, EasyTree will automatically create a new family card for the parent and automatically put a child button on the parent's family card. The Edit Person window will appear waiting for you to enter the parent's name, dates, and other details. Surnames of fathers will appear by default, based on the surname of the child; however, you can change it if necessary.

If a parent is already entered somewhere else in the family file, you would add an existing person. Anytime you choose to add an existing person, EasyTree lets you select the person from the index.


Adding a Father
Adding and Linking People / Parents

To add a person's father, use the Add pop-up menu (the blue plus sign) that appears above a person's name:

•	Choose New Father if the father hasn't been entered in the family file.

•	Choose Existing Father if the father has already been entered in the family file.


Adding a Mother
Adding and Linking People / Parents

To add a person's mother, use the Add pop-up menu (the blue plus sign) that appears above a person's name:

•	Choose New Mother if the mother hasn't been entered in the family file.

•	Choose Existing Mother if the mother has already been entered in the family file.

Shortcut

To add a new parent, simply click an empty parent button!


Multiple Parents
Adding and Linking People / Parents

As discussed earlier in this chapter, there may be situations where you enter multiple sets of parents for a person. The best example is when you enter both adoptive and biological parents.

Entering a second set of parents is handled exactly like entering the first set of parents, which was explained in the previous sections.


The Parent Pop-up Menu Button
Adding and Linking People / Parents

When multiple parents are linked to a person, a special Parent pop-up menu button will appear between the parent buttons. The purpose of this button is to navigate to different sets of parents.


The Preferred Parents
Adding and Linking People / Parents

If you have a situation where a child button is duplicated - a person has multiple parents and thus appears as a child on more than one family card - you may specify the parents that appear above the person's name. The parents that appear above a person's name are called the preferred parents. To change the preferred parents, choose Parents from the Edit menu and click in the "Preferred" column. A checkmark shows you which parents are designated as preferred. Thus, if you have multiple parents for a person, and you want a different set of parents to appear above a person's name, the trick is to change the preferred parents.


Removing or Unlinking Parents
Adding and Linking People / Parents

If the wrong set of parents appear on a family card (in the upper-left or upper-right corner), the easiest way to remove them is to drag them to the Recycle Bin. When you drag one parent to the Recycle Bin, the spouse comes along for the ride.

If the wrong parents appear above a person's name, then the person also appears, incorrectly, as a child on the parents' card. Dragging parents to the Recycle Bin simultaneously removes the child button from the wrong family card.

The other method for removing parents is to choose Parents from the Edit menu, highlight the parents you wish to remove, and click the Remove Link button.

Helpful Tip!

Removing parents does not delete people from a family file. It only removes links. The parents remain in the family file as do each parent's ancestors and descendants.


Multiple Spouses
Adding and Linking People

EasyTree makes a different family card for each couple. If a man has been married a total of three times, he will appear on three family cards - one for each immediate family of which he was a part. The biological and adopted children of each of his three separate marriages will appear on the family card showing the children's biological or adoptive parents as the husband and wife.

See also

The Spouse Pop-Up Menu

The Preferred Spouse

Adding Spouses: New or Existing?

Same-Sex Marriages

Children of Multiple Spouses

The Order of Spouses

Removing or Unlinking Spouses

Renaming Spouses

Moving A Spouse

Examples of Adding Existing Spouses


The Spouse Pop-Up Menu
Adding and Linking People / Multiple Spouses

You can see at a glance if a person has multiple spouses - just look for a red triangle next to the person's name. This is called the Spouse pop-up menu button. To see a list of spouses for a person, press the Spouse pop-up menu button. To open a family card for an individual and one of his spouses, click near the red triangle and choose a name from the Spouse pop-up menu.

The child buttons for people with multiple spouses will also appear with a red triangle near the end of the button. If you click the red triangle, a Spouse pop-up menu will appear.


The Preferred Spouse
Adding and Linking People / Multiple Spouses

If you click a child button in the normal way (if you don't click the red triangle on a child button), EasyTree will open the family card for the child and his preferred spouse.

To designate the preferred spouse, choose Spouses from the Edit menu. You can also choose Edit from the Spouse pop-up menu. This opens the Edit Spouses window.

To change the preferred spouse, click in the "Preferred" column. A checkmark shows you which spouse is designated as preferred. Thus, if you have multiple spouses for a person, and you typically want a particular spouse to appear with a person as you navigate through your family file, the trick is to change the preferred spouse.


Adding Spouses: New or Existing?
Adding and Linking People / Multiple Spouses

As you're about to add a spouse to a person, you should ask yourself if the spouse is already entered in the family file. (You can check the index if you're not sure.) If not, you add a new spouse. When you add a new spouse, the Edit Person window will appear waiting for you to enter the spouse's name, dates and other details.

If a spouse is already entered somewhere in the family file, you would add an existing spouse. Perhaps they are related to somebody else in the family file, or they were previously entered in some other line of the family. An example of this is when cousins marry or when the survivors of two pre-existing marriages marry.

Anytime you choose to add an existing spouse, EasyTree lets you select the person from the index.

To add a person's spouse, use the Add pop-up menu (the green plus sign) that appears above a person's name:

•	Choose New Spouse if the spouse hasn't yet been entered in the family file.

•	Choose Existing Spouse if the spouse has already been entered in the family file.

EasyTree supports up to 50 spouses per person.

Helpful Tip!

To add the first spouse to someone, simply click the empty spouse button next to them on their family card.


Same-Sex Marriages
Adding and Linking People / Multiple Spouses

EasyTree will allow you to enter a same-sex marriage by simply changing the sex of the spouse or partner. You would enter this marriage as you would any other marriage, but simply change the sex of the individual when the Edit Person window opens.


Children of Multiple Spouses
Adding and Linking People / Multiple Spouses

A child should be entered on the family card showing his biological or adoptive parents as the husband and wife. Stepchildren and biological children are normally displayed on different family cards. Stepchildren of one couple are really the biological children of another couple and, in EasyTree, are entered and shown that way.

However, as mentioned earlier in the chapter, there are rare cases involving step-children where you may want to create duplicate child buttons - where one child appears on two family cards.

For example, in a family file that has family cards for the biological and stepparents of a child, situations arise where the child is legally considered to be part of the family of one biological parent and one stepparent - but he or she is not adopted. Here the researcher wants to document the child on:

•	a family card showing both biological parents and

•	a family card showing one biological parent and one stepparent - because the child has legal rights and is considered to be part of this family.


The Order of Spouses
Adding and Linking People / Multiple Spouses

To edit the order of spouses for a person, choose Spouses from the Edit menu. This opens the Edit Spouses window. (You can also choose Edit from the Spouse pop-up menu.) To put the spouses in correct chronological order, click the Sort button. If necessary, you can click on a spouse in the list and drag him up or down (for example, if marriage dates for the spouses are incomplete or unknown).

In the Edit Spouses window and in the Spouse pop-up menu, multiple spouses should be listed chronologically by marriage date. This is important for reports and charts to be formatted correctly.


Removing or Unlinking Spouses
Adding and Linking People / Multiple Spouses

If the wrong spouse appears on a family card, the easiest way to remove the spouse is to drag him to the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin is located in the upper-right of the family card. The other method for removing a spouse from a person is to choose Spouse from the Edit menu, select a spouse in the list, and click Remove Link. This will remove the spouse from a person; however, it does not delete the spouses from the family file. You can always locate the removed spouse in the index.


Renaming Spouses
Adding and Linking People / Multiple Spouses

A name that appears in the Spouse pop-up menu represents the first name, last name, and title entered for that person. Thus, changing the name or title of a person in their Edit Person window will also change the person's name as it appears in the Spouse pop-up menu.


Moving A Spouse
Adding and Linking People / Multiple Spouses

If you accidentally add a spouse to the wrong person, you can "move" the spouse from one person to another. Here's how:

1.	Navigate to the family card where the spouse appears incorrectly.

2.	Drag the spouse's button to the Recycle Bin in the upper-right corner of the family card.

3.	Navigate to the family card where the spouse should appear.

4.	Click the Recycle Bin. A window will appear showing the contents of the Recycle Bin.

5.	Click and drag the person out of the Recycle Bin and onto the button where the spouse should appear.


Examples of Adding Existing Spouses
Adding and Linking People / Multiple Spouses

The following examples illustrate how to add a spouse who already appears somewhere else in your family file.

Situation 1:

We have entered François and Anne-marie on a family card. They divorce. Natalie already appears on a different family card with her ex-husband Pierre. François and Natalie get married. How do I marry them in my file?

Solution:

Find the family card for François and Anne-marie.

Using the Add pop-up menu above François's name, choose Existing Spouse.

Find and select Natalie's name in the index. Click Link. This will create a new family card for François and Natalie.

Situation 2:

Vincent and Kory are the sons of Earl.

Vincent marries Melissa. Kory marries Rebecca. We have already entered both of these marriages in the family file.

Kory dies. Melissa dies.

Vincent marries Rebecca.

Solution:

On Kory and Rebecca's family card, use the Add pop-up menu above Rebecca's name and choose Existing Spouse, select Vincent from the index, and click Link.

or…

On Vincent and Melissa's family card, use the Add pop-up menu above Vincent's name, choose Existing Spouse, select Rebecca from the index, and click Link.


Fields
Adding and Linking People

EasyTree has different types of fields to record different types of information.

Person fields are for information relating to a person. Family fields are for information relating to a couple, or perhaps a nuclear family. Source fields are for information about sources of data.

There are four types of person fields: events, facts, notes, and flags. There are only three types of family fields: marriage items, notes, and events.

See also

Defining Person Fields

Defining Family Fields

Defining a New Field

Abbreviation

Narrative Form (Events, Flags, and Marriage Items only)

GEDCOM Tag

Font (Facts and Notes only)

Deleting a Field Definition

Locked Fields

Active Fields

Default Fields

Deleting and Moving Fields

Examples of Moving Fields

Field Lengths


Defining Person Fields
Adding and Linking People / Fields

EasyTree includes many preformatted fields from which to choose. However, you may need to define new fields to suit the needs of your research. For example, you might need to record a particular type of fact or event that isn't in the defaults provided by EasyTree.

To define person fields, choose Define from the Options menu and select Person Fields. The Define Person Fields window contains four sections that are used to define events, facts, notes, and flags. The fields you define here are available for use with any person in your family file.


Defining Family Fields
Adding and Linking People / Fields

To define family fields, choose Define from the Options menu and select Family Fields. The Define Family Fields window contains three sections that are used to define marriage items, notes, and events. The fields you define here are available for use with any couple in your family file.

The right side of either window shows important editable attributes of the field highlighted on the left side. Depending on the type of field, these attributes can include: name, abbreviation, narrative form, GEDCOM tag, and font.


Defining a New Field
Adding and Linking People / Fields

Before defining a new type of field, check each section and scroll through the lists to make sure the desired field isn't already defined. If not, select the type of field you need (event, note, etc.) by clicking the appropriate file-folder tab. Then click the Add button.

When you create a new field, a new line is added to the list of fields, and the right side of the Define Fields window displays important attributes of the highlighted field.

Helpful Tip!

If the Edit Person of Edit Family window is open, you can still get to the Define Fields window by choosing Other from one of the Add pop-up menus (such as Add Event), and then clicking the Define Events, Notes, or Facts button depending on which area you are coming from.

Name

To name your new field or to rename an existing field, type the name directly into the list. Your field names must be unique within each section.


Abbreviation
Adding and Linking People / Fields

In certain reports and charts, the title of a field will be abbreviated. Use the abbreviation fields in the right side of the Define Fields window to specify your abbreviations. Long abbreviations are used in person sheets and family group sheets. Short abbreviations are used in chart boxes.


Narrative Form (Events, Flags, and Marriage Items only)
Adding and Linking People / Fields

The narrative form refers to the way a field will be expressed in narrative-style reports, such as the Register report. With events and marriage items, you can control the arrangement of sentence items as well as the choice of verb and the preposition that precedes the place element of an event. A sample of your choices will appear in the window.

For flags, you simply define what a "checked" flag field represents. For example, if you have a flag defined as "Immigrant," you could set up the narrative expression as: "This person is one of our immigrant ancestors."


GEDCOM Tag
Adding and Linking People / Fields

The GEDCOM Tag is typically a 4-letter word that identifies the contents of a field. This tag will be used if you export a GEDCOM file.


Font (Facts and Notes only)
Adding and Linking People / Fields

You can specify the font used for displaying and reporting a fact or note field. To view the preset (or default) fonts, choose Fonts from the Options menu.

We recommend that you keep this set to "Default;" however, there may be instances where you are recording information in a fact that requires a particular font (such as Hebrew names) or a note field that requires a particular font. (Examples: you may desire to transcribe documents in their original language, or record Czechoslovakian godparent names using a Czechoslovakian font.)


Deleting a Field Definition
Adding and Linking People / Fields

You can only delete a field definition if the field is not used anywhere in your family file. (To delete all occurrences of a field in the family file, see Deleting and Moving Fields.) To delete a field definition, select its name and click the Delete button.


Locked Fields
Adding and Linking People / Fields

Some fields can't be deleted. These include birth, death, marriage items, and miscellaneous notes.


Active Fields
Adding and Linking People / Fields

EasyTree will automatically mark a field as active when it is first used. If a field is active, it will appear in various pop-up menus. For example, if you attempt to add an event in the Edit Person window, a list of active event fields will appear in the Add Event pop-up menu.

Similarly, if you attempt to select an event in the Calendar window, a list of active event fields will appear in the Event pop-up menu.

If you've only used a particular field once or twice in your family file, and you don't want the field name to clutter your pop-up menus, you should designate it as inactive. To do this, choose Define from the Options menu and then select Person Fields (or Family Fields). Once the window opens, select the appropriate field, and uncheck the Active box for the field.


Default Fields
Adding and Linking People / Fields

Default fields are those that appear when you add a new person, and the Edit Person window is opened for the first time.

Default fields also appear in various pop-up menus. For example, in the Edit Person window, if you attempt to add an event, a list of default event fields will appear in the Add Event pop-up menu.

To designate default fields, choose Default from the Options menu and then select Person Fields (or Family Fields). Then use the tabs at the top of the window to select the type of field. Finally, use the Add or Delete buttons to create the collection of default fields.

You can drag fields up and down to define the order of default fields.


Deleting and Moving Fields
Adding and Linking People / Fields

Watch Out!

These commands are VERY powerful and may affect information entered for each person. Once you have used these functions, they cannot be undone. We strongly recommend that you choose Save a Copy from the File menu before using any command in the Delete/Move Fields window.

Deleting a Field

If, for some reason, you want to delete all occurrences of a particular field in your family file, you may do so by choosing Delete/Move Fields from the File menu. When the window opens, select a field in the Field pop-up menu, and click the Delete Field button. EasyTree will give you two chances to cancel, in case you decide you don't want to delete a field.

Moving a Field

If you change your mind about the use of a field, but you've already entered some information, you can move this information by appending it to another field.

To move information recorded in a fact or note field, choose Delete/Move Fields from the File menu. When the window opens, choose a field in the >From pop-up menu and a different field from the To pop-up menu. Information will be moved out of the >From field and into the To field. The data that is moved will be cleared from the From field, and appended to the To field.


Examples of Moving Fields
Adding and Linking People / Fields

PROBLEM:

We have entered certain data into the Medical note field and, in each instance, the data only required a word or a single line. Now we discover that we can't include the Medical note field in a chart, so we need to move the data from the note field into a fact field, and we don't want to lose any data.

SOLUTION:

Define a new fact field, add it to a person's card, and then use the Delete/ Move Fields window to move data from the original note field into the new fact field.

Watch Out!

These commands are VERY powerful and may affect information entered for each person. Once you have used these functions, they cannot be undone. We strongly recommend that you choose Save a Copy from the File menu before using any command in the Delete/Move Fields window.

PROBLEM:

We originally defined a field to record data of type A, but somewhere along the line we began recording type A data in a different field. Now we want to consolidate the fields - we want to use only one field, instead of two, to record type A data.

SOLUTION:

Use the Delete/Move Fields window to move data from the field you originally used for type A data into the field you are currently using the type A data.


Fixing Those Mistakes!

What Kinds of Mistakes?


Bad Links
Fixing Those Mistakes / What Kinds of Mistakes?

When you're adding a child, spouse, or parent to a family file, it's impossible for EasyTree to know if you're adding the right person. Therefore, you're responsible for:

•	linking children to the correct family (if you're moving forward in time).

•	linking parents to the correct individuals (if you're moving backward in time).

•	linking the correct spouses together.

If you don't link the right people together, then you've created a bad link. A bad link is a person on the wrong family card.


Bad Entries
Fixing Those Mistakes / What Kinds of Mistakes?

Similarly, it's impossible for EasyTree to know if you're adding a new record for a person who is already in the family file. If everybody's record contained a single item, like a name, then it would be easy for EasyTree to warn you that you've already entered someone with exactly the same name. But the records for people and families contain a variety of diverse information (names, dates, places, facts, notes, etc.), which makes it your responsibility to avoid adding duplicates of a person or family.

If you duplicate someone or enter a person whom you eventually find is fictional, then you've made a bad entry. A bad entry is a person or family that shouldn't be in your family file.


The Good News
Fixing Those Mistakes / What Kinds of Mistakes?

Fortunately, EasyTree makes it easy to correct both types of mistakes: bad links and/or bad entries.

The following pages explain two important, and different, editing techniques:

1.	How to remove and correct bad links: removing the wrong child, parent, or spouse from a family.

2.	How to permanently delete bad entries: deleting people and families from your family file.


Removing or Unlinking People
Fixing Those Mistakes

There are two ways to remove or unlink a person without deleting the person from your family file. The simplest way is to use the Recycle Bin. The other way is to use commands in the Edit menu.

See also

The Recycle Bin

Using the Recycle Bin to Move a Child Button

Using the Recycle Bin to Move Parents or Spouses

What's in the Recycle Bin?

Emptying the Recycle Bin

Using the Recycle Bin to Navigate

Using the Edit Menu to Remove Links


The Recycle Bin

To the right of the toolbar, you'll notice a Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin is similar to the Recycle Bin on your Windows Desktop: you can throw things away in it, take things out of it, or even use it as a temporary storage bin. Using the Recycle Bin as a temporary storage bin is the easiest way to correct a mistake or a bad link. Simply drag a person's button to the Recycle Bin:

•	If the wrong child appears on a family card, drag the child button to the Recycle Bin.

•	If the wrong parents appear on a family card (in the upper-left or upper-right corner), drag one of the parent buttons to the Recycle Bin, and the other parent will come along.

•	If the wrong spouse appears on a family card, drag his button to the Recycle Bin.

When an item is in the Recycle Bin, the Recycle Bin appears to bulge.


Using the Recycle Bin to Move a Child Button

If you have a child button on the wrong family card, you can easily correct the problem without losing any information or links. Here's how:

1.	Navigate to the family card where the child button appears incorrectly.

2.	Drag the child button to the Recycle Bin on the toolbar.

3.	Navigate to the family card where the child button should appear.

4.	Click the Recycle Bin on the toolbar. A window will appear showing the Recycle Bin contents.

5.	Drag the child out of the Recycle Bin and into the area at the bottom of the screen where the child should appear.


Using the Recycle Bin to Move Parents or Spouses
Fixing Those Mistakes / Removing or Unlinking People

Similarly, if you need to move parents or spouses to a different family card, just drag the appropriate buttons to the Recycle Bin, navigate to the correct family card, and drag the buttons out of the Recycle Bin, dropping them where they should appear.


What's in the Recycle Bin?

To see the contents of the Recycle Bin, click the Recycle Bin on the toolbar. This opens the Recycle Bin window.

The Recycle Bin holds two types of items: links and people. You can distinguish the items by their icons in the Recycle Bin window.

If you see a Link in the Recycle Bin, it means that the person still appears somewhere in your family file. For example, if Jane Smith was entered on the wrong family card, and you dragged her child button to the Recycle Bin, she would still appear on a family card somewhere - either as a wife or as a single female. However, since you removed her child button from a family card, her link appears in the Recycle Bin, waiting to be "dragged out" and dropped onto the right family card.

If you see a Person in the Recycle Bin, it means that the person does not appear anywhere in your family file. For example, if you entered John Doe in your family file, and you discovered that he wasn't your relative (blood or otherwise), then you dragged him to the Recycle Bin because you wanted to get rid of his record altogether.

On the other hand, maybe you don't want to delete John Doe. He could also wind up in the Recycle Bin with the person icon in the following scenario: Let's say you entered John Doe as the spouse of Mary. Later you learn that John is not the spouse of Mary. So, on the family card for John and Mary, you drag John to the Recycle Bin. Then you navigate to the card where John should appear, and you drag him out of the Recycle Bin.

The key in this scenario is that, originally, John only appeared in one place - as a spouse of Mary. So when he was dragged to the Recycle Bin, his entire record went to the Recycle Bin, not just his link.


Emptying the Recycle Bin

To remove a link from the Recycle Bin, select a link in the Recycle Bin window and click Remove Link.

To delete a person from the Recycle Bin, select a person in the Recycle Bin window and click Delete Person.

To remove all links from the Recycle Bin, and delete all people from the Recycle Bin, click the Empty button.


Using the Recycle Bin to Navigate

When a link  is in the Recycle Bin, you can navigate to the person's family card by selecting his name and clicking the Go button, or by just double-clicking his name. (This process does not apply to a person   - you can't navigate to a person because the person is in the Recycle Bin.)


Using the Edit Menu to Remove Links
Fixing Those Mistakes / Removing or Unlinking People

If you don't like the idea of dragging members of your family to the Recycle Bin, there is another way to correct bad links:

•	To remove a child, choose Children from the Edit menu, select a child in the list, and click the Remove Link button.

•	To remove parents, choose Parents from the Edit menu, select parents in the list, and click the Remove Link button.

•	To remove a spouse (a husband or wife from the current family card), choose Spouses from the Edit menu, select the spouse you want to remove, and click the Remove Link button.

Using the Edit Children, Edit Parents, or Edit Spouses window to remove links does not permanently delete people from the family file. Only links are removed. For example, if you remove a child button from a family card, the child's record is not deleted from the family file. The child remains in the family file but is no longer linked to the family card from which the child was removed.


Deleting People from the Family File
Fixing Those Mistakes

Watch Out!

It is always a good idea to make a current backup of your family file before doing much deleting. That way, in case you get a bit too carried away, you can always recover the data from your backup file.

When a person is deleted, he is permanently purged from your family file. That means the individual and his information will disappear (his name, events, facts, notes, etc.) - gone forever from the family file. Here are a few things you should remember:

•	Deleting a person does not affect a person's children, descendants, parents, or ancestors.

•	If a deleted person appeared anywhere as a child, parent, or spouse, his button will be gone.

In general, you should only delete people who are accidentally duplicated or who you eventually prove are unrelated to anybody in your family file. Scenarios where accidental duplication happens include entering someone twice by mistake, splitting a family file into smaller files with overlapping data, and merging one family file into another that contains duplicate information.

See also

Using the Recycle Bin to Delete People

Deleting People Using the Index

Delete a Family Record

Deleting an Entire Family File

Deleting Marked or Unmarked People

Weeding Out Duplicate Records


Using the Recycle Bin to Delete People
Fixing Those Mistakes / Deleting People from the Family File

As explained above, you can drag a person to the Recycle Bin and then delete the person - but only if the person appears in the Recycle Bin with the person icon (if he appeared in only one place in your family file before being dragged to the Recycle Bin).

Example:

If Tom appears as a child button and you drag his child button to the Recycle Bin, Tom will appear as a link  in the Recycle Bin - because he still appears on his own family card. But if you drag Tom to the Recycle Bin from his family card, then his entire record goes to the Recycle Bin (assuming he doesn't have multiple spouses). In this case, he appears in the Recycle Bin as a person  and can be deleted by opening the Recycle Bin window, selecting his name, and clicking the Delete Person button.


Deleting People Using the Index
Fixing Those Mistakes / Deleting People from the Family File

If you want to delete a person by selecting a name from the index, choose Delete People from the File menu and click the button called Use Index to Delete People. You can then select a person from the index and click the Delete button. The person will be deleted.

Watch Out!

Be very careful with this feature - it can't be undone!


Delete a Family Record
Fixing Those Mistakes / Deleting People from the Family File

To delete a family record that is showing on your screen, select Delete People from the File menu and click the Delete This Family Record button:

•	Deleting a family record will delete all marriage information, family events, and family notes for the current couple.

•	Each spouse on the family card will remain in the family file separately - their individual records remain intact, but the two are no longer linked together. The records for their parents and children will also remain intact.

•	The child buttons that appeared on their family card are removed, and thus the children are no longer linked to either parent, but the children will remain in the family file.

Watch Out!

Be very careful with this feature - it can't be undone!


Deleting an Entire Family File
Fixing Those Mistakes / Deleting an Entire Family File

Unlike Generations 4.2, Generations 7.0 saves all of the family information in one file.  Generations 7.0 saves the family files with the extension .uds, and the files are stored in the Gen6 folder by default.  If you have moved the file or choose to save it in a different folder when it was created, you may need to look elsewhere on your hard drive for the file.  You can use Windows Find feature if you do not know the exact location of the file you wish to delete.

If you wish to delete a family file from your system, you can drag it to the Windows Recycle Bin.  Note: If the file is open, you will not be able to delete it.  Close EasyTree before dragging the file to the Recycle Bin.

Watch Out!

Be very careful when deleting a file from Windows.  Once the Recycle Bin is emptied, the file cannot be restored.


Deleting Marked or Unmarked People
Fixing Those Mistakes / Deleting People from the Family File

EasyTree lets you automatically delete marked or unmarked people from a family file. In either case, people will be deleted - purged permanently from the family file.

We strongly recommend choosing Save a Copy from the File menu before proceeding.

To delete marked or unmarked people from your family file, choose Delete People from the File menu.

Each button gives you two chances to cancel before deleting anyone from your family file. Normally, these commands should only be used if you have copied a family file and need to remove certain branches or lines from a duplicate family file. To learn more about this, please see The Basics of a Family File.


Weeding Out Duplicate Records
Fixing Those Mistakes / Deleting People from the Family File

EasyTree has no way of knowing what individual or family records, if any, are duplicates. However, if you suspect that you have entered or imported duplicate records, you'll need to identify the duplicate records and delete the duplicate people or families.

Here is an example of identifying and removing duplication:

•	Let's assume you have five people entered named Daniel Highsmith and you believe they might be the same person.

•	Use the index to identify the duplicate entries. Find all five Daniel Highsmiths and compare the information in the columns of the index. For example, see if they all have the same birth date and birthplace.

•	If you think they're duplicate entries, use the Mark pop-up menu in the index to unmark everyone.

•	In the index, mark the five people named Daniel Highsmith by clicking the first column, next to their names.

•	Double-click one of the Daniel Highsmiths to open his record. Then press the TAB key to flip through all five Daniel Highsmiths, comparing their facts, dates, spouses, notes, etc.

•	If you determine that they are, in fact, the same person, choose the Daniel Highsmiths with the most complete information as the "keeper." If you have one Daniel Highsmith with six children, and the same Daniel Highsmith with no children, keep the one with six children. If one of the Daniel Highsmiths you're about to delete has any unique facts or notes, you should copy and paste this information into the record you intend to keep.

•	Delete the other four Daniel Highsmiths by opening their family cards (with the TAB key), dragging them to the Recycle Bin to the right of the toolbar, and then emptying the Recycle Bin.


Entering/Editing a Person's Information


Names


Entering or Editing Names of People
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Names

To enter or edit the name of a person, click directly on the name on the family card, or select Person from the Edit menu and choose the person's name. This will open the Edit Person window.

The Name section contains fields for the first name, last name, prefix title, suffix title, and user ID number.

You can press the TAB key to move from field to field to enter information. You can press SHIFT + TAB to move backward through the fields. Or, you can simply point and click the mouse to put the cursor into any field.

When you are finished entering or editing names, click the Save button to save any changes you've made in the Edit Person window. Pressing RETURN or ENTER is the same as clicking the Save button. You can leave the Edit Person window without saving any changes by clicking the Cancel button or hitting the ESCAPE key.

See also

Initial Caps

Last Name UPPERCASE

Converting Case for Everybody

Changing a Person's Sex

Nicknames

User ID Numbers

Soundex Code Numbers

Source Citations


Initial Caps
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Names

If the Initial Caps button is checked, the first letter of each word in a field will be capitalized when you "exit" the field by pressing the TAB key or clicking the Save button.


Last Name UPPERCASE
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Names

If the Last Name UPPERCASE check box is checked, the person's last name will be converted to uppercase when you tab or click out of the Last Name field or when you click the Save button.


Converting Case for Everybody
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Names

To change the case of the last names of everyone in your file to uppercase or to mixed case (initial caps), choose Case from the Options menu. This opens the Case window.


Changing a Person's Sex
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Names

To change the sex of a person, use the Sex pop-up menu in the Edit Person window. The sex of a child can also be edited in the Children section of the Edit Family window.


Nicknames
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Names

There are several options for recording a nickname or the name a person goes by, such as:

•	Make nicknames part of the First Name field. For example, William "Slim."

•	Record the nickname separately in a fact field. Facts are explained later in the chapter.

•	Mention it in the Miscellaneous Notes field. For example, "Everybody knew him as Slim."


User ID Numbers
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Names

Each person in the EasyTree database is assigned a unique, person ID number. Each new family is assigned a unique family ID number.

If you want to record your own ID numbers for individuals, use the User ID field that appears in the Name section of the Edit Person window. You can search for User ID numbers, and you'll also have the option to append User ID numbers to names in charts and reports. You can also make the User ID number appear in place of EasyTree's automatically generated ID numbers within the little status bar. To do this click on the View icon, select Define Views, and checkmark the box next to Show User ID.


Soundex Code Numbers
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Names

Soundex numbers are automatically calculated by EasyTree and displayed in the Edit Person window. Soundex is a method used to file and search for names that compensates for different spellings of the same names. The Soundex system has been used to file names in indices for various resources, such as U.S. census records and immigration lists.

You can perform searches based on Soundex numbers, and you also have the option to append Soundex numbers to names in charts and reports.


Source Citations (Names)
Source Citations
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Names

Clicking the Show Source Citations button displays buttons and fields for entering source documentation.


Speed Names
Entering/Editing a Person's Information

Speed Names is a feature that provides a shortcut for entering last names (or surnames) and place names. For example, if you have some very long last names in your family, you only have to type them once. Each time thereafter when you begin to type the name, EasyTree will fill in the rest of the name for you. It does this by remembering the last 100 names you've entered or edited.

For example, let's say the surnames of the first two people in your family are Thomas and Todd and the third person's surname is also Todd. When you begin to type in the name of the third person, you'll press t and EasyTree will fill in the first name that begins with t, in this example, Thomas. Then if you type another letter, the letter o, EasyTree will automatically fill in the first surname that begins with the letters to - in this example, the surname Todd .

Speed Names collects names as you enter or edit them in the Edit Person window. Up to 100 surnames and 100 place names are remembered on a first-in, first-out basis.

Editing the Speed Names

To edit the names stored in the Speed Names list, choose Speed Names from the Options menu. To work with the Surnames list, click the Surnames file-folder tab and do the following:

•	To manually add a name to the Speed Names list, click the New button. A new, blank entry will appear in the list. You can edit names directly in the list.

•	To duplicate a name in the Speed Names list, select an entry and click the Duplicate button.

•	To delete a name from the Speed Names list, select an entry and click the Delete button.

•	To delete all entries from the Speed Names list, click the Clear button. Deleting or clearing entries from the Speed Names does not affect data in your family file.

•	To fill the Speed Names list with the first 100 surname entries in your family file, click the Fill button.

Note that in the Speed Names window you can also work with the Place Names in the same way. To get to the Place Names list, click the Place Names file-folder tab.


Events: Dates and Places
Entering/Editing a Person's Information

EasyTree lets you record the events in people's lives. An event is a significant occurrence in someone's life. The primary elements of an event are a date and a place.

See also

Entering or Editing Events for People

Default Events

Memos

Adding Events

Deleting Events

Sorting Events

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Events

Saving Events

Source Citations

More Space for Places and Memos

Substitute Events

Field Lengths


Entering or Editing Events for People
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

To record an event or to edit an event you've already entered, click directly on any event on the family card, such as Birth or Death. This will open the Events section of the Edit Person window.

The Events section contains a scrolling list in which you record the significant events in people's lives. To enter and edit events, you can type directly into the fields in the list. Pressing the TAB key will move the cursor from field to field. Pressing SHIFT +TAB will move the cursor backward through the fields. Or, you can simply point and click the mouse to put the cursor into any field.


Default Events
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

By default, the Birth, Death, and Burial events will appear, waiting for your entries. You can configure your own set of default events that will appear every time you add a new person to your family file. In fact, you'll save lots of time if you set up the desired set of default events early on in your research.

To designate default fields, choose Default from the Options menu and select either Person Fields or Family Fields. Then use the file-folder tabs at the top of the window to select the type of field. Finally, use the Add or Delete buttons to create the collection of default fields that you want. If you want to, you can also drag fields up and down to define the order of default fields.


Memos
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

In addition to fields for date and place, you'll see a Memo field associated with each event. This field is for additional, minor details relating to the event. For example, you may want to record time of birth in the Memo field for the Birth event. Or you might want to record G.P.A. in the Memo field for a Graduation event. To open a larger window for editing an event, you can double-click the event name in the list.


Adding Events
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

To add an event that doesn't appear by default, click the Add Event pop-up menu button and choose an event. If you don't see the event you need, choose Other. This opens the Add Event window with a more complete list of events. If you don't find the event you need in this list, you can define your own events. To learn more about defining your own events, please see Fields.


Deleting Events
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

To delete an event, select the event from the list shown on the Events file-folder tab and click the Delete Event button.


Sorting Events
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

To sort events chronologically, click the Sort Events button. You can "manually" control the order of events by dragging individual events up and down in the list. You might need to do this if, for example, you have a death place, but no death date. If these were sorted chronologically, the death event would go to the top of the list (since the date would be blank); whereas you probably want it at the end (since it was the last event in that person's life).


Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Events
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

When an event field is selected in the list, you can use the standard Windows shortcuts to cut, copy, and paste the contents of that field:

•	To cut something out of a field, press CTRL + X. Doing this removes the text to the clipboard, ready to paste somewhere else.

•	To copy something in a field, press CTRL + C. This will copy the text to the clipboard, but not remove it from the field.

•	To paste something into a field, press CTRL + V. This will paste the text that is currently on the clipboard into the field where your cursor is.


Saving Events
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

When you finish entering or editing events, click the Save button to save all your changes in the Edit Person window. If the current view includes the events you've added or changed, the events will appear on the current family card.

You can leave the Edit Person window without saving any changes by clicking the Cancel button or hitting the ESCAPE key.


Source Citations (Events)
Source Citations
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

The Show Source Citations button displays buttons and fields for entering source documentation.


More Space for Places and Memos
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

To open a larger window for editing an event, you can double-click the name of any event in the list. The up and down arrows above and below the field name will help you scroll through the list of events without having to close this window and reopen it for another event.


Substitute Events
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Events

Certain charts and reports offer the option to include "short dates." This phrase refers to the birth and death date separated by a hyphen, such as "1958 - 1999."

Short dates are also used on the family card, under the names of the parents.

When you include short dates in a document, such as a pedigree chart, EasyTree lets you substitute a different field in place of the birth or death date if these fields are missing. For example, if a chart includes short dates, and a few people in the chart don't have birth dates, but they do have christening dates, the Substitute Events feature would allow you to automatically use the christening date when the birth date is missing. Similarly, you might want to have EasyTree substitute burial dates for people who have no death date entry, but do have a burial date entry.

To select substitute events for birth and death, choose Substitute Events from the Options menu.

To select a substitute event for birth and death, use the two pop-up menus in the Substitute Events window. If you don't want EasyTree to substitute events, chose None from each pop-up menu.

Whenever a field is substituted, the abbreviation specified in the Define Person Fields window will prefix the data. Field abbreviations are explained in Abbreviations.


Dates
Entering/Editing a Person's Information

When you enter a date, EasyTree will accept a variety of formats, but will convert the date into a standard format. Thus, the format used to enter dates is independent of the format used to display dates.

See also

When Are Date Entries Converted?

Date Format

What if You Don't Know a Date?

Custom Dates

Date Feasibility

Hebrew Dates

Date Calculator

Examples of Valid Date Expression Entries

Three Elements of a Date Expression

When are Date Expressions Converted?

Using Adjectives in Date Expressions

Other Date Elements

Guidelines for the Early Years

Shortcuts for the 1900s, The Default Century

Case

European Users

Abbreviations

Examples of Abbreviations in Date Expressions


When Are Date Entries Converted?
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

EasyTree converts your date entry (what you type into a date field) when you "exit" a date field by pressing TAB, or when you close the window by clicking the Save button, pressing RETURN, or pressing ENTER.


Date Format
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

To change the format used for displaying dates, choose Dates from the Options menu. This opens the Dates window, where the date format can be changed at any time. EasyTree lets you control the sequence of date elements (Month, Day, and Year), the separator between date elements (a space, slash, dash, etc.), the case and abbreviation of month names, and the choice between literal (Jan, Feb, etc.) and numeric (1, 2, etc.) display of month names.

When you change the format used for displaying dates, all previously entered dates will be displayed in the new format (except custom dates, see Custom Dates).

There are 16 ways to display a date:

Mixed	Numeric

Jan 28, 1990	1 28 1990

28 Jan 1990	28 1 1990

JAN 28 1990	1-28-1990

28 JAN 1990	28-1-1990

January 28, 1990	1.28.1990

28 January 1990	28.1.1990

JANUARY 28, 1990	1/28/1990

28 JANUARY 1990	28/1/1990


What if You Don't Know a Date?
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

If you don't know a date, you can leave the date field empty, or you can approximate by typing something like…

?

after 1949

bef 1912

Jan 1850

circa 1800

? 1850

1850

ca 1901

? Jan 1850

approx 1755

Jan

1 Jan


Custom Dates
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

When you type a date entry that EasyTree doesn't understand to be a "date," EasyTree will display the Custom Date window.

Try Again

If you made a mistake and need to enter the date again (for example, if you misspelled a month name or made some other typographical error), click the Try Again button.

Save Custom Date

If you want EasyTree to remember your date entry, even though the program can't understand the entry as a "date," then your entry is referred to as a custom date. EasyTree will store your custom date and use the custom date in charts, reports, and lists. To make EasyTree remember your custom date:

1. 	Type a valid date into the Sort Date field. A valid date is one that EasyTree can understand as a date. The date in the Sort Date field will be used for sorting (date calculations, comparisons, etc.).

2. 	Click the Save Custom Date button.

If possible, try to enter a valid date entry, rather than a custom date. Here are a few reasons for doing this:

•	Custom dates require slightly more room for storage and slightly more time to display.

•	If you need to export dates via GEDCOM in order to share your data with someone else, it is likely that their genealogy program won't understand custom date entries.

•	Custom dates are not changed when you change the format used for displaying dates. (When you choose Dates from the Options menu and set the universal format.)

•	Custom dates may not read as well in narrative reports.

Examples of Custom Dates

Summer of 69	1888/9

SeeNotes	1888/89

1q 1990	1888/1889

Between 1881 and 1882	Holocaust

Helpful Tip!

EasyTree will have fits if you try to use the capital letter "I" or lower-case "L" as a substitute for the number "1" in a date entry. They may look similar on the screen, but to the computer, they are worlds apart. Also, don't use the capital letter "O" in place of a zero (0).


Date Feasibility
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

EasyTree can help you to avoid mistakes when entering dates. It does this by checking the feasibility of dates that you enter. If this feature is enabled, EasyTree will interactively warn you if you enter impossible or unlikely dates, for example, if you enter a person's death date as earlier than his birth date.

To turn date feasibility checking on or off, and to set options for feasibility checking, choose Dates from the Options menu and click the Feasibility Checking file-folder tab.

Use the various buttons in the Feasibility Checking section to enable or disable different feasibility checks (i.e., no children born before age 12, no marriages after someone has died, etc.). Those that are interactive are listed above the gray line and take place when you click the Save button in data entry windows. (All of the evaluations are performed when creating a report.)

If EasyTree finds an infeasible date, a Date Feasibility Warning window will appear. This window gives you the option to save the entry as is, or to go back and edit your date entry. In addition, you can disable the feature by checking the Turn Off Date Feasibility Checking button in the warning window.

Date Feasibility Report

To create a report of people whose records contain potentially infeasible dates, click the Report button in the Feasibility Checking section of the Dates window. Each line of the report will contain a name and a brief explanation of what EasyTree found infeasible.


Hebrew Dates
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

Helpful Tip!

Please understand that the Hebrew calendar system is very complex, and an explanation of this calendar system is well beyond the scope of this user's guide.

EasyTree supports the entry and conversion of Hebrew dates. The program uses the following spellings for the month element of Hebrew dates:

Month	Days	(alternate spellings)

Tishri	30	(Tishrei)

Cheshvan	29,30	(Heshvan, Marcheshvan)

Kislev	29,30

Tevet	30	(Tebet)

Shvat	30	(Shebat, Shevat)

Adar	29,30

VeAdar	29	(Adar II) - this month is only for leap years

Nisan	30	(Nissan)

Iyar	29

Sivan	30

Tammuz	29	(Tamuz)

Ab	30	(Av)

Elul	29

Guidelines for Using Hebrew Dates

•	Hebrew dates must be entered using the literal month name, not numbers.

•	Hebrew dates must have a month and a year present. The day is optional.

•	Here are examples of invalid Hebrew date entries and the reasons why they're invalid:

5756	Hebrew date can't contain only a year element.

12 Tishri or Tishri	Hebrew date must contain a year.

•	EasyTree does not implement the BCE modifier commonly assigned to Hebrew dates that are in the BC range.

Converting Between Hebrew and Secular Dates

If a Hebrew date is entered, it will be displayed as a Hebrew date, unless a conversion is requested.

To convert a Hebrew date to a Gregorian/secular date, add *s to the date field. To convert a Gregorian date to a Hebrew date, add *h to the date field. (*s and *h can be added anywhere in the date entry.)

In order to convert a secular date to a Hebrew date, a month and a year must be present. The day is optional.


Date Calculator
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

Beginners Beware!

The following material should be considered "advanced." For most of the work you do in EasyTree, it isn't necessary to know how EasyTree's Date Calculator functions. Just remember, when you find a date like "55 years, 2 months, and 16 days," the Date Calculator will be waiting to help you out!

In addition to the variety of recognized date formats, EasyTree can calculate a date based on a date expression. Dates can be expressed almost as they would be spoken and can refer to another date as a point of reference.

The date used as a point of reference can be an existing date in a different field or a date constant (such as today, yesterday, or now).


Examples of Valid Date Expression Entries
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

2 weeks after birth

80 years after birth

80 years 1 month after birth

80 years 1 month 2 weeks after birth

80 years 1 month 2 weeks 4 days after birth

235 days from birth

235 days after birth

5 days before burial

7 weeks before death

2 years 1 day after marriage

2 days before today

3 days after yesterday

2 weeks from now

1 year 3 months 2 weeks before 3 July 1788

1 year 3 months 2 weeks before July 3, 1788

2 weeks ago

2 weeks ago yesterday

34 years old

66 years 5 months 1 week 1 day old


Three Elements of a Date Expression
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

To express a date, type an entry using this format: TimePeriod Operator Variable|Constant|Date

TimePeriod*	Operator	Variable|Constant|Date

day	before	Variables

week	after	birth (value of Birth Date field)

month	from	marriage (value of Marriage Date field)

year	age	death (value of Death Date field)

old	burial (value of Burial Date field)

Constants - (these rely on your PC's system date)

today

now

yesterday

tomorrow

Dates - (partial list of accepted date formats)

28 Jan(uary) 1980

1980

Jan(uary) 28, 1980

1 1980

1-28-1980

Jan(uary) 1980

*TimePeriod is a measurement of time that must be preceded by a number, for example, "14 years."


When are Date Expressions Converted?
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

Like normal date entries, date expressions are converted when you "exit" a date field by pressing TAB, or when you close the window by clicking the Save button, pressing RETURN, or pressing ENTER.


Using Adjectives in Date Expressions
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

The words "ago" and "old" may be used in date expressions. All date fields support these adjectives.  Ago is used in reference to today's date if no other date is specified. Old is used in reference to a birth date, and is further described below:

•	If you're typing a date expression in the Birth Date field, old is used in reference to the value of the Death Date field.

•	If a birth date is empty, old is used in reference to today.

•	Old does not support a trailing variable, constant, or date.

Examples of Date Expression Entries Using Adjectives

TimePeriod	Adjective	Variable|Constant|Date

2 weeks	ago

2 weeks	ago	yesterday

34 years	old

66 years 5 months 1 week 1 day	old


Other Date Elements
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

Delimiters - EasyTree will accept a variety of date element delimiters (or separators), but will convert the delimiters you type into the separator selected in the Dates window of the Options menu (in the Format section). Supported delimiters include space, dash, period, and slash.

Literal Prefixes - These words appear in date fields as prefixes to dates. For example: Before, After, Approx., About, or Circa. EasyTree will convert your literal prefixes into the long or abbreviated form based on the abbreviation setting in the Dates window of the Options menu (in the Format section).

Literal Suffixes - These include BC and AD. If AD is entered, it will be omitted. No punctuation is allowed in suffixes.

Questionable Modifier - A question mark (?) can be used to indicate an unknown or questionable date entry. A question mark can be entered anywhere between date elements, but will automatically be moved to the beginning of the date entry (if there is one).


Guidelines for the Early Years
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

If the year element of a date entry is between 1 and 9, it must be preceded by two zeros (for example, 001). If the year is between 10 and 31, it must be preceded by at least one zero (for example, 025 or 0025).


Shortcuts for the 1900s, The Default Century
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

If the year element of a date entry is in the 20th century, you can simply type the last two digits of the year. For example, to enter September 12, 1958, you can type…

9 12 58	or	sep 12 58

To change the default century, choose Dates from the Options menu, click the Format file-folder tab and use the Default Century pop-up menu button. You might want to change this to an earlier century if, for example, you're transcribing lots of records from the 1700's. If the default century is set to Current, EasyTree will use the current century as the default.


Case
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

EasyTree will accept upper, lower, or mixed case (initial caps) for any word in its date vocabulary, but will convert the letters you type into the case specified in the Dates window of the Options menu. The exceptions are date modifiers (such as before, after, and circa) which remain lowercase unless uppercase is specified in the Format section of the Dates window.


European Users
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

A date entry of "1.5.90" will be interpreted as the 5th of January unless the "short" date format in the Regional Settings of your Control Panel is set to the day-month-year format. If this date format is selected, then a date entry of "1.5.90" would be interpreted as the 1st of May. If the date is not interpreted correctly, choose Dates from the Options menu.  Click on the Format tab and choose the Order you would like to use.

The following table illustrates this concept:

Regional Settings Control Panel

"Short" Date Format	Date Entry	EasyTree Interprets as…

3.23.95	 1.5.90	Jan 5th

23.3.95 	 1.5.90	May 1st

After entering dates, you can display them in any format by choosing Dates from the Options menu and then setting the format under the Format file-folder tab.


Abbreviations
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

To accelerate the process of entering dates, remember this rule: EasyTree only cares about the first three letters of any word you type into a date field - with the single exception of the word marriage (where it looks at the first four letters). Thus, any other word in the EasyTree date vocabulary can be entered using only its first three letters.


Examples of Abbreviations in Date Expressions
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Dates

3 sep 1920

jan 12 1800

2 wee aft bir

80 yea aft bir

80 yea 1 mon aft bir

80 yea 1 mon 2 wee 4 day aft bir

235 day fro bir

235 day aft bir

5 day bef bur

7 wee bef dea

2 yea 1 day aft marr (marr converts to Marriage, not March)

2 day bef tod

3 day aft yes

2 wee fro now

2 mon aft tom

1 yea 3 mon 2 wee bef 3 jul 1788

see (converts to See Notes)

1 yea 3 mon 2 wee bef mar 3, 1788 (Mar converts to March, not Marriage )

Helpful Tip!

If you are entering Hebrew dates, the following abbreviations may be used for months:

TIS

CHE,HES

KIS

TEV,TEB

SHV,SHE

ADA

VEA

NIS

IYA

SIV

TAM

AB,AV

ELU


Facts
Entering/Editing a Person's Information

In EasyTree, a fact is an item of information relating to a person that can fit on one line. Examples include: occupation, nickname, eye color, hair color, social security number, etc.

It might also help to explain what a fact is not. If a piece of information has a date associated with it, it is probably an event, not a fact. If a piece of data requires several lines to describe or explain, then it should probably be recorded as a note.

So a fact could be defined as a distinctive element, property, quality, character, feature, characteristic, affection, or trait.

See also

Entering or Editing Facts for Individuals

Default Facts

Adding Facts

Deleting Facts

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Facts

Sorting Facts

Saving Facts

Source Citations


Entering or Editing Facts for Individuals
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Facts

To record a fact or edit a fact you've already entered, click directly on any fact on the family card (such as Occupation or Religion). This will open the Facts section of the Edit Person window.

The Facts section contains a scrolling list in which you record the facts relating to a person. You can type directly into the fact fields in the list. Pressing the TAB key will move the cursor from field to field. Pressing SHIFT + TAB will move the cursor backward through the fields. Or, you can simply point and click the mouse to put the cursor into any field.


Default Facts
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Facts

By default, the Occupation, Education, and Religion facts will appear, waiting for your entries. You can configure your own set of default facts, which will appear every time you add a new person to your family file. In fact, you'll save lots of time if you set up the correct set of default facts early on in your research. See Fields for more details.


Adding Facts
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Facts

To add a fact that doesn't appear by default, use the Add Fact pop-up menu button and choose a fact from the list that appears. If you don't see the fact you need, choose Other. This opens the Add Fact window with a more complete list of facts. If you don't find the fact you need in that list, you can define your own facts. See Fields for more details.


Deleting Facts
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Facts

To delete a fact, select the fact in the list and click the Delete Fact button.


Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Facts
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Facts

When a fact field is selected in the list, you can use the standard Windows shortcuts to cut, copy, and paste the contents of that field:

•	To cut something out of a field, press CTRL + X. Doing this removes the text to the clipboard, ready to paste somewhere else.

•	To copy something in a field, press CTRL + C. This will copy the text to the clipboard, but not remove it from the field.

•	To paste something into a field, press CTRL + V. This will paste the text that is currently on the clipboard into the field where your cursor is.


Sorting Facts
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Facts

You can set the order of facts by dragging facts up and down in the list.


Saving Facts
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Facts

When you are finished entering or editing facts, click the Save button to save all your changes in the Edit Person window. If the current view includes the facts you've added or changed, the facts will appear on the current family card.

You can leave the Edit Person window without saving any changes by clicking the Cancel button or hitting the ESCAPE key.


Source Citations
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Facts

The Show Source Citations button displays buttons and fields for entering source documentation.


Notes
Entering/Editing a Person's Information

In EasyTree, notes are free-form text related to a person. Examples of items that you might enter as notes include: personal stories and accounts, biographical sketches, immigration details, military service records, land holdings and transactions, heirlooms and artifacts, unusual death circumstances, date explanations, etc.

A note field is a single, scrolling text field holding up to 64,000 characters. Notes typically require several lines. (If only one line is required for a piece of information, you can enter it as a fact.)

See also

Entering or Editing Notes for People

Adding Note Fields

Deleting Note Fields

Importing Notes

Saving Notes

Source Citations

Cut, Copy, Paste, and Undo

Text Style and Color


Entering or Editing Notes for People
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Notes

To record notes or to edit some notes you've already entered, click directly on any note field on the family card (such as Misc. notes). This will open the Notes section of the Edit Person window.

The left side of the Notes section contains a scrolling list of the different types of notes you've entered for a person. By clicking on a note type (on the left side), the contents of that note field appear on the right side.

When you add a new person, a Misc. Notes field will appear by default. See Fields for information on how to make other note fields appear by default.

If you press the RETURN key while the cursor is inside a note field, you'll make a new paragraph. New paragraphs (or blank lines between paragraphs) will make your reports more readable.

Helpful Tip!

EasyTree has only a few windows where pressing the ENTER key is not the equivalent of clicking the default button (the one with the thick black outline). This is one of them. However, pressing CTRL + ENTER is the same as clicking the Save button.


Adding Note Fields
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Notes

To add a note field, use the Add Note pop-up menu button and choose a note type from the list that appears. If you don't see the type of note you need, choose Other. This opens the Add Note window with a more complete list of notes. If you don't find the type of note you need in that list, you can define your own note fields. Please see Fields for information how to define your own note fields.


Deleting Note Fields
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Notes

To delete a note field, select the note field in the list in the left scroll window of the Notes section and click the Delete Note button.


Importing Notes
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Notes

The Import Notes button lets you import text fields of up to 64,000 characters directly from disk into any note field. The imported text will be appended to the existing text, if any. If EasyTree determines that importing a text file will exceed the capacity of a note field, a Message window will open giving you the option to import a partial file.


Saving Notes
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Notes

When you are finished entering or editing notes, click the Save button to save all your changes in the Edit Person window. If the current view includes the notes you've added or changed, you'll see the first few paragraphs of notes for each spouse on a family card.

You can leave the Edit Person window without saving any changes by clicking the Cancel button or hitting the ESCAPE key.


Source Citations
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Notes

The Show Source Citations button displays buttons and fields for entering source documentation.


Cut, Copy, Paste...

While editing text in note fields, you can use standard Window shortcuts for editing text:

•	To cut something out of a field, press CTRL + X. Doing this removes the text to the clipboard, ready to paste somewhere else.

•	To copy something in a field, press CTRL + C. This will copy the text to the clipboard, but not remove it from the field.

•	To paste something into a field, press CTRL + V. This will paste the text that is currently on the clipboard into the field where your cursor is.

•	To underline text, press CTRL + U.

•	To place text in Italics, press CTRL + I.

•	To make text bold, press CTRL + B.


Text Style and Color
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Notes

Note fields permit styled and colored text. To change the style of selected text, use the Text Style pop-up menu. To change the color of selected text, use the Color pop-up menu button.


Flags
Entering/Editing a Person's Information

In EasyTree a flag is an attribute relating to a person. A flag has only two values: checked or unchecked. Depending on the flag's name, this could be interpreted as: on or off, true or false, yes or no. If a flag is "checked," it means the attribute is "on," "true," or "yes" for a particular person.

Flags provide a simple tool for working with subsets of your family file. For example, you could use a "Clergy" flag to track relatives who are or were clergymen, or a "Military" flag to help track relatives who have served in the military.

See also

Setting/Changing Flags for People

Adding and Deleting Flags

Saving the Flag Settings


Setting/Changing Flags for People
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Flags

To set a flag or to change the setting of a flag, choose Person from the Edit menu and select a person's name. This will open a Name section of the Edit Person window. Then click the Flags file-folder tab to see the Flags section.

The Flags section contains a scrolling list in which you check or uncheck flags relating to a person. By default, a small collection of flags will appear in the list.


Adding and Deleting Flags
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Flags

Unlike the event, fact, and note fields - which are independent for each person - your choice of flags applies to everybody in your family file.

If the Flags section of the Edit Person window is already open, you can change the selection of flags that apply to everybody by clicking the Define Flags button.

If you're looking at a family card, you can choose Define from the Options menu and choose Person Fields. Then click the Flags section of the Define Person Fields window. See Fields for an explanation of creating and defining your own flags.


Saving the Flag Settings
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Flags

When you are finished setting flags, click the Save button to save all your changes in the Edit Person window. If the current view includes flags, you'll see the updated list of checked flags for each spouse on a family card.

You can leave the Edit Person window without saving any changes by clicking the Cancel button or hitting the ESCAPE key.


Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events
Entering/Editing a Person's Information

EasyTree records information about people and families. Some information pertains only to a person, such as their birth date or educational level. However, some information pertains to a couple, such as a marriage date. In EasyTree, information that pertains to couples is referred to as "family" information. Family information includes marriage details (including marital status), family events, family notes, and children.

See also

Marriage

Entering or Editing Marriage Information

Documenting Marital Status

Family Notes and Family Events

Entering or Editing Notes for Families

Entering or Editing Events for Families

Displaying Family Note and Event Fields

Defining Family Note and Event Fields

The Save and Cancel Buttons

Source Citations


Marriage
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events

The Marriage field is centered above and between a couple's names on the family card window. It is always displayed, regardless of what view is selected as the default view and whether or not a particular couple is "married." For purposes of display, the width of the marriage field is fixed. So depending on the size of your screen and the length of your entries, partial entries may be displayed. However, your entire entries for marriage date and place will be saved and can be included in reports and charts.


Entering or Editing Marriage Information
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events

To enter or edit marriage date, place, or status, you can click the Marriage field on the family card or choose Marriage from the Edit menu. Either way, you open the Marriage section of the Edit Family window. This is where you enter a marriage date and place. A Marriage Memo field is also provided for short notes relating to the marriage.


Documenting Marital Status
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events

If a couple is unmarried or their marriage was considered a common law marriage, you can document this using the Marriage pop-up menu

If a couple is separated, divorced, or their marriage was annulled, you can document this using the Status pop-up menu. If you select Separation, Divorce, or Annulment, additional fields for this data will appear.

The Marriage window is intended to document the marital status of a couple - not a person. Thus, the Status pop-up menu is hidden when the Marriage window is opened from a family card for one person only. It would be wrong, for example, to enter Unmarried on family cards where an individual appears without a spouse.


Family Notes and Family Events
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events

In EasyTree, family notes are free-form text relating to a couple and/or their children. Examples of items that you might enter as family notes include stories and traditions that involve a couple or nuclear family.

Family events are significant occurrences that involve two people (a couple) or perhaps a nuclear family. Like person events, which were discussed earlier, family events have two primary elements: a date and place.


Entering or Editing Notes for Families
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events

To record family notes, or to edit family notes you've already entered, click the Marriage field on the family card and then click the Notes file-folder tab. Or you can choose Family from the Edit menu and select Notes.

Helpful Tip!

Family note fields work exactly like person note fields. See Notes for complete details on adding note fields, deleting note fields, editing text, importing notes, saving notes, etc.


Entering or Editing Events for Families
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events

To record a family event, or to edit a family event you've already entered, click the Marriage field on the family card and then click the Events file-folder tab. You can also choose Family from the Edit menu and select Events.

Helpful Tip!

Family event fields work exactly like person event fields. See Events: Dates and Places for complete details on adding, deleting, sorting, and saving events.


Displaying Family Note and Event Fields
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events

Family event fields and family note fields do not appear on the family card; however, in most reports you'll have the option to include these fields.


Defining Family Note and Event Fields
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events

See Fields for a complete explanation of creating and defining your own family note and event fields.


The Save and Cancel Buttons
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events

When you are finished entering or editing family events, notes, or marriage items, click the Save button to save all your changes in the Edit Family window.

You can close the Edit Family window without saving any changes by clicking the Cancel button or hitting the ESCAPE key.


Source Citations
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Marriage, Family Notes, and Family Events

The Show Source Citations button displays buttons and fields for entering source documentation.


 Mailing Address
Entering/Editing a Person's Information

You may record contact information for each person and family, including:

•	mailing address (up to 4 lines).

•	phone number.

•	fax number.

•	e-mail address.

•	Web page address.

You have the option to include address information in most reports.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

A mailing address should not be confused with a residence. If you need to record residence information (such as where ancestors lived or moved to), you should create a note field to record residences, or perhaps record them as events.

See also

Entering or Editing Mailing Address Information

Capitalization

Copying a Mailing Address to the Clipboard

Visual Aids


Entering or Editing Mailing Address Information
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Mailing Address

To enter or edit mailing address details, click the Address button on the toolbar or choose Mailing Address from the Edit menu. This opens the Mailing Address window, which includes three sections: one for the family address information, and one for each person (typically, husband and wife).

If both partners share the same mailing address, you can fill in the fields in the Family section.

However, if each partner has a different mailing address, you should enter each address in his or her individual section.

In addition, you may have instances where a couple share the same mailing address but have different e-mail addresses. In this case, you would enter the mailing address in the Family section and then enter the e-mail addresses in the sections for each spouse.

When everything is correct, click the Save button and EasyTree will save any changes in the Mailing Address window. Clicking the Cancel button or hitting the ESCAPE key will discard any changes you made.

Helpful Tip!

If a mailing address is empty, EasyTree will automatically insert a name for the couple (or person) into the first line when the Mailing Address window opens. You can easily change the name if you dislike the wording. (For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Ed Smith.") The name in the Mailing Address window and the name appearing on the family card are independent of one another - changing one does not affect the other.


Capitalization
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Mailing Address

If the UPPERCASE box is checked, every letter of the mailing address will be capitalized, except Web page and e-mail information. The U.S. Postal Service prefers envelopes addressed in this format.


Copying a Mailing Address to the Clipboard
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Mailing Address

To copy a mailing address to the clipboard, click the Copy All button in the Mailing Address window. Once an address is in the clipboard, you can paste it into other applications, such as a letter in a word processor.


Visual Aids
Entering/Editing a Person's Information / Mailing Address

You can see, at a glance, if the current family card has any mailing address information entered. If so, the envelope on the Address button will appear "filled out."

Helpful Tip!

To learn everything you want to know about viewing addresses, creating mailing lists and mail-merge files, and how to mark people with addresses, see the various Mailing List topics in Contents:Chapter 9.


Documenting Your Research

If you are just beginning your family history research, it may seem more important to just compile your data than to document where you got it. In reality, citing your sources is one of the most important aspects of your research, as it allows you to have confidence in your information. Documenting your work also helps others to use your data to help in their research, and will help future generations to know how accurate your information is.

Some lineage societies require complete documentation of your lineage to qualify for admission. A lineage society is a group that allows you to join based on descent from an individual who participated in a certain event or immigrated at a certain time. Examples are the Daughters (or Sons) of the American Revolution, the Mayflower Society, and descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Even if joining one of these groups isn't the purpose of your family history research, having your sources documented will be a great help in furthering your work.

See also

Source Documentation

The Edit Source Window

Endnotes

The Source List

Source Types

Defining Source Fields

General Source

Automatic Source

Including Sources in Reports

Source Options


Source Documentation
Documenting Your Research

EasyTree is designed to help you document the sources of your information. A source identifies the origin of information.

There are many different types of sources and each type comprises one or more source fields. A type of source refers to the collection and order of fields that compose the source. In EasyTree, you can add or remove fields that make up the various source types and build your own types of source records.

Some people prefer recording source information in a single free-form text field. Others prefer a more structured approach, using different bits of information. A source field represents a single element of a source record, much like "birth place" represents a single element of a person's record. EasyTree includes many preformatted source fields; however, you can also define your own source fields.

Your sources may be reused or shared. For example, if you wish to cite a source - let's say a particular book from a particular library - you only need to record facts about that source one time. Information about the library, the book, the date, the quality of the data, etc., can be typed into a single source record, and you can cite this source in any person's record, in any data entry field, as many times as you want.

An unlimited number of sources can be entered in each family file. Sources can be added, deleted, or edited at any time. And, of course, you have the option to include source documentation at the end of most reports.

As you will discover, EasyTree gives you unparalleled flexibility in source documentation.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

Citing your sources is probably one of the most important steps you will take as a new researcher. It is much easier to record your sources accurately as you collect data than to have to go back and try to remember where you obtained something. Also, you will have more credibility with those you share your data with if you have accurately reported where you found your information.

See also

Source Citations

Source Citations in Names, Events, or Facts

Documenting the Source of a Name, Event, or Fact

Source Citations in Notes

Documenting a Source in a Note Field

Adding a New Source Record without Citing Anything

Editing an Existing Source Record


Source Citations
Documenting Your Research / Source Documentation

A source citation is the link between the information you enter (names, dates, places, etc.) and the source of the information. A source citation contains two parts: one part refers to a particular source record and the other part is the detail. The detail is typically something specific like a page number that connects a source to a piece of information. Detail is an optional field.

You might think of sources as being more general, and detail as being more specific. For example, a book might be a source. A particular page number in the book would be the detail. However, if every piece of information you obtained from a book came from page 5, then it would be easier to record "page 5" in the source record, and not as a separate detail each time the book is cited.


Source Citations in Names, Events, or Facts
Documenting Your Research / Source Documentation

To show source citations, open the appropriate data entry window and click the button called Show Source Citations.

The list of source citations at the bottom of the data entry window depends on the highlighted or selected field at the top of the window. For example, if you are viewing events and the cursor is blinking in the Birth field, the sources shown are those relating to the Birth event. (The Birth Date, Place, and Memo fields all share the same list of sources.) If you move the cursor to the Death field, the list of sources reflects the sources entered for the Death event and you'll notice the text to the right of the words "Source Citations" will change to "Death."

Each event can have independent sources. Conversely, each source can be shared between different events. For example, if you found a birth and death date from the same source, then the list of sources for birth will be the same as the list of sources for death.


Documenting the Source of a Name, Event, or Fact
Documenting Your Research / Source Documentation

To document the source of a name, event, or fact, follow these steps:

1. 	Open the appropriate data entry window by clicking on a person's information on the family card.

2. 	Make sure source citations are showing at the bottom of the data entry window. If they aren't, click the Show Source Citations button.

3. 	Move the cursor to the appropriate field. You can move the cursor by pressing the TAB key or by pointing and clicking the mouse. (Note: In the Name section of the Edit Person window, all fields are treated as one for purposes of source documentation. For example, you can't have different sources for the first name and last name.)

4. 	Press the Add Source pop-up menu button. This displays three basic choices:

a.	If you want to use one of the last five sources cited, just choose it from the Add Source pop-up menu.

b.	If you want to make a new source record, choose New Source. The Add Source window will appear. This window presents a list of source types (described later). After you select the type of source desired, a new, empty source appears wherein you enter information about a source.

c.	If you want to pick a source that has already been entered, but isn't one of the last five cited, choose Existing Source from the Add Source pop-up menu. The Source List window will appear. This window, discussed in the next section, presents a list of the sources you've already entered.

Both of these options (adding a new source and linking an existing source) are explained in more detail later in this chapter.


Source Citations in Notes
Documenting Your Research / Source Documentation

One of EasyTree's unique features is the ability to document sources anywhere in the notes fields. Source citations in notes appear much like they do in a word processor - as superscript numbers, which can be inserted anywhere in notes.

To show source citations in notes, open the appropriate note field and be sure that source citations are visible. If not, click the Show Source Citations button.

To see the actual text of the source and the citation detail, you must select the superscript source number in the note field. The easiest way to do this is to double-click the superscript number. You can also single-click just before the superscript source number in the text.

Under the note field, only one citation appears at a time, and it reflects the currently selected superscript source number in the notes. This is because source citations in note fields are independent and can appear anywhere in the free-form text. By contrast, in event, name, and fact fields, a list of citations appears. In those cases the list of citations applies to the entire event, name, or fact field.


Documenting a Source in a Note Field
Documenting Your Research / Source Documentation

The process of adding a source citation in a note field works exactly as described in Documenting the Source of a Name, Event, or Fact (for events, facts, and names), with the exception of step 4c. Instead of following step 4c, do this:

•	When you want to add a citation in a note field, move the cursor to the spot in the notes where you want the superscript source number to appear. You can move the cursor by pressing the arrow keys on the keyboard, or by pointing and clicking the mouse.

After you add a source citation in a note field, a superscript number will appear at the spot where you added the citation. The superscript number is the source number. When you double-click the superscript number, the source citation will appear under the note field. By contrast, superscript numbers do not appear in the name, event, or fact fields.


Adding a New Source Record without Citing Anything
Documenting Your Research / Source Documentation

Typically, new source records are created in the context of citing your sources. For example, you may be entering new people into your records while transcribing names from a family Bible or some other source. So, as you transcribe the first name from the Bible and attempt to cite your source, you add a new source record for the family Bible.

If you prefer, you can create new source records at any time - not necessarily as you're about to cite a source. For example, when you obtain a pile of books and you want to make a source record for each book prior to transcribing data from the books. To create a new source record, on any family card, choose Sources from the List menu to show the Source List. Then use the Add Source pop-up menu button.

The details of a source record are entered in the Edit Source Window.


Editing an Existing Source Record
Documenting Your Research / Source Documentation

There are several ways to open an existing source:

•	Choose Sources from the List menu and double-click a source record in the Source List window.

•	Put the cursor into any name, event, or fact field and notice the list of source citations beneath the data entry fields. Double-click one of the source citations in the list.

•	In any note field, double-click a superscript source number in the notes, and the source citation should appear beneath the notes. Then double-click the source citation.

•	On any family card, type: S + x + ENTER to open source number x. For example, to show source note 24, type: s + 24 + ENTER.


The Edit Source Window
Documenting Your Research

The Edit Source window is the place where you enter or edit the details of a source. This window is opened when you add a new source and when you edit an existing source.

The Edit Source window has three sections: Source Fields, Free-Form Text, and Preview. To switch between them, click the file-folder tabs.

The Source Fields section provides separate fields for different bits of information. The Free-Form Text section contains one scrolling text field that holds up to 30,000 characters of text. The Preview section shows you how the source will appear as an endnote.

See also

Source Fields

Adding, Deleting, and Reordering Fields

Saving a Collection of Fields as the Default

Free-Form Text

Previewing the Endnote


Source Fields
Documenting Your Research / The Edit Source Window

When you add a source, a collection of fields composing the "type" of source will automatically appear in the Source Fields section. For example, when you add a book source, a collection of fields associated with a book will automatically appear. Similarly, if a new source for an interview is created, a collection of fields associated with an interview will appear. You simply fill in the fields with the appropriate data and, if necessary, enter text in the Free-Form Text field.


Adding, Deleting, and Reordering Fields
Documenting Your Research / The Edit Source Window

You can add fields to a source record whenever you want. For example, if you're filling out a book source, you may need an extra field for a unique piece of information.

To add additional fields to a source, use the Add Field pop-up menu button in the Edit Source window. A list of source fields used by other source records in your family file will appear. If you don't see the field you need in the pop-up menu, choose Other. This opens the Add Source Field window with a complete list of source fields.

If you want to delete a field from a source record, just highlight the field and click the Delete Field button. You should delete fields that don't apply to a source.

You can change the order of fields in the source window by clicking and dragging, which will determine their order of appearance in the endnote. (Endnotes are described later in this chapter.)


Saving a Collection of Fields as the Default
Documenting Your Research / The Edit Source Window

If you have modified a particular source by adding or removing fields, you may decide you'd like all sources of that type to be organized the same way. To accomplish this, just click the Save Default button in the Source Fields section of the Edit Source window.


Free-Form Text
Documenting Your Research / The Edit Source Window

The Free-Form Text section of the Edit Source window contains one scrolling text field. It holds up to 30,000 characters of text.

Some people prefer recording source information in a single free-form text field. (This was the convention in Generations 4.2.)

Others may prefer a more structured approach, using different fields for different bits of information. As you can see, EasyTree offers both - allowing you to use free-form source records, structured source records, or structured source records combined with free-form text.

To apply different text styles and color, use the Text Style and Text Color pop-up menu buttons just below the text field.


Previewing the Endnote
Documenting Your Research / The Edit Source Window

To preview an endnote, click the Preview file-folder tab in the Edit Source window.

Helpful Tip!

When you examine the preview, you may notice certain fields automatically appearing with styled text. For example, the titles will appear in italics. That is because source field definitions include the option to automatically apply style to their contents. We will discuss this later in the chapter.


Endnotes
Documenting Your Research

In reports, source records will appear as endnotes, meaning they all appear gathered together at the end of a document - out of sight to avoid cluttering the pages of your reports (like footnotes do), but accessible when needed. Endnotes contain three basic elements:

1.	Source fields, comma delimited.

2.	Citation detail.

3.	Free-Form Text field.

The fields of a source record will be combined serially, in the order listed in the source record, using a comma for a delimiter. EasyTree uses this style because it employs the simplest punctuation and the most straightforward presentation of the necessary data without compromising clarity or completeness.

When a source record contains only free-form text and no other source fields, the free-form text will precede the detail, if any.


The Source List
Documenting Your Research

Choose Sources from the List menu to open the Source List window.

This window is also opened when you attempt to cite an existing source in a data entry window.

What's in the List?

The Source List shows the source number and approximately the first 50 characters from the source fields or the free-form text of each source record.

See also

Adding, Duplicating, and Deleting Source Records

Source Numbering

Showing Records Linked to a Source

Editing a Source Record

Searching, Finding, and Filtering Sources

All/Found

Reporting the Source List


Adding, Duplicating, and Deleting Source Records
Documenting Your Research / The Source List

To add a new source record, use the Add Source pop-up menu button to select the type of source you need. If you don't see the type you need, choose Define Sources.

To duplicate a source, select the desired source in the list and click the Duplicate button.

To delete a source record, select the desired source record and click the Delete button.

Watch Out!

Once you've deleted a source record, you can't bring it back! So think carefully before you push the Delete button.


Source Numbering
Documenting Your Research / The Source List

When a new source record is created, it will be assigned the first available unused source number. When a source is deleted, EasyTree does not renumber the remaining sources. For example, if you have 10 sources and you delete source number 4, the next new source you add will become source number 4, and the one after that will be source number 11.


Showing Records Linked to a Source
Documenting Your Research / The Source List

To build a list of all people linked to a source record, highlight the desired source in the Source List window and click the Show Links button. A list will appear with the name of every person who has a data entry field that cites the highlighted source.

To display the previous list of linked sources, without creating a new one, choose Previous Lists from the Window menu, and then select Linked Sources.


Editing a Source Record
Documenting Your Research / The Source List

To edit a source record, select the desired source record and click the Edit button, or simply double-click a source in the list. This opens the Edit Source window that was described earlier in this chapter.


Searching, Finding, and Filtering Sources
Documenting Your Research / The Source List

To search for sources that meet a certain criteria, choose Sources from the Find menu. Or, if the Source List window is already open, click the Find button. Either way, you'll open the Find Sources window.

The Find Sources window lets you search for source records of a particular type (or any type) using the Type pop-up menu. In addition, you can search for text in any source field using the Field pop-up menu and the Contains text field.


All/Found
Documenting Your Research / The Source List

After you initiate a Find, the sources that match your criteria will be displayed in the Found section of the Source List window. To return to a listing of all sources, click the All file-folder tab.


Reporting the Source List
Documenting Your Research / The Source List

To create a report of your sources (all sources, or just those in the Found section), click the Report button in the Source List window.


Source Types
Documenting Your Research

Book

Census Record

Cemetery Record

Church Record

Conversation

Family Bible

Free Form

Interview

Land Record

Letter

Military Record

Miscellaneous

Monograph

Newspaper

Pamphlet

Periodical

Tax List

Vital Record

When you add a new source, you can specify its type. You can also change the type of an existing source. The type of source refers to the collection and order of fields that compose the source.

You can add or remove fields that make up the various source types, and thus fundamentally alter the structure of new, "empty" source records. In addition, you can build your own types of source records. Some preset source types are shown above.

See also

Each Source Type Has a Collection of Fields

Examining Source Types

Creating a New Type of Source Record

Naming the Source Type

Adding Fields to the Source Type

Deleting Fields from the Source Type

Reordering the Source Fields

Deleting and Duplicating Source Types

Changing the Source Type


Each Source Type Has a Collection of Fields
Documenting Your Research / Source Types

When you add a source, a collection of fields associated with the source type will automatically appear in the Source Fields section of the Edit Source window. For example, when you add a "Book" source, a collection of fields typically associated with a book will automatically appear.


Examining Source Types
Documenting Your Research / Source Types

To examine the various source types, choose Define from the Options menu and then select Source Types. This opens the Define Source Types window that lists different types of sources on the left side. When you select a source type on the left, the right wide of the window shows you the fields that embody the selected source type.


Creating a New Type of Source Record
Documenting Your Research / Source Types

EasyTree includes many preformatted source types from which to choose. However, you may need to define new types of sources. To do this, choose Define from the Options menu and then select Source Types.

Before adding a new type of source record, scroll through the list on the left, to make sure the desired type of source isn't already defined. If it is not, click the Add Type button to create a new type of source record.

When you add a new type of source, a new item called "New Source Type" is added to the list of source types. Next you need to name the new source type and choose its fields.


Naming the Source Type
Documenting Your Research / Source Types

To name the source type, you can type directly into the highlighted area in the list, the same way that you rename files on your Windows desktop. Your source type names must be unique.


Adding Fields to the Source Type
Documenting Your Research / Source Types

Every source type will include a Free-Form Text field. To add additional fields to the source type, use the Add Field pop-up menu button. A list of source fields used by other source records in your family file will appear. If you don't see the field you need in the pop-up menu, choose Other. This opens the Add Source field window, with a complete list of other source fields.


Deleting Fields from the Source Type
Documenting Your Research / Source Types

To delete fields from the source type, select the proper field (from the right side of the Define Source Types window) and click the Delete Field button.


Reordering the Source Fields
Documenting Your Research / Source Types

You can reorder the fields that constitute the source record by clicking and dragging fields in the list on the right side. The order of fields in the list determines their order of appearance in an endnote.


Deleting and Duplicating Source Types
Documenting Your Research / Source Types

To delete a source type, highlight the source type in the list (on the left side of the Define Source Types window) and click the Delete Type button.

To duplicate a source type, highlight the desired source type in the list and click the Duplicate Type button.


Changing the Source Type
Documenting Your Research / Source Types

To change the type of a source record, open a source record by choosing Sources from the List menu and double-clicking a source in the Source List window. Then use the Source Type pop-up menu, located in the lower-left corner of the Edit Source window.

When a source is converted from one type to another, its fields are inserted into the new source intelligently, following this process:

1. 	Empty fields of the original source are removed.

2. 	The fields in the new source type are placed at the beginning of the new source record.

3.	Fields from the original source, whose names match the names of fields in the new source, are merged into the new source.

4. 	The remaining fields of the original source (that don't appear in the new source type) are appended to the new source record.


Defining Source Fields
Documenting Your Research

A source comprises one or more source fields. A source field represents a single element of a source record, much like "birth place" represents a single element of a person's record.

EasyTree includes many preformatted types of source fields from which to choose; however, you may need to define different source fields to meet the needs of your research. To do this, choose Define from the Options menu and select Source Fields to open the Define Source Fields window. Another way to open the Define Source Fields window is to click the Define Fields button in the Add Source Field window.

The source fields you define are available for use with any source record. Before defining a new source field, scroll through the list of source fields to make sure the desired field isn't already defined. If not, click the Add button.

When you add a new source field, a new item called "New Source Field" is added to the list of source fields. Next, you need to name the new source field and set its attributes.

See also

Naming the Source Field

GEDCOM Tag

Text Style

Excluding a Field from Endnotes

Active Source Fields


Naming the Source Field
Documenting Your Research / Defining Source Fields

To name the source field, type in a name directly into the list where the words New Source Field appear. Your source field names must be unique.


GEDCOM Tag
Documenting Your Research / Defining Source Fields

The GEDCOM Tag is typically a four-letter word that identifies the contents of a source field. This tag will be used if you export your family file as a GEDCOM file.


Text Style
Documenting Your Research / Defining Source Fields

To specify the style applied to the field when endnotes are created, use the Text Style pop-up menu. When you want the contents of a field to appear in quotes, check the Put Quotes Around Field check box. This usually applies to "article titles" or "titles of selections."


Excluding a Field from Endnotes
Documenting Your Research / Defining Source Fields

You'll probably want the contents of most fields to be included in endnotes. However, if you create a field for personal use, perhaps as a flag, tag, or marker field, you can exclude its contents from endnotes by checking the Exclude From Endnotes check box.


Active Source Fields
Documenting Your Research / Defining Source Fields

EasyTree will automatically mark a field as active when it is first used. If your source field is active, it will appear in the Add Sources pop-up menu so that you can easily access it when you want to add a source.

If you've only used a particular source once or twice in your family file, and you don't want the source name to clutter your pop-up menu, you should designate it as inactive. To do this, choose Define from the Options menu and then select Source Fields. From the Define Source Fields window, select the appropriate source field and uncheck the Active check box for that field.


General Source
Documenting Your Research

In many cases, all the data for a person will be derived from a single source. Rather than clutter your data and reports with source citations in each and every field, you can enter a single source for a person and designate it as a general source. If a source is cited as a general source, it simply means that the source record applies to all information recorded for a person.

General sources apply only to people - but not to note fields; they do not apply to marriage, marital status, family events, or family notes.

In reports, general source citation numbers appear immediately after a person's name.


Automatic Source
Documenting Your Research / Source Types

The Automatic Source pop-up menu lets you automatically assign a general source citation to each new person you enter. This is extremely helpful when you record lots of people from a single source (such as a family Bible or a book).

To turn the Automatic Source feature on or off, use the Automatic Source pop-up menu that appears in the Edit Person window if source citations are showing.

The Automatic Source pop-up menu remembers your last five Automatic Source selections. Automatic sources do not apply when information is updated - only when new people are entered in the family file.

The same Automatic Source pop-up menu appears when you import a GEDCOM file. This lets you automatically assign one new or existing general source to each person imported in the GEDCOM file.


Including Sources in Reports
Documenting Your Research

In most reports, you have the option to include source documentation. To activate this feature, check the check box next to Sources that is located in the various windows used to create reports. For example, when you choose Person Sheet from the Reports menu, the window that appears contains a Sources check box to the right of the word Include.

Source documentation in reports appears in two places: source citation numbers and endnotes.


Source Options
Documenting Your Research

To set essential options for source documentation, choose Reports from the Options menu. There are two items in the list of Options that apply to source documentation: Source Citations and Endnotes.

See Also:

Source Citations Options

Endnotes Options

Ibids

Citations on the Family Card


Source Citations Options
Documenting Your Research / Source Options

Form

In reports, source citation numbers can appear in one of three forms:

1.	superscript number12.

2.	in brackets [12].

3.	with the ® symbol prefix, such as ®12. (This was the standard in EasyTree 4.2.)

Detail

Citation detail can appear with endnotes (at the end of reports) or with citations (in the body of reports). If you prefer, you can also omit citation detail.

Renumbering Citations and Endnotes

In reports, the only way to include citation detail with endnotes is to renumber citations and endnotes. To do this, check the Renumber Citations and Endnotes check box.

If you don't renumber citations and endnotes in reports, then the actual source numbers are used in citations and endnotes. In this case, the citation detail (such as page number) must either appear with citations (in the body of the report) or be omitted. Confused? See the examples in Chapter 8: Renumbering Citations and Endnotes in the user's guide.


Endnotes Options
Documenting Your Research / Source Options

In reports, you can choose whether or not to include endnotes and ibids. (See Ibids and Endnotes.)


Ibids
Documenting Your Research / Source Options

Ibids only appear if the Renumber Citations and Endnotes check box is checked in the Source Citations portion of the Report Options window.

If you choose to include citation detail with endnotes, then endnotes are automatically renumbered.

If citations and endnotes are being renumbered, then reports that contain multiple citations to the same source will utilize Ibids and then unique detail information, if it exists, in the endnote. In the example below, all four source citations point to the same source record, but the citation detail is different in each citation.

A boy sat on a burning deck,1 his feet were full of blisters.2 He cut his pants on a rusty nail,3 and had to wear his sister's.4

Sources:

1. The Witmer Family Bible, Hans Witmer, 1792, p. 12.

2. Ibid., p. 15.

3. Ibid., p. 16.

4. Ibid., p. 17.


Citations on the Family Card
Documenting Your Research / Source Options

You have the option to show or hide source citations on the family card. If shown, they will appear in all fields and buttons except the child and parent buttons. To change this setting, choose Display from the Options menu and check the Show Citation Numbers check box.


Using Lists Features
Using List's Features

The following list features found in EasyTree can add a great deal to your research projects and can improve the ease with which you move through the database:

•	The index can help you easily navigate through your database.

•	The calendar list can create birthday and anniversary lists and show you other great details about the people in your family.

•	The relationships list can help you determine how you are related to that distant cousin, as well as her relationship to someone else.

•	The mailing address list can be used to keep pertinent information about living family members, as well as send out questionnaires for them to update or fill in details.

•	The place list can help you see where your family tended to congregate in times past, as well as today.

•	The statistics and ages lists give you fun, and sometimes insightful, facts about those in your family file.


Index
Using Lists Features

The Index window displays a scrolling, alphabetized list of every person in a family file. It can be used to navigate (to find people) since the names of new people are instantly added. It can also be used to mark and link people, and to create an index report.

Displaying the Index

To see the index, click the Index button on the toolbar or choose Index from the List menu.

Helpful Tip!

If EasyTree shuts down improperly, the next time you launch it, it will rebuild the index. For particularly large files, this may take a while. To avoid rebuilding the index, hold down the shift key while opening a family file. This will keep EasyTree from rebuilding the index.


List Options
Using Lists Features

The next several topics in this section apply to the index as well as several other lists later in the chapter. These lists include the calendar list, relationships list, place list, and so on.

See also

Navigating

Sorting

Selecting Fields to Display

Total Entries in the List

Using Lists to Mark People

ID Numbers

Typing Letters to Select Names

Reporting the List

Filtering the Index

Indexing


Navigating
Using Lists Features / List Options

You can double-click any name in the index to open a person's family card. You can also single-click a name and press ENTER or RETURN, or click the Go button.


Sorting
Using Lists Features / List Options

Use the Sort pop-up menu to choose the contents of the first two columns, as well as the sort order of entries in the list.

If you select an item that uses "Married Name," a female with multiple spouses will be listed with the surname of her last husband, unless she has a fact field called Married Name. In this case, the contents of the Married Name fact field will be used for the surname.


Selecting Fields to Display
Using Lists Features / List Options

To choose the information that appears in the three columns to the right of a person's name, use the pop-up menu buttons above each column.


Total Entries in the List
Using Lists Features / List Options

In the upper-right corner of the Index window, you'll see the total number of people in the family file and the number of marked people.


Using Lists to Mark People
Using Lists Features / List Options

On the left side of the list, you'll notice a narrow column that indicates if a person is marked. If so, a green checkmark will appear. To mark or unmark a person in the index, you can click in this area. To mark or unmark everybody in your family file, use the Mark pop-up menu in the lower-left corner of the Index window.


ID Numbers
Using Lists Features / List Options

At the bottom of the Index window, you'll see a number inside a button. This number represents the ID number of the selected person. Clicking this button opens the Find ID# window where you can locate a person in the index by number. If you prefer to see ID numbers in front of each name and to have your index sorted by ID number, use the Sort pop-up menu. To create your own person ID Numbers, see User ID Numbers.


Typing Letters to Select Names
Using Lists Features / List Options

If you want the index to jump immediately to a particular name or section, just begin typing the desired letter or name. For example, if you're looking for somebody named Smith and your family file has 3,000 entries, you can type the letter "s" and the index will jump to the first person whose last name begins with "s." If you type "sm" very quickly, the index will jump to the first person whose surname begins with "sm." Similarly, if you type "smith" very quickly, you'll select the first person in the list whose surname is "Smith."

Names that do not begin with a letter will appear at the beginning of the index. However, surnames that are enclosed in braces, brackets, or parentheses are sorted by the text following the first characters.


Reporting the List
Using Lists Features / List Options

To create a report of the index, click the Report button. If you have thousands of people in your file, you can use your word processor to set up a multiple-column index. To determine how to set up a multiple-column index, consult your word processor's manual for instructions on multiple-column documents.


Filtering the Index
Using Lists Features / List Options

Use the Show pop-up menu to show only males, females, persons of unknown sex, or everybody.


Indexing
Using Lists Features / List Options

If you'd like to configure the index to ignore small prefix words when sorting multiple word surnames (such as Van Halen), choose Indexing from the Options menu and click the radio button next to "Don't sort on prefix words."


Calendars


Creating a Calendar List
Using Lists Features / Calendars

To create a calendar list, select Calendar from the List menu. This opens the Calendar window, which contains several options.

See also

Calendar List Options

Exceptions

Displaying a Calendar

The Calendar List Window


Calendar List Options

The various radio buttons and check boxes in the Calendar window let you:

•	choose the event for a calendar via the Event pop-up menu (at the top of the Calendar window). This pop-up menu includes person events, marriage (includes common-law marriages), divorce, and family events.

•	choose the time period for the calendar: today, in the next 2 to 14 days, in any particular month, or in all 12 months. You can also create a chronologically sorted calendar.

•	include all people or only marked people.

•	exclude persons with death date entries by clicking the Living Only check box.

•	include only married couples in an anniversary list by clicking the Married Only check box. This button appears when Marriage is the selected event.


Exceptions
Using Lists Features / Calendars

To be included in a calendar, a date entry must be sufficient for EasyTree to sort properly. For example, if a great-uncle's birth date entry is "1900," he will not be included in a monthly birthday calendar. Similarly, somebody with a birth date entry such as "4 July" will not appear in a chronological calendar.

Custom dates are included in calendars; however, they are sorted according to the "sort date" portion of their entries. If you need more information, see Custom Dates.


Displaying a Calendar
Using Lists Features / Calendars

When your options are properly set up in the Calendar window, click the List button to make a new calendar list.

To display the previous calendar without creating a new one, click the Show Previous List button. If the Calendar window is not open, you can see the previous calendar list by selecting Previous Lists from the Window submenu.


The Calendar List Window
Using Lists Features / Calendars

The Calendar List window is very similar to the Index window and contains similar features, such as:

•	navigating by double-clicking names.

•	displaying other information with each name.

•	displaying the total number of people in the list.

•	displaying the total number of marked people in the list.

•	finding people by ID number.

•	marking people.

•	reporting.

These options are discussed in List Options.

Helpful Tip!

The Calendar List window contains a Display pop-up menu that determines the manner in which names are displayed. However, entries in this window are always sorted chronologically.


Relationships
Using Lists Features

EasyTree 7.0 identifies the relationships for blood relatives of a source person. A blood relative is a lineal, collateral, or half-relative - someone related by birth. EasyTree does not identify relationships for relatives by marriage. Examples of relatives by marriage include spouses, stepchildren, in-laws, and spouses of uncles and aunts.

People who are related both by marriage and blood are identified by their blood relationship. For example, if you are a second cousin to your spouse, your spouse is identified as a second cousin - even though he or she is also a relative by marriage. EasyTree indicates relationships above each person's name. As you navigate through a family file, you'll see that each blood relative has a relationship above his name. Relationship fields cannot be edited.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

Relationships other than direct-line relationships can be confusing to those just starting out in genealogical research (and even to those with years of experience). Direct-line or lineal relationships are those that exist between you and your father, mother, grandparents, great-grandparents, and children. Collateral relationships are those that exist between you and your uncles, aunts, cousins, great-aunts, and uncles. Half-relationships exist when you and, for example, a brother share only one parent. Perhaps you have the same mother, but a different father. Keeping these terms in mind will help you when evaluating the relationships that EasyTree determines for you.

See also

Identifying New Relationships

Updating Relationships

Clearing Existing Relationships

About Relationships

Descendancy and Ascendancy


Identifying New Relationships
Using Lists Features / Relationships

To identify the relationships for blood relatives of a person, navigate to the person and choose Relationships from the List menu. Then select the person for whom you want to identify relationships. When you choose a person, he will become the new source person and new relationships will be calculated. The three choices that you will see represent:

1.	a person on the current family card.

2.	his spouse, if any.

3.	the last person for whom relationships were calculated, if any. If you want to update existing relationships for the current source person, select the third choice.


Updating Relationships
Using Lists Features / Relationships

As you add, delete, link, or unlink people in your family file, their relationship to the current source person, if any, is not automatically calculated as you go. To recalculate relationships to the current source person, choose Relationships from the List menu, select the current source person, and click Identify. If you add a bunch of new people to your family file, you should update the relationships to see how the new people are related to the source person.


Clearing Existing Relationships
Using Lists Features / Relationships

To clear (empty completely) the relationship fields without calculating new relationships, choose Relationships from the List menu and click the Clear button. This does not affect any data or links in the family file; it simply clears data from the Relationship fields.


About Relationships
Using Lists Features / Relationships

When EasyTree calculates relationships, all blood relatives are included to the following levels:

•	grandchildren down 255 generations.

•	grandparents up 255 generations.

•	grandnieces/nephews down 255 generations.

•	great-uncles/aunts up 255 generations.

•	full cousins up to 255th (first cousin, second cousin, etc.) and all removed levels up to 255.

Some relationships are abbreviated for space and simplicity. For example:

•	GG Grandfather = great-great-grandfather.

•	5G Grandfather = great-great-great-great-great-grandfather.

•	4C2R = fourth cousin, twice removed.


Descendancy and Ascendancy
Using Lists Features / Relationships

A first cousin once removed is a term that could describe either the child of your first cousin or the child of your great-aunt. We thought it would be helpful to distinguish between the two. Thus, cousins in the descendancy include an asterisk (*) to distinguish them from cousins in the ascendancy.

For example, the child of your first cousin is called a cousin in the descendancy - your 1C1R*. To understand the difference, it may help to think of this person as a descendant of a full cousin.

The child of your great-aunt is a cousin in the ascendancy - your 1C1R. In this case, the person is actually an ancestor of one of your full cousins - your second cousin.


Relationship List
Using Lists Features


Creating a Relationship List
Using Lists Features / Relationship List

To create a relationship list, choose Relationships from the List menu. Then click the List file-folder tab. This shows the List section, which contains several options.

See also

Relationship List Options

Displaying the Relationship List

The Relationship List Window


Relationship List Options
Using Lists Features / Relationship List

Click the Max/Min button if you want a list of all the relatives of the current source person.

If you want to tailor the list, the series of check boxes and up/down arrow buttons give you lots of flexibility.

Here are some examples of the lists you can create and how to create them:

To create this list…	do this…

•	full cousins only	check Full cousins, uncheck all others

•	descendants only	check Children, uncheck all others

•	direct ancestors only	check Parents, uncheck all others

•	direct ancestors and descendants only	check Children, check Parents, uncheck all others

You have the option to include living relatives and half-relatives only using the two check boxes on the right side.


Displaying the Relationship List
Using Lists Features / Relationship List

When you have configured the buttons and numbers (in the List section) to include the relatives you want in the list, click the List button in the lower-right corner to make a new relationship list.

To display the previous relationship list without creating a new one, click Show Previous List. If the Relationships window is not open, you can see the previous relationship list by selecting Previous Lists from the Window menu and choosing Relationship.


The Relationship List Window
Using Lists Features / Relationship List

The Relationship List window is very similar to the Index window and contains similar features, such as:

•	navigating by double-clicking names.

•	displaying other information with each name.

•	displaying the total number of people in the list.

•	displaying the total number of marked people in the list.

•	finding people by ID number.

•	marking people.

•	sorting.

•	reporting.

These options are discussed in List Options.


Mailing Address List


Creating a Mailing Address List
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

To view mailing addresses and create a mailing list, choose Mailing Addresses from the List menu. This opens the Mailing Addresses window.

See also

All or Marked Individuals

Filtering the Mailing List

Displaying the Mailing Address List

How Is the Mailing Address List Sorted?

Reporting the Mailing Address List

Including/Excluding Fields

Choosing the Field Separator

Editing Mailing Labels

Creating a Mail Merge File

Mail Merge Files in Word Processors


All or Marked Individuals
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

In the Mailing Addresses window, you'll have the option to specify if you want to include addresses for all people, or only marked people.


Filtering the Mailing List
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

Using the pop-up menu in the Mailing Addresses window, you can create mailing lists that only include people with particular address information. For example, you can make a list of everyone in your family file who has an e-mail address.


Displaying the Mailing Address List
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

After you configure the options in the Mailing Addresses window to include the people and addresses you want in the list, click the List button in the lower-right corner to make a new mailing address list.

To display the previous mailing address list without creating a new one, click the Show Previous List button. If the Mailing Address List window is not open, you can see the previous list by selecting Previous Lists from the Window menu and then choosing Mailing Address.


How Is the Mailing Address List Sorted?
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

The Mailing Address List is sorted alphabetically by the surname field; first the surname of the husband and then, if none exists, the surname of the wife.


Reporting the Mailing Address List
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

The Report button in the Mailing Address List window opens the Mailing Address Report window. This window lets you specify what fields are included in your report, the field separator, the destination for the report, the title, and a few other options.


Including/Excluding Fields
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

In the Mailing Address Report window, you have the option to include or exclude any or all of the eight items that constitute the "mailing address" information. This includes: name, three lines of mailing address information, phone number, fax number, e-mail address, and Web page URL. There is also an option to include a dividing line to separate your mailing labels. These nine options can be included or excluded by checking or unchecking a check box beside any or all of the areas just listed.


Choosing the Field Separator
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

The Field Separator pop-up menu is used to pick the separator (or delimiter) that is inserted between each field in the addresses.

•	If you want to create a list that shows one "label" after another, choose Return as the field separator.

•	If you want to create a multicolumn list of records, choose Tab as the field separator.

•	If you want to create a mail merge file (explained in Creating a Mail Merge File ), choose Tab as the field separator.

•	If Tab is chosen as the field separator, the Return character is automatically chosen as the "record" separator.

•	If Comma is chosen as the field separator and the Put Fields In Quotes check box is unchecked, EasyTree will insert commas between the address fields in the report.


Editing Mailing Labels
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

Before printing a mailing address report, you can check it for accuracy. If you need to correct an address, you should perform the editing in EasyTree. Go to the relevant person or family, choose Mailing Address from the Edit menu, and do the editing. Note that any changes you perform on the report in your word processor will not be changed in EasyTree.


Creating a Mail Merge File
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

A mail merge file is a text file that contains mailing addresses from a family file. The file is specially formatted for use by a database, spreadsheet, or word processor that supports mail merge and/or pre-designed mailing label templates.

In database lingo, the mail merge file contains records and fields. Each complete mailing address is called a record. A RETURN separates each record. Each item (or field) within a record is separated by a TAB or a COMMA (,).

To create a mail merge file:

1. 	Choose Mailing Addresses from the List menu.

2. 	Choose whether to include all people or only marked people.

3. 	Click the List button.

4. 	Click the Report button.

5.	In the Mailing Address Report window, select Tab as the field delimiter. (Normally, the correct choice is Tab; however, some word processors look for commas between fields. In addition, some programs require quotes around the data in each field. Check your word processor's manual for the correct field delimiter.)

6. 	Choose the fields you need.

7. 	Make sure the Include Empty Fields check box is checked.

8. 	Click the Open button.

This series of operations will open your mail merge file in whichever word processor you have specified in EasyTree. If the file does not appear as you would like to see it, you most likely need to change the field delimiters, and these are based on each word processor's own requirements. Please see your word processor's user guide for more information.

Once you have the mail merge file in your word processor, you can save your file in one of several formats (such as .TXT or .RTF) that can be transferred to a spreadsheet or database program. The spreadsheet or database program you are working with will typically run you through a series of steps to properly format your file. Please see your spreadsheet or database user's guide for more help in importing these various text file formats into one of those programs.


Mail Merge Files in Word Processors
Using Lists Features / Mailing Address List

Typically a word processor will read a mail merge file and merge the names and addresses in the merge file with a form letter - thereby creating a version of the form letter for each name and address in the mailing list.

Depending on the word processor, a "form letter" can be called a merge document or main document, and the mail merge file is referred to as a data file, data document, or merge data file.

The following are the titles of each column or field in the mail merge file - you may need to use these names in a word processor's form letter.

Field	Name
1	Name
2	Address1
3	Address2
4	Address4
5	Phone

For more information on creating a mail merge file or a form letter in your word processor, please see your word processor's user guide.


Place List
Using Lists Features

The place list is a list of place names in your family file. Under each place name is a list of people whose records include that particular place name for a specified event in their lives.

The place list provides an excellent tool for analyzing and grouping your records. For example, if your travels bring you to a particular city, you can easily prepare a list of everybody whose birthplace, death place, or burial place is in that particular city. The place list also makes it easy to see inconsistencies in your place entries.

See also

Creating a Place List

Displaying the Place List

The Place List Window


Creating a Place List
Using Lists Features / Place List

To create a place list, choose Places from the List menu. This opens the Places window wherein you use check boxes to select the types of places you want to include and whether to include all people or only marked people.


Displaying the Place List
Using Lists Features / Place List

When your options in the Places window are ready to go, click the List button to make a new place list.

To display the previous place list without creating a new one, click Show Previous List. If the Place List window is not open, you can see the previous place list by choosing Previous Lists from the Windows menu and choose Place from the pop-up menu.


The Place List Window
Using Lists Features / Place List

The Place List window is very similar to the index and other lists. It contains similar features, such as:

•	navigating by double-clicking names.

•	displaying other information with each name.

•	finding people by ID number.

•	marking people.

•	reporting.

•	sorting.

•	displaying the total number of people in the list.

•	displaying the total number of marked people in the list.

These options are discussed in List Options.


Statistics
Using Lists Features

To see statistics for all people in your family file, choose Statistics from the List menu and then select All People.

To see statistics for only marked people in your family file, choose Statistics from the List menu and then select Marked People.

The Statistics window includes interesting facts and figures, such as:

•	age at first marriage.

•	age at death.

•	age at birth of first child.

•	number of spouses.

•	number of children.

•	age distribution. (This is the number of people in your database who lived to within a certain age range. For example, 0-10, 11-20, etc.)

Reporting Statistics

To create a report of the Statistics window, click the Report button.


Ages
Using Lists Features

The Ages Window

The Ages window lists events in people's lives, the weekday on which the events occurred, and the ages of people on the dates the events occurred.

See also

Calculating Ages

Non-Exact Dates

Strange Results

Life Expectancy

Notes About Ages

Reporting the Ages

The Calendar System


Calculating Ages
Using Lists Features / Ages

To open the Ages window, choose Ages from the List menu. The Ages window has a section for each spouse on a family card.


Non-Exact Dates
Using Lists Features / Ages

Calculations in the Ages window rely on the accuracy of your date entries. Where an exact date is not given, EasyTree will use these conventions:

Your date entry	For date calculations, EasyTree will use…

1900	January 1, 1900

March 1900	March 1, 1900

Before 1900	January 1, 1900

After 1900	January 1, 1901

The Ages window does not examine your date entries for feasibility, nor does it perform calculations for BC dates.


Strange Results
Using Lists Features / Ages

If there is a problem with age calculations, you should verify the setting of your system date. If the current system date is incorrect, age calculations will be incorrect. To check this, choose Settings from your Windows Start menu. Then select Control Panel. Now choose Date/Time from the Control Panel window. This will bring up a window that will allow you to set the correct date and time. For more details, consult your Microsoft Windows User's Guide.


Life Expectancy
Using Lists Features / Ages

EasyTree will calculate life expectancies if the Life Expectancy check box is checked in the Ages window. Life expectancy is calculated for people up to 110 years of age who don't have death date entries. These figures are derived from data published in the Transactions Of The Society Of Actuaries. They are used to predict average mortality for a group of people, not an individual person.

The Ages window shows life expectancy for smokers and non-smokers. This factor, as well as the sex of a person, are primary variables in determining life expectancy.


Notes About Ages
Using Lists Features / Ages

•	If a person has a marriage date, no divorce date, and no death date, the age at marriage and length of marriage (to date) will appear.

•	If a person has no birth date, a list of events will still appear; however, no ages will be calculated and a "?" will appear in the age column.

•	If a person has a marriage date and divorce date, the age at marriage and length of marriage (to divorce date) will appear.

•	If a person has a marriage date, no divorce date, and does have a death date entry, the age at marriage and length of marriage (to death date) will appear.


Reporting the Ages
Using Lists Features / Ages

To create a report of the Ages window, click the Report button.


The Calendar System
Using Lists Features / Ages

The Julian calendar system (which instituted a 365-day calendar with 1 extra day every four years) used before 1582 was developed by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, hence the name. This system was adopted by the Nicene Council in 325 AD, but unfortunately it had a few inaccuracies. It exceeded the solar year by a bit and eventually (by 1582) there was an extra 10 days in the calendar, which threw off the date of the vernal equinox (traditionally 21 March). Pope Gregory XIII completed a reform of the Julian calendar in 1582, which basically removed these extra days from the calendar, and set up the rules for leap years in the future that would avoid a repeat of the problem. This edict also changed the date of the new year from 25 March to 1 January.

All Catholic countries officially adopted Pope Gregory's Gregorian calendar in 1582. England, however, in its disputes with the Catholic Church, refused to adopt the Gregorian calendar and remained with the Julian system. Russia also stuck with the Julian calendar. By September of 1752, when England finally adopted the Gregorian calendar, there were now a little more than 11 days difference between the Julian and Gregorian systems. Once adjustments were made for this, 11 days (the 3rd through the 13th of September) had disappeared! Thus you will often see dates written in English (and pre-1752 Colonial) records that read 9 Mar 1756/1757. This is due to the fact that the official (or Julian) calendar said it was 9 Mar 1756, but the Gregorian calendar said it was 1757. A bit confusing, isn't it?

Fortunately, EasyTree will take into account these "missing" days when calculating age spans as long as the starting and ending dates (for example, birth and death dates) fall before and after the missing dates. EasyTree does not alter your date entries (or day of the week calculations) that fall within the missing date range.


Using Other Helpful Features


Direct Lines Bold
Using Other Helpful Features

A direct line represents a chain of people between a direct ancestor and a descendant.

Bold Child Buttons

You can designate child buttons to appear in bold text. This creates a nice visual aid for showing direct lines of descent from generation to generation - making it easier to navigate through your family file. Most people use this feature to help find their way back to themselves.

The Edit Family window lets you manually designate child buttons as bold. You can also create bold child buttons for all your direct ancestors automatically - to visually depict direct lines in your family file.

To bold the child buttons for all direct ancestors of a person, choose Direct Lines Bold from the Options menu. This opens the Direct Lines Bold window.

Step 1

When you're about to make the child buttons bold for the direct ancestors of someone, you have three options for handling existing child buttons.

•	Make All Child Buttons Plain

If this option is selected, EasyTree will convert all child buttons to plain text on all family cards. If any child buttons are bold, they will become plain.

•	Make Child Buttons Plain on Ancestors

If this option is selected, EasyTree will convert all child buttons on ancestors' families to plain text. No other child buttons are affected.

•	Don't Change Any Bold Child Buttons

If this option is selected, EasyTree will not change any existing child buttons. One reason for doing this would be to designate direct lines from two relatives back to one common ancestor. For example, if you make direct lines bold from you and a second cousin, the common ancestor would be your great-grandfather. Your great-grandfather's family card would show two bold child buttons - one representing the direct line to you and one representing the direct line to your second cousin.

Step 2

Select the person whose ancestor's child buttons you want to appear in bold text and click OK.

See also

Changing All Child Buttons to Plain Text

Finding the Common Ancestor

Using Bold Child Buttons to Prune Reports and Charts

Direct Lines Bold Are Unlimited


Changing All Child Buttons to Plain Text
Using Other Helpful Features / Direct Lines Bold

To simply make all buttons plain, click the All Plain button.


Finding the Common Ancestor
Using Other Helpful Features / Direct Lines Bold

If you have made direct-line child buttons bold using two different related people as source persons, you may already know who their common ancestor is - the ancestor who, when moving backward in time from either relative, represents the point where their direct lines meet. If you don't know, EasyTree can help you by searching for families with more than one bold child button. Any such family would represent a common ancestor. To create a list of common ancestors, choose Presets from the Find menu and then select Common Ancestor.


Using Bold Child Buttons to Prune Reports and Charts
Using Other Helpful Features / Direct Lines Bold

Several reports can be limited to include only descendants with bold child buttons.

For example, let's say you want to make a descendant chart showing the direct line from your earliest ancestor to you. Here's how to do it:

1.	Use the Direct Lines Bold feature of the Options menu beginning with you.

2.	Click parent buttons until you find your earliest ancestor.

3.	Choose Descendant Chart from the Chart menu and make a descendant chart with the Direct Lines Only box checked.

This forces EasyTree to create a descendant chart that includes only one person in each generation between you and the earliest ancestor - the direct line. The result is a very focused descendant chart.


Direct Lines Bold Are Unlimited
Using Other Helpful Features / Direct Lines Bold

The Direct Lines Bold feature moves backward in time, identifying direct-line ancestors indefinitely, until it can't find any more ancestors.


Finding


Finding People
Using Other Helpful Features

One of the nicest features of EasyTree is its ability to locate information quickly. In any window with a list of names - Index, Relationship List, Calendar List, Place List, etc. - you can simply double-click a name to open a person's record.

However, you can also search for a person by name. To do this, click the Find button from the toolbar or choose Person from the Find menu to open the Find Person window.

After typing a name, or a partial name, into the Find Person window, keep clicking the Find button or pressing the ENTER key or RETURN key until you find the right person. As EasyTree finds people who match, it opens their family card behind the Find Person window.

See also

The Fastest Way to Find a Person

Focusing the Search

Marking a Found Person

Finding Other Information


The Fastest Way to Find a Person
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding People

You can usually find the person you want by typing only the first few letters of a name. For example, the quickest way to find "Francis Scott Key" is to search for the given name "fra".

Please remember this shortcut if your searches include people with very long names - you do not have to type in entire names. The Find Person window searches for names that start with the letters you enter in the window.


Focusing the Search
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding People

The Find Person feature could open many different family cards with people having the same or a similar name. That's why you need to keep hitting the ENTER key or RETURN key to search for additional occurrences of the name. However, to speed the process, you could focus the search. One way is to specify a first name and a last name. Another way is to use longer text strings in the Find Person window. For example, instead of searching for "Mar Rob," you could search for "Marcus Robinson."


Marking a Found Person
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding People

When the Find Person window "finds" a person for you, you'll have the option to mark or unmark the person while the Find Person window is still open. You can do this by checking the little check box to the left of the Find Anything button. See also Marking.


Finding Other Information
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding People

To search for other items, such as dates, places, or notes, click the Find Anything button. The Find Anything window, described next, will search for just about anything in any field.


Finding Anything
Using Other Helpful Features

The Find Anything feature is designed to search for virtually any piece of information, statistic, or attribute in any field. In fact, you can perform multicondition searches.

To open the Find Anything window, double-click the Find button on the toolbar. You can also choose Anything from the Find menu or click the Find Anything button in the Find Person window.

See also

Are You Searching for People or Couples?

Creating Conditions

Case

Searching for Empty Fields

Searching for Non-Empty Fields

Begin the Search using the Found List Window

Presets for Find Anything

Finding Unlinked People

Find and Replace


Are You Searching for People or Couples?
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding Anything

The first decision you need to make is whether you're looking for individual people or couples that meet certain conditions. Make this selection by clicking the appropriate file-folder button near the top of the Find Anything window.

Examples of data associated with people include birth date, death place, age, etc. Examples of data associated with a couple or a family include marital status, number of adopted children, family notes, etc.

Beginners Beware!

The material that is contained in this section could be considered "advanced". If you are still getting used to using your computer, you may want to get a little more familiar with EasyTree before using these features. If you are an old hand at computers, forge ahead!


Creating Conditions
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding Anything

The Find Anything window searches for people or couples that match up to four different conditions. A condition is defined by two pop-up menu buttons and a data field specifying where to look, how to look, and what to look for.

Each condition in the Find Anything window is independent. If you use more than one condition, EasyTree will apply logical searches called And searches, meaning all conditions must be met.

Where to Look

The first pop-up menu focuses a search to a particular field or statistic. For example, last name, occupation, age, or number of children.

How To Look

The second pop-up menu lets you specify exactly how to look for matches. There are four basic types of searches, which are described below:

1. Is/Is Not compares your search text with entire field entries (including spaces). It only matches when an entire field entry matches your search text (is) or when an entire field entry does not match your search text (is not).

Example condition: First Name 	Contains	john fitzgerald

Match	No Match
John Fitzgerald	John Lee
John F.
Douglas John

2. Before/After performs an alphabetical or chronological comparison - depending on the specified field. The search text (or value) you enter is compared alphabetically or chronologically with the contents of the specified field for all people.

Example condition: Last Name 	Before 	d

Match	No Match
Adams	Johnson
Cartwright	Smith

Example condition: Birth Date	Before	1950

Match	No Match
3 Jul 1875	1 Jan 1950
31 Dec 1949	6 Sep 1990

3. Contains/Does Not Contain lets you search for a string of characters (including spaces) anywhere within fields. It will find words containing two letters whether they are at the beginning of the word or not. For example, "ar" in the "First Name Contains" field will find "Margaret" or "Harold."

Example condition:  Last Name 	Contains	stein

Match	No Match

Arthurstein	Steibert
Steinbrenner	Thursteil

4. Starts With looks at the beginning of words for matches. The order of words in the search text is immaterial. Most of the time, this is the preferred search method. It is also the method used by the Find Person window. (Click on the And checkbox to perform a two-search condition.)

Here's an example of a two-condition search: First Name 	Starts With	dou
           and
           Last Name	Starts With	art

Match	No Match

Douglas M. Arthur	Art Donald
Doug Charles Arthur	Donald Arthur
Douglas Arthur	Arthur Donfeller
Douglas T. Arthurstein	Doug Jones

Note the shortcut - you don't have to type in entire names when performing "Starts With" searches.

What to Look For

The text field in each condition is used to enter text, numbers, places, or dates. When searches are performed, EasyTree uses the contents of this box to find matches.


Case
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding Anything

The Find commands pay no attention to case when looking for matches: "Jones" and "jones" are seen as the same.


Searching for Empty Fields
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding Anything

Keep in mind that the What To Look For box can be empty. For example, if you wanted to get a list of people with no burial place, you could set up the condition explained above.


Searching for Non-Empty Fields
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding Anything

In certain instances you may wish to find all non-empty fields in a family file. While there isn't a specific function allowing for this, there is a good work around. Using the Find Anything tool, you can set up a query to help locate non-empty fields. To do this, Select Find Anything from the Find menu. Select the field you wish to search using the first drop down menu, for example "Occupation", and then set the search criteria to "Doesn't Contain" using the second drop down menu. In the last field, type in a symbol, like a tilde "~" or the "at" symbol "@", that you do not normally use. Click the Find button when you're ready and EasyTree will locate fields that are not empty and do not have these symbols.


More Ways to Use the Find Anything Feature
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding Anything

The Find Anything feature is useful for locating people or families who share a common characteristic. For example:

•	Males born in New York before 1900.

•	Females married in Spain named "Louisa."

•	Families with 12 children.

•	Males who died of heart disease before 1970. (Assume that a Fact field is used to record cause of death.)

•	Individuals over 110 years of age. (This is helpful in locating people whose records lack a death date entry.)


Begin the Search using the Found List Window
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding Anything

After specifying the condition(s) in the Find Anything window, click the Find button to begin the search. When the search is complete, a list of matching people or couples appear in the Found List window. To display the previous Found List without creating a new one, click the Show Previous List button. You can also see the previous list by selecting Previous Lists from the Window menu and choosing Found. The Found List window is very similar to the Index window and contains nearly identical options. These options are discussed in List Options.


Presets for Find Anything
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding Anything

A preset is a preconfigured search routine created in the Find Anything window that you can use again and again to perform your most common searches. For example, you may want to have presets to search for: people with no children, parents, records modified today, marked people, or records containing notes.

Saving a Preset

When you configure the Find Anything window for a particular search, you can save the configuration as a preset by choosing Save Preset from the Presets pop-up menu. This opens the Find Anything Presets window.

Editing Presets

To edit presets, choose Edit Presets from the Presets pop-up menu. This also opens the Find Anything Presets window, wherein you can rename and delete presets.

To rename a preset, type directly into the list. To delete a preset, select a preset in the list and click the Delete button.

Choosing Presets from the Menu

If you're looking at a family card and you want to perform a Preset search, the easiest way is to select a preset from the Presets option under the Find menu. In EasyTree, you have been provided with a number of already defined presets, which you can see by selecting Presets from the File menu. Any presets you define and save in the Find Anything window (see the instructions above) will also appear in this submenu. When you select a preset from the Presets submenu, the search is performed and the results are shown in the Found List window.


Finding Unlinked People
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding Anything

To create a list of people without parents, children, or spouses, choose Unlinked People from the Presets submenu under the Find menu. EasyTree will create a list of unlinked people. You can open a family for anyone in the list by double-clicking a name. Or, you can mark people in the list and then navigate among the marked people as explained in the Marking section of this chapter.


Find and Replace
Using Other Helpful Features / Finding Anything

If you discover that you have entered a name, place, or some other text incorrectly throughout your family file, EasyTree can automatically find and replace all occurrences of a text string. To use this feature, choose Replace from the Find menu. In the Replace window, you can choose whether to affect all people or only marked people.

This feature affects all person and family fields in your family file. It does not affect sources, citation details, images, field definitions, or multiple word strings where portions are styled. Searches are not case sensitive.


Marking
Using Other Helpful Features

Generations lets you work with subsets of people using a feature known as marking. When you mark people, you distinguish them in a conspicuous way by attaching a special identifying checkmark to a person's record.

Marking allows you to set off a certain group of people and treat them separately. For example, you can create lists, reports, and charts limited to marked people. You can also constrain navigation to marked people.

See also

Marking People One at a Time

Marking People in Lists

Marking Groups of People: Ancestors, Descendants, Relatives, Everyone, or Sets

Sets

Editing Marked Sets

Displaying Family Cards with Marked People

Deleting Marked or Unmarked People


Marking People One at a Time
Using Other Helpful Features / Marking

You can mark or unmark a person by clicking the checkmark button in the little status bar on their family card. You can also choose Mark (person's name) from the Find menu. If a person is marked, you'll see a green checkmark in the little status bar, and also one next to the person's name in the Mark submenu of the Find menu.


Marking People in Lists
Using Other Helpful Features / Marking

You can mark or unmark a person in any list. On the left side of lists (such as the index), you'll notice a narrow column that indicates if a person is marked. If so, a green checkmark appears. To mark or unmark a person in a list, you can click this area. To mark or unmark everyone in the list, or everyone in the family file, use the Mark pop-up menu in the lower-left corner of the list.


Marking Groups of People: Ancestors, Descendants, Relatives, Everyone, or Sets
Using Other Helpful Features / Marking

If you need to mark or unmark groups of people, choose Mark Groups from the Find menu. Groups of people include:

•	ancestors of a person.

•	descendants of a couple.

•	people identified with a relationship.

•	everybody in the family file.

•	sets of people.

You can mark or unmark the current couple by checking or unchecking the button called Mark Current Couple.

If you choose to mark a particular group of people, you'll also have the option to unmark everybody first. Do this if you want to mark only the group and unmark everyone else. Likewise, if you choose to unmark a group, you'll have the option to mark everybody first.

If you select the Relationships button, everyone who is currently identified by a relationship will become marked. The Relationships List window can be used to automatically mark people with a specific relationship.


Sets
Using Other Helpful Features / Marking Groups of People

When you have a group of people who are marked, and you think you might need to re-mark exactly the same group of people in the future, you can have EasyTree remember exactly which people are marked.

To save the currently marked people as a marked set, choose Mark Groups from the Find menu and, in the Mark Groups window, select Save Marked Set from the Set pop-up menu. This opens the Marked Sets window.


Editing Marked Sets
Using Other Helpful Features / Marking

To edit marked sets, choose Edit Marked Sets from the Presets pop-up menu. This also opens the Marked Sets window, wherein you can rename and delete sets.

To rename a set, type directly into the list. To delete a set, select a set in the list and click Delete.


Displaying Family Cards with Marked People
Using Other Helpful Features / Marking

There are three ways to display marked people sequentially:

1.	Click the green left or right arrow buttons in the big status bar.

2.	Press the left or right arrow keys on the keyboard.

3.	Press the TAB key or SHIFT + TAB keys on the keyboard.

Navigating between marked people can be useful if you have marked a handful of people for a special reason. For example, if you are researching five different ancestors and are about to search through some records in a library, you could unmark everybody and then mark the five key ancestors. Then, when you're in the library, you only need to press the TAB key to see one of these ancestors. To cycle through all marked people, press the TAB key repeatedly.


Deleting Marked or Unmarked People
Using Other Helpful Features / Marking

EasyTree lets you automatically delete marked or unmarked people from a family file. In either case, people will be deleted - purged permanently from the family file.

We strongly recommend choosing Save a Copy from the File menu before proceeding.

To delete marked or unmarked people from your family file, choose Delete People from the File menu. Then click either the Delete Marked People or Delete Unmarked People button.

Each button gives you two chances to cancel before deleting anyone from your family file. Normally, these commands should only be used if you have copied a family file and need to remove certain branches or lines from a duplicate family file.

Watch Out!

Be very careful with this feature - it can't be undone!


Creating Basic Documents

Family history research involves not only data entry, but also the ability to share your information with others and to print it out in a coherent, easy-to-understand format. Oftentimes, seeing your work in black and white helps you to know how to proceed with your research. In this chapter, we're going to help you learn how to print out some basic documents that will aid you in furthering your research.

See also

Person Sheet

Family Group Sheet

Blank Forms

Family Card Printouts


Person Sheet
Creating Basic Documents

A person sheet is a document that lists information about one person, as opposed to the family group sheet, which includes an entire immediate family.

See also

Creating a Person Sheet

Example: A Person Sheet for All of My Ancestors

Sorting Person Sheets

Format

Sources

Pictures

Layout, Destination, Title

Fonts


Creating a Person Sheet
Creating Basic Documents / Person Sheet

To create a person sheet, choose Person Sheet from the Reports menu. To create a web version, choose Person Sheet from the Internet menu.  This opens the Person Sheet window.

For Whom?

In the Person Sheet window, you have the option to create a person sheet for:

•	either spouse on the current family card.

•	both spouses on the current family card.

•	all people.

•	marked people.

If you choose to create person sheets for marked people, EasyTree automatically finds all the marked people and creates the person sheets one by one. The number of marked people, and the total number of people, are both indicated in the Person Sheet window.


Example: A Person Sheet for All of My Ancestors
Creating Basic Documents / Person Sheet

Let's say you want to print a person sheet for all of your direct ancestors. Here's the easy way to do it:

1. 	From your family card, choose Mark Groups from the Find menu.

2. 	Click your name next to the radio button called Ancestors Of. Make sure the Unmark Everybody First check box is checked.

3. 	Click the Mark button. This will mark all of your direct ancestors.

4. 	Click the Close button.

5.	Choose Person Sheet from the Reports or Internet menu.

6. 	Click the Marked People radio button. Now you're ready to automatically create a person sheet for all of your direct ancestors.


Sorting Person Sheets
Creating Basic Documents / Person Sheet

If you choose to create person sheets for all people or marked people, you also have the option to sort the person sheets by:

•	Last name, First name.

•	First name, Last name.

•	Soundex number, Last name, First name.

•	ID Number.


Format
Creating Basic Documents / Person Sheet

Person sheets can be created in two basic formats: normal and questionnaire.

Normal

If the Normal format is selected, person sheets will not include empty fields. For example, if no birth date is recorded for a person, EasyTree will not add empty space for the birth date in the report. This option makes the most efficient use of space.

Part of the reward of owning a computer and printer is that next week, if some missing information is discovered (such as the aforementioned birth date), you can easily print a new person sheet with the updated information and replace the old one.

Questionnaire

If the Questionnaire format is selected, person sheets will include room for default fields - even if they are empty. Default fields are chosen in the Default Person (or Family) Fields windows.

For example, if you create a person sheet in the Questionnaire format and the source person is unemployed, an empty space for occupation will appear if the default person fields include Occupation.

Questionnaires are ideal worksheets for gathering data from relatives. They show, at a glance, what information you have, and what information has yet to be found. When you select the Questionnaire format, a pop-up menu lets you include room for additional spouses (in case your research on a particular person is not complete).


Sources
Creating Basic Documents / Person Sheet

To specify whether source documentation is included in person sheets, check or uncheck the Sources check box.


Pictures
Creating Basic Documents / Person Sheet

To specify whether pictures are included in person sheets, check or uncheck the Pictures check box. Pictures can only be included if you have linked images to the current family card (in the Images window) and if a "preferred" picture has been selected.

Helpful Tip!

The Picture check box only appears when the Destination pop-up menu shows your Web browser, Printer, or Print Preview. Pictures can't be automatically included in reports destined for your word processor.


Layout, Destination, Title
Creating Basic Documents / Person Sheet

Report layouts, destinations, and titles are discussed in Common Layout Settings.


Fonts
Creating Basic Documents / Person Sheet

To change the fonts used in person sheet printouts whose destination is Printer or Print Preview, choose Fonts from the Options menu and click the Sheets file-folder tab. For person sheets whose destination is your word processor, the font is set in the Reports window of the Options menu.

You can pick a different font for primary names, secondary names, and data. In person sheets, primary names include the names of the source person and spouses. Secondary names include the names of the father, mother, and children. Data is everything else.

By default, person sheets use the Times New Roman font. However, different fonts allow varying numbers of characters in the same amount of horizontal space. Thus, if you have longer entries that are being cropped off in person sheets, you could try using another font.


Family Group Sheet
Creating Basic Documents

A family group sheet is a form that shows information about one immediate family. This typically includes the husband, wife, and children. The family group sheet has become popular primarily through its heavy use by the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the LDS Church).

EasyTree will print the traditional layout of family group sheets - one that conveys information about a family and its members. Family group sheets do not include details about other families in which a husband and wife have participated (though other marriages can be noted on the family group sheet). The family group sheet focuses on the husband and wife shown on the current family card. If you want to create a family group sheet for a person and another of his or her spouses, you should create the family group sheet from the family card showing the correct husband and wife.

See also

Creating a Family Group Sheet

Example: A Family Group Sheet for All My Ancestors

Sorting Family Group Sheets

Format

Sources

Pictures

Layout, Destination, Title

Fonts


Creating a Family Group Sheet
Creating Basic Documents / Family Group Sheet

To create a family group sheet, choose Family Group Sheet from the Reports menu.  To create a web version, choose Family Group Sheet from the Internet menu. This opens the Family Group Sheet window.

For Whom?

In the Family Group Sheet window, you have the option to create a family group sheet for:

•	the family on the current family card.

•	all families.

•	families with one or both spouses marked.

If you choose to print family group sheets for families with a marked spouse, EasyTree automatically finds all the families with a marked spouse and creates the family group sheets one by one.


Example: A Family Group Sheet for All My Ancestors
Creating Basic Documents / Family Group Sheet

Let's say you want to print a family group sheet for the families of your direct ancestors. Here's the easy way to do it:

1. 	From your family card, choose Mark Groups from the Find menu.

2. 	Click your name next to the radio button called Ancestors Of. Make sure the Unmark Everybody First check box is checked.

3. 	Click the Mark button. This will mark all of your direct ancestors.

4. 	Click the Close button.

5. 	Now choose Family Group Sheet from the Reports or Internet menu.

6. 	Click the Families with a Marked Spouse radio button. Now you're ready to automatically create a family group sheet for all of your direct ancestors.


Sorting Family Group Sheets
Creating Basic Documents / Family Group Sheet

If you choose to create family group sheets for all families or just for families with a marked spouse, you also have the option to sort the family group sheets by:

•	Last name, First name.

•	First name, Last name.

•	Soundex number, Last name, First name.

•	ID Number.

Sorting is performed on the male's name in a couple, if available. If not, the female's name is used.


Format
Creating Basic Documents / Family Group Sheet

A family group sheet can be created in two basic formats: normal and questionnaire.

Normal

If the Normal format is selected, family group sheets will not include empty fields. For example, if no birth date is recorded for a person, EasyTree will not add empty space for the birth date in the report. This option makes the most efficient use of space.

Questionnaire

If the Questionnaire format is selected, family group sheets will include room for default fields - even if they are empty. Default Fields are chosen in the Default Person (or Family) Fields windows.

For example, if you create a family group sheet in the Questionnaire format and the husband of the source couple is living, an empty space for his death information will appear if Death is one of the default person fields.

Questionnaires are ideal worksheets for gathering data from relatives. They show, at a glance, what information you have, and what information you have yet to find. When you select the Questionnaire format, a pop-up menu lets you include room for additional children (in case your research on a particular family is not complete).


Sources
Creating Basic Documents / Family Group Sheet

To specify whether source documentation is included in family group sheets, check or uncheck the Sources check box.


Pictures
Creating Basic Documents / Family Group Sheet

To specify whether pictures are included in person sheets, check or uncheck the check box for Pictures. Pictures can only be included if you have linked images to the current family card (in the Images window) and if a "preferred" picture has been selected.

Helpful Tip!

The Picture check box only appears when the Destination pop-up menu shows your Web browser, Printer, or Print Preview. Pictures can't be automatically included in reports destined for your word processor.


Layout, Destination, Title
Creating Basic Documents / Family Group Sheet

Report layouts, destinations, and titles are discussed in the Common Layout Settings section.


Fonts
Creating Basic Documents / Family Group Sheet

To change the fonts used in family group sheet printouts whose destination is Printer or Print Preview, choose Fonts from the Options menu and click the Sheets file-folder tab. For family group sheets whose destination is your word processor, the font is set in the Reports window of the Options menu.

You can pick a different font for primary names, secondary names, and data. In family group sheets, primary names include the names of the source person and spouses. Secondary names include the names of the father, mother, and children. Data is everything else.

By default, person sheets use the Arial font. However, different fonts allow varying numbers of characters in the same amount of horizontal space. Thus, if you have longer entries that are being cropped off in family group sheets, you could try using another font.


Blank Forms
Creating Basic Documents

A blank form is a person sheet or family group sheet with empty fields. Blank forms are ideal for gathering data on people, especially when you begin your research.

As explained in the preceding sections, a person sheet has room for information about one person, as opposed to the family group sheet, which includes room for details about an entire immediate family.

See also

Creating a Blank Form

Room for Spouses and Children

Layout, Destination, Title


Creating a Blank Form
Creating Basic Documents / Blank Forms

To create a blank form, choose Blank Forms from the Reports menu. This opens the Blank Forms window.


Room for Spouses and Children
Creating Basic Documents / Blank Forms

To specify the allotment for spouses in blank person sheets, or children in blank family group sheets, use the Room For pop-up menu.


Layout, Destination, Title
Creating Basic Documents / Blank Forms

Report layouts, destinations, and titles are discussed in Common Layout Settings.  Be aware, however, that the destination for blank forms cannot be your Web browser.


Family Card Printouts
Creating Basic Documents

To print family cards, choose Print Card from the File menu. This opens the Print Card window.

For Whom?

In the Print Cards window, you have the option to print family cards for:

•	the current family.

•	families with a marked spouse.

•	all families.

Be aware that printing lots of cards can be very time consuming. If you've chosen to print quite a few, you can probably write a few letters or organize your research papers while the cards are printing!

See also

Sorting Family Cards

Card Size, Number of Cards Per Page, Page Setup

Use the Preview

The Print Preview Window

Title

Copying the Family Card to the Clipboard


Sorting Family Cards
Creating Basic Documents / Family Card Printouts

If you choose to print family cards for all families or just for families with a marked spouse, you also have the option to sort the family cards by:

•	Last Name, First Name.

•	First Name, Last Name.

•	Soundex number, Last Name, First Name.

•	ID Number.

Name sorting is performed on the male's name of the couple. If the male's name is not available, the female's name is used.


Card Size, Number of Cards Per Page, Page Setup
Creating Basic Documents / Family Card Printouts

A family card printed at 100% measures 7.22 inches horizontally by 4.83 inches vertically. To print smaller cards, and thereby print more cards on a page, you can use the reduction capabilities of your print driver (if your printer has them). If your print driver is capable of reduction, you'll find it in the Page Setup window by choosing Page Setup from the File menu. The options in this window depend on the printer that is currently selected in your Printers folder under Settings in the Start menu. For more help with choosing a printer, refer to your Microsoft Windows User's Guide.

The Page Setup window lets you set parameters that affect the number of cards per page, such as page orientation, paper size, etc.


Use the Preview
Creating Basic Documents / Family Card Printouts

The best way to experiment with different card sizes is to choose Print Preview from the Destination pop-up menu and then click the Preview button. You'll see an on-screen preview that, by scrolling, will quickly tell you how many cards are appearing on each page.

When you're looking at the Preview window, you can change the Page Setup by choosing Page Setup from the File menu. In order for the Preview to refresh, you must close and reopen the Preview.

Note: Family cards print in black and white only, as previewed.  There is no option to print the family card in color.


The Print Preview Window
Creating Basic Documents / Family Card Printouts

The Print Preview window shows your document exactly as it will be printed. You can scroll this window by clicking and dragging the mouse anywhere in the window. The little arrow buttons in the bottom scroll bar let you move forward and backward through a document, page by page. The total number of pages is shown at the very left end of the bottom scroll bar. Clicking this number opens the Go To Page window, where you can type in the number of the page you'd like to see.

While the Print Preview window is open, you can print the document by choosing Print Card from the File menu. When you're looking at the Preview window, you can change the Page Setup by choosing Page Setup from the File menu. In order for the Preview to refresh, you must close and reopen the Preview.


Title
Creating Basic Documents / Family Card Printouts

To enter a title for the family card printouts, enter a title into the Title field of the Print Card window.


Copying the Family Card to the Clipboard
Creating Basic Documents / Family Card Printouts

To copy a high-resolution PICT image of the family card to the clipboard, choose Copy Family Card from the Edit menu. You can then paste the image into other applications.


General Report Information

A report is a document that presents information from your family file. Reports should not be confused with charts. A chart is a graphic document (a timeline or tree chart). Anything else is a report.

In the Reports and Internet menus, you will find common genealogical reports, such as the person sheet, family history report, and Register report.

In the List menu, you'll find useful lists, such as an index and relationship list. These lists are initially shown in windows on the screen, but lists can become reports as well.

In fact, in any window where you see a Report button, you can generate a report. Other examples include the Get Information, Index, Ages, and Sources windows.

See also

List Reports

Common Layout Settings

Report Options

Managing Report files

Printing Reports

Page Setup

The Print Window


List Reports
General Report Information

The simplest type of report is one that includes the contents of a list, such as those in the Index, Calendar List, Relationship List, Found List, and other windows. Clicking the Report button in any of these windows opens a List Report window. This window is used to select the destination and title for the report, and whether or not to include tab characters between the pieces of information in each line of the report. If tabs are included, you can adjust the ruler in your word processor to make the "columns" of data appear uniformly.

See also

Destination

Opening a Report in Your Word Processor

Opening a Report in Your Web Browser

Saving to Disk

Print Preview

Printing a Report Directly to Your Printer

Title


Destination
General Report Information / List Reports

The destination of a report is the place where the report is going. EasyTree is unique in its ability to offer you several destinations for reports. The destination is indicated, and changed, in the Destination pop-up menu that appears before you create a report. For example, when you choose Register Report from the Reports or Internet menus, you will see the Destination pop-up menu. Similarly, when you click the Report button in the Index window, you will see the Destination pop-up menu.

The items in the Destination pop-up menu depend on the report. Different reports have different destinations, however, the essential destinations include:

•	opening the report in: your word processor or your Web browser.

•	saving the report to disk as an .RTF file, plain text file, or to a Web folder.

•	sending the report directly to your printer.

•	previewing the report on-screen, exactly as it would be printed to your printer.


Opening a Report in Your Word Processor
General Report Information / List Reports

Rather than reinvent the wheel, we have designed EasyTree to communicate directly with your word processor. The concept is simple: when you create a report, one of your choices is to open the report in your word processor. If you utilize this option, EasyTree will assemble the proper information and save the report as a file located in the current Reports folder. Then you can open the report in your word processor where you can see, edit, and print the report using the familiar tools of your favorite word processing program.

If you want to open a report in your word processor, select your word processor from the Destination pop-up menu. The button at the bottom of the Report window will change to Open because you are about to open the report in your word processor.

Reports destined for your word processor are created in the file format known as .RTF (Rich Text Format). Using the .RTF file format, EasyTree can automatically apply attractive formatting to reports before sending them to your word processor. For example you can use: properly-positioned tab stops, bold headings and subheadings, superscript source citations, page numbers in the footer, title in the header, etc.

NOTE: The header and footer for documents are usually "hidden" in the document you create, but will show up in a print preview window or a printed page. To see headers and footers in your document, go to the view menu, in the case of MS Word, and select "Header and Footer".

For best results, you should be using a word processor that can properly import .RTF files.


Opening a Report in Your Web Browser
General Report Information / List Reports

If you want to open a report in your Web browser, choose the name of your Web browser from the Destination pop-up menu, and the button at the bottom of the Report window will become Open. When you click the Open button, you'll be asked to name the Web folder, and the report will automatically open in your Web browser.

For a more complete discussion of Web-related report features, see the Web Publishing section of Chapter 16.


Saving to Disk
General Report Information / List Reports

If you only want to save a report to disk, choose RTF File, Plain Text File, or Web Folder from the Destination pop-up menu. After you do this, the button at the bottom of the Report window becomes Save. When you click the Save button, you'll be asked to name the file (if you choose RTF File or Plain Text File in Reports) or folder (if you choose Web Folder in Internet Reports). The report will be saved to disk, either as a single file or folder.


Print Preview
General Report Information / List Reports

This destination is only available when creating person sheets or family group sheets from the Reports or Internet menus, cascading pedigrees from the Charts menu, or family cards from the File menu. If you want to see one of these documents on-screen, choose Print Preview from the Destination pop-up menu. (From the Print Preview window, you'll also have the option to print the report.)

If you choose Print Preview, the button at the bottom of the Report window will become Preview. When you click the Preview button, the Print Preview window will open.

The Print Preview Window

The Print Preview window shows your document exactly as it will be printed. You can scroll this window by clicking and dragging the mouse anywhere in the window. The little arrow buttons in the bottom scroll bar let you move forward and backward through a document, page by page. The total number of pages is shown at the very left end of the bottom scroll bar. Clicking this number opens the Go To Page window, where you can type in the number of the page you'd like to see.

While the Print Preview window is open, you can print the document by choosing Print from the File menu. If you only want to print the current page shown in the Print Preview window, choose Print This Page from the File menu. To change settings, such as orientation or reduction, choose Page Setup from the File menu. After you close the Page Setup window, any changes you made will be reflected in the Print Preview window.


Printing a Report Directly to Your Printer
General Report Information / List Reports

This destination is only available when creating person sheets or family group sheets from the Reports or Internet menus, cascading pedigrees from the Charts menu, or family cards from the File menu. If you want to send one of these documents directly to your printer, choose Printer from the Destination pop-up menu. The button at the bottom of the relevant window will become Print. When you click the Print button, the standard Windows Print window will appear, and you can select the usual print options and send the report directly to your printer.


Title
General Report Information / List Reports

The titles of list reports (index, calendar, relationship, etc.) are automatically generated by EasyTree and include the current date (such as Index Report-8 Jul 1997). These titles can be edited in the List Report window shown earlier in this chapter.

The titles of other reports, such as a family history or descendant reports, are entered in the Title field of the relevant window. (For example, when you choose Family History Report from the Reports or Internet menus, you'll see a Title field.) These titles are not generated by EasyTree, but are remembered between sessions. Titles appear in the header of reports.

NOTE: The header and footer for documents are usually "hidden" in the document you create, but will show up in a print preview window or a printed page. To see headers and footers in your document, go to the view menu, in the case of MS Word, and select "Header and Footer".


Layout
General Report Information

A layout is a collection of important choices that determine the content and "look" of a report. EasyTree offers some default layouts for reports and also gives you the flexibility of creating and saving your own report layouts. Every type of report has its own set of layouts.

The layout is indicated, and changed, using the Layout pop-up menu that appears before you create a report. For example, when you choose Register Report from the Reports or Internet menus, you'll see the Layout pop-up menu. However, remember that you cannot change the layout of list reports.

See also

Defining Your Own Layouts

Each Layout Has Settings

Changing Layout

Working with Layouts


Defining Your Own Layouts
General Report Information / Layouts

To define your own report layouts, to edit an existing layout, or to just see what the layout is, choose Define Layouts from the Layout pop-up menu in any of EasyTree's report windows.


Each Layout Has Settings
General Report Information / Layouts

The Layout window includes a list of layouts on the left side. When you click on a layout, a list of settings appears in the middle list. When you click on a setting, check boxes and other items appear on the right side.

The collection of settings depends on the report; however, typical settings include:

•	the choice and order of fields to be included for a person, a person's spouse, a person's family, and a family's children.

•	whether or not to append certain information to names.


Changing Layout Settings
Changing Layout
General Report Information / Layouts

To change a report layout, highlight the desired layout on the left side of the Layout window and then highlight the particular setting you want to change in the middle. For example, selecting Person Fields in the list of settings will show a list of active person fields on the right side. As you click the different settings, the options you can select in the far-right window will change. Give it a try!


Working with Layouts
General Report Information / Layouts

When you have a Layout window open, you can add, delete, duplicate, and rename layouts. Here's how:

•	To add a new layout, click the Add Layout button.

•	To delete a layout, select a layout in the list and click the Delete Layout button.

•	To duplicate a layout, select a layout in the list and click the Duplicate Layout button.

•	To rename a layout, click on its name and edit the name directly in the list.

•	To save changes you've made to all layouts, click the Save button.


Common Layout Settings
General Report Information

Some layout settings are unique to particular reports. These are discussed in Chapter 13 under the particular report you want to use.

However, many reports share similar layout settings, such as the choice of person fields, spouse fields, family fields, etc. The following is a discussion of layout settings that are common to all the different reports in EasyTree.

See also

Person Fields, Spouse Fields, Children Fields

Family Fields

Append to Names

Event Format

Sorting Fields


Person Fields, Spouse Fields, Children Fields
General Report Information / Common Layout Settings

In each of these settings, a list of active person fields will appear. By checking or unchecking the boxes in these lists, you determine whether or not EasyTree will include each field in a report. In addition, by dragging the fields up and down in the list, you have control over the order of fields in a report.

The distinction between the three settings listed above is best illustrated by some definitions:

•	In a family group sheet, person fields are the fields for the source couple (typically a husband and wife). Children fields are the fields for the children of the source couple.

•	In a person sheet, person fields are the fields for the source person. Spouse fields are the fields for the spouse of the source person.


Family Fields
General Report Information / Common Layout Settings

Family fields are the fields associated with a couple or family, such as marriage, marital status, and family notes. A list of active family fields will appear. By checking or unchecking the check boxes in the list, you determine whether or not EasyTree will include that field in a report. In addition, by dragging the fields up and down in the list, you have control over the order of family fields in a report.


Append to Names
General Report Information / Common Layout Settings

This setting lets you append any or all of the following items to the names of people in reports and charts: relationship, Soundex number, ID number, and/or user ID number. In addition, by dragging the items up and down in the list, you can control the order in which fields are appended.


Event Format
General Report Information / Common Layout Settings

This layout setting includes three check boxes which permit:

•	appending a person's age to event fields.

•	including memo fields.

•	putting place fields on separate lines.


Sorting Fields
General Report Information / Common Layout Settings

This layout setting determines the order in which fields are sorted in person sheets and family group sheets:

•	Select the Edit Person window radio button if you want a person's field to be sorted according to their order in the Edit Person window. If this option is selected, fields will appear grouped according to their type. For example, events will appear together and facts will appear together.

•	Select the Person Fields Setting radio button if you want a person's fields to be sorted according to their order in the Person Fields setting in the Layout window. The advantage of selecting this option is that you can intermingle different types of fields. However, note fields will always appear last, regardless of the order in the Person Fields layout setting. Blank forms always use this option.


Report Options
General Report Information

To specify essential options for reports, choose Reports from the Options menu to open the Report Options window. A list of options will appear on the left. As you click on items in this list, the options on the right side will change.

See also

Word Processor

Notes About Word Processors

What to do if your word processor doesn't open reports correctly

Web Browser

Report Folder

Return Address

Signature

Dividing Line

Index

Source Citations, Endnotes

Report Numbers

Sensitive Data


Word Processor
General Report Information / Report Options

To identify your word processor, click Word Processor in the Options list in the Report Options window. Then select your word processor using the Word Processor pop-up menu.

Several predefined word processors appear in the pop-up menu. If EasyTree finds any of these word processors on your hard disk(s), their names will be enabled in the pop-up menu. To specify a word processor that is not in the pop-up menu, choose Other. This will open a window wherein you can navigate and select the executable file of your word processor.

While we can't possibly purchase and test every word processor on the market, EasyTree does work with popular Windows word processors such as Word, WordPerfect, and AmiPro. If EasyTree has any problem communicating with your word processor, it may mean that you need a newer version of your word processor. You may contact us to discuss any compatibility issues regarding your word processor. Some of these troubleshooting issues are described in Notes About Word Processors and What to do if your word processor doesn't open reports correctly.


Notes About Word Processors
General Report Information / Report Options

WordPerfect 6.1 and 6.0a

These versions of WordPerfect for Windows work fine.

WordPerfect 6.0

WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows does not import .RTF correctly. This will interfere with the proper formatting of Ahnentafel and Register Reports. We recommend that you upgrade to a newer version of WordPerfect.

WordPerfect 5.2

WordPerfect 5.2 for Windows has several problems importing .RTF files (particularly with fonts). We recommend that you upgrade to a newer version of WordPerfect.

Word 2.0

Word 2.0 for Windows works fine.

Word 6.0/Word95

Word 6.0 for Windows also works fine.

Word 7.0/Word97

Word 7.0 for Windows works fine as well.

AmiPro 3.0 and 3.1

AmiPro 3.0 and 3.1 for Windows work fine. However, if AmiPro insists on closing a document in order to open a new one, you should choose Open from the File menu and uncheck the check box called Close Current File.

Notepad

Microsoft Notepad opens reports very quickly, however it has two important limitations: a maximum of 32,000 characters per document, and no .RTF import - meaning your reports will not be as attractive.

Wordpad

Wordpad prints reports well.

Microsoft Works 3.0

Microsoft Works 3.0 for Windows works fine.

PFS WindowWorks 2.0

PFS WindowWorks 2.0 works fine but only allows one report to be open at a time.


What to do if your word processor doesn't open reports correctly
General Report Information / Report Options

If you've read the information above, and your word processor still doesn't open reports correctly, you should choose Plain Text File from the Destination pop-up menu and then create the report. After the report is created, locate the report file and double-click it. If reports appear correctly using this technique, you've isolated the problem to the conversion of .RTF files. When a word processor has a problem converting an .RTF file, the report may not appear at all or it may be filled with strange phrases such as:

\ par Birth Date:\ tab 22 Sep 1923

You should also double-click the Readme file that was installed with EasyTree. If there is any late-breaking news regarding word processor compatibility, it will be located in the Readme file.

Another resource for troubleshooting word processor problems (or any other technical problems, for that matter) is the Generations Web site. To check it out, log on to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and then click the Web button on the toolbar. This will automatically take you to the Generations Web site.

In some rare cases, you must simply reinstall the word processor to fix this problem in order for reports to print correctly.


Web Browser
General Report Information / Report Options

To identify your Web browser, choose Reports from the Options menu, click Web Browser in the list of options, and select your particular browser using the Web Browser pop-up menu.

Some predefined browsers appear in the pop-up menu. If EasyTree finds any of these on your hard disk(s), their names will be enabled in the pop-up menu. To specify a browser that is not in the list, choose Other. This will open a window that lets you navigate to and then select your browser's executable file on your hard disk.


Report Folder
General Report Information / Report Options

Each time you create a report, EasyTree saves a report file on your hard disk. EasyTree must save reports to disk in order to automatically open them in your word processor. It does this by sending a message to your PC telling it which report file to open.

When EasyTree was installed on your hard disk, a Reports folder was created inside the EasyTree folder. This is the default Reports folder - the storage bin for your report files. For convenience you may want to change this to the folder where you normally store your letters and correspondence - perhaps in your word processor's directory.

To change the default folder, choose Reports from the Options menu, click Report Folder in the list of options, click the Change button, and select a folder.


Return Address
General Report Information / Report Options

EasyTree lets you add a return address to the end of some reports. To enter or edit the return address, choose Reports from the Options menu. Click Return Address in the list of options and enter up to five lines of text in the Return Address text field.

When the cursor is in the Return Address text field, the ENTER key is used to create new lines. When the Save button has the focus, the ENTER key is the equivalent of clicking the Save button.

The option to include a return address in reports is turned on or off using the Include check box.

Please be aware that contact information for Web projects is defined in the Web Cover Page.


Signature
General Report Information / Report Options

At the bottom of some reports, a "signature" line will appear. The date portion of the signature is preset; however, you can change the rest of the signature. To change the signature, choose Reports from the Options menu, click Signature in the list of options, and enter text (for example, "by Mary Kozy") in the Signature field.


Dividing Line
General Report Information / Report Options

You have the option to specify what type of dividing line is used in new reports. The default line is made up of em dashes ( - ), but some interesting dividing lines can be created using other characters and spaces such as (-----) or (*****) or (=+=+=+).

To change the dividing line, choose Reports from the Options menu. Click Dividing Line in the list of options and insert or delete characters in the Dividing Line field. You may want to trim or lengthen the dividing line to complement your font choice. The maximum dividing line length is 50 characters.


Index
General Report Information / Report Options

In reports that include indexes, you have the option to specify how the index will be sorted, and whether or not to include birth and death years with each entry in the report index. You may also choose to omit the index entirely by checking the check box next to that option in the window.

To set the report index options, choose Reports from the Options window, click Index in the list of options, and choose your settings.


Source Citations, Endnotes
General Report Information / Report Options

Including source citations and endnotes in reports is discussed in Chapter 8.

RTF

To change the font used in .RTF reports (reports destined for your word processor), choose Reports from the Options menu. Click RTF in the list of options, and then pick a font from the Font pop-up menu.

You can also choose to include colored text information in the .RTF file by checking the Support Color check box. However, not all word processors will support colored text in .RTF files.


Report Numbers
General Report Information / Report Options

When a report is destined for your word processor or Web browser, EasyTree creates and saves a report file (or folder) to disk automatically - you aren't even asked to name the file (or folder). These report files and folders will have a default file name containing the word "Report," a sequential number, the initials of the source person, and the type of document you're saving. While nothing says you must keep the default file names, they can help you to remember the contents of reports on your hard disk.

Report files are numbered sequentially, so you can keep track of the number of reports you create. This number may be useful when you need to delete report files from your hard disk.

The following table shows some sample report files and their default file names.

Source Person	Report	Default File Name

Alexia S. Moore	Person Sheet	Report 001, ASM PersonSheet

Alexia S. Moore	Questionnaire	Report 002, ASM Questionnaire

Alexia S. Moore	Family Group	Report 003, ASM FamilyGroup

To change the current report number, choose Reports from the Options menu, click Report Numbers in the list of options, and then type a number into the Next Number field.


Sensitive Data
General Report Information / Report Options

You may exclude sensitive data from reports. Sensitive data is text in any note or memo field that is enclosed in the delimiter appearing in the Sensitive Data Delimiters pop-up menu. To change these settings, choose Reports from the Options menu and click Sensitive Data in the list of options.


Managing Report Files
General Report Information

Deleting Report Files

Each time you create a report, EasyTree saves a report file to disk in the report folder specified in the Reports Folder portion of the Report Options window. As you might imagine, you could easily accumulate lots of report files. To check the number of report files on disk, open any family file and select. You can get the same information by choosing Get Info from the File menu.

If you have numerous practice reports or outdated reports, you should consider deleting some of the report files. You can delete report files by clicking on My Computer on your desktop and navigating to the Reports folder in the Generations directory. Once you have decided which files to delete, you can just drag them to the Recycle Bin on your desktop. If you're unfamiliar with this technique for deleting files, see your Microsoft Windows User's Guide.

Editing Reports

Reports are used to organize and display information previously entered in your family file, not vice versa. If you edit a report in your word processor, your changes will not be reflected on the corresponding record in EasyTree. Any editing (of facts, dates, notes, etc.) you wish to save should be performed in the family file via the various data entry windows in EasyTree.

See also

Batches of Reports


Batches of Reports
General Report Information / Managing Report Files

Person sheets and family group sheets can be automatically created for marked people. This option, and the option to sort reports for marked people, appear when you choose Person Sheet or Family Group Sheet from the Reports or Internet menus.

If you choose to create reports from marked people and the destination is your word processor, Plain Text File, or RTF File, EasyTree creates the desired reports, combines them into one file, and saves that file to disk. In effect, a single report file is created. If your destination option is your word processor, EasyTree will also attempt to open the report in your word processor for display, editing, and printing. The convenience of this feature is that you omit the steps of displaying and saving individual reports.

Examples of creating batch reports - making person sheets for all of your ancestors and creating a family group sheet for the families of your direct ancestors - are included in Chapter 11.


Printing Reports
General Report Information

As you probably know by now, there are many ways to print documents. For example, a person sheet can be printed:

•	directly from EasyTree.

•	from your word processor.

•	from your Web browser.

Documents move from EasyTree to other applications by using the Destination pop-up menu. As you learned earlier, the items in the Destination pop-up menu depend on the report. Not all reports offer the same destinations.

See also

Printing with Your Word Processor or Web Browser

Printing with EasyChart

Printing with EasyTree


Printing with Your Word Processor or Web Browser
General Report Information / Printing Reports

If the destination of a report is your word processor or Web browser, the report will be printed, if desired, using your word processor or Web browser. Once a report has been passed from EasyTree to another application (word processor or Web browser), printing is handled by the other application, not EasyTree. If you are having difficulty printing a report using your word processor or Web browser, please consult the documentation or support staff of that word processor or Web browser for help with problems related to printing.


Printing with EasyChart
General Report Information / Printing Reports

The destination of pedigree charts, descendant charts, enhanced hourglass charts, and timeline charts is EasyChart. Each of these documents is printed, if desired, using EasyChart. See Chapter 15 for more information on using EasyChart.


Printing with EasyTree
General Report Information / Printing Reports

Some documents can be printed directly from EasyTree. These include:

•	person sheets.

•	family group sheets.

•	cascading pedigrees.

•	family cards.

The Destination pop-up menu for these documents includes Printer and Print Preview.


Page Setup
General Report Information

When you print a report with EasyTree, the settings in the Page Setup window are applied to your reports. To change settings, choose Page Setup from the File menu.

The options that appear in the Page Setup window depend on the printer that is currently selected in the Printers folder of your Settings menu. For more help with choosing a printer, consult your Microsoft Windows User's Guide.

See also

Some Page Setup Options Are Provided by the Print Driver

Some Page Setup Options Are Provided by EasyTree


Some Page Setup Options Are Provided by the Print Driver
General Report Information / Page Setup

The Page Setup window has a collection of options and features that are provided by the print driver, not EasyTree. Examples include page orientation, paper size, scaling, etc.

If the Page Setup window has an Options button or a pop-up menu, this will lead to other windows with more options and features that are totally specific to the printer and print driver. The actual choices you'll see in the Page Setup window will vary depending on your printer and print driver.


Some Page Setup Options Are Provided by EasyTree
General Report Information / Page Setup

The Page Setup window also has some options and features that are provided by EasyTree. The exact location where these buttons appear depends on the print driver selected in the Printers folder of your Settings menu. For example, in most Page Setup windows, the options provided by EasyTree will appear at the bottom of the Page Setup window.


The Print Window
General Report Information

The final step in printing a report is the appearance of the Print window. The settings in the Print window are applied to your reports and depend on the printer that is currently selected in the Printers folder of the Settings menu. For more help with choosing a printer, consult your Microsoft Windows User's Guide.

See also

Some Print Options Are Provided by the Print Driver

Some Print Options Are Provided by EasyTree


Some Print Options Are Provided by the Print Driver
General Report Information / The Print Window

The Print window has a collection of options and features that are provided by the print driver, not EasyTree. Examples include number of copies and the range of pages to print.

If the Print window has an Options button or a pop-up menu, this will lead to other windows with more options and features that will vary depending on your printer and print driver.


Some Print Options Are Provided by EasyTree
General Report Information / The Print Window

The Print window also has some options and features that are provided by EasyTree. The exact location where these options appear depends on the print driver selected in the Printers folder of the Settings menu.


Creating Comprehensive Reports

Reports are one of the easiest ways to share information with others that might be researching common lines. EasyTree creates a wide variety of reports with the data that you have entered in your family file. In this chapter we will be discussing general report guidelines and then we will give you information on how to create the many specific reports that EasyTree can generate.

See Also

Family History Reports

Register Report

Ahnentafel Report

Tiny Tafel Report

Descendant Report


Family History Reports
Creating Comprehensive Reports

A Family History Report begins with one couple and moves forward in time. It includes descendants (children, children's children, etc.) of the source couple along with information about each descendant along the way. It is a very comprehensive genealogical document - one that lends itself well to data verification and publishing.

Each descendant in a Family History Report is assigned a number that symbolizes that descendant's relationship to the source couple. EasyTree uses the Legal Outline numbering method, which lets you determine the relationships between people in the Family History Report.

Legal Outline Numbering

The Legal Outline numbering method (also called the Modern numbering method) shows each line with complete indent history, thus 1.3.2.5 means the "5th child of the 2nd child of the 3rd child of the source couple." Some will recognize this as a variation of the Henry system.

1. 	source

1.1 	source person's 1st child

1.2 	source person's 2nd child

1.2.1 	source person's 2nd child's 1st child

1.2.2 	source person's 2nd child's 2nd child

1.3 	source person's 3rd child

1.3.1 	source person's 3rd child's 1st child


Creating a Family History Report
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

To make a Family History Report, choose Family History Report from the Reports menu. To create a web version, choose Family History Report from the Internet menu.  The Family History Report window will open with several options.

For Whom?

When you create a Family History Report, EasyTree will start with the couple on the current family card and look downward or forward in time. It gathers information about all the descendants of this couple until it reaches the end of a lineage or the specified ending generation (2 to 99).

How Many Generations?

To set the size of a Family History Report, use the up/down arrows next to the Generations field or type a number into the field. Family History Reports can be from 2 to 99 generations. The size - in number of characters - is limited only by the amount of available disk space.

See also

Pruning

Sources

Pictures

Layout

Destination, Title

Generations Prefixes

Multiple Spouses in Family Histories

Index

Removing Duplicate Branches

Excluding Sensitive Data


Pruning
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

Pruning a family tree means that you cut down (trim) the number of people on the tree so as to make it more manageable. The Family History Report window provides two check boxes for pruning large Family History Reports by including only:

•	descendants who are in the direct line (their child buttons appear in bold text).

•	descendants who are marked.

•	descendants who are marked and who are in the direct line.

These options provide the means to prune what otherwise may become very large reports.


Sources
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

To specify whether or not source documentation is included in a Family History Report, check or uncheck the Sources check box.


Pictures
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

If you have selected Family History Report from the Internet menu, you will have an option to add pictures to your report.  Pictures will only be included if a preferred picture has been selected for descendants who have linked pictures files. See Adding Images for more details.


Layout
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

Choosing Define Layouts from the Layout pop-up menu can change report layouts. Most of the layout settings for Family History Reports are common to other reports discussed in Creating Comprehensive Reports.  One layout setting that is unique to the Family History Report is the Generations Prefixes.


Destination, Title
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

Destinations for Family History Reports in EasyTree 7.0 include your word processor, RTF file, or Plain Text for Reports and Web browser or Web folder for Internet Reports. Family History Reports do not have a destination choice of Printer or Print Preview.

A title for your Family History Report can be entered in the Title field. This title is not generated by EasyTree, but is remembered between sessions. This title will appear in the header of your Family History Report.


Generations Prefix
Generations Prefixes
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

Generation prefix refers to a number (from 1 to 99) inside parentheses, representing the number of generations between the source couple and a descendant. Referring to this number is easier than counting the number of digits in the Legal Outline number.

The following example shows two Family History Report entries with generation prefixes. The first person is five generations from the source couple. The second person is six generations from the source couple.

(5)	1.5.8.1.9	James M. LANDIS

(6)	1.5.8.1.7a.1	Amanda LANDIS


Multiple Spouses in Family Histories
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

In a Family History Report, descendants with more than one spouse will automatically receive a lowercase alphabet letter suffix for each of their marriages. For all succeeding generations, you can trace descendants to the correct ancestor by the letter suffix. Put another way, you can tell which ancestor's marriage produced which descendants by looking at the letter in the Legal Outline number.

The following excerpt uses the Legal Outline method. To trace future generations to either of his marriages, the children from Carl Clinton Crews' first marriage include the suffix "a" and those from his second marriage include the suffix "b."

1 Albert Crews (1841 - 1917) & Martha Ellen Highsmith (1843 - 1893)

1.1 Charles Johnson Crews (1864 - 1864)

1.2 Albert Harlan Crews (1865 - 1940) & Mary S. Wathen (1864 - 1931)

1.2.1 Eloise Crews (1888 - )

1.3 William Franklin Crews (1868 - 1920) & Adella "Dela" Tolles (1870 - 1930)

1.3.1 (Son) Crews (1896 - 1896)

1.3.2 Frances Ellen Crews (1899 - )

1.3.3 (Son) Crews (1902 - 1902)

1.4a Carl Clinton Crews* (1870 - 1939) & Emma Borden Or Barden (1868 - 1897)

1.4a.1 Eugene Lyndon Crews (1892 - )

1.4a.2 Walter Albert Crews (1894 - )

1.4a.3 Arthur Carlyle Crews (1896 - )

1.4b Carl Clinton Crews* (1870 - 1939) & Betty Toler

1.4b.1 LeRoy Crews

1.4c Carl Clinton Crews* (1870 - 1939) & Minnie Thompson (1864 - 1939)


Index
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

An index will appear at the end of Family History Reports. The index is an alphabetized list of all people in the report. Each line of the index will include a person's last name, first name, and Legal Outline number.

Index

LANDIS, Amanda	1.5.8.1.7a.1

LANDIS, Benjamin M.	1.5.8.1.8

LANDIS, James M.	1.5.8.1.9

Index options are located in the Report Options window (choose Reports from the Options menu, click Index in the list of options, and choose your settings).


Removing Duplication
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

Convergence (caused when relatives marry) and duplication (caused by multiple marriages) is conveniently avoided and notated in Family History Reports. The line "(See above)" or "(See duplicate branch above)" will appear beneath anyone's name that already appears in the Family History Report.

In the example below, Elias M. Landis was married more than once (as indicated by the asterisk after his last name), and his information already appears in the Family History Report as indicated by the "(See above)" notation beneath his name.

(5) 1.5.8.1.7b	Rev. Elias M. LANDIS*

(See above)


Excluding Sensitive Data
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Family History Report

You may exclude sensitive data from reports. Sensitive data is text in any note or memo field that is enclosed in the delimiter appearing in the Sensitive Data Delimiters pop-up menu. To change these settings, choose Reports from the Options menu and click Sensitive Data in the list of options.


Register Report
Creating Comprehensive Reports

The Register Report is named for the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. For some genealogists, this report is the preferred document for genealogy texts. EasyTree creates a Register-style report where a narrative paragraph is created for each person, beginning with a selected couple and including all descendants up to a specified number of generations. Each descendant is assigned a unique number, beginning with 1 for the source, followed by his children as 2, 3, 4, etc. In the body of the report, children in a family are listed with lowercase Roman numerals. The entire report is divided by generations.

See also

Creating a Register Report

Pruning

Sources

Pictures

Layout

Destination, Title

Miscellaneous

Parents of Spouse

Index

Convergence and Divergence


Creating a Register Report
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Register Report

To make a Register Report, choose Register Report from the Reports menu. To create a web version, choose Register Report from the Internet menu.  The Register Report window will open giving you several options.

For Whom

When you create a Register Report, EasyTree will start with the couple on the current family card and look "downward" (forward in time). It gathers information about all the descendants of this couple until it reaches the end of a lineage or the specified ending generation (2 to 99).

How Many Generations?

To set the size of a Register Report, use the up/down arrows next to the Generations heading or type a number into the field. Register Reports can be from 2 to 99 generations. The size - in number of characters - is limited only by the amount of available disk space.


Pruning

Creating Comprehensive Reports / Register Report

The Register Report window provides two options for pruning large Register Reports by including only:

•	Direct Lines Only - descendants who are in the direct line (their child buttons appear in bold text).

•	Marked Descendants Only - descendants who are marked.

These options provide the means to prune what otherwise could be a very large report.


Sources
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Register Report

To specify whether or not source documentation is included in a Register Report, check or uncheck the Sources check box.


Pictures
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Register Report

If you have selected Register Report from the Internet menu, you will have an option to add pictures to your report.  Pictures will only be included if a preferred picture has been selected for descendants who have linked pictures files. See Adding Images for more details.


Layout
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Register Report

Report layouts can be changed by choosing Define Layouts from the Layout pop-up menu. Most of the layout settings for Register Reports are common to other reports and are discussed in the Common Layout Settings section of Chapter 12. Two layout settings associated with Register Reports are the Miscellaneous and Parents of Spouse settings.


Destination, Title
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Register Report

Destinations for Register Reports in EasyTree 7.0 include your word processor, RTF file, or Plain Text for Reports and Web browser or Web folder for Internet Reports. Register Reports do not have a destination choice of Printer or Print Preview.

A title for your Register Report can be entered in the Title field. This title is not generated by EasyTree, but is remembered between sessions. This title will appear in the header of your Register Report.


Miscellaneous
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Register Report

The Register Report Layout window contains a Miscellaneous setting with two choices that are unique to register reports.

Subtitles for Parents

If this option is enabled, EasyTree will insert subtitles in the Register Report to make the report more readable. The subtitles are the names of parents preceding a group of children.

Number People without Children

Example: Let's assume Paolo has no children and he falls in the 5th generation of a Register Report. By default, Paolo will be listed as a child of his parents in the 4th generation (his parent's generation), assigned a Register number, and also listed separately in the 5th generation (his own generation). If you prefer, you can avoid assigning Register numbers to people without children. If you uncheck this box, Paolo and all of his information will be listed when he appears as a child of his parents in the 4th generation - and Paolo will not be listed separately in the 5th generation (his own generation).


Parents of Spouse
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Register Report

Another setting in the Register Report Layout window is called Parents of Spouse. This provides a box that, when marked, will include short dates for the parents of spouses of descendants. You can also select the style of short date. (See the Register Report Excerpt in Convergence and Divergence, which includes short dates for parents.)


Index
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Register Report

An index will appear at the end of the Register Report. A Register Report index is an alphabetized summary of all people included in a Register Report. Each line of the index will include a person's last name, first name(s), and Register number.

LEISTER, Harry Melvin Jr.	2

LEISTER, Harry Melvin Sr.	1

LEISTER, Wilma Jane	3

Index options are located in the Report Options window (choose Reports from the Options menu, click Index in the list of options, and choose your settings).


Convergence and Divergence
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Register Report

Duplication, caused by convergence (when relatives marry) is conveniently avoided in Register Reports. For example, if you create a Register Report for the common ancestor of two second cousins who married, you'll see each cousin (each direct descendant) listed once along with their children. However, under the second listing, the register numbers for their children will be identical to their first listing.

In this example, Jane DOE and John SMITH are second cousins who married. Notice the register numbers for their children.

Register Report Excerpt

16. Jane DOE. Born on 1 Jul 1850 in York, PA.

She married John SMITH, son of Franklin SMITH (1928-) & Ann WESTON (1930-1995), on 1 Oct 1970 in Easton, PA. Born on 1 Mar 1948 in Trenton, NJ. They had the following children:

51.	i.	Thomas SMITH

52.	ii.	Wilma SMITH

53.	iii.	Arlene SMITH

Later in the report you'll see:

33. John SMITH. Born on 1 Mar 1948 in Trenton, NJ.

He married Jane DOE, daughter of Norman DOE (1931-1997) & Susan JONES (1932-), on 1 Oct 1970 in Easton, PA. Born on 1 Jul 1950 in York, PA. They had the following children:

51.	i.	Thomas SMITH

52.	ii.	Wilma SMITH

53.	iii.	Arlene SMITH


Ahnentafel Report
Creating Comprehensive Reports

An Ahnentafel Report is a narrative-style report that begins with one person and moves backward in time. The Ahnentafel Report includes ancestors (parents, parents' parents, etc.) of the source person along with information about each ancestor along the way. The report is similar to a pedigree chart - it begins with a source person and moves backward in time. Each ancestor is assigned a unique Ahnentafel number, beginning with 1 for the source person. (Ahnentafel is a German word that translates as ancestor table.) The report is divided by generation.

Ahnentafel Numbering

The Ahnentafel numbering system assigns the number 1 to the source person. The father of number 1 is number 2. The spouse of 2 is 3. The general rule is: to find the father of a person, double their number. To find the mother of a person, double their number and add 1.

See also

Creating an Ahnentafel Report

Pruning

Sources

Pictures

Layout

Destination, Title

Miscellaneous

Index

Removing Duplication

Duplication - Where It First Appears

Removing Duplication in Previous Generations

Excluding Sensitive Data


Creating an Ahnentafel Report
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

To make an Ahnentafel Report, choose Ahnentafel Report from the Reports menu. To create a web version, choose Ahnentafel Report from the Internet menu.  The Ahnentafel Report window will open giving you several options.

For Whom?

When you create an Ahnentafel Report, EasyTree will start with a person on the current family card and look "backward." It gathers information about all direct ancestors of the starting person until it reaches the beginning of the lineage or it reaches the specified number of generations (2 to 99).

How Many Generations?

To set the size of an Ahnentafel Report, use the up/down arrows next to the Generations field or type a number into the field. Ahnentafel Reports can be from 2 to 99 generations deep. The size - in number of characters - is limited only by the amount of available disk space.


Pruning
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

As EasyTree is gathering ancestors for the report, it will only include marked ancestors if the Marked Ancestors Only check box is checked.


Sources
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

To specify whether or not source documentation is included in an Ahnentafel Report, check or uncheck the Sources check box.


Pictures:Ahnentafel report;Ahnentafel report;
Pictures
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

If you have selected Ahnentafel Report from the Internet menu, you will have an option to add pictures to your report.  Pictures will only be included if a preferred picture has been selected for ancestors who have linked picture files. See Adding Images for more details.


Layout
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

Report layouts can be changed by choosing Define Layouts from the Layout pop-up menu. Most of the layout settings for Ahnentafel Reports are common to other reports and are discussed in the Common Layout Settings section of Chapter 12. One layout setting, Miscellaneous, is explained in detail below.


Destination, Title
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

Destinations for Ahnentafel Reports in EasyTree 7.0 include your word processor, RTF file, or Plain Text for Reports and Web browser or Web folder for Internet Reports. Ahnentafel Reports do not have a destination choice of Printer or Print Preview.

A title for your Ahnentafel Report can be entered in the Title field. This title is not generated by EasyTree, but is remembered between sessions. This title will appear in the header of your Ahnentafel Report.


Miscellaneous
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

The Ahnentafel Report Layout window contains a Miscellaneous setting with three choices that are unique to Ahnentafel Reports: subtitles, page breaks, and list children.

Subtitles

Ahnentafel Reports are divided by generation. The Subtitles pop-up menu gives you three options for the title applied to each generation of the report:

No Titles

1 John Fitzgerald KENNEDY Jr.

2 John Fitzgerald KENNEDY

3 Jacqueline Lee BOUVIER

4 Joseph Patrick KENNEDY

5 Rose Elizabeth FITZGERALD

6 John Vernou BOUVIER III

7 Janet Norton LEE

Generation Numbers

First Generation

1 John Fitzgerald KENNEDY Jr.

Second Generation

2 John Fitzgerald KENNEDY

3 Jacqueline Lee BOUVIER

Third Generation

4 Joseph Patrick KENNEDY

5 Rose Elizabeth FITZGERALD

6 John Vernou BOUVIER III

7 Jane Norton LEE

Relationship

1 John Fitzgerald KENNEDY Jr.

Parents

2 John Fitzgerald KENNEDY

3 Jacqueline Lee BOUVIER

Grandparents

4 Joseph Patrick KENNEDY

5 Rose Elizabeth FITZGERALD

6 John Vernou BOUVIER III

7 Janet Norton LEE

Page Breaks

To include a page break before each generation, check the Page Breaks check box.

List Children

To include a list of children of each parent, grandparent, etc. check the List Children check box.


Index
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

An index will appear at the end of the Ahnentafel Report. An Ahnentafel Report index is an alphabetized summary of all ancestors in the report. Each line of the index will include an ancestor's last name, first name(s), and Ahnentafel number.

Index

LANDIS, Benjamin M.	 2

LANDIS, John	32

LANDIS, Samuel	 8

LANDIS, Samuel M.	16

LANDIS, Samuel Newcomer	 4

LANDIS, William S.	 1


Removing Duplication
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

Ancestral duplication that appears in Ahnentafel Reports is caused when relatives marry. You should visualize the duplication in two parts: the generation where it first appears and in previous generations (earlier generations appear later in the Ahnentafel Report).

EasyTree conveniently avoids duplicating information and lets you know where it appears in Ahnentafel Reports. The line "same as Ahnentafel number x" will appear when a person already appears in an Ahnentafel Report.


Duplication - Where It First Appears
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

If a source person on a report had parents who were second cousins, you would first encounter ancestral duplication when you moved backward in time to the fifth generation. In such an example below, Hilary EHRENZELLER and Elizabeth LAUVER first appear as numbers 18 and 19 in the Ahnentafel Report. They appear later as numbers 24 and 25; however, their names and information are not duplicated.

Fifth Generation

16 David LEISTER, Born 5 May 1831. Died 30 Nov 1891.

17 Catherine WELLER. Born 1 May 1832. Died 15 Mar 1912.

18 Hilary EHRENZELLER. Born 8 Feb 1820. Died 19 Oct 1892.

19 Elizabeth LAUVER. Born 13 Feb 1822. Died 18 Jun 1892.

24 same as Ahnentafel number 18

25 same as Ahnentafel number 19


Removing Duplication in Previous Generations
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

To omit further occurrences of duplication that appear in preceding generations (but later in the Ahnentafel Report), check the Remove Duplication box in the Ahnentafel Report window. If the Remove Duplication check box is unchecked, further occurrences of duplication will be included, but notated as before: "same as Ahnentafel number x."

Following the example on the previous page, if you check the Remove Duplication check box, the parents of persons 24 and 25 (these would be persons 48, 49, 50 and 51) would be omitted from the sixth generation of the Ahnentafel Report. Likewise, other ancestors of persons 24 and 25 would be omitted. In the seventh generation, this would include persons 96 through 103. In the eighth generation, this would include persons 192 through 207, and so on. As you can see, checking the Remove Duplication check box can significantly shorten your Ahnentafel Reports.

However, if the Remove Duplication check box was left unchecked, the parents of persons 24 and 25 would appear as follows:

Sixth Generation

48 same as Ahnentafel number 36

49 same as Ahnentafel number 37

50 same as Ahnentafel number 38

51 same as Ahnentafel number 39

Likewise, the parents of persons 48 through 51 would appear as follows:

Seventh Generation

96 same as Ahnentafel number 72

97 same as Ahnentafel number 73

98 same as Ahnentafel number 74

99 same as Ahnentafel number 75

100 same as Ahnentafel number 76

101 same as Ahnentafel number 77

102 same as Ahnentafel number 78

103 same as Ahnentafel number 79

And so on.


Excluding Sensitive Data
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Ahnentafel Report

You may not always want everything in your data fields to appear in the reports that you print and send to others. You can keep sensitive data from being printed in reports by making sure that any sensitive data you have in note or memo fields is enclosed by a set of delimiters (such as ( ), { } , [ ], or < >). It is advisable that you pick one type of delimiter and stick with it so that you don't have to remember all the variations when printing reports.

To exclude the sensitive data, select Reports from the Options menu. Highlight Sensitive Data in the options list and then check the Exclude Sensitive Data check box. Make sure that you have selected the correct delimiter and click the Save button.


Tiny Tafel Report
Creating Comprehensive Reports

A Tiny Tafel Report is a compact way of describing a database of people. It contains general information about family lines, but it is not a source of genealogical data. Rather, it provides a way to share your research interests.

Tiny Tafel files have traditionally been posted to public forums, such as a BBS (Bulletin Board System) or an on-line service (e.g., America On-Line, CompuServe, Prodigy, etc.). Someone posts a file and other people search the file for surnames of interest and then contact the submitter if there's a similar research interest.

Advanced Users Tip

If you currently have your own Web site, you might consider placing a downloadable Tiny Tafel on your site. They are a great way to let others see at a glance the lines you are researching and determine if you may have common lines.

Paul Andereck, former editor of Genealogical Computing magazine, proposed the idea and the specification was developed by Commsoft in 1986. One of the driving forces in developing the Tiny Tafel was to implement a very structured database that could compare Tiny Tafels and provide a report on matches. The Tafel Matching System was developed to do this. There are a number of bulletin boards around the country that have the Tafel Matching System installed.

Here is an example of a Tiny Tafel Report:

N	Thomas Jones

A	123 Any St.

A	Anytown, AZ 12345

T	333-444-5555

S	thomas@jones.com

S	www.jones.com

Z	3

A160	1813*1850*AVERY\ Hampshire, England/Hampshire, England

M220	1810*1850*MARTIN\ Armagh, Ireland/Grey Co. Ontario

M220	1920*1948*SMITH\ Brock, Saskatchewan/San Jose, Ca

W	24 May 1997

The Tiny Tafel Report begins with header lines containing the name (N), address (A), and telephone number (T) of the submitter. Following these lines are optional lines (S) giving more information about the "Communication Service," for example your e-mail address and Web page address. This is followed by a required line (Z), which gives the number of data lines. Next come the data lines (described below), and finally a line (W) with the date when the report was generated.

The data lines in a Tiny Tafel Report typically contain:

Soundex code for surname	(4 characters)

Space delimiter	(1 space)

Earliest ancestor birth year	(4 numbers YYYY)

Ancestor interest level	(1 character)

Latest descendant birth year	(4 numbers YYYY)

Descendant interest level	(1 character)

Surname	(variable length)

\ Ancestor birth place	(variable length)

/Descendant birth place	(variable length)

See also

Creating a Tiny Tafel Report


Creating a Tiny Tafel Report
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Tiny Tafel Report

To make a Tiny Tafel Report, choose Tiny Tafel Report from the Reports menu. To create a web version, choose Tiny Tafel Report from the Internet menu.  The Tiny Tafel Report window will open giving you several options.

For Whom?

When you create a Tiny Tafel Report, EasyTree gathers information about all direct ancestors of the starting person and then lists every unique surname found along the way, together with the data fields shown on Tiny Tafel Report.

Including Birth Places

To include birthplaces, check the Include Birth Places check box.

Interest Level

The Interest Level is a number between 0 and 3, which indicates your interest in a particular ancestor. You may choose an interest level for the earliest ancestor and latest descendant using the pop-up menus in the Tiny Tafel Report window. EasyTree assigns the same level to each data line in the report. If you need to edit individual data lines, you can easily do this in your word processor after the report is created.

Description	Level #	Character in Report

No interest	0	  [space]

Low interest	1	. [period]

Moderate interest	2	: [colon]

High interest	3	* [asterisk]

Destination

Destinations for Tiny Tafel Reports in EasyTree include your word processor, your Web browser, an .RTF file, a plain text file, and your Web folder, but do not include your printer or Print Preview.

Submitter

To include submitter information in a Tiny Tafel list, click the Submitter button and enter your name and contact information.


Descendant Report
Creating Comprehensive Reports

Reports vs. Charts

EasyTree creates Descendant Reports and Descendant Charts. In both cases, the document begins with one couple and looks forward in time - down the roots, as it were, from the starting couple on the current family card.

A Descendant Report is an indexed text outline showing descendants of the source couple for a specified number of generations. Descendant Reports don't have graphic elements such as boxes or lines. These are included in Descendant Charts, which are discussed in Chapter 14.

Here is a small example of a Descendant Report:

Joseph Patrick Kennedy & Rose Fitzgerald
John Fitzgerald Kennedy & Jacqueline Lee Bouvier
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr.
Patrick Bouvier Kennedy

See also

Creating a Descendant Report

Pruning

Removing Duplicate Branches

Sources

Layout

Destination, Title

Name Setup

First Line Bold

Field Format

Indent/Outline

Outline Methods

Legal Outline Method and Multiple Spouses

Children of Multiple Spouses in Descendant Reports

Excluding Sensitive Data


Creating a Descendant Report
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

To make a Descendant Report, choose Descendant Report from the Reports menu. To create a web version, choose Descendant Report from the Internet menu.  The Descendant Report window will open giving you several options.

How Many Generations?

To set the size of a Descendant Report, use the up/down arrows next to the Generations field or type a number into the field. Descendant Reports can be from 2 to 99 generations. The size - in number of characters - is limited only by the amount of available disk space.


Pruning
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

The Descendant Report window provides two check boxes for pruning large Descendant Reports by including only:

•	descendants who are in the direct line (their child buttons appear in bold text).

•	descendants who are marked.

•	descendants who are marked and are in the direct line.


Removing Duplicate Branches
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

To identify and remove repetition in a Descendant Report, check the Remove Duplicates check box in the Descendant Report window. Repetition (the creation of duplicate branches) occurs when descendants of married cousins (or siblings) appear more than once in a Descendant Report. If duplicate branches are removed from a report, the source of the duplication (the related couple) will have a double asterisk (**) added to their entry in the Descendant Report. The first occurrence of a branch will remain in a report - all other occurrences will be removed.


Sources
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

To specify whether or not source documentation is included in a Descendant Report, check or uncheck the Sources check box.


Layout
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

Report layouts can be changed by choosing Define Layouts from the Layout pop-up menu. Most of the layout settings for Descendant Reports are common to other reports and are discussed in the Common Layout Settings section of Chapter 12. Three layout settings associated with Descendant Reports are: Name Setup, Field Format, and Indent/Outline.


Destination, Title
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

Destinations for Descendant Reports in EasyTree 7.0 include your word processor, RTF file, or Plain Text for Reports and Web browser or Web folder for Internet Reports. Descendant Reports do not have a destination choice of Printer or Print Preview.

A title for your Descendant Report can be entered in the Title field. This title is not generated by EasyTree, but is remembered between sessions. This title will appear in the header of your Descendant Report.


Name Setup
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

One setting in the Descendant Report Layout window is Name Setup. This refers to the style in which names of descendants and their spouses are presented in Descendant Reports.

To change the style, click the Change button and pick one of the eight basic styles.

To include spouses of descendants, be sure to pick a setup that includes the spouse.

Descendants with multiple spouses will be listed once for each marriage and have asterisks after their names.

Short Dates

When your name setup includes names and dates on the same line, you have the option to include dates with just years or full dates. Select one of the two radio buttons under the title Short Dates.


First Line Bold
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

In Descendant Reports, you have the option to apply bold text to:

•	first generations.

•	odd generations.

•	direct lines.

•	all descendants.


Field Format
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

Another setting in the Descendant Report Layout window is Field Format. This includes three check boxes that let you include age with events, put places on separate lines, and exclude empty fields.


Indent/Outline
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

Another setting in the Descendant Report Layout window is Indent/Outline.

Indent

A Descendant Report is a text outline showing descendants of the source couple. Each level of indentation in the outline represents a successive generation.

To set the amount of indentation used for each generation, use the Indent pop-up menu button.

Tabs are recommended because they make it easier for you to change the spacing between generations when the report is opened in the word processor. In other words, you can adjust the tab stops in your word processor to move generations closer together or farther apart in the outline.

Text Lines

The Text Lines button will give you quick-and-dirty vertical connecting lines in a Descendant Report. Because this option only applies to text reports, the "lines" are made up of a text character (|) ala MS-DOS programs. This is a quick way to add perspective to a non-graphic Descendant Report without creating a graphic chart.

Outline

To specify the outline method used in your Descendant Reports, use the Outline pop-up menu. Your choices are Normal, Short, and Legal.

Generation Prefix

A generation prefix is a number (1 to 99) inside parentheses, representing the number of generations between the source couple and a descendant. Referring to this number is easier than counting the number of digits in the Legal Outline number.

The following example shows two Descendant Report entries with generation prefixes and the Legal Outline method. The first person is five generations from the source couple. The second person is six generations from the source couple.

(5)	1.5.8.1.9	James M. LANDIS

(6)	1.5.8.1.7a.1	Amanda LANDIS


Outline Methods
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

Here is a brief description and example of each outline method:

Normal

The Normal format will strip all numbering from each indent level.

source

source person's 1st child

source person's 2nd child

source person's 2nd child's 1st child

source person's 2nd child's 1st child's 1st child

source person's 2nd child's 1st child's 2nd child

source person's 2nd child's 2nd child

source person's 3rd child

source person's 3rd child's 1st child

Short

This method (also called the Numeric format) numbers each sub-item of a line consecutively.

1. source

1. source person's 1st child

2. source person's 2nd child

1. source person's 2nd child's 1st child

1. source person's 2nd child's 1st child's 1st child

2. source person's 2nd child's 1st child's 2nd child

2. source person's 2nd child's 2nd child

3. source person's 3rd child

1. source person's 3rd child's 1st child

Legal

This method (also called the Modern numbering method, and similar to the Henry system) shows each line with complete indent history, thus 1.3.2.5 means "the 5th child of the 2nd child of the 3rd child of the source."

1. source

1.1 source person's 1st child

1.2 source person's 2nd child

1.2.1 source person's 2nd child's 1st child

1.2.1.1 source person's 2nd child's 1st child's 1st child

1.2.1.2 source person's 2nd child's 1st child's 2nd child

1.2.2 source person's 2nd child's 2nd child

1.3 source person's 3rd child

1.3.1 source person's 3rd child's 1st child


Legal Outline Method and Multiple Spouses
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

Descendants with more than one spouse will automatically receive a lowercase alphabet letter suffix for each of their marriages. For all succeeding generations, you can trace descendants to the correct ancestor by the letter suffix. Put another way, you can tell which ancestor's marriage produced which descendants by looking at the letter in the Legal Outline number.

Example: Direct Lines Only

Let's say you want to send a report to a third cousin showing how the two of you are related. Here's how you do it:

1. 	Choose Direct Lines Bold from the Options menu beginning with you.

2. 	Choose Direct Lines Bold from the Options menu beginning with your cousin.

3. 	Navigate to the family card for the common ancestor. If you don't know who the common ancestor is, choose Preset from the Find menu and then select Common Ancestor, and EasyTree will search for family cards with more than one bold child button. This will find your common ancestor. Double-click the common ancestor's name in the Found List window.

4. 	From the common ancestor's card, choose Descendant Report from the Reports or Internet menu. Create a Descendant Report with the Direct Lines Only check box checked.

This will force EasyTree to only include descendants whose child buttons appear with bold text - in this case, the direct line. The result is a very focused report (or chart).


Children of Multiple Spouses in Descendant Reports
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

In a Descendant Report, descendants with multiple spouses will be listed once for each marriage. There are two exceptions, however:

1. 	Descendant Reports in EasyTree show the descendants of a couple, not a person. If either the husband or wife of the current family card - the source couple - has multiple spouses, the descendants of their other spouses will not be listed.

If you need to show descendants of multiple spouses of the source couple, then you need to change the source couple. Start the report from a parent or another ancestor of the current source couple.

2. 	If you have opted not to include spouses of descendants in a Descendant Report and a person with multiple spouses is in the last generation of the report, then this person will not be listed twice.


Excluding Sensitive Data
Creating Comprehensive Reports / Descendant Report

You may not always want everything in your data fields to appear in the reports that you print and send to others. You can keep sensitive data from being printed in reports by making sure that any sensitive data you have in note or memo fields is enclosed by a set of delimiters (such as ( ), { } , [ ], or < >). It is advisable that you pick one type of delimiter and stick with it so that you don't have to remember all the variations when printing reports.

To exclude the sensitive data, select Reports from the Options menu. Highlight Sensitive Data in the options list and then check the Exclude Sensitive Data check box. Make sure that you have selected the correct delimiter and click the Save button.


Creating Graphic Charts


Descendant Chart
Creating Graphic Charts

Charts vs. Reports

EasyTree creates Descendant Charts and Descendant Reports. In both cases, the document begins with one couple and looks forward in time - down the roots, as it were, from the source couple. The source couple is the couple on the current family card.

A Descendant Chart is a graphic document that shows descendants of a source couple for a specified number of generations. Descendant Charts include graphic elements - boxes and connecting lines - to depict relationships. A Descendant Report, on the other hand, is a text-only depiction and does not, therefore, include graphic elements like boxes, lines, etc.

Here is a small example of a Descendant Chart:

Here is a text version of a Descendant Report:

Joseph Patrick Kennedy & Rose Fitzgerald

John Fitzgerald Kennedy & Jacqueline Lee Bouvier

Caroline Bouvier Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr.

Patrick Bouvier Kennedy

Descendant Reports are discussed in detail in Chapter 13.

Multiple Spouses for the Source Couple

Descendant Charts show the descendants of a couple, not an individual. If either member of the couple on the current family card - the source couple - has multiple spouses, the descendants of their other spouses will not be included in the chart. This is because the child of a man's second marriage is not a descendant of his first marriage, or vice versa. If you need to show descendants of multiple spouses of the source couple, then you need to change the source couple. Start the chart from a parent or another ancestor of the current source couple.

Creating a Descendant Chart

To make a Descendant Chart, choose Descendant Chart from the Chart menu. The Descendant Chart window will open giving you several options.

For Whom?

When you create a Descendant Chart, EasyTree will start with the couple on the current family card and look "downward" (forward in time). It gathers information about all the descendants of this couple until it reaches the end of a lineage or the specified ending generation (2 to 99).

How Many Generations?

To set the size of a Descendant Chart, use the up/down arrows next to the Generations field or simply type a number into the field. Descendant Charts can be from 2 to 99 generations. There is no limit on the number of boxes in a chart or its dimensions.

Pruning

The Descendant Chart window provides buttons for pruning large charts by including only:

•	descendants who are in the direct line (their child buttons appear in bold text).

•	descendants who are marked.

•	remove duplicates

Duplicate Branches - Removing Repetition

To identify and remove repetition in a Descendant Chart, check the Remove Duplicates check box in the Descendant Chart window. Repetition (the creation of duplicate branches) occurs when descendants of married cousins (or siblings) appear more than once in a Descendant Chart. If duplicate branches are removed from a chart, the source of the duplication (the related couple) will have a double asterisk (**) added to their entry in the Descendant Chart. The first occurrence of a branch will remain in the chart - all other occurrences will be removed.

Layout

Chart layouts can be changed by clicking the Layout pop-up menu button and selecting Define Layouts. Layout settings for Descendant Charts are identical to the layout settings for Descendant Reports. These are explained in the Descendant Report section of Chapter 13.

Destination

The destination for Descendant Charts is EasyChart, which is included in Generations. You can learn more about how to use EasyChart in Chapter 15.

Drawing the Chart in EasyChart

When you click the Chart button in the Descendant Chart window, EasyTree will build the new chart from the entries and links in your family file. It will then open the EasyChart application where the chart is automatically drawn and displayed.


Pedigree Chart
Creating Graphic Charts

A pedigree chart is a graphic document that begins with one person and moves backward in time - showing the parents of each person in the tree. If you haven't entered some of your ancestors, the corresponding boxes will not appear in the chart.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

To print a cascading pedigree chart - a series of four- or five-generations, single-page, cross-referenced charts - read Creating a Pedigree Chart in this chapter.

See also

Creating a Pedigree Chart

Pruning

Layout

Destination

Name Setup

Include Siblings of/Spouses of

Drawing the Chart

Limiting a Chart to One Page


Creating a Pedigree Chart
Creating Graphic Charts / Pedigree Chart

To create a pedigree chart for a person on the current family card, choose Pedigree Chart from the Chart menu. The Pedigree Chart window will open, and you will have several options from which you can choose.

For Whom?

When you create a pedigree chart, EasyTree will start with a person on the current family card and look "backward." It gathers information about all direct ancestors of the starting person until it reaches the beginning of a lineage or it reaches the specified number of generations (2 to 99).

How Many Generations?

To set the size of a pedigree chart, use the up/down arrows beside the Generations field or simply type a number into the field. Pedigree charts can be from 2 to 99 generations.


Pruning
Creating Graphic Charts / Pedigree Chart

As EasyTree is gathering ancestors for the chart, it will only include marked ancestors if the Marked Ancestors Only check box is checked.

Ancestral duplication in a pedigree chart is caused when relatives marry. EasyTree will conveniently avoid duplicating branches if the Remove Duplicates check box is checked.


Layout
Creating Graphic Charts / Pedigree Chart

Chart layouts can be changed by choosing Define Layouts from the Layout pop-up menu. Most of the layout settings for pedigree charts are common to other reports and are discussed in the Common Layout Settings section of Chapter 12. Three layout settings associated with Pedigree charts are: Name Setup, Include Siblings of, and Include Spouses of.


Destination:Pedigree chart;Pedigree chart;
Destination
Creating Graphic Charts / Pedigree Chart

The destination for pedigree charts is EasyChart, which is included in Generations. You will learn more about how to use EasyChart in Chapter 15.


Name Setup
Creating Graphic Charts / Pedigree Chart

Name Setup is a setting in the Pedigree Chart Layout window. This refers to the style in which names of ancestors are presented in pedigree chart boxes.

To select one of the three styles, click a radio button under the Name Setup label.

First Line Bold

To apply bold text to the first line in boxes (the name line), check the First Line Bold box.

Short Dates

When your name setup includes names and dates (the Names (b-d) options), you have the option to include dates with just years or full dates. Select one of the two radio buttons under the title Short Dates.

Field Format

This setting includes three items:

Include Age with Events

This option appends the age to an event. For example, if a Graduation event is included in a chart, the age at which a person graduated will be included with the graduation date and place.

Put Places on Separate Lines

This option determines the way that events are presented in chart boxes. Less vertical space is required if places are on the same line as dates. However, it will require more horizontal space and may wind up making chart boxes wider. The alternative is to put places on separate lines - dates on one line and places on the next line.

Exclude Empty Fields

To remove empty lines from boxes, check the Exclude Empty Fields check box. This is a great way to conserve space in pedigree charts larger than four generations.


Include Siblings of/Spouses of
Creating Graphic Charts / Pedigree Chart

Include Siblings of

This layout setting lets you exclude siblings include the siblings of the source person, or include the siblings of everybody in the pedigree chart. If you prefer you can also include the person fields for siblings.

Include Spouses of

This layout setting lets you include the spouses of the source person and/or the spouses of siblings of ancestors.

If you prefer you can also include the person fields for spouses.


Drawing the Chart
Creating Graphic Charts / Pedigree Chart

When you click the Chart button in the Pedigree Chart window, EasyTree will assemble the new chart from the entries and links in your family file. It will then open the EasyChart application, where the chart is automatically drawn and displayed.

We explain how to use EasyChart in Chapter 15.


Limiting a Chart to One Page
Creating Graphic Charts / Pedigree Chart

If you want a pedigree chart to print on a single page, check the Limit to One Page check box in the Pedigree Chart window. Without using printer reduction (or scaling), the number of generations that will fit on one page is very limited. One-page pedigree charts with single-line boxes can be a maximum of 7 generations. One-page pedigree charts with multi-line boxes can be a maximum of 5 generations.

Also note that the layout options explained in the above sections do not apply to single-page charts. In addition, the choice of name setup and fields is much more limited.

When you click the Limit to One Page box, the Layout pop-up menu disappears and is replaced with a Box Setup button. Clicking the Box Setup button opens the Box Setup window, which contains the options for single-page charts.

If your printer supports reduction or scaling (see Reducing the Size of Tree Charts), you can get more generations onto a single page by unchecking the Limit to One Page check box.


Cascading Pedigree Chart
Creating Graphic Charts

A cascading pedigree chart is a series of four- or five-generation, single-page charts that begin with one person and move backward in time - showing the parents of each person in the tree. Each chart in a cascading pedigree is cross-referenced so it's easy to see where one chart "continues" onto another. The continuation numbers appear to the right of boxes in the last generation of each chart.

Printing a Cascading Pedigree Chart

To print a cascading pedigree chart for a person on the current family card, choose Cascading Pedigree from the Chart menu. The Cascading Pedigree window will open, giving you several options.

For Whom?

When you create a cascading pedigree chart, EasyTree will start with a person on the current family card and look "backward." It gathers information about all direct ancestors of the starting person until it reaches the beginning of a lineage or it reaches the specified number of generations (4 to 97).

Blank Charts

If the Blank radio button is selected, EasyTree will print a pedigree chart with empty boxes. Blank charts are ideal for gathering data on people, especially when beginning your research.

How Many Generations?

To set the total number of generations included in a cascading pedigree chart, use the Total Generations pop-up menu. Cascading pedigree charts can be from 4 to 97 generations in increments of three or four. The choices depend on the number of generations per page.

How Many Generations Per Page?

A cascading pedigree chart can include four or five generations per page.

See also

Pruning

Box Setup

What's in the Boxes?

Box Numbers

Title

Destination

Return Address

Fonts in Cascading Pedigrees

Default Settings for Cascading Pedigrees

Updating a Cascading Pedigree


Pruning
Creating Graphic Charts / Cascading Pedigree Chart

As EasyTree is gathering ancestors for the chart, it will only include marked ancestors if the Marked Ancestors Only check box is checked.

Ancestral duplication in a cascading pedigree chart is caused when relatives marry. EasyTree will conveniently avoid duplicating branches if the Remove Duplicates check box is checked.


Box Setup
Creating Graphic Charts / Cascading Pedigree Chart

To see additional options for a cascading pedigree chart, click the Box Setup button in the Cascading Pedigree window. This opens the Box Setup window.

You have the option to append various items such as Relationship, Soundex numbers, ID numbers, or User ID numbers to names. In addition, you can make the first line of each box appear bold, by checking the First Line Bold check box.


What's in the Boxes?
Creating Graphic Charts / Cascading Pedigree Chart

Cascading pedigree charts contain multiline boxes with each piece of information on a separate line. Each box contains name, birth date, birthplace, marriage date, marriage place, death date, and death place. The only exceptions are the boxes in the last generation of the five-generation-per-page version - these only contain name, birth date and death date. Boxes for females on the chart do not contain a marriage date or place.

All boxes are the same width, except the boxes in the last generation of the five-generation version - these are narrower.

First names in longer entries may be automatically abbreviated in order to fit the names into chart boxes. If a place name is too long to fit in a box, it will be truncated.


Box Numbers
Creating Graphic Charts / Cascading Pedigree Chart

Each box of each single-page chart is numbered according to the Ahnentafel numbering system, which assigns the number 1 to the source person. The father of number 1 is number 2. The spouse of number 2 (mother of number 1) is number 3. The rule is: to find the father of a person, double their number. To find the mother of a person, double their number and add 1. Ahnentafel numbers appear in bold, to the left of the boxes.

Beginning Genealogy Tip

Continuation numbers help you to navigate your way through a cascading pedigree chart. They refer you from one chart to another so that you can find your way back to the original person on the chart. When you get out to the right side of the chart, those individuals are given a unique continuation number that represents the number of the chart where you will find them in the #1 position. To move backward, you would refer to the top of the chart which might say, "Number 1 on this chart is the same as Number 12 on Chart #2."


Title
Creating Graphic Charts / Cascading Pedigree Chart

To enter a title for the cascading pedigree chart, type directly into the Title field.


Destination
Creating Graphic Charts / Cascading Pedigree Chart

The destination for cascading pedigree charts is either your Printer or Print Preview.


Return Address
Creating Graphic Charts / Cascading Pedigree Chart

Cascading pedigrees will include the family file return address in the lower-left corner of each chart. To make any necessary changes to this address, select Reports from the Options menu. Then click on Return Address in the list on the left side of the screen, and type in your correct address in the box on the right.


Fonts in Cascading Pedigrees
Creating Graphic Charts / Cascading Pedigree Chart

To change the fonts used in cascading pedigree chart printouts, choose Fonts from the Options menu and click the Pedigree file-folder tab. You can pick a different font for two categories that apply to cascading pedigrees: primary names and data. Primary names are the names of ancestors. Data is everything else. By default, cascading pedigree charts are set to use the Arial font for primary names and data. Experimenting with different fonts can let you see longer entries in chart boxes because some fonts allow a few more characters in the same amount of horizontal space.


Default Settings for Cascading Pedigrees
Creating Graphic Charts / Cascading Pedigree Chart

The default settings for cascading pedigree charts are:

•	In cascading pedigrees that include four generations per page, the text size is set to 9, the first line of text (the primary names) will appear in bold text, and the box shadow will appear gray and 4 pixels deep.

•	In cascading pedigrees that include five generations per page, the text size is set to 8, the first line of text (the primary names) will appear in bold text, and the box shadow will appear gray and 2 pixels deep.

•	Very thin lines (or hairlines) are used for connecting lines and box borders in all cascading pedigree charts.


Updating a Cascading Pedigree
Creating Graphic Charts / Cascading Pedigree Chart

If you have printed a cascading pedigree and then discover a mistake or new information that affects one of the charts, you can return to the source person of the cascading pedigree and create an updated version.

By setting the Destination pop-up menu to Print Preview, you can locate the particular page that needs to be updated, and then choose Print This Page from the File menu. This strategy will avoid printing an entire series of cascading pedigree charts when only one of the charts needs to be changed.


Timeline Chart
Creating Graphic Charts

A timeline chart is a graphic document that depicts the lifespans of people as horizontal bars.

Creating a Timeline Chart

To create a timeline chart, choose Timeline Chart from the Chart menu. The Timeline Chart window will appear, giving you several options.

For Whom?

When you create a timeline chart, you have the option to include everybody, marked people only, or just the descendants of the current people.

Descendants of Current Couple

If you click the Descendants of Current Couple radio button, EasyTree will start with the couple on the current family card and look "downward" (forward in time). It gathers all the descendants of this couple until it reaches the end of a lineage or the specified ending generation in the Generations box (2 to 99).

As EasyTree is gathering descendants, it will only include marked descendants if the Marked Descendants Only check box is checked. Similarly, you can include only people whose child buttons appear in bold (direct lines) and you also have the option to include spouses of descendants.

Duplication, caused when relatives marry, is automatically removed from timeline charts.

Span

If you prefer, you can include only people who were alive during a range of years. To do this, check the Alive Between check box and enter a beginning and ending year into the two number fields. If checked, this filter applies to any of the three choices in the "Who" section of this window.

Name

To set the format for names in a timeline chart, use the Name Format pop-up menu.

Destination

The destination for timeline charts is EasyChart, which is included in Generations. You'll learn how to use EasyChart later in Chapter 15.


Enhanced Hourglass Chart
Creating Graphic Charts

An enhanced hourglass chart is a graphic document that begins with one person and includes all of the source person's relatives. The chart moves backward and forward in time - up and down the tree for a specified number of generations in both directions. The enhanced hourglass chart combines certain elements of both descendant and pedigree charts. This chart will be referred to simply as an hourglass chart in the remainder of the manual.

See also

Creating an Hourglass Chart

Pruning

Layout

Destination

Name Setup

First Line Bold

Field Format


Creating an Hourglass Chart
Creating Graphic Charts / Enhanced Hourglass Chart

To create an hourglass chart for a person on the current family card, choose Enhanced Hourglass Chart from the Chart menu. The Enhanced Hourglass Chart window will open, giving you several options.

How Many Generations?

To set the number of generations up and down from the source person, use the up/down arrows beside the Up and Down fields, or type numbers into the fields. Hourglass charts can move upward and downward from 2 to 99 generations in each direction.


Pruning
Creating Graphic Charts / Enhanced Hourglass Chart

As EasyTree is gathering relatives for the chart, it will only include marked relatives if the Marked Relatives Only check box is checked.


Layout
Creating Graphic Charts / Enhanced Hourglass Chart

Report layouts can be changed by choosing Define Layouts from the Layout pop-up menu.

Selecting and defining layouts for hourglass charts works exactly like layouts for other reports and charts. This is explained in the Common Report Layouts section of Chapter 12. Two layout settings associated with enhanced hourglass charts are: Name Setup and Field Format.


Destination
Creating Graphic Charts / Enhanced Hourglass Chart

The destination for hourglass charts is EasyChart, which is included in Generations. You'll learn how to use EasyChart in Chapter 15.


Name Setup
Creating Graphic Charts / Enhanced Hourglass Chart

This setting refers to the style in which names of relatives and their spouses are presented in hourglass chart boxes. To select one of the three styles, click one of the radio buttons under the Name Setup label.


First Line Bold
Creating Graphic Charts / Enhanced Hourglass Chart

In hourglass charts, you have the option to apply bold text to the first line in boxes (the name lines).

Short Dates

When your name setup includes names and dates (the Name (b-d) options), you have the option to include dates with just years or full dates. Select one of the two radio buttons under the title Short Dates.


Field Format
Creating Graphic Charts / Enhanced Hourglass Chart

This setting includes three items:

Include Age with Events

This option appends the age to an event. For example, if a Retirement event is included in a chart, the age at which a person retired will be included with the retirement date and place.

Put Places on Separate Lines

This option determines the way that events are presented in chart boxes. Less vertical space is required if places are on the same line as dates. However, it will require more horizontal space and may wind up making chart boxes wider. The alternative is to put places on separate lines - dates on one line and places on the next line.

Exclude Empty Fields

To remove empty fields from boxes, check the Exclude Empty Fields check box. This is a great way to conserve space in charts larger than four generations.

Drawing the Chart

When you click the Chart button in the Enhanced Hourglass Chart window, EasyTree will assemble the new chart from the entries and links in your family file. It will then open the EasyChart application where the chart is automatically drawn and displayed. See Overview for more information on how to use EasyChart.


Using EasyChart


Overview
Using EasyChart

EasyChart is an application designed to automatically draw, display, edit, and print graphic charts. EasyChart creates tree charts (descendant, pedigree, and hourglass charts) and timeline charts.

The EasyChart application is automatically opened when you:

•	select any of the charts from the EasyTree Chart menu.

•	select EasyChart from the File menu.

•	click the EasyChart icon in the Generations launch screen.

Watch Out!

To be able to use EasyChart you MUST have a print driver installed on your PC or laptop. If you have yet to install a printer, please do so before opening EasyChart.

See also

Tree Charts and Timelines

Tree Charts

Timeline Charts

Positioning an Entire Chart

Adding a Frame

Adding Captions, Titles, and Annotations

Zooming

Pictures in Charts

Chart Size

Moving Charts to Other Programs

Printing Charts

Page Setup

Printing Color Charts

Printing Big Charts

EasyChart Files


Tree Charts and Timelines
Using EasyChart

The tree charts handled by EasyChart include the Descendant Chart, pedigree chart, and enhanced hourglass chart. These charts have many elements in common and are explained together in the first section of this chapter.

Timeline charts have other elements and features and are explained separately in the second section of this chapter.

However, both types of charts - trees and timelines - have many common elements and features. For example, you can add captions, frames, and pictures to both types of charts. In addition, the saving and printing processes are identical. Features common to both types of charts are discussed in the third section of this chapter.

See also

Tree Charts

Orientation Tips

Editing All Lines, Fonts, Borders, and Shadows

Trimming Boxes

Editing Individual Boxes

Deleting Boxes

Adding Boxes

Positioning Boxes

What Happens when You Drag a Box

Dragging the Source Box

Color in Tree Charts

Reducing the Size of Tree Charts

Squeezing a Chart


Tree Charts
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

The contents of a tree chart depend on the type of chart, the number of generations, and of course, the entries and links in your EasyTree family file. Descendant Charts start with a source couple and move forward in time. Pedigree charts start with a source person and move backward in time. Enhanced Hourglass charts move in both directions, showing the blood relatives and spouses of a source person.

Chart Elements

The basic element of a tree chart is a box. A box is a rectangle that encloses text and has a line that connects it to other boxes in the chart. The contents of boxes are specified in EasyTree's Descendant Chart, Pedigree Chart, and Enhanced Hourglass Chart windows.

Chart Orientation

The orientation of a tree chart represents the direction it flows from beginning to end. Changing an orientation in the Tree menu completely redraws the current chart.

Top-To-Bottom is the fashion of a typical organizational chart starting at top-center and moving down - fanning left and right as it moves down the chart.

Waterfall moves from upper-left to lower-right. This usually represents the most efficient use of space for Descendant Charts.

Left-To-Right is a typical pedigree layout starting at left-center and moving to the right. Depending on the contents of the chart, it will either:

•	use as little vertical space as possible as it moves across the chart, or

•	fan upward and downward equally as it moves across the chart.


Orientation Tips
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

Using a small chart, you should experiment with different orientations until you understand the appearance, strengths, and weaknesses of each. Here are some guidelines:

•	The Waterfall orientation is the fastest to redraw and usually provides the most efficient use of paper - especially if you create charts with names and dates on the same lines.

•	If you prefer the Top-To-Bottom orientation, you should choose a layout (in EasyTree) that puts names and dates on separate lines. This will help to control the width of Top-To-Bottom charts.

•	Descendant Charts, depending on the distribution of boxes in each generation, will often require the fewest number of pages in Left-To-Right orientation.

•	If you decide that it would be better to completely flip the orientation of a chart (for example from Top-To-Bottom to Bottom-To-Top) choose Drag from the Tree menu and then select Global. Drag a child box to the opposite side of its parent to achieve the desired change.

Helpful Tip!

To change the colors of all boxes and shadows in a chart, see Color in Tree Charts.


Editing All Lines, Fonts, Borders, and Shadows
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

Lines

To edit the lines in a chart, choose Lines from the Tree menu to open the Lines window. This window has three sections. The Connect section applies to the connecting lines between boxes for parents and children in all charts. The Spouse section handles the special connecting line between boxes for multiple spouses in descendant and hourglass charts. The Parent section applies to the angled lines that connect parents in hourglass charts.

In each section, use the three pop-up menu buttons to choose a line color, width, and pattern. The width or thickness of connecting lines can be from a hairline to five pixels. A hairline is the thinnest line that your printer can print. The better the printer, the thinner the hairline.

Fonts

To change font attributes for all boxes in a chart, choose Fonts from the Tree menu to open the Fonts window.

To select a font for all boxes in a chart, use the Font pop-up menu button in the Fonts window.

To select a size for the first line of text in all boxes, use the 1st Line Size pop-up menu.

To make the first line of text in all boxes appear bold, check the box next to Bold in the Fonts window.

To select a size for all text in all boxes, use the Other Size pop-up menu.

To center the text in all boxes, check the box next to Center in the Fonts window.

Borders

The border of a box (the perimeter) can be a hairline, 1 point, 2 points, or None. To change borders for all boxes, select Borders from the Tree menu.

Shadow Depth

A box shadow is wrapped around the bottom and right sides of a box. To change the shadow depth of all boxes, use Shadow Depth in the Tree menu. This will activate the Shadow Depth submenu, from which you can make a choice. The depth of the shadow can be from 1 to 7 pixels or None.


Trimming Boxes
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

When you edit the contents of a box, EasyChart automatically measures the height of the text and makes the box big enough to accommodate the text. EasyChart also measures the width of text in boxes and trims the width of boxes according to the trim style currently in effect.

You can identify the current trim style by looking for a checkmark in the Trim submenu of the Tree menu. You can apply a different trim style to create a different look for your chart.

There are two primary trim styles: Each and Generations.

Each	This trim style measures the width of text in each box individually and sets the width of each box accordingly. Each box is treated independently.

Generations	This trim style makes the width of all boxes in one generation equal to the width of the widest trimmed box in that generation. Each generation is treated independently. This style does not apply to charts in the Top-To-Bottom orientation.

Charts drawn in the waterfall style have two additional trim options: Justify and Uniform.

Justify	This style will adjust the width of each box so that the right sides of boxes are aligned.

Uniform	This style makes all boxes the same width. The width of all boxes will equal the width of the widest trimmed box.


Editing Individual Boxes
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

To edit a single box, double-click it. This opens the Box window, which contains several groups of buttons.

Helpful Tip!

To see how a box will look as you change its attributes, click the Sample file-folder tab.

Box

This group of buttons is used to change the box color, border color, and border width. To hide a box border, set the border width to "None."

Shadow

This group of buttons is used to change the box shadow color and depth. To eliminate a shadow, set its depth to "None."

Line

This group of buttons is used to change the line that connects to a box. You can change the line color, line width, continuity, and connection.

Text

To change the text in a box, double-click it and edit the text in the Edit Text section of the Box window. You can use the Windows text-editing shortcuts listed below:

•	To cut something out of a box, press CTRL + X. Doing this removes the text to the clipboard, ready to paste somewhere else.

•	To copy something in a box, press CTRL + C. This will copy the text to the clipboard, but not remove it from the field.

•	To paste something into a box, press CTRL + V. This will paste the text that is currently on the clipboard into the field where your cursor is.

You can enter a maximum of 50 lines of text inside a box. The maximum number of characters per box is 4,500.

Font Attributes

Font attributes apply independently to the first line of a box and the remaining or "other" text. Use the file-folder tabs (1st Line and Other) to select the text whose attributes you wish to change.

For the first line of text in a box, you can change the color, size, and apply bold style.

For the remaining text in a box, you can change the color and size.

Color Groups: Ancestors/Descendants/Generation

This button is explained later in the section Color in Tree Charts.


Deleting Boxes
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

To delete a box from a chart, double-click the box and click the Delete Box button in the Box window:

•	In Descendant Charts, this will delete the box and all descendants of the person (or couple) in the box. In effect, you'll be removing an entire branch from a Descendant Chart.

•	In pedigree charts, deleting a box will also delete all ancestors of the person in the box. In effect, you'll be removing an entire branch from a pedigree chart.

•	In hourglass charts, deleting a box will also delete all ancestors or descendants of the person in the box, depending on the person's position in the chart.

After deleting boxes from a chart, you may want to redraw the chart by choosing an orientation in the Tree menu. This will remove the empty space that appears when boxes are deleted. As an alternative, you could drag or move other boxes and branches in the chart to fill the empty space.

Generally speaking, if you're going to delete boxes or branches from a chart, you should do this before performing other editing.

Helpful Tip!

To quickly add a new box, hold down the SHIFT key and double-click a box.


Adding Boxes
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

To add a box to a chart, first choose a box to which you want to attach the new box. Then double-click that box and click the Add Box button. This will add a new box connected to the one you double-clicked and will open the Box window for the new box. You can type a person's name and any other information you want to appear in the new box. Be aware, however that adding this information here will not add it to your EasyTree family file.

In a Descendant Chart, the new box will be a "child" of the box you double-clicked. In a pedigree chart, the new box will be a "parent" of the original box. In an hourglass chart, the relationship of the new box to the clicked box will depend on its position in the chart.

You can double-click the new box and edit its contents or attributes just like any other box on the chart.

This feature provides an easy way to make an addition to a chart. For example, if you spend a lot of time editing a big wall chart and then discover that Aunt Martha had another child, you can simply double-click Aunt Martha's box, click the Add Box button, and presto, the new box will appear, connected to Aunt Martha. You don't have to recreate the entire chart.

This feature also provides a way to add somebody to a chart that is not a blood relative of the source person. If you feel sentimental about a pet, you could even add a box for a pet.

Helpful Tip!

Deleting boxes and branches in a chart does not affect any data in your EasyTree family file.


Positioning Boxes
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

To move a box and its connecting line, click on a box and drag. When you click on a box, the pointer changes to a crosshair with arrows.

The chart window has an invisible grid of lines 1/12-inch apart. When you drag a box and release the mouse button, the box will move to the nearest grid coordinate. EasyChart also determines whether you have moved a box primarily vertically or horizontally, and will restrict repositioning to a 90-degree angle from the original position. The combination of constrained box movement and the invisible grid makes it easy to move a box and retain alignment with other boxes.

See also

What Happens when You Drag a Box

Dragging the Source Box


What Happens when You Drag a Box
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

EasyChart has four drag modes that determine the effects of dragging a box. To change drag modes, click the Drag pop-up menu button in the bottom scroll bar or use the Drag submenu of the Tree menu. The table below explains the effects of dragging a box in EasyChart's four different drag modes. We suggest you experiment (on a small chart) by dragging boxes in different modes and observing what happens to the chart.

Shortcut

Normally, when you drag boxes in a graphic chart, EasyChart won't let you put one box on top of another or make a change to a chart that would result in overlapping boxes. However, if you do want one or more boxes to overlap, press the CTRL key while dragging a box. This will stop EasyChart from checking to see if any boxes overlap (and also speed-up the redrawing of the chart).

Helpful Tip!

To see a Drag pop-up menu, hold down the CTRL key and click anywhere on a chart, but not directly on an object.

Mode	What happens when you drag a box…

Single	Dragging a box only affects its own position and connecting line.

Branch	Dragging a single box moves all boxes in the same branch an equal amount in the same direction. In a Descendant Chart and hourglass chart, a branch means all descendants of the person you're moving. In a pedigree chart, it means all ancestors of the person you're moving.

Global	Dragging one box affects the spacing between all boxes. Dragging any box up or to the left moves all boxes closer together. Dragging any box down or to the right moves all boxes farther apart. The only exempt box is the source box.

Generation	Dragging one box also moves all other boxes in the same generation an equal amount in the same direction.

Generation+	This is a combination of the Branch and Generation modes. Dragging one box also moves all other boxes and branches in the same generation an equal amount in the same direction.


Dragging the Source Box
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

When the drag mode is set to Global or Branch, dragging the first box in a chart - the box representing the source person or couple - will move the entire chart an equal amount in the same direction. If you need to nudge the entire chart, dragging the first box (in Global or Branch drag mode) is the best way to do it.

EasyChart won't let you drag objects into negative space (off the chart).

Helpful Tip!

Choose Show Source Person from the Tree menu to quickly scroll through the chart so that the source person is displayed. (In a pedigree or Descendant Chart, this is the first box in the tree.)


Color in Tree Charts
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

EasyChart gives you the flexibility to apply different colors to generations, branches, direct lines, and individual boxes.

Colors for Generations

One nice way to use color is to specify different colors for different generations in a chart. The Colors window lets you select a series of colors that repeat every one to six generations of a chart. To open the Colors window, select Colors from the Tree menu.

To select colors for different generations, click a generation on the left side of the window (1 through 6). The buttons on the right side let you choose colors for box fill, border, shadow, and text.

The Presets pop-up menu includes several default color schemes. The Repeat pop-up menu sets the size of the repeating color cycle - from one to six generations.

Colors for Groups: Ancestors, Descendants, One Generation, All

Another effective use of color is to apply a color to all boxes representing a particular group of people: to ancestors or descendants of a person in a chart, or to everybody in the same generation.

To select a color for a group of people, double-click one of the boxes in a chart to open the Box window. Then click the Color Groups button. This opens the Color Groups window.

Using the Who pop-up menu, you can choose to apply special colors to:

•	direct ancestors or descendants of the person in the double-clicked box.

•	every box in the same generation as the double-clicked box.

•	all boxes in the chart.

Using the various buttons for box, line, shadow, and text, you can pick and choose color attributes for the selected group of boxes.

For example, applying a special color to the descendants of somebody in a Descendant Chart would visually show a group, or branch of people, in the chart. Applying a special color to the direct ancestors of a person in a Descendant Chart would visually depict a direct line from one box back to the source person.

Color for Individual Boxes

As discussed earlier, to change the color attributes of a single box (fill, border, shadow, line, and text), double-click a box to open the Box window.


Reducing the Size of Tree Charts
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

Here are several ways to reduce the number of pages required to print a chart:

Reduce Font Size

Reducing the font size or using a font that requires less horizontal space will reduce the size of a chart. To change the font and/or font size for all boxes in a chart, choose Fonts from the Tree menu.

Printer Scaling

Choose Page Setup from the File menu and look for a way to reduce or scale the chart. If you change the scaling, the page breaks on screen will be updated to reflect the reduction. Try different scaling percentages until the chart appears the way you want it to print.

Change Chart Orientation

To change orientation, use the first three menu items in the Tree menu. You should experiment with different chart orientations to see which orientation requires the fewest number of pages.

Squeeze Left-To-Right Charts

Try the Squeeze command in the Tree menu on Left-To-Right oriented charts. This attempts to mesh boxes together horizontally so as to reduce the number of pages required to print a chart. If this results in lines going through boxes, you can undo the Squeeze by selecting Undo in the Edit menu.

Reduce Spacing between Boxes

To reduce the space between all boxes, choose Drag from the Tree menu and then select Global. Then drag any box (except the source box) slightly up or to the left. If you drag too much, EasyChart will let you know.

Move Branches

In some cases, you can reposition entire branches to reduce the overall chart size. To do this, choose Drag from the Tree menu and select Branch. Then drag the box at the beginning of a branch.

Move Boxes

If a few boxes are located on a page by themselves, you should choose Drag from the Tree menu and select Single. Then drag the individual boxes onto a page with other boxes, thereby eliminating an entire page from the chart.

Changing Box Layout and Contents

When you're about to create a chart, first choose Pedigree Chart (Descendant Chart or Relative Chart) from the Chart menu in EasyTree. Now you have the option to include or exclude different fields in chart boxes. You also have the option to specify the layout of fields in boxes. For example, in Descendant Charts, names and dates may appear on the same line or on different lines. If they appear on the same line, boxes will be wider and shorter. If names and dates appear on different lines, boxes will be narrower and taller.

You cannot globally change the box layout after a graphic chart is created. However, we discuss box layout here (in the context of optimizing chart size) because it is a very important factor in determining overall chart size.

Removing Empty Lines in Chart Boxes

One way you can ensure that charts require as little space as possible is to check the Exclude Empty Lines button in the layout setting called Field Format.

General Advice

You should avoid the temptation to create very large charts. They quickly become unwieldy and require much more time to process on the screen.

To increase available memory for a new chart, you should close other open charts. Each chart window on the screen consumes memory, which could be used to create or edit another chart.


Squeezing a Chart
Using EasyChart / Tree Charts

This command only applies to charts drawn in the Left-To-Right orientation. The Squeeze command attempts to reduce the number of pages required by a chart (horizontally). This command will be most useful with Descendant Charts and large pedigree charts, particularly after you do some editing to a chart. The Squeeze command attempts to mesh boxes together horizontally so as to reduce the number of pages required to print a chart. Squeezing may result in lines going through boxes. You can undo the Squeeze command if necessary by selecting Undo from the Edit menu.

Multiple Spouses in Descendant and Hourglass Charts

If a descendant or hourglass chart includes spouses, people with multiple spouses will appear in a different box for each marriage, and each box will be connected with a special line.

To change the attributes of lines that connect multiple spouses, choose Lines from the Tree menu and click the Spouse file-folder tab.

Mixing Effects

Certain combinations of line and shadow settings yield interesting results. Try mixing different effects by removing border lines from boxes, creating larger shadows, altering line widths, etc.


Timeline Charts
Using EasyChart

A timeline chart depicts the lifespans of people as horizontal bars. The fundamental element of a timeline chart is a bar. A bar is a rectangle whose length portrays the lifespan of a person. The beginning and end of the bar delineate the person's birth and death year. The person's name appears to the left of the bar.

In a timeline chart, the X-axis shows a range of years. The Y-axis has a list of people in the timeline chart. The collection of people included in a timeline chart is specified in EasyTree's Timeline Chart window, discussed in Timeline Chart . After a timeline chart appears in EasyChart, you can edit the chart in many ways.

Sorting

To sort a timeline chart, select Sort from the Timeline menu. Timelines may be sorted in four different ways:

1.	birth date.

2.	death date.

3.	age.

4.	last name.

Helpful Tip!

To duplicate the effect of multiple sort keys, simply sort more than once by different keys. In other words, to sort by more than one criterion, select the sort fields in the reverse order of the desired sort order. For example to sort by age and birth date, choose Birth Date from the pop-up menu first. Then choose Age from the pop-up menu.

See also

Editing Attributes of All Bars

Editing Individual Bars

Legend/Grid

Perspective Events


Editing Attributes of All Bars
Using EasyChart / Timeline Charts

Bar Height

To change the height of all bars, choose Bar Height from the Timeline menu. The height can be from 9 to 50 pixels.

Bar Shadow Depth

A bar shadow is wrapped around the bottom and right sides of a bar. To change the shadow depth, select Shadow Depth from the Timeline menu. The depth of bar shadows can be from 1 to 7 pixels. A setting of None represents no shadow.

Text Font, Text Size

To change the font and size of text in a timeline chart, choose Fonts from the Timeline menu and use the Text Font and Text Size pop-up menu buttons.

Colors

To change the colors of all bars, see Colors In Timelines in Legend/Grid.


Editing Individual Bars
Using EasyChart / Timeline Charts

To edit a single bar, double-click it. This opens the Timeline Bar window.

Colors

Using the three pop-up menu buttons, you can set the bar color, shadow color, and text color. In addition, you can make the text appear bold.

Birth Year, Death Year

The width and position of a bar depends on the birth and death years. These dates originally come from the information in your family file; however, you can change them in EasyChart if necessary. Changing the dates here does not affect data in your family file.

Estimated Birth Year

If a person in a timeline chart has no birth date, EasyTree will estimate the birth year, based on the death date. The estimated date will be the death year minus the number of years entered in the Dates, Feasibility Checking section of the Options window in EasyTree. Timeline bars for people with estimated birth years have a diagonal beginning.

No Death Year - Living or Estimated

If a person in a timeline chart has no death date, EasyTree will assume the person is still living, unless their life span is equal to or greater than the number set in the Dates, Feasibility Checking section of the Options window in EasyTree. If this is the case, the death year is estimated based on the birth year. The timeline bars for people who are still living or whose death dates are estimated will have a diagonal ending.

Name

The name of the person associated with a timeline bar appears in the Name field in the Timeline Bar window. You can edit the name if necessary.

Adding a Bar

In EasyChart, you can't add a bar to a timeline chart.

Deleting a Bar

To delete a bar, double-click a bar and click the Delete Bar button in the Timeline Bar window. Deleting a bar in EasyChart does not affect any data in your EasyTree family file.

Shortcut

To quickly delete a person and their bar (without the opportunity to cancel) hold down the SHIFT + CTRL keys and double-click the person's name.


Legend/Grid
Using EasyChart / Timeline Charts

The legend on a timeline chart refers to the labels along the top of the chart that mark the years shown on the chart. EasyChart automatically adjusts the legend to accommodate the range of lifespans in a chart.

To edit the legend and gridlines, double-click the legend, or choose Legend/Grid from the Timeline menu. This opens the Legend/Grid window.

Span

When a timeline is first drawn, the people in the chart determine the minimum span of years. That is, EasyChart attempts to display a span of years that includes everybody in the chart - from the earliest birth year to the latest death year (or the current year, whichever is lesser). You can't show a smaller span, although you can show a larger span.

If bars are deleted from a timeline chart, the span of the legend is automatically adjusted.

Text

To change the font and size of text in the legend, use the Font and Size pop-up menus.

Grid

To change the frequency of the vertical grid (the gray lines), use the Year Lines pop-up menu. To change how frequently a vertical grid line is labeled, use the Label Years pop-up menu. To change how frequently a vertical grid line is labeled with bold text, use the Bold Years pop-up menu.

To change the horizontal grid, use the up/down arrow buttons next to the Every box or just type a number into the field.

Resizing a Timeline

To resize a timeline chart, click and drag its handle. The handle is the little black square in the lower-right corner of the chart - you may have to scroll to see it.

Moving a Timeline

To move a timeline chart, click and drag the legend or the list of people on the left side. As a rule, it's easier to do this if the chart is zoomed out.

Color in Timelines

EasyChart gives you the flexibility to apply different colors to timeline bars. The Colors window lets you select a series of colors that automatically repeat every one to six bars of a chart. To open the Colors window, choose Colors from the Timeline menu.

To select colors for different bars, click a little bar on the left side of the window (1 through 6 under the Generations heading).

The buttons on the right side let you choose colors for bar, shadow, and text. In addition, you can check the Border check box if you would like the bars to have borders. If not, leave it unchecked.

The Presets pop-up menu includes several default color schemes. The Repeat pop-up menu sets the size of the repeating color cycle - from one to six bars.

Colors for Individual Bars

As discussed earlier, to change the color attributes of a single bar, double-click a bar to open the Timeline Bar window.


Perspective Events
Using EasyChart / Timeline Charts

A perspective event is an event of historical significance that you can add to a timeline chart, thereby enhancing the legend of the chart. Perspective events can be placed anywhere by clicking and dragging.

Adding a Perspective Event

To add a perspective event, chose Perspectives from the Timeline menu and select Add One. This opens the Perspective Event window, wherein you can enter the perspective event name and set the year that the event took place. You can also change the line color, line width, text color, text size, and make the text bold.

Editing a Perspective Event

To edit a perspective event on a chart, double-click the name of the perspective event. This also opens the Perspective Event window, described above.

Editing All Perspective Events

To edit the attributes of all perspective events on a chart, choose Perspectives from the Timeline menu and select Edit All. This opens the Perspectives window. This window includes the same options as the Perspective Event window and also includes the ability to set the font and line terminator for all perspective events.

Saving a Set of Perspective Events

To save all the perspective events on the current chart as a perspective event set, choose Perspectives from the Timeline menu and select Save Set. Saving a set of perspective events lets you share your collection of perspective events with other Generations users. In addition, it lets you apply the same set of perspective events to other timeline charts.

Opening a Set of Perspective Events

To open a set of perspective events, choose Perspectives from the Timeline menu and select Open Set. Opening a set of perspective events adds the contents of the set to any existing perspective events in the chart.

Deleting a Set of Perspective Events from a Chart

To remove all perspective events from the current chart, choose Perspectives from the Timeline menu and select Delete All. This does not delete the set file from your hard disk; it only removes them from the current chart.

Cleaning Up Perspective Events

To neatly arrange perspective events, choose Perspectives from the Timeline menu and select Clean Up Left (or Split).


Positioning an Entire Chart
Using EasyChart

Centering the Chart

To center the objects in the current chart (based on the spread of pages currently used by the chart), choose Center from the Edit menu.

Moving the Chart to the Top-Left Corner

To top-left justify the objects in a chart, choose Top Left from the Edit menu. This removes white space on the top and left sides of the chart. When printed, the chart will be as close to the top and left side of the paper as your printer permits.


Adding a Frame
Using EasyChart

To add a frame to a chart, choose Frame from the Edit menu. This opens the Frame window.

A frame is drawn around the perimeter of the entire chart and comprises one or two lines. Click the Outside Line and Inside Line pop-up menu buttons to choose a thickness for each line or select None if you don't want a line to appear. Line thickness can be between a hairline and five pixels.

Use the color pop-up menu buttons to select a color for each line.

Corners

Using the buttons in the Frame window, you can choose whether or not the frame includes corners, and if so, you can pick from five different corner styles.

Interesting frames can be created by selecting the Corner Only option for one of the frame lines. The Preview area will give you instant feedback as you experiment with the options in the Frame window.

Deleting a Frame

To make a frame disappear, choose None from the Outside Line and from the Inside Line pop-up menu.


Adding Captions, Titles, and Annotations
Using EasyChart

EasyChart lets you add text or captions to a chart. For example, you might want to date the chart or create a title, annotation, credit, or cross-reference. Each caption can have a maximum of 50 lines of text and a maximum of 4,500 characters. You may add as many captions as you want to a chart.

To create a caption, choose Add Caption from the Edit menu. Then enter some text in the Caption window and set the attributes of the caption.

When you're done, click the Save button and EasyChart will add your caption to the chart.

You can edit captions (move, change the style, etc.) the same way you edit boxes in a tree chart. Two additional options that apply to captions are selecting a font and centering the text.

If you give the caption a line, you can click and drag the endpoint of the line around on the screen.

To delete a caption, double-click a caption and click the Delete Caption button in the Caption window.

Shortcut

To delete a caption without a confirmation, hold down the SHIFT + CTRL keys and double-click the caption.


Zooming
Using EasyChart

The Zoom commands let you see a chart in a reduced view. This feature will help to give you the "big picture."

Helpful Tip!

Zooming is not the same as printer reduction. Printer reduction (or scaling) is accomplished in the Page Setup portion of the File menu.

EasyChart has 10 reduction levels. The minimum reduction level is 10% (or 10:1). The maximum magnification level is 100% (or 1:1).

To produce a reduced view, select a specific zoom amount from the Window menu or click the Zoom pop-up menu button in the scroll bar. To zoom in or out incrementally, choose Zoom In (or Out) from the Window menu.

When a chart is zoomed out, you can still edit the chart and its boxes; however, the text inside boxes and the box shadows are not drawn on-screen.

Zoom Tips

In a tree chart that is zoomed out, you can see who is inside a box by clicking directly on a box and holding the mouse button down. The bottom scroll bar will show the name of the person in that particular box.

To see the current page number and coordinates, put the cursor anywhere on a chart (except directly on an object), and then click and hold the mouse button down. The bottom scroll bar will show the coordinates of the cursor (in inches) and the current page number.

To zoom into a particular area (when the chart is zoomed out), double-click the spot where you want to zoom in. Double-click again to zoom back out.


Pictures in Charts
Using EasyChart

Pasting Pictures in Charts

Virtually any picture or graphic object that can be placed in the clipboard can be pasted into a chart. To paste a picture into a chart, follow these steps:

1. 	In your graphics application (or in Generations), copy an image to the clipboard by choosing copy from the Edit menu.

2. 	Make EasyChart the active application by either quitting the graphics application and opening EasyChart, or by bringing EasyChart to the top of your applications on your desktop.

3. 	Open or create the desired chart in EasyChart.

4. 	Choose Paste Picture from the Edit menu.

Positioning Pictures

Once you've pasted a picture into your chart, you can easily adjust its position by clicking on the picture and dragging it to the proper place in the chart. If necessary, you can zoom out to see a larger portion of your chart (using the view menu or the pop-up menu in the scroll bar).

Resizing Pictures

To resize a picture, click its lower-right corner and drag. Pictures are scaled proportionally.

Picture Attributes

To change the attributes of a picture, double-click it. This opens the Picture window.

The first group of buttons affects the border of the picture (the rectangle that encloses a picture). You can select a border color and a border thickness. To hide a picture border, choose None from the Border Depth pop-up menu.

The next group of buttons affects the picture shadow, which is wrapped around the bottom and right sides of a picture. You can select a shadow color and a shadow depth.

Picture Corners

To add corners to a picture, choose a corner style from the Corner pop-up menu.

Layering Pictures

When you paste a picture onto a chart, it is placed above all other objects on the chart. When you add multiple objects to a chart, you can move a picture on top of all other objects by double-clicking the picture and clicking the Top button.

Copying Pictures to the Clipboard

To copy a picture to the Windows clipboard, double-click a picture and click the Copy Picture button in the Picture window.

Deleting Pictures

To delete a picture from a chart, double-click a picture and click the Delete Picture button in the Picture window.


Chart Size
Using EasyChart

The size of a chart, in total number of pages, is always shown at the left end of the bottom scroll bar.

If you click this number or select Get Info from the File menu, you'll see some additional statistics for your chart, including the breakdown of pages in horizontal and vertical dimensions.

Maximum Chart Size

There is no limit to the dimensions, number of pages, or number of boxes in a chart.


Moving Charts to Other Programs
Using EasyChart

Saving a BMP File

To save a copy of the current chart as a high resolution bitmap (BMP) file, choose Save BMP File from the File menu. The .BMP file format is widely supported among Windows applications.

The .BMP file can be placed, inserted, or opened in programs like QuarkXPress, PageMaker, PhotoShop, etc. In addition, a .BMP file can also be linked to a family card in EasyChart and displayed as a "picture." See Adding Images.

Using the Clipboard

The Windows clipboard is a temporary storage area used to transfer information. You can copy a chart into the clipboard and then paste it into a document in another application, such as a word processor, graphics, or page-layout application.

To copy an entire chart to the clipboard, choose Copy Chart from the Edit menu.

How Charts Appear in Other Programs

•	When pasted into a drawing program, an object-oriented or vector-based application, chart objects are handled independently - meaning individual lines, boxes, shadows, and text fields will be editable using the tools of the drawing program.

•	When pasted into a word processor or page-layout program, the entire chart becomes one big object, but text and lines retain a very high resolution. In this case, you'll only be able to edit the entire chart - for example: scale, rotate, reposition, frame, etc.

•	When pasted into a painting or image-editing program, such as PhotoShop or PageMaker, the entire chart becomes one big bitmap at the screen resolution of 72 dpi (dots per inch). The bitmap will look identical to the chart in EasyChart on-screen, but when printed, the bitmap will appear very "jagged" looking.

Before pasting a chart, you may need to open the destination program and create a new, empty document large enough to hold the entire chart. Otherwise, the chart could be reduced or cropped by your graphics program. In some page-layout applications, you'll need to create a "picture box" to paste a chart.


Printing Charts
Using EasyChart

To print the current chart, choose Print from the File menu. This opens a Print window where you enter the number of copies you desire and a range of pages to print. Other options in this window will vary depending on two factors:

•	your particular printer, and

•	the print driver installed in your system.

The name of the printer is typically shown in the top-left of the Print window.


Page Setup
Using EasyChart

To change the printer settings, choose Page Setup from the File menu. The options that appear in the Page Setup window depend on the printer that is currently selected in the Printers folder of your Settings menu. For more help with choosing a printer, consult your Microsoft Windows User's Guide. The settings in the Page Setup window are stored with the chart and affect all pages in the chart.

Some Page Setup Options Are Provided by the Print Driver

The Page Setup window has a collection of buttons and features that are provided by the print driver, not EasyChart. Examples include page orientation, paper size, scaling, etc.

If the Page Setup window has an Options button or a pop-up menu, this will lead to other windows with more options and features that are totally specific to the printer and provided by your print driver, not EasyChart.

Some Page Setup Options Are Provided by EasyChart

The Page Setup window also has some buttons and features that are provided by EasyChart. The exact location where these buttons appear depends on the print driver selected in the Printers folder of your Settings menu. For example, in most Page Setup windows, the options provided by EasyChart will appear at the bottom of the Page Setup window.

Centering the Chart

In most cases, it's a good idea to center the objects in a chart after you make changes in the Page Setup window. This will optimize the position of the chart and eliminate any unnecessary pages. To automatically center the objects in the current chart when you close the Page Setup window, check the Center Chart check box.

Fractional Widths

Another Page Setup option provided by EasyChart is called Fractional Widths. When this check box is checked, the spacing between characters is optimized for printed output and may look somewhat uneven on-screen. This is because printers have a greater resolution (in dots per inch) than the Windows screen. When Fractional Widths is unchecked, the spacing between characters is optimized for the screen (not the printout), and thus you may notice extra or uneven spacing between characters in your printed chart.

Printing Suggestions

The final Page Setup option provided by EasyChart is Printing Suggestions. This includes three lines of information regarding the optimum Page Setup settings for printing your chart. These three printing suggestions are:

1. 	A recommendation about the orientation of the chart: portrait vs. landscape.

2. 	A suggested scaling if you are trying to limit the chart to one page in width.

3. 	A suggested scaling if you are trying to limit the chart to one page in height.

Your Mileage May Vary

The actual choices you'll have for scaling in the Page Setup window will vary depending on your printer and print drivers.

All PostScript printers offer a variable reduction amount in the Page Setup window. In general, always try to obtain the newest version of the print driver for your printer. In some instances, improved scaling capabilities have been added to newer print drivers.

Print Drivers

A print driver is a software utility that enables communication between your PC and your printer. They are stored, along with other goodies, in the Printers folder in your Settings menu. Several print drivers are included with Windows. When you buy a new printer, it normally includes a disk for installing its print driver.

Print drivers are updated from time to time. For example, Hewlett Packard has a forum on CompuServe where they upload the latest versions of print drivers for various HP printers. Also, if you access the home page of the company that made your printer, you can often find them there. It's generally a good idea to use the latest version of the print driver for your particular printer.

The following list includes URLs (Web site addresses) for some of the major printer manufacturers (accurate at the time of press.)

•	http://www.hp.com (Hewlett-Packard Co.).

•	http://www.epson.com (Epson, Inc.).

•	http://www.lexmark.com (Lexmark International, Inc.).

•	http://www.okidata.com (Okidata).

•	http://www.ibm.com (IBM Corporation).

•	http://www.ccsi.canon.com (Canon Computer Systems, Inc.).

If your printer manufacturer is not in the list above, you can generally type in the following: http://www.(companyname).com and find their Web page. If that doesn't work, try one of the many search engines available on the Internet.

Print drivers are installed in your Windows system via the Windows Control Panel. Please consult your Microsoft Windows User's Guide for help with installing and removing printers and for help with working in the Windows Print Manager.

Back to the Chart

After you close the Page Setup window, your chart will be updated to reflect your choices. For example, if you change the page orientation or paper size in the Page Setup window, the "pages" on the screen - represented by dotted lines - will change their orientation and size. Likewise, if you change the scaling, the chart window will reflect your changes.


Printing Color Charts
Using EasyChart

You can print color charts on any color printer. However, if you print a color chart on a black-and-white printer, the results will depend on the printer. It will also depend, if applicable, on the settings in the Print window, the Page Setup window, or any other Options window(s) provided by the print driver for your printer.

One thing you need to be aware of is that if you want solid color boxes in your chart, you must have the Print Colors check box checked in the Print window. If this box is left unchecked, only the borders of your boxes will be in color, as opposed to the entire box

PostScript Printers

If you print colored boxes on a PostScript laser printer and the pop-up menu is set to Color/Grayscale, the colored boxes will print in shades of gray.

If you print colored boxes on a PostScript laser printer and the pop-up menu is set to Black and White, colored boxes will print white.

If you don't like the way that PostScript printers convert colored boxes to shades of gray, you should choose Black and White from the Print Color pop-up menu in the Print window.

Non-PostScript Printers

Colored boxes will usually be printed as white when using non-PostScript, black-and-white printers.

Moving Charts: Color PCs, Black-and-White PCs

Color information stored in charts is independent of the current display capabilities - meaning you can create a color chart on a color PC, edit it on a black-and-white laptop, bring the chart file back to the color PC, and print it in color to a color printer. However, you can't edit colors if your monitor isn't displaying colors.


Printing Big Charts
Using EasyChart

Multipage Charts

When you print a chart that is larger than one page, the chart will be tiled - printed on several sheets of paper, which you can tape together. The printing order is top-to-bottom and left-to-right. If you prefer to reverse the printing order (left-to-right and top-to-bottom) check the check box at the bottom of the Print window called Tile Left-to-Right.

Page Breaks

To fully understand page breaks, you'll need to consider three factors:

1.	A chart is a graphic document much like a large canvas. Unlike a word processor that handles a continuous string of text that is easily broken into pages, a chart consists of many individual objects that are drawn on a canvas and connected in a meaningful way. The objects on the canvas (lines and boxes) can span across page breaks. In fact, objects can sit directly on a page break.

2. 	The exact position of page breaks will depend on your printer, your paper size, and your settings in the Page Setup window.

3. 	Most printers cannot print completely to the edges of a piece of paper. There is usually a small "border" around all four edges of a page on which the printer simply cannot print.

As a result of these three factors, you'll need to examine your charts on-screen to see if a box or entire generation of boxes is sitting on a page break. Fortunately, page breaks are shown on-screen as a dotted gray line.

The easiest way to look for boxes sitting on page breaks is to zoom out to a reduced view of 4-to-1 or more. Then, by dragging boxes or branches around on the screen, you can avoid splitting your chart boxes by a page break. The following page has an example of how to do this.

Avoiding Page Breaks in Tree Charts: Examples

There are two possible solutions when a box, or boxes, are sitting on the page break:

•	Solution 1. Choose Drag from the Tree menu and then select Branch. Click the second box in the second generation and move it to the right - fully onto the second page. This will move the entire branch off the page break and onto the second page.

•	Solution 2. Choose Drag from the Tree menu and then select Global. Click any box and move it to the left. This will move all boxes closer together, and therefore, the entire chart moves onto page 1.


EasyChart Files
Using EasyChart

Saving Charts

To save changes to a chart, choose Save from the File menu. If you're working with a new chart, EasyChart will ask you to name the chart.

Saving a Copy of a Chart

To save an exact copy of a chart, choose Save a Copy from the File menu. Then type a file name into the Save window. Using the Save window, you can navigate among your disks and folders to choose a different location for the copied chart.

EasyChart also gives you the ability to save your chart as a Extended Windows Metafile (.EMF) or Bitmap (BMP). This allows you to import the chart into image-manipulation software and other applications. To do this select Save Graphic File and choose the type of file you would like to save as.

Naming Charts

Charts are named when they are saved in the Save window. You cannot rename a chart within EasyChart except by choosing Save A Copy from the File menu and renaming the copy.

To change the name of a chart file, quit EasyChart and locate the chart's icon by using the Find function in your Start menu. Once the chart name comes up that you want to change, right-click the name, choose Rename from the pop-up menu and type the new name. Once you've done this, you can change the name of the file by typing a new name into the icon's text box. The next time you open the chart, you will notice the new name in the title bar of the chart's window.

Deleting Charts

To remove chart folders from your hard disk, locate the file name using the Find function in your Start menu. Once you find the file you want to delete, right-click on the name and choose Delete from the options menu that pops up. This will send the file to the Recycle Bin on your desktop. Don't forget to empty your Recycle Bin occasionally, as the files will be stored there (just in case you decide you've made a mistake by deleting a file) and they will still be taking up room on your hard disk.

Opening EasyChart from EasyTree

When you click the Chart button in EasyTree's Descendant Chart, Pedigree Chart, Enhanced Hourglass Chart, or Timeline Chart window, EasyTree will assemble a chart from the information in your family file and then open the EasyChart application. EasyChart then automatically draws and displays the chart gathered from the EasyTree data. This is the only way to create a new graphic chart.

To open EasyChart without creating a new chart, you can click on the EasyChart icon in the Generations launch screen. If you do this, the Open window is presented wherein you can select a chart to open.

Returning to EasyTree from EasyChart

When only EasyChart is open, you can switch to the EasyTree application by choosing Return to EasyTree from the File menu. If EasyTree is already running, you can just click on the small box in your Windows task bar that says EasyTree. This will bring that application to the front of your desktop. You can also just click somewhere on the family card window (if you can see it behind your chart window) and you will switch to the EasyTree application.

Using Charts Created in Generations 4.2

Any chart you created in EasyChart 4.2 can also be upgraded and imported by opening the chart directly in EasyChart 7.0.


Using Advanced Features

EasyTree has several advanced features that will give depth to your family history by adding photos and other images, allowing you to publish your research on the World Wide Web, and easily swap files with others researching your family lines. In this chapter we are going to cover each of these groups of features and give you some tips on how to use them to make your family history research more rewarding.

See also

Adding Images

Managing Image Files

Web Publishing

Importing and Exporting

Upgrading and Exchanging Files

Exchanging Files with a Mac

Exchanging Files - Reunion for Macintosh


Adding Images

Adding photos and other scanned images to your family file is a wonderful way to give your genealogical research that special touch that makes it even more fascinating. In EasyTree, image files are linked to families. You can link a single family to many image files, and you can link a single image file to many different families. (In this case, only one copy of the image file is necessary.) EasyTree will link to image files located just about anywhere: hard disks, ZIP disks, floppy disks, photo CDs, CD-ROM disks, and other removable disks.

See also

Adding Images to the Family File

Displaying an Image

Removing Images

Descriptions of Images

Memos for Images

Printing Images

Visual Aids

Images and Memory

Image File Specifics

Image Windows

Zooming Images

Preferred Images

Working with Images

Other Ways to Print Images


Adding Images to the Family File

To link an image to a family card, click the Images button on the toolbar or choose Images from the Window menu. This opens the Images window. Now click the Add Image button to display a standard window showing all of the folders and files in the current folder. If necessary, use this window to navigate through other folders on your hard disk looking for image files. When you find the one you want, you can select its name and then click the Open button or simply double-click the name of the file.  A maximum of 200 images is allowed per family file.


Displaying an Image
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

To display an image, double-click its name in the Description list in the Images window, or single-click its name and click the Open Image button. To open all of the items currently linked to a family, click the Open All button.


Removing Images
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

To unlink an image from a family card, select an item from the Description list in the Images window and click Remove Link. Unlinking an image does not delete its file from your disk.

Shortcut

To display all items linked to the current family, press the CTRL key and click on the Images button on the toolbar. To see a pop-up menu of items linked to the current family, right-click the Images button.


Descriptions of Images
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

To edit the description of an image, click the Images button in the toolbar or select Images from the Window menu. Next, select an item in the Description list, and enter a description directly in the list. Up to 45 characters can be used to describe an image file. When you open an item, its description will appear in the title bar of its window.


Memos for Images
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

For each image in the list, you can record miscellaneous text in a Memo field. To edit the memo, select an item in the Description list and enter text in the Memo field. Up to 1,000 characters can be entered in the Memo field for each item.


Printing Images
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

To print an image, select it from the Description list and click the Print Image button. A single page including the image, description, and memo will be sent to the printer.


Visual Aids
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

If a family card is linked to one or more images, the camera in the Images button on the toolbar will display a flash.


Images and Memory
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

EasyTree's ability to display an image file depends on the size of its file on disk and the amount of memory (RAM) allocated to EasyTree.


Image File Specifics
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

File Formats

EasyTree displays the following image file formats: .BMP, .JPG, GIF, .PCX, .RAS, .WPG, .PCT, .TGA, .PNG, .PCD, .PSD, .EPS, and .WMF.


Image Windows
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

The contents of image windows can be cropped, scaled, copied to the Clipboard, and pasted into graphic charts and other documents.

An image window can be scrolled, moved, zoomed, or resized. It can be placed beneath or above the family card. The dimensions of an image window are unlimited. To close an image window, click its Close button (the "X" in the upper-left corner of its window).

When an image window is closed, EasyTree will remember its attributes - where it was on the screen, how big it was, etc. The next time the image is opened, it will open to the same location, size, magnification, and scroll position as when it was last closed.

If an image window becomes completely hidden beneath the family card or beneath another image window, you can use the Window menu to bring a particular window to the "front." Or press ALT + TAB to "juggle" the windows.

Helpful Tip!

If you hold down the ALT key, you can "draw" a rectangle on an image and EasyTree will crop the image window to the size of the rectangle.


Zooming Images
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

You can use an image window's Zoom pop-up menu to magnify or reduce the image. The Zoom pop-up menu is at the bottom-left of the image window. Images can be enlarged up to six times their original size and reduced to 25% of their original size.

Shortcut

You can SHIFT-click an image window to zoom in. You can CTRL- click an image window to zoom out.


Preferred Images
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

In EasyTree, images can be included in:

•	person sheets and family group sheets with a destination of Printer, Print Preview, or Web Folder.

•	Family History, Register, Ahnentafel, and Descendant Reports with a destination of your Web folder.

To specify an image for inclusion in the above documents, use a checkmark in the appropriate column of the Images window. The checkmarks are color-coded, as illustrated in the lower-right corner of the Images window. Only one image can be "preferred" for each person.


Working with Images
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

While a discussion of image-editing software is far beyond the scope of this user's guide, suffice it to say that you should be prepared to invest some time and effort to get the best results from a scanning device. While you certainly don't have to be an expert in halftones, histograms, and high-pass filters, some of the "touch-up" tools offered by image-editing software are well worth the time required to learn them.

As you collect image files, you'll need to make some decisions about the resolution, size, and bit depth of your images. As always, trial-and-error is the best teacher, but here is a sampling of the topics you'll encounter.

Scanners

Scanning or digitizing is the process of converting a hard copy of an image, such as a photograph or marriage certificate, into a digital image. Scanners can be flatbed, hand-held, video, or camera-like devices and include a software driver or "plug in" module that provides a direct interface between the scanner and image-editing software.

Image-editing software, such as SnapShot SE (which is included in the Generation Grande Suite), is used to display, edit, and print images digitized by the scanning device. Basic editing features include resizing, resampling, scaling, lightening, darkening, or cropping areas of the image. The image-editing or scanning software lets you save all or part of an image to disk in one of the file formats required by EasyTree.

If you have already saved picture files with your image-editing software, you can go to that folder in My Computer and drag your files into the Pictures folder in Generations. Or you can specify the folder that contains your image-editing software as one of the default picture folders in Generations.

Resolution

The image resolution is a key factor in the overall size of a picture file. The image resolution is the density of the information - the number of dots-per-inch. If you plan on printing images using a 300-dpi laser printer, then a 72-dpi scan is just as good as a 300-dpi scan, but will require a fraction of the disk space. Even if you plan to print to a 1270 dpi Linotronic Imagesetter, you'll still be wasting disk space by scanning at higher resolutions more than about 144 dpi. Some image-editing software allows changing the resolution after scanning. This is called resampling.

Dimensions

The dimensions of an image partially determine the file size. You should use your image-editing software to crop images, eliminating unneeded portions such as white space or background.

Bit Depth

Bit depth is the number of bits (the basic elements of computer memory) assigned to each dot to define its color. An image comprises many dots. Increasing the number of bits used to display each dot increases the number of colors (or grays) available to depict each dot and thus the realism of an image improves. With many file formats, increased bit depth equals larger memory requirements and processing time. However, .JPG is a file format that offers 24-bit (millions of colors) realism combined with extremely effective compression to make much smaller files.

Palettes

If your PC is limited to showing 256 colors on-screen, you'll probably notice the monitor's color palette changing when you attempt to display images. When the monitor's color palette changes, the colors of your icons and desktop may change temporarily. This happens because the PC attempts to change or optimize the monitor's color palette to accommodate the palette of the image file.

Similarly, when you open a 256-color picture on a monitor running in 16-color mode, there aren't enough colors available to render the image properly. The color palette stored in a 256-color file is substantially different from the 16-color palette used by the monitor. This "mismatch" in color makes 256-color images have a very poor appearance on a monitor set to display only 16 colors simultaneously.

The ideal situation is having a PC with enough VRAM (video memory) so that your monitor can be set to display "thousands" or "millions" of colors simultaneously. In this case, the monitor's color palette doesn't have to change to display images with different palettes. You can open multiple color images simultaneously, switching back and forth between them, with no effect on the monitor's palette because it has enough colors to simultaneously render all colors in both pictures.

"Black-and-White" Pictures

You may refer to old photographs as "black-and-white;" however, in computer terms, they are "gray-scale" images. On the other hand, the screens of older PCs are in fact, black-and-white - each dot on the screen must either be black or white.

Old black-and-white photographs are not collections of dots. They are continuous tone images - containing gradient tones from black to white, or put another way, composed of numerous shades of gray. The process of digitizing will convert the continuous tone image into a collection of dots. If each of the dots on a black-and-white screen is limited to being either black or white, then obviously some "rounding off" will occur between scanning the continuous tone image and rendering it as a collection of black and white dots on the screen. This rounding off process makes it frustrating to show old black-and-white photographs on a black-and-white screen. In the terminology of your local print shop, the collection of dots is referred to as a halftone. To halftone an image is to break a continuous tone into dots. For example:

•	If a color monitor is displaying thousands or millions of colors and your scanner is scanning thousands or millions of different colors, then little rounding off occurs between digitizing the image and rendering it on the screen.

•	On the other hand, the reason it is difficult to print a digitized continuous tone image is because most printers don't print colored dots - they print black dots on white paper. Thus, more rounding off occurs when those color dots are converted into shades of gray - (collections of black and white dots) - and sent to a printer.

Content

The content of an image file need not be limited to portraits of people. You can include any image in a picture file. For example: scans of obituaries, any sort of memorabilia like kindergarten homework assignments, a passport, a family business sign or logo, wills, deeds, family photographs, pictures of people at various ages, comparisons of children's portraits, etc. Any artwork you can create in a painting or drawing program can be linked to a family card. This includes text, lines, paintings, objects, etc. The key is saving any such artwork in a file format compatible with EasyTree.


Other Ways to Print Images
Using Advanced Features / Adding Images

As mentioned earlier, you can print an image by selecting it in EasyTree's Image window and clicking the Print Image button. But there are many other ways to print images:

1. 	Copy the contents of an image window (by clicking CTRL + C) in EasyTree, paste it into a graphic chart in EasyChart, and then print the chart in EasyChart. You could also paste an image into a report (such as a Register Report) in your word processing program, and then print the document from your word processor.

2. 	Use the same image-editing software that was originally used to scan, edit and save the images.

3.	Use page-layout software. In this case, you can "place" a picture and a report (person sheet, family group sheet, Register Report, etc.) in the same document. QuarkXPress, for example, lets you link a QuarkXPress document to a picture file - the same picture file linked to an EasyTree family card.

4. 	Create and print a document from EasyTree or your Web browser that automatically includes preferred images.


Managing Image Files
Using Advanced Features

Image Folders

When you link a photo or image to a family, EasyTree remembers the location of the file relative to the EasyTree application. If you move the file to a different location on your hard disk, EasyTree may not be able to find the file.

You can specify twelve different folders for EasyTree to search when it can't find an image file. EasyTree will search the entire contents of these folders before giving up and asking you where the file is located. These folders are specified in the Images window under the Options menu.

If you use image-editing software (such as Sierra's SnapShot) for editing images, you may routinely save your images in a SnapShot folder, or perhaps in a subfolder within one of these folders. If you "tell" EasyTree that this is where you keep your images, EasyTree will remember the location of the folder and search within the folder when an image file is moved or deleted.

Deleted Image Files

If you attempt to open an image file that has been deleted from your hard disk, EasyTree won't be able to find the file and will display an error message. If you have deleted the file from your hard disk, you should click the Remove Link button to remove (or unlink) the image file from the family card.

Moved Image Files

As we mentioned earlier, EasyTree remembers the location of your image files when they are linked to a family card. If you move an image file, EasyTree will automatically search through all the folders specified in the Image Folders window to see if you have moved the multimedia file into any of those folders. If it finds the image file, it will then remember its new location on your hard disk. However, if EasyTree still can't find the image file after searching through all designated image folders, it will display the message window, asking if you want to find or remove the link to the image file.

If you click Find, you can browse your hard disk and select the image file the same way you did when the item was first linked. This is how you inform EasyTree about the new location of an image file.

Working with Multiple Computers

If you use EasyTree on a desktop PC and also on a laptop, it's advisable to keep your image files located in the same folder relative to the location of the EasyTree application.


Web Publishing
Using Advanced Features

EasyTree is an "Internet-ready" application. Nearly every report that EasyTree creates can be output in a format ready to be published on the World Wide Web.

Advanced Users Tip

This chapter does not explain the Internet, World Wide Web, or HTML. However, if you understand all of these terms, read on!

See also

Why Publish on the Web?

How Does EasyTree Prepare Information for the Web?

Web Reports

Web Folders

What's In a Web Folder?

Updating a Web Folder

Web Styles

Creating a New Web Style

Web Style Options

What's on a Cover Page?

Internet Family Trees

Creating Internet Family Trees


Why Publish on the Web?
Using Advanced Features / Web Publishing

In a word: sharing! By publishing on the Web, your family information instantly becomes accessible to anyone with a Web browser and access to the Internet - in other words, millions of people worldwide!

Helpful Tip!

Once you've published your data on the Web, the next important step is to add your URL (Internet address) to such search engines as Alta Vista, Yahoo!, Excite, etc. This will allow their indexing spiders to crawl through your site and index your data. Once this happens, anyone in the world can search for a name of similar interest, and wind up browsing through your site!


How Does EasyTree Prepare Information for the Web?
Using Advanced Features / Web Publishing

EasyTree creates two classes of output specifically designed for the Internet:

Web reports are versions of standard genealogy reports saved in a file format known as HTML (HyperText Markup Language), which is required for publishing on the Web. For example, traditionally you might print 100 different family group sheets for your relatives and then punch holes and put them all in a 3-ring binder for publishing. However, using EasyTree's Web publishing features, you can create the same 100 family group sheets electronically and publish them on the Web for anyone in the world to see - all at a fraction of the cost of traditional publishing.

Internet family trees are similar to the family cards in EasyTree. When you publish Internet family trees, other people can browse your information and see it in the same, easy-to-understand, three-generation family card metaphor used by EasyTree. They can click to navigate through your family information, just as you do when using EasyTree.

Watch Out!

Pay attention to what kind of information you are "publishing" on the Internet. It may be inappropriate and harmful.

One thing you want to be VERY careful about when publishing your data on the Web is how much recent information you put on your site. Living people often do not appreciate their vital information being published on the Internet, as it is possible that someone could use their full name, spouse's name, birth date, and mother's maiden name for fraudulent purposes. If you think about the information that you are asked for to verify your identity when you're calling your bank, you'll see what we mean! Because of this, it is best to cut off your Web-published data at about 1900, to avoid publishing anything that might harm someone.


Web Reports

As you have learned in previous chapters, one step in creating a report is choosing a destination for the report. For example, when you create a Register Report, the Destination pop-up menu button appears in the Register Report window.

To create a report for the Web, use the Destination pop-up menu to choose your browser's name or Web Folder as the destination. When you choose your browser's name from the Destination pop-up menu, the report will be created and opened in your browser. When you choose Web Folder, the report is created, but not instantly opened in your browser.

In both cases, a Web folder is created. You can choose a Web style for the report. In addition, any report generated from the Internet menu will also have an Internet cover page. These concepts are explained later in this chapter.


Web Folders
Using Advanced Features / Web Publishing

A Web folder is created when you create a report and your Web browser or Web folder is the destination.

A Web folder is a folder with a collection of files that are Internet-ready - meaning they are in the HTML file format and are automatically linked together by EasyTree. The Web folder is what you'll provide to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) in order to publish your information on the Web.

Helpful Tip!

Consult your Internet Service Provider for instructions and help with uploading files for your Web pages.

If you own a Web server, the Web folder is the folder you'll place on your Web server's hard disk. See your server software documentation for help with publishing data.


What's In a Web Folder?
Using Advanced Features / Web Publishing

Each Web folder contains certain files and folders depending on the type of report. A Web folder for an index list will have fewer files and folders.

Watch Out!

You should NOT move or rename items in a Web folder, as they are all internally linked together.


Updating a Web Folder
Using Advanced Features / Web Publishing

One reason that Web reports require a folder instead of a single file is to facilitate the updating process. For example, if you create Internet family trees with person sheets, and later need to update one of the person sheets, you'll be able to simply create a person sheet for the person who needs to be updated. Then you can just drop the new HTML file into the existing Web folder (or into a subfolder within the Web folder). The HTML file for the updated person will have the same file name as the person sheet originally created with the Internet family trees, and as a result, will overwrite the old person sheet with the updated version.


Web Styles
Using Advanced Features / Web Publishing

A Web style refers to a group of settings that determine the appearance of Web pages. These include:

•	text color.

•	background color or pattern.

•	dividing line color or type.

When you are creating a report and your destination is your Web browser or Web folder, the Web Style pop-up menu button appears. From this pop-up menu, you can select a Web style for use with a report.


Creating a New Web Style
Using Advanced Features / Web Publishing

EasyTree includes some preformatted Web styles from which to choose. However, you may want to define new styles to suit your taste. To do this, choose Define Styles from the Web Style pop-up menu (this menu appears in report windows when the destination is set to your Web browser or Web folder). The Web styles you define here are available for use with any report destined for the Web.

Before defining a new Web style, click the Default style to make sure that the style you want isn't already defined. If not, click the New button.


Web Style Options
Using Advanced Features / Web Publishing

When you create a new Web style, an item is added to the list of styles. Next, you need to name the new style and make a few choices for the style.

Name

To name the style, type the name directly into the list.

Text Color

Use the Text Color pop-up menu to choose:

Text Color: this refers to the default text color specified by the client's Web browser.

Custom: this lets you pick a color from the Color pop-up menu button.

The text color you choose will be reflected in the sample displayed in the Define HTML Styles window.

Background

Use the Background pop-up menu to choose:

Default: this refers to the default background specified by the client's Web browser.

Custom Color: this lets you pick a background color from the Color pop-up menu button.

The background you choose will be reflected in the sample displayed in the Define HTML Styles window.

Dividing Line

Use the Dividing Line pop-up menu to choose a dividing line for Web documents. The line you choose will be reflected in the sample displayed in the Define HTML Style window.

Cover Page

To define and edit the cover page for your Web folders:

•	Click the Cover Page button in any report window. The Cover Page button will appear in the various report windows whenever the destination is set to your Web browser or Web folder.

•	Click the Cover Page button in the Internet Family Trees window.


What's on a Cover Page?
Using Advanced Features / Web Publishing

When you create an Internet Family Tree, the first page created is known as the Web Report Cover Page.  This serves as the introduction and table of contents for your Internet Family Tree. A cover page normally consists of the following:

•	a report title.

•	the author's name (presumably you).

•	a graphic image (optional).

•	the table of contents.

•	an introduction to your report.

•	a surname index.

•	contact information.

•	and a background color.

Most of these options can be edited or changed within the Web Cover Page Window. To open this window, select Create from the main menu, click Internet Family Tree and click on the Cover Page button near the bottom of the window. Here's a brief description of each item and where they can be modified:

Report Title

The report title appears at the top of your Web Cover page. (Usually something like "The Walker Family Tree" is used). The report title is edited from the Internet Family Tree widow. Select Create from the main menu and click on Internet Family Tree. Go to Title and type in the name of your report.

Author

The author is the person creating the report. You can enter the author's name (probably your name) into the Author field within the Web Cover Page window.

Graphic

You can add a graphic to the top of your cover page by using the Graphic pop-up menu within the Web Cover Page window. The pop-up menu generally gives you three choices:

1.	None: If you don't want an image on the cover page.

2.	Choose: Brings up a file window allowing you to select an image from anywhere on your computer.

3.	[Image File Name]: If you have graphics already associated with your family file or within Generations Graphics folder, the file names and locations will appear and you can select them from the drop down list.

Table of Contents

The table of contents is automatically created on your web cover page. It consists of links to your introduction, a surname index, contact information (if available), the home card (the same home card you designate in your EasyTree file) and a complete surname/given name index. The table of contents cannot be altered.

Introduction

You may include an introduction on your cover page by typing directly into the Introduction field (up to 1,000 characters) located in the Web Cover Page window. You may also import a small text file from a disk if you wish, to serve as your introduction. We recommend using a simple text editor (such as Notepad or WordPad) to create and save multiple introductions as little text files on your hard disk.

Surname Index

The Surname Index is a collection of all the surnames within your family file. This list is generated automatically and cannot be edited using the Web Cover Page window*. You can choose, however, to have the surname index either included on your web cover page, or given a separate page. To do this, checkmark the "Separate Page for Surnames" box toward the bottom left corner of the Web Cover Page window.

* You can exclude certain surnames and people by first marking the families you wish to include within EasyTree and then clicking on the "Families with a Marked Spouse" radio button within the Internet Family Tree window. This will create a list using only the people you marked (thereby excluding those you did not mark.)

Contact Information

The contact information on a web cover page provides several ways for people to contact you. Enter your contact information into the various fields in the bottom of the Web Cover Page window. All of these fields will be included on the cover page.

Background Colors

Using the Web Style pop-up menu, you can select a Web style for the cover page, which can be different from the Web style used for the rest of your report. Web styles were explained earlier in this section.


Internet Family Tree

Internet family trees are simplified versions of family cards created in HTML format for publishing on the Web. Like the family cards in EasyTree, Internet family trees are linked together by child and parent buttons, meaning that people who browse your Web family trees on the Internet can navigate through your information as easily as you do using EasyTree.

If you like the family card method used by EasyTree, you will like Internet family trees. More importantly, when people browse your Web site, they will very likely understand the simple family card design, which has always been one of the hallmarks of Generations.

When you create Internet family trees you also have the option to automatically create a person sheet for each person. Your preferred images for each person are automatically included in person sheets (cropped and magnified exactly as you want them to appear).


Creating Internet Family Trees

To create an Internet family tree, choose Internet Family Tree from the Internet menu.

For Whom?

In the Internet Family Tree window, you have the option to include all families or only families with a marked spouse.

Format

Like the family card in EasyTree, the Internet Family Tree doesn't include all the details about each person. Rather, it is a navigational screen with enough details to see where you are in the family file.

To create an Internet family tree only, select the Internet Family Tree button in the Format section. However, if you want to include a person sheet for each person on a Internet Family Tree, then select the Internet Family Tree and Person Sheets button.

Sources

To specify whether source documentation is included in a Web family tree project, check or uncheck the check box for Sources.

Pictures

To specify whether pictures are included in a Web family tree project, check or uncheck the check box for Pictures. Pictures can only be included in person sheets if pictures are linked to people and a preferred picture has been selected in the Photo window.

Title

To enter a title for the Web family tree project, type directly into the Title field. The title will appear at the top of the cover page.

Destination

The destination of a Web family tree project can either be your Web browser or a Web folder.

Layout

Web family tree layouts can be customized by clicking the Layout pop-up menu and selecting Define Layouts. See Common Layout Settings for more information on layouts and how to define them.


Importing and Exporting
Using Advanced Features

Importing and exporting are simply ways of transferring data from one genealogy software program to another. Importing means that you are bringing data into your program (in this case Generations), and exporting means you are transferring data out of your program. All genealogy software has a native file format - or the format in which the data is stored in that program. Unfortunately, most software programs cannot read files in a different file format. For example, EasyTree cannot read Family Tree Maker or PAF files that are stored in their native file format. So if you want to share data with someone who has a different program, you cannot just swap family file disks. However, to make it easier for all genealogy software to "talk" to each other, a common file format was created known as GEDCOM. Click on the GEDCOM link below for more information.

To import records into EasyTree, the data must be saved in one of the following formats:

•	a GEDCOM file.

•	a tab-and-return delimited text file.

•	a Generations 5.2 or higher family file.

•    a Renuion 5 family file

You can export files from EasyTree in the following formats:

•	a GEDCOM file.

•	a tab-and-return delimited text file.

In the following sections of this chapter, we will explain these terms as well as the methods for importing to and exporting from EasyTree. Information will be supplied regarding importing from various major software programs. Hopefully this will help you to understand a little better the data transfer process.

See also

GEDCOM

Importing GEDCOM Files into Generations

Exporting GEDCOM Files from EasyTree

Importing Text Files

Exporting Text Files

Importing EasyTree Files


GEDCOM
Using Advanced Features / Importing and Exporting

GEDCOM is an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunication. It is a file format developed by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to meet their data communication needs and the needs of other institutions wishing to exchange data with the Family History Department.

Since it was developed, GEDCOM has evolved into a de facto standard (supported by most major genealogy software developers) for the exchange of genealogical information between different programs and computers.

The most recent version of the GEDCOM standard is 5.5 (ratified in January 1996).

Reasons to Use GEDCOM:

Here are some typical scenarios that would require the use of a GEDCOM file:

•	If you were using another genealogy program and have decided that Generations better fits your needs.

•	If you want to share your data with someone not yet using Generations.

•	If you're using another program to access genealogical indexes stored on CD-ROMs and need to transfer data into Generations.

GEDCOM Implications and Limitations

There have been two main specifications of the GEDCOM file format over the last several years, as well as a few "draft" versions in between. These specifications are fairly broad-based and leave quite a bit of room for interpretation by software developers as to how they will implement the transfer of GEDCOM files into and out of their particular programs. This has led to some inconsistencies in how data is transferred, as well as how it is received by other software programs.

Please be aware that just because two programs are "GEDCOM-compatible" does not mean that you will get 100% fidelity when transferring data from one program to the other. Often, you can only count on the common fields transferring accurately, and other fields (or even just different lengths of fields) are often discarded completely, stored in a file for later viewing, or put in the notes field for that individual. It is always preferable to save the data in the notes rather than lose it altogether; you can always go back and modify it if necessary.

Thus, GEDCOM is not as reliable as some other file formats (such as .RTF) in transferring data, but in most cases, it is the only option available in a particular program. We will discuss, in this chapter, methods of importing GEDCOM files from various software programs. We do not, however, have the space to address all the potential pitfalls you could run into while importing GEDCOM files. If you have questions about how GEDCOM is implemented by EasyTree, please feel free to contact us. If you have questions regarding how it is implemented in another program, you should contact the developer of that program.

See also

Importing GEDCOM Files into Generations


Importing GEDCOM Files into Generations
Using Advanced Features / Importing and Exporting / GEDCOM

There are four steps to importing a GEDCOM file:

Step 1

When you're ready to import a GEDCOM file into EasyTree, the first decision you must make is whether to import GEDCOM data into a new, empty family file or into an existing EasyTree family file:

•	To make a new, empty family file, choose New from the File menu and enter a family file name. Once you have named your file, click the Cancel button in the Begin window.

•	To open an existing family file, choose Open from the File menu.

It's important to understand that importing GEDCOM data into an existing family file will add data to the family file. There is no simple way for this to be undone. So before importing a GEDCOM file into an existing family file, you should:

1. 	Choose Save a Copy from the File menu in order to save your current file in its existing condition. That way, if you later decide that importing the GEDCOM was a bad idea, you can use your backup file.

2. 	Consider importing GEDCOM data into an empty family file so that you can thoroughly inspect the data before adding it to your family file.

3. 	If possible, check to see if there is any duplicate information - i.e., you should identify any people, families, or branches that appear in both the GEDCOM file (the source file) and the existing family file (the destination file). EasyTree does NOT check for duplicates.

Step 2

Choose Import/Export from the File menu and then select Import GEDCOM.

You can use the Open GEDCOM File window to navigate through other folders on your hard or floppy disks. GEDCOM files have a file extension of .GED, which make them easier to find.

Helpful Tip!

For the fastest results, copy GEDCOM files to your hard disk before importing.

Step 3

Set up the GEDCOM Import window.

When you select a GEDCOM file, EasyTree will analyze it - which could take a while (depending on the size of the file). When EasyTree is done analyzing the GEDCOM, the GEDCOM Import window will appear. This window has two sections, which are described below.

GEDCOM Import, General

Clicking the General file-folder tab of the GEDCOM Import window opens the General section as seen below. This section lists some details about the GEDCOM file, such as where it came from and the number of people, families, and sources in the file. You should examine this information to make sure you selected the correct GEDCOM file.

Character Set

There are three character sets in the Character Set drop down menu to choose from when importing a GEDCOM. Be sure to select the proper character set the GEDCOM file you are importing was originally created with. For example, if your GEDCOM file was created using a Macintosh genealogy program, you should choose Macintosh from the Character Set pop-up menu. The proper choice will enable EasyTree to perform an intelligent conversion between extended characters in the Macintosh character set and their closest equivalents in the Windows character set. If you select a character set other than that which the GEDCOM file was created with, you may loose data!

Automatic Source

The Automatic Source pop-up menu lets you automatically assign a general source citation to each person imported in the GEDCOM file. General Sources are explained in Chapter 8, Documenting Your Research.

Automatic Flag

For every individual record in the GEDCOM file, the Automatic Flag pop-up menu lets you automatically set a flag for each imported person or mark each imported person. If you choose to mark the imported records, EasyTree will unmark all records in the current file before importing.

You can also create a new flag, on the spot, by choosing New from the Automatic Flag pop-up menu. Flags are explained in the Flags section of Chapter 7.

GEDCOM Import, Optional Fields

When EasyTree analyzes a GEDCOM file, it builds a list of all fields found in a GEDCOM file like the ones below. The Optional Fields section of the GEDCOM Import window contains two lists: one with individual fields and one with family fields. Both lists include all extra fields found in the GEDCOM, but do not include the basic fields. (Basic fields include birth, death, marriage and divorce. Again, these are not shown in the lists.) This allows you to verify the fields you want to import with your GEDCOM and how you want them to show up in EasyTree.

The first column in the list shows a description of the field based on the GEDCOM tag. To name the incoming fields, you can type directly into the Description column. This does not change the GEDCOM file - it only applies to how the field names look in EasyTree. The second column shows the GEDCOM tag itself.

Helpful Tip!

What is a Tag?

A GEDCOM tag is a short word that identifies a piece of information in a GEDCOM file. If you were to look at a GEDCOM file in your word processor, you'd see lots of lines of text. Each line begins with a number and a tag that identifies the contents of the line. This example shows the Birth and Date tags:

1 BIRT

2 DATE 2 Oct 1820

When a GEDCOM tag is not recognized as a standard tag already in EasyTree, it will appear in the list as *New [TAG] -- where TAG is replaced with the four letters of the actual GEDCOM tag as in the above example. At this point you should rename any *New [TAG] in the description column and use the Destination pop-up menu to correctly identify the tag as an event, fact, note or flag. For instance, in the example below,  we see two "new" tags: *New[NUMB] and *New [ATTR].

To change these descriptions, simply click on *New[NUMB] or *New[ATTR], and then type in the description you want. After correcting the descriptions, use the Destination drop down menu to select the appropriate area for this tag (i.e., notes, events, flags, or facts) Doing so will  make sure your GEDCOM tags are described properly and appear in the correct area once imported into your family file.

Step 4

When the GEDCOM Import window is properly configured, click the Import button to begin the import.

The process of importing a GEDCOM file may be very time-consuming; however, EasyTree will keep you posted on its progress. This is done by showing you various message windows, which let you know where the program is in the import process. Plan to do something else while a huge GEDCOM file is being imported, especially one with lots of citation records.


Exporting GEDCOM Files from EasyTree
Using Advanced Features / Importing and Exporting / GEDCOM

There are three steps to exporting a GEDCOM file.

Step 1

Open a family file in EasyTree.

Step 2

Choose Import/Export from the File menu and then select Export GEDCOM. This will open the GEDCOM Export window.

GEDCOM Export, General

Clicking the General file-folder tab of the GEDCOM Export window opens the General section. In this section, you can make some selections regarding the GEDCOM file you want to create.

Who

EasyTree can export a GEDCOM file that includes everybody in your family file or only the specific people you choose by marking them. In addition, you can export only the people you've marked and their children. By selectively or automatically marking people, this feature allows you to export portions (or subsets) of your family file. For example, you could mark all the descendants of an ancestor or mark all the blood relatives of a person and then export a GEDCOM file containing only marked people.

Selecting a Destination

In the GEDCOM Export window, you can specify a destination for the outgoing GEDCOM file. Your selection from the destination menu will change the contents of the GEDCOM file:

•	Choose GEDCOM 5.5 if the GEDCOM file is destined for a software program that uses the newer version of the GEDCOM standard (released in January 1996).

•	Choose Ancestral File if the GEDCOM file will be submitted for inclusion in the Ancestral File of the LDS Church. (The Ancestral File is a computerized file of individual and family records created from family group records, pedigree charts, and GEDCOM files submitted to the Family History Department of the LDS Church since 1979.)

•	Choose GEDCOM 4.0 if the GEDCOM file is destined for a software program that uses the older version of the GEDCOM standard (released in August 1989).

Character Set

If your GEDCOM file will be exported to a Macintosh or an MS-DOS program, you should choose either Macintosh or MS-DOS from the Character Set pop-up menu. This will enable EasyTree to perform an intelligent conversion between extended characters in the Windows character set and their closest equivalents in the Macintosh or MS-DOS character sets.

One reason that you need to do this is that many of the extended characters, such as diacritical marks, use different hexadecimal representations and are thus incomparable without conversion.

Line Length and E-Mail Attachments

The GEDCOM specification permits line lengths of up to 255 characters. (A line is a string of text ending with a return character.) However, if you intend to send a GEDCOM file via e-mail (as part of an e-mail message, or as an attachment), the sending or receiving e-mail package may insert returns to break lines in the GEDCOM file over a certain number of characters. The data in notes fields is most susceptible to this kind of e-mail mangling - causing longer note lines to become truncated.

To avoid this problem, you have two options:

1. 	Limit the line length when exporting a GEDCOM file from EasyTree. To set the maximum line length, use the Line Length pop-up menu in the GEDCOM Export window.

2. 	Use compression software, such as WinZip or Pkzip, to compress the GEDCOM file before attaching it to an e-mail message. This will prevent modification of the GEDCOM file by the e-mail software.

Submitter Information

To record a name, address, and phone number for the submitter of a GEDCOM file, click the Submitter button. Most genealogy software programs ignore submitter information when importing a GEDCOM file; however, it is required for submissions to the LDS Ancestral File.

LDS Submissions - The Ancestral File

The Ancestral File is a computerized file of individual and family records created from Family Group Records and Pedigree Charts submitted to the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the LDS Church) since 1979.

If your GEDCOM file will be submitted for inclusion in the Ancestral File, select Ancestral file in the GEDCOM File Export window. Also, be sure to include a submitter name, address, and phone number. If you have questions about Ancestral File submissions, call the Family History Department at (801)240-4874.

GEDCOM Export, Optional Fields

Clicking the Optional Fields file-folder tab will open the Optional Fields section of the GEDCOM Export window. This section contains all the extra fields in two lists: one with person fields and one with family fields. These lists include all the extra fields you have added to your family file, with the exception of the basic fields. (Basic Fields include birth, death, marriage and divorce fields. These are not shown in the optional fields lists.)

Each list shows the name of the field and the GEDCOM tag. Both of these items are defined in EasyTree. (See Fields.)

When you export data to another program, the other program may or may not understand all GEDCOM tags. (Tags are explained earlier in this chapter.) You may want to change a tag in order to facilitate the transfer of data to another genealogy program.

To change the GEDCOM tag of the outgoing fields, you can type directly into the Tag column in the list. This does not change the field definition in EasyTree - it only applies to the exported GEDCOM file.

The last column (Export) lets you select whether or not to export the field with your GEDCOM.

Step 3

When the GEDCOM Export window is ready to go, click Export. This opens the Save window, where you enter a file name and click the Save button.


Exporting GEDCOM files from other programs

Using Advanced Features / Importing and Exporting / GEDCOM

Exporting a GEDCOM file from PAF 3.0

After you have opened the correct Family Records file and are in the Small Pedigree screen, do the following:

1. 	Press X (for "eXport").

2. 	Highlight "Create a file of records to share (Create a GEDOM file)" and press ENTER.

3. 	Press L (for "aLL") to select all the individuals in the file, or select whomever you'd like to include).

4. 	Press F1.

5. 	From the GEDCOM File Options dialog window, choose which options you wish to include. Press F1.

6. 	Highlight "GEDCOM for Personal Ancestral File 2.0/2.31/3.0" and press ENTER. (This conversion works better with EasyTree than the PAF 3.0 format.)

7. 	Verify your submitter information and press F1.

8. 	Enter a file name and the disk/directory that you want to save the GEDCOM file to. (Make sure you make a note of where you have saved the file!)

9. 	Once the file has been written, exit PAF and start Generations' EasyTree. Then follow the steps in "Importing a GEDCOM file" earlier in this chapter.

Exporting a GEDCOM file from Ultimate Family Tree 2.7

After you have opened the family file you want to export from, do the following:

1. 	From the File menu, select Save As.

2. 	Choose GEDCOM from the Save As File Type drop-down menu.

3. 	Enter a file name in the Name Field with .GED as the file extension.

4. 	Select the Drive and Directory where you wish to save the GEDCOM file. (Make sure you make a note of where the file is being saved.)

5. 	Under GEDCOM Format menu, select Family 5.3+. (Family 5.3+ creates a GEDCOM version 5.3 with added support for version 5.5.)

6. 	Click the OK button.

7. 	Once the file has been written, exit Ultimate Family Tree and start Generations EasyTree. Then follow the steps in "Importing a GEDCOM file" earlier in this chapter.

Exporting a GEDCOM file in Family Tree Maker 4.0

After you have opened the appropriate family file, do the following:

1.	In Family Tree Maker, select Copy/Export Family File from the File menu.

2. 	In the File Format drop-down menu, choose GEDCOM (*.GED). Give the file a name. (Make sure you make a note of where the file is being saved.)

3. 	Click the Save button.

4. 	In the Export to GEDCOM dialog box, select:

•	Destination: Family Tree Maker for Windows (FTW).

•	GEDCOM: Version 5.5.

•	Character set: ANSI (The ANSEL character set is the set of choice when using GEDCOM version 5.5. However, it is not supported in the current version of Generations, and may be substituted with IBMPC or ANSI.)

5. 	If you wish to export data from the Title, Alias, Address or other Facts from Family Tree Maker, select Fields to Export and follow the steps for exporting a GEDCOM in the Family Tree Maker Manual.

6. 	Once the file has been written, exit Family Tree Maker and start Generations' EasyTree.

7. 	Follow the steps in Importing GEDCOM Files into Generations.

Exporting a GEDCOM file in Family Heritage

After you have opened the appropriate family file, do the following:

1. 	In Family Heritage select Export from the File menu, then select GEDCOM.

2. 	From the Individuals to Export dialog box, choose the individuals you wish to include. To include all individuals, click the right arrow (?) button.

3. 	Click the OK button.

4. 	Select a file name for your GEDCOM. (Make sure you make a note of where the file is being saved!)

5. 	Click the Export button.

6. 	Once the file has been written, exit Family Tree Maker and start Generations' EasyTree.

7. 	Follow the steps in "Importing a GEDCOM file" earlier in this chapter.


Importing Text Files
Using Advanced Features / Importing and Exporting / Text

EasyTree imports tab- and return-delimited text files saved by software applications such as spreadsheets and databases. For example, if you have been storing information in Excel or Works, you may be able to transfer the data into EasyTree.

Only "person" data can be imported using this feature. If you have a flat-file database and one of the fields is for "spouse," you can't import the links between people - only the data for each person (such as name, birth date, birthplace, etc.).

Helpful Tip!

As explained in the Notes section of Chapter 7, EasyTree also imports free-form text files into note fields; however, in this instance we are concerned only with importing records.

Step 1

In EasyTree, open a family file or make a new, empty family file.

When you're ready to import a tab- or return-delimited text file into EasyTree, the first decision you need to make is whether to import records into a new, empty family file or into an existing EasyTree family file.

It's important to understand that importing records into an existing family file will add data to the family file. You need to know that there is no simple way to undo this! We recommend importing data into an empty family file so that you can thoroughly inspect it before adding it to your family file. If you decide against this, you should at least choose Save a Copy from the File menu before importing.

Step 2

Choose Import/Export from the File menu and then select Import Text and select a text file.

Step 3

Set up the Import Text File window.

When you select a text file, EasyTree will analyze the file and then open the Import Text File window. This window contains a list with two columns. The first column shows information found in one record of the text file. The second column contains pop-up menu buttons that let you assign data to fields in EasyTree. Using the second column, you can also tell EasyTree to ignore fields in the text file.

To mark each imported person, check the Mark New Records button. We recommend you do this when importing records into an existing family file - to facilitate examining the newly imported records.

To examine records in the text file prior to importing, use the Up/Down arrow buttons. If you don't want to import a particular record, uncheck the Import This Record check box. To define new fields for incoming data, click the Define Fields button. (See Fields.)

Step 4

When the Import Text File window is ready, click the Import button.


Exporting Text Files
Using Advanced Features / Importing and Exporting / Text

EasyTree exports tab- and return-delimited text files containing information about people in a family file. Such a file can be read into a spreadsheet or database program where data can be manipulated in various ways. In a spreadsheet, for example, each column will contain data from one field in EasyTree; each row represents a person's record from the family file.

To export a text file, select Import/Export from the File menu and then choose Export Text. This opens the Export Text File window.

Export Choices

The Export Text File window contains a list with two columns. The column on the left indicates the fields in your family file that can be exported to a text file. The column on the right has check boxes that allow you to include or exclude fields for export.

To set the order of fields to be exported, you can drag field names up and down in the list.

Who

EasyTree can export a text file that includes everybody in your file or only people who are marked.

Sorting Records

You can sort the exported records using the Sort pop-up menu.

Choosing a Field Separator

You can choose the separator or delimiter that is inserted between each field in the output file. Normally, the correct choice is Tab (without quotes). Check your database or spreadsheet manual for the correct field delimiter. If you export a text file with commas as a separator but without quotes, EasyTree will remove commas from within fields in the output file.

Citations

Source citations are not exported with text data.

Converting Return Characters

Your note and memo fields will probably contain return characters (between paragraphs). Since a tab- and return-delimited text file uses the return character to indicate the end of each record, the return characters must be converted to some other character. For example, FileMaker Pro uses ASCII character number 11, a vertical tab, for this purpose. Please consult the manual for your spreadsheet or database software for instructions on selecting the appropriate character.


Importing EasyTree Files
Using Advanced Features / Importing and Exporting / EasyTree

EasyTree lets you add records from one family file to another. If necessary, you can work on separate branches of your family and later combine them into one file.

It's important to understand that importing records into an existing family file will add data to the family file. There is no simple way to undo this! We recommend inspecting the data carefully before adding it to your family file. Or at least choose Save a Copy from the File menu before importing.

To import an EasyTree family file, select Import/Export from the File menu, and then choose Import Family File. Next, select a family file in the window that appears.

Import Choices

You'll have some decisions to make before you import one family file into another.

Who

First, you'll need to decide if you want to import all people or only marked people.

Source Documentation

Next, you'll need to decide whether to import source documentation (citations and sources). If you do, EasyTree will compare the sources in both family files and will add unique sources to the current family file. One of the results of this is that sources will be renumbered in the incoming data. Only sources that are cited will be imported.

Automatic Flag

Finally, you can automatically set a flag for each imported person or mark each imported person. If you want to, you can create a new flag, on the spot, by choosing New from the Automatic Flag pop-up menu. Flags are explained in more detail in the Flags section of Chapter 7. If you choose to mark the imported records, EasyTree will unmark all records in the current file before importing. Marking is explained in more detail in the Marking section of Chapter 10.

Marking the imported records or setting a unique flag for the imported records will make it easier for you to review new records after importing.

Example: Merging Mom's and Dad's Files

Let's say you have separate family files for your mother and father, and now you decide to combine all the data into one file. Here's how to move Mom's file into Dad's:

1.	Open Dad's family file and select Save a Copy from the File menu. This will create a safe backup copy of your dad's file.

2. 	While Dad's file is open, select Import/Export from the File menu and then choose Import Family File. Now select Mom's family file. Click the Import button.

3. 	After the file is imported, remove duplicate data. For example, if your record was in both your mom's file and your dad's file, and you import your mom's file into your dad's file, then you will appear twice in dad's file. You should delete one of the two records where you appear. (This of course would also apply to your siblings, children and/or nieces or nephews.) See Duplicate Records below.

Marking your Direct Ancestors

1.	Open family file A.

2.	Navigate to your family card.

3.	Choose Mark Groups from the Find menu.

4.	Click the Ancestors Of button.

5.	Click your name.

6.	Click the Mark button in the lower-right corner.

7.	Click the Close button.

Importing your Direct Ancestors

1.	Select New from the File menu.

2.	Name the new file and click the Save button.

3. 	Click the Cancel button in the Begin window

4.	Select Import/Export from the File menu and then choose Import Family File File.

5.	Select your original family file A.

6.	Click the Open button.

7.	Select Marked People Only.

8.	Click the Import button.

Copying Branches

By selectively marking people and then importing only the marked people from a family file, you can import a subset of an existing family file.

Similarly, if you want to create a new family file solely for the subset, you can import marked people into a new, empty family file.

Example: Creating a Subset Family File

Let's say you have a family file (A) with your ancestors and your spouse's ancestors, and you want to copy your ancestors into a separate family file (B).

Duplicate Records

When you import another family file, a GEDCOM file, or a text file, EasyTree has no way of knowing what person or family records, if any, are duplicates. If there are records common to both the source and destination files, you will wind up with some duplication in the resulting file (the destination file). Seeing Weeding Out Duplicate Records.


Upgrading and Exchanging Files
Using Advanced Features

Upgrading Files

Upgrading an EasyTree 4.2 file to the EasyTree 7.0 format is explained in Upgrading Family Files.

The data structures used in EasyTree 4.2 are completely different, and less flexible, than those used in EasyTree 7.0. As a result, you won't be able to move information back from EasyTree 7.0 to EasyTree 4.2 without the possibility of losing data in the transfer.

Family files created with EasyTree 5.2 or greater will load into EasyTree 7.0 without the need for upgrading.


Exchanging Files with a Mac

Uploading/Downloading

If you have access to the Internet (or a commercial on-line service, such as America Online or CompuServe) you can transfer a file from a PC running Windows to a Macintosh by sending an e-mail message with the file attached.

You should compress files that are being sent as e-mail attachments. This is especially true with text files since many e-mail applications modify text file attachments when sent or received. Compressing text file attachments would include GEDCOM files and tab- and return-delimited data files.

When sending files to Mac users, it is important to use a compression format that can be decompressed on the Mac. The "Zip" format is the most common. Pkzip and WinZip will create .zip files that can be unzipped using the Mac program ZipIt. Another option is to compress your files using DropStuff. Aladdin Systems, the developer of DropStuff (for Windows®) and Stuffit™ (for Mac), provides an expansion program for Windows and Mac that can be downloaded from their web site at http://www.aladdinsys.com.

Please consult the manual for your e-mail software for instructions on sending files.

Using the Apple File Exchange

If no disk-mounting software is installed in the Macintosh system, you must use the Apple File Exchange software. This utility program was included with all Macintosh computers beginning the same time that the SuperDrive became standard equipment -- meaning, if you have a SuperDrive floppy disk drive, you probably also have the Apple File Exchange software.

The Apple File Exchange is more difficult to use than disk-mounting software; however, it will translate and copy a text file (or GEDCOM file) from an MS-DOS disk to a Macintosh disk (or vice versa).

For more information on using the Apple File Exchange, consult the chapter Exchanging Disks and Files With MS-DOS Computers in the Macintosh User's Guide.

Cross-Platform Instructions

Here are the instructions for moving a file from a Macintosh to a PC, if the Mac has disk-mounting software installed. To copy a file from a PC to a Macintosh, do exactly the opposite. If you don't have disk-mounting software installed, refer to the Using the Apple File Exchange section above.

•	Step 1. Using a Mac with PC Exchange, Access PC or DOS Mounter installed, insert an MS-DOS formatted floppy disk and drag/copy the file to the MS-DOS floppy disk.

•	Step 2. Insert the floppy disk into the IBM-compatible PC and drag/copy the file from the floppy disk onto the hard disk using the Windows File Manager.


Exchanging Files-Reunion for Macintosh
Using Advanced Features

The exchange of information between the Reunion 5.0 for Macintosh and Generations 7.0 for Windows is a simple matter of importing and exporting a .uds file. The wonderful thing about Reunion 5.0 and Generations 7.0 is that the .uds files in each are compatible. There is no need to save a special transfer file as in the past, and there is less chance of losing any data.

Reunion 5.0 for Mac to Generations 7.0 for Windows

Step 1. To move a family file from Reunion 5.0 for Macintosh to Generations 7.0 for Windows, simply save a copy of your Reunion family file onto a PC-formatted disk. Next, add the extension ".uds" to the file and then follow the directions outlined in Exchanging Files with a Mac.

Step 2. Once the file is in place on your PC, open EasyTree.  When prompted to open a family file, locate the file on the hard or floppy disk where you saved it and press ENTER. In some cases, EasyTree may state that it is not able to open the family file. When this occurs, create a new blank family file, select Import/Export from the File menu and choose Import Family File. Locate the file you wish to open on your hard drive and press OK.  This will often correct the problem.

Generations 7.0 for Windows to Reunion 5.0 for Mac

Step 1. To move a family file from Generations 7.0 for Windows to Reunion 5.0 for Macintosh, simply save a copy of your EasyTree family file (the file will have a .uds extension) onto a PC-formatted disk. Follow the directions in the Cross-Platform Instructions section in Exchanging Files with a Mac.

Step 2. Once the file is in place on your Mac, open Reunion.  When prompted to open a family file, locate the file on the hard or floppy disk where you saved it.  Press ENTER or click the Open button to open the file.


Menus


EasyTree Menus

File

Edit

Find

List

Options

Reports

Charts

Internet

Window


The EasyTree File Menu

New is used to create a new, empty family file.

Open is used to open another, existing family file. When you select another file, the current family file is closed.

Close closes the current family file.

Get Info opens the Information window.

EasyChart opens the EasyChart application or makes it the active application.

Save a Copy opens a window for naming and saving an exact copy of the current family file to any disk drive or directory.

Import/Export > Import GEDCOM opens the GEDCOM Import window, allowing you to import a GEDCOM file.

Import/Export > Import Text opens the Import Text File window, allowing you to import a text file.

Import/Export > Import Family File opens the Import Family File window, allowing you to import another EasyTree  5.2 file, or Reunion 5 file into your current family file.

Import/Expo > Export GEDCOM opens the GEDCOM Export window, allowing you to export your current family file in GEDCOM format.

Import/Export > Export Text opens the Export Text File window, allowing you to export a family file in text file format.

Delete People opens the Delete People window, from which you can delete the current family card, use the index to delete people, delete marked people, or delete unmarked people.

Delete/Move Fields opens the Delete/Move Fields window, which allows you to either delete a field or move data from one field to another.

Page Setup lets you choose a printer and select options for the current printer.

Print Card is used for printing a graphic image of the current family card or all marked family cards.

Exit EasyTree closes the EasyTree application.


The EasyTree Edit Menu

Children lets you edit the child buttons on a family card.

Spouses lets you edit multiple spouses on a family card.

Parents lets you edit parents for the couple on the family card.

Person > (Husband's Name) opens the Edit Person window for the husband on the current family card.

Person > (Wife's Name) opens the Edit Person window for the wife on the current family card.

Marriage opens the Edit Family window with the Marriage file-folder tab showing for the couple on the current family card.

Family > Events opens the Edit Family window with the Events file-folder tab showing for the couple on the current family card.

Family > Notes opens the Edit Family window with the Notes file-folder tab showing for the couple on the current family card.

Mailing Address lets you edit the mailing address for the couple on the current family card.

Add Unrelated Person > Male opens the Edit Person window and allows you to add a male to the database without linking him to anyone else in the database.

Add Unrelated Person > Female opens the Edit Person window and allows you to add a female to the database without linking her to anyone else in the database.

Logs lets you create and edit the various logs for keeping track of your overall research efforts.

Copy Family Card copies a graphic "image" of the current family card to the clipboard.


The EasyTree Find Menu

Person opens the Find Person window and allows you to search for a person in the database by name.

Anything opens the Find Anything window, which allows you to search for a person or group of people by defining specific conditions.

Sources opens the Find Sources window and allows you to search for a source containing specific information.

Presets allows you to open, save, and edit certain sets of conditions to use with the Find Anything Command.

Overview opens the Overview window, which is a 5-generation pedigree chart starting with the husband on the current family card. You can use this window to navigate through your family file.

Home takes you from wherever you are in your family file back to your home card.

Back allows you to backtrack your steps through your family file.

Forward allows to you retrace your steps through the family cards you have viewed.

ID# > Person allows you to search for a family card by an individual's ID#.

ID# > Family allows you to search for a family card by a family's ID#.

Replace lets you search for a particular string of characters and replace them with another.

Mark > (Husband) lets you mark the husband on the current family card.

Mark > (Wife) lets you mark the wife on the current family card.

Mark Groups allows you to mark groups of people (for example, the ancestors or descendants of a person) in your family file.


The EasyTree List Menu

Index shows a scrolling, alphabetized list of every person in the family file.

Calendar creates a chronological list of individuals who meet certain criteria that you set according to various events in their lives (birth date, marriage date, etc.).

Relationships opens the Relationships window that allows you to specify a source person for whom you want blood relationships shown on the family card.

Mailing Addresses shows a list of all the individuals for whom a mailing address is associated in the family file.

Places shows a list of all the places associated with a particular event (birth, marriage, or death) or events.

Statistics > All Individuals shows certain statistics for all individuals in your family file.

Statistics > Marked Individuals shows certain statistics for only marked individuals in your family file.

Sources shows a list of sources with their source numbers and approximately the first 50 free-form text characters associated with each source record.

Ages shows a variety of date calculations.


The EasyTree Options Menu

Define > Person Fields lets you add, edit, or delete the fields seen in the Edit Person window.

Define > Family Fields lets you add, edit, or delete the fields seen in the Edit Family window.

Define > Source Fields lets you add, delete, and define the fields that appear in the Edit Source window.

Define > Source Types lets you define which fields are associated with various types of sources.

Define > Views lets you define which fields appear in the various views (Default, Miscellaneous, General, etc.) that can be viewed on the family card.

Default > Person Fields allows you to set the fields you wish to include in the default view of the Edit Person window.

Default > Family Fields allows you to set the fields you wish to include in the default view of the Edit Family window.

Case lets you convert all last names to either uppercase or mixed case (initial caps).

Child Status lets you define how a child button will be viewed when a certain status is assigned to it.

Dates lets you set the date format as well as choose which feasibility tests you would like performed on the dates in your family file.

Direct Lines allows you to change the child buttons for direct ancestors of a person to bold type.

Display lets you make various changes to the display of your family card. You can set the date format shown, the background, button, and citation colors.

Fonts lets you set the font type and size in the family card window.

Indexing allows you to set the sorting criteria for the index list.

Images opens the Image Folders window and allows you to choose which folders on your hard disk you want to have EasyTree search for image files.

Reports allows you to specify the different default settings you want for your reports.

Speed Names shows you which names and place names are available to automatically fill a field during data entry. This is very helpful with long names.

Startup allows you to define which family card you want for your home card.

Substitute Events lets you choose which events will be substituted if birth or death dates are not available.


The EasyTree Reports Menu

Person Sheet prints a form with information about one person only.

Family Group Sheet prints a form with information about one immediate family.

Blank Forms prints either a blank person sheet or a blank family group sheet for use in gathering data.

Family History Report creates a report with complete information about the descendants of a source couple. Each descendant receives a Legal Outline number based on his or her relationship with the source couple.

Register Report creates a narrative-style report with complete information about the descendants of a source couple. Each descendant receives a register number based on his or her relationship to the source couple.

Ahnentafel Report creates a narrative-style report with complete information about the ancestors of a person. Each ancestor receives an Ahnentafel number based on his or her relationship to the source person.

Tiny Tafel Report creates a compact abbreviated report allowing you to compare information in your database with information that others have.

Descendant Report creates an indented, text outline report starting with one couple and moving forward in time - showing descendants of the source couple.


The EasyTree Charts Menu

Pedigree Chart creates a pedigree chart for a person.

Descendant Chart creates a graphic descendant chart starting with one couple and moving forward in time - showing descendants of the source couple.

Enhanced Hourglass Chart creates a graphic hourglass chart that starts with one individual and moves backward and forward in time - showing descendants and ancestors of a source person.

Timeline Chart creates a graphic representation of the life spans of individuals in your database as horizontal bars.

Cascading Pedigree prints a series of four- or five-generation, single-page, cross-referenced pedigree charts beginning with the husband or wife on the current family card.


The EasyTree Internet Menu

Person Sheet prints a form with information about one person only.

Family Group Sheet prints a form with information about one immediate family.

Family History Report creates a report with complete information about the descendants of a source couple. Each descendant receives a Legal Outline number based on his or her relationship with the source couple.

Register Report creates a narrative-style report with complete information about the descendants of a source couple. Each descendant receives a register number based on his or her relationship to the source couple.

Ahnentafel Report creates a narrative-style report with complete information about the ancestors of a person. Each ancestor receives an Ahnentafel number based on his or her relationship to the source person.

Tiny Tafel Report creates a compact abbreviated report allowing you to compare information in your database with information that others have.

Descendant Report creates an indented, text outline report starting with one couple and moving forward in time - showing descendants of the source couple.

Internet Family Tree creates family cards similar to those in your database for uploading onto your Web page.


The EasyTree Window Menu

Images opens the Images window for the current couple on the family card, showing preferred images and allowing you to add, delete, or print images.

View >  Default changes the family card view to show the default fields.

View > Miscellaneous Notes changes the family card view to show miscellaneous notes under the individual's name.

View > User Notes changes the family card view to show user notes that you specify.

View > General changes the family card view to show the general view that you have defined.

Previous Lists > Found allows you to show the previous found list without creating a new one.

Previous Lists > Calendar allows you to show the previous calendar list without creating a new one.

Previous Lists > Relationships allows you to show the previous relationships list without creating a new one.

Previous Lists > Mailing Addresses allows you to show the previous mailing addresses list without creating a new one.

Previous Lists > Places allows you to show the previous places list without creating a new one.

Previous Lists > Linked Sources allows you to show the previous linked sources list without creating a new one.


EasyChart Menus

File

Edit

Tree

Timeline

View

Window


The EasyChart File Menu

All the EasyChart menu functions are explained in Chapter 15: Overview. Please refer to that chapter for more specific information.

Open opens graphic charts previously saved in EasyChart.

Close closes the active chart.

Save saves the current chart to disk. A previously saved chart is saved with changes. Each chart is a separate file on your disk.

Save a Copy either duplicates and saves the current chart with a different name, or saves the current chart in the Windows Metafile format for use in other software programs.

Save Graphic File allows you to save the current chart in Extended Windows Metafile (.emf) or as a Bitmap (.bmp).

Get Info shows information about the current chart.

Page Setup lets you choose a printer and select options for the current printer.

Print is used for printing the active chart.

Return to EasyTree will open the EasyTree application. Should be used if EasyTree is not already open on your desktop.

Exit closes the EasyChart application.


The EasyChart Edit Menu

Undo reverses the most recent chart manipulation performed by dragging a box.

Copy Chart places a copy of the entire chart on the clipboard. From the clipboard, you can paste the entire chart into other applications.

Paste Picture pastes the contents of the clipboard into the current chart.

Center places the chart in the center of the frame.

Top Left places the chart in the top left corner of the frame.

Frame lets you design and add a frame to a chart.

Add Caption creates a new caption box for your chart.


The EasyChart Tree Menu

Top-To-Bottom redraws the chart in the fashion of a typical organizational chart.

Waterfall redraws a chart moving from upper-left to lower-right.

Left-To-Right redraws a chart moving from left to right.

Lines lets you set line attributes for lines connecting boxes as well as lines between an individual and their spouse.

Fonts lets you set text attributes for all boxes in a chart.

Colors lets you set box colors by generation and apply color to the insides or borders of boxes. The chosen colors alternate for every six generations of the chart.

Borders > (None, Hairline, 1 Point, 2 Point) lets you set the border widths for all boxes in a tree chart.

Shadow Depth · (0, 1, 2, 3, …7) lets you set the shadow depth for all boxes in a tree chart.

Trim > Each makes each box just big enough to hold the text.

Trim > Justify will right-justify the width of all boxes to match the right side of the right-most trimmed box.

Trim > Uniform makes all boxes the same size - as big as the biggest box in the chart.

Trim > Generations is the same as Trim > Uniform, except that each generation is treated independently.

Squeeze attempts to reduce the number of pages required by a chart (horizontally) by meshing boxes together, if possible. This function only applies to Left-to-Right tree charts.

Show Source Person takes you from wherever you are in the chart to the box containing the source person.

Drag > Single puts EasyChart into a mode where dragging a box only affects its own position.

Drag > Branch puts EasyChart into a mode where dragging one box also moves all "dependent" boxes an equal amount in the same direction. In a descendant chart, "dependent" boxes represent all descendants of the person whose box you are moving. In pedigree charts, this means all ancestors of the person whose box you are moving.

Drag > Global puts EasyChart into a mode where dragging one box affects the spacing between all boxes.

Drag > Generation puts EasyChart into a mode where dragging one box also moves all other boxes in the same generation an equal amount.

Drag > Generation+ puts EasyChart into a mode where dragging one box moves all other boxes and branches in the same generation an equal amount in the same direction.


The EasyChart Timeline Menu

Legend/Grid lets you set legend and grid line attributes in the timeline chart.

Fonts lets you set text attributes for all names in the timeline chart.

Colors lets you set bar and text colors by generation.

Bar Height > (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Other) lets you set the bar height in the timeline chart.

Shadow Depth > (None, 1, 2, 3, … 7) lets you set the shadow depth in the timeline chart.

Sort > Birth Date allows you to sort the bar lines by the birth date of the individuals in the chart.

Sort > Death Date allows you to sort the bar lines by the death date of the individuals in the chart.

Sort > Age allows you to sort the bar lines by the age of the person represented by the data in your family file.

Sort > Last Name allows you to sort the bar lines by the last name of the individuals in the chart.

Sort > Descendants allows you to sort the bar lines by the descendants of a person if you selected a source person when first generating the chart.

Perspectives > Add One allows you to add a perspective event to a timeline chart.

Perspectives > Edit All allows you to edit all existing perspective events on a timeline chart.

Perspectives > Delete All allows you to delete all existing perspective events from a timeline chart, but does not delete the set from your hard disk.

Perspectives > Open Set opens an existing set of perspective events and adds them to a timeline chart.

Perspectives > Save Set saves all perspective events on a timeline chart as a set for future use on another chart.

Perspectives > Clean Up > Left neatly arranges all perspective events and lines them up from left to right (this does not affect events placed below a timeline).

Perspectives > Clean Up > Split neatly arranges all perspective events and splits them evenly between the left and right sides of the chart (this does not affect events placed below a timeline).

Optimize Height automatically optimizes the height of the chart based on the bar height.

Set Width > (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Other) lets you adjust the width, in pages, of the chart by a factor of 1-5 or greater.


The EasyChart View Menu

Zoom In increases the magnification level. The maximum magnification level is 100%.

Zoom Out produces a "reduced" view by decreasing the magnification level. EasyChart has 10 reduction levels.

1:1, 2:1, 3:1, etc. produce a "reduced" view by decreasing the magnification level by the specified ratio.

Refresh redraws the screen.


The EasyChart Window Menu

Cascade resizes and arranges chart windows so that the title bar of each window is visible.

Tile resizes and arranges chart windows side by side so that all are visible.

Close All closes all chart windows.


Limits and Capabilities


Field Lengths

The maximum number of characters allowed in EasyTree's data fields is listed below:

Field	Size in Number of Characters

last name	75

first name	75

prefix title	25

suffix title	25

user ID number	25

place (each)	255

memo	225

facts	255

notes (in person and family records)	64,000

mailing address	255 each line

phone/fax/e-mail/Web page	255 each

dividing line	50

source citation	255

picture file description	45

child status definition (each)	25

field names	255

field abbreviations (short)	6

field abbreviations (long)	10

report titles	50

logs (each)	64,000


Other Capabilities/Limitations

number of people per family file	unlimited

number of families per family file	unlimited

number of children per couple	50

number of spouses per person	50

number of parents per person	10 couples

number of sources per family file	unlimited

number of note fields per person	100

number of note fields per family	100

number of event fields per person	1,500

number of event fields per family	1,500

number of fact fields per person	1,000

number of images per family	200

number of flags	100

number of user-defined child status types	14

number of user-defined views	unlimited

number of Web styles	unlimited

number of layouts	unlimited

number of field types (events, facts, flags, notes, sources)	unlimited

number of source citations per field, person, or family file	unlimited

number of entries in Speed Names	100 each

number of logs	unlimited

number of marked sets	unlimited

number of Find Anything presets	unlimited

number of people remembered by the Recall list	50

number of couples remembered by the Back/Forward buttons	200

maximum family file size	1 gigabyte

image magnification factors	25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, 200%, 250%, 300%, 350%, 400%, 450%, 500%, 550%, 600%

number of lines of text in return address	5

number of generations per pedigree chart	99

number of generations per cascading pedigree chart	97

number of generations per Ahnentafel Report	99

number of generations per Descendant Chart/Report	99

number of generations per Register Report	99

date span	3,760 BC to 7,000 AD


EasyChart Capabilities/Limitations

maximum chart dimensions	unlimited

number of boxes, images, captions, bars, perspective events per chart	unlimited

number of images per chart	10,000

number of captions per chart	10,000

number of perspective events per chart	10,000

number of lines of text per box/caption	50

number of characters per box/caption	4,500

timeline legend minimum beginning year	100 AD

chart reduction factors	100%, 50%, 33%, 25%, 20%, 17%, 14%, 12%, 11%, 10%


Shortcuts


Shortcuts

EasyTree and EasyChart have a variety of keyboard and mouse shortcuts.

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that are pressed, usually at the same time, to achieve the same result as choosing a command from a menu or clicking a button, but are often much faster to use.

A mouse shortcut is clicking more than once, or clicking while simultaneously pressing a modifier key on the keyboard.

See Also

EasyTree Control Key Shortcuts

EasyTree Letter Key Shortcuts

Other Family Card Shortcuts

EasyChart Control Key Shortcuts


EasyTree Control Key Shortcuts

To perform Control key shortcuts, you must hold down the CTRL key on the keyboard while you press another key. For the most part, these shortcuts are shown in the menus. Shortcuts indicated with an asterisk (*) are not shown in the menus.

TAB	Juggle windows, when multiple windows are open*

a	Find Anything

c	Copy (Family Card, Picture, Text*) depending on the active window

d	Direct Lines Bold

e	Edit Children

f	Find Person

g	Find ID# Person

h	Home

i	Index

k	Delete People

l	Logs

m	Mark Groups

o	Open

p	Print Card (Print, when the Print Preview window is open)

q	Quit

r	Previous Found list

s	Source List

t	Ages

u	Overview

v	Paste (in dialog box text fields only)*

w	Close (family file, Multimedia window, Trash window, Print Preview window)

x	Cut (in dialog box text fields only)*

z	Undo (in dialog box text fields only)*

1	First view

2	Second view

etc.


EasyTree Letter Key Shortcuts

These shortcuts simply require that you type some letters and press ENTER or RETURN. These commands do not use a modifier key such as the CTRL key. When you type the letter key shortcuts, you'll see them appear in the left edge of the status bar near the bottom of the screen. Being mnemonic, they are easy to remember.

nmc	New male child

nfc 	New female child

nh	New husband

nw	New wife

nhf	New husband's father

nhm	New husband's mother

nwf	New wife's father

nwm	New wife's mother

um	Unrelated male

uf	Unrelated female

All of the above shortcuts can be used with an optional name. For example, nmcLeroy/Brown would create a new child named Leroy Brown. The syntax for name Is: given name(s)/optional surname.

emc	Existing male child

efc	Existing female child

eh	Existing husband

ew	Existing wife

ehf	Existing husband's father

ehm	Existing husband's mother

ewf	Existing wife's father

ewm	Existing wife's mother

All of the above shortcuts are used to link existing people. Each can be used with an ID number. For example, to add an existing male child ID number 45, type emc45 and press RETURN.

h	Edit husband's name

w	Edit wife's name

he	Husband's events

we	Wife's events

hn	Husband's notes

wn	Wife's notes

m	Marriage

a	Address

ec	Edit children

es	Edit spouses

ep	Edit parents

hp	To husband's parents

wp	To wife's parents

hs	To husband's next spouse

ws	To wife's next spouse

b	Back

c	Previous calendar list

i	Index

o	Overview

p	Places

s	Source list

t	Trash

f	Find Person

fp	Find Person

fa	Find Anything

fs	Find Sources

gp	Go to person ID#

gf	Go to family ID#

The above two shortcuts can be used with an ID number. For example, to go to person ID 53, type gp53 and press RETURN

mg	Mark groups

mh	Mark/unmark husband

mw	Mark/unmark wife

cw	Close all windows

ag	Ages

log	Log

ir	Identify relationships

re	Identify relationships

lr	List relationships

r	Previous relationship list

c1	To 1st child

c2	To 2nd child

etc.

fg	Family group sheet

ps	Person sheet

fh	Family history

dc	Descendant chart

dr	Descendant report

pc	Pedigree chart

cp	Cascading pedigree

rr	Register report

ar	Ahnentafel report

bf	Blank forms

tt	Tiny tafel report

tc	Timeline chart

or	Report options

os	Startup options

od	Dates

dl	Direct lines bold

gi	Get information

q	Quit

dp	Delete people

df	Delete/Move fields

sx	Open source number x

it	Internet Family Trees

ch	Launches EasyChart

eh	Enhanced Hourglass Chart

im	Opens the Images window

oi	Opens the Images Options window


Other Family Card Shortcuts

TAB	Open next marked person

SHIFT + TAB	Open previous marked person

Left/right arrow	Open previous/next marked person

Down arrow	Click the first direct-line child button

HOME	Open lowest person ID

END	Open highest person ID

PAGE UP	Open next higher person ID

PAGE DOWN	Open next lower person ID

SHIFT + HOME	Open lowest family ID

SHIFT + END	Open highest family ID

SHIFT + PAGE UP	Open next higher family ID

SHIFT + PAGE DOWN	Open next lower family ID

If the current view is anything except the default view, clicking the person button will return you to the default view.

Miscellaneous Clicking Shortcuts

Single-click	Empty parent button to create a record for a parent.

Single-click	Empty person button to create a new record.

Double-click	Find button to open the Find Anything window.

CTRL-click Shortcuts

CTRL-click	Images button to display all items linked to the current family card.

CTRL-click	Home button to designate the current family card as the home card.

CTRL-click	Child buttons to toggle bold text style.

CTRL-click	Close box in any image window to close all open image windows.

SHIFT + Right-click Shortcuts

SHIFT + right-click	Parent button to show a pop-up menu of the parent's siblings.

SHIFT + right-click	Husband or wife button to show a pop-up menu of the husband's or wife's siblings.

SHIFT + right-click	Back or Forward button to show a pop-up menu of couples in the back/forward list.

SHIFT-click Shortcuts

SHIFT + click	Any name in the Overview window to show a pop-up menu of the clicked person's siblings. Selecting a sibling from this pop-up menu will move that person to the source position in the overview.

SHIFT-click	View button on the toolbar to open the Define Views window.

Dialog Box Window Shortcuts

CTRL + 1	Clicks the first file-folder tab.

CTRL + 2	Clicks the second file-folder tab.

CTRL + 3	Clicks the third file-folder tab.

etc.

ENTER key	Clicks the default button. A default button is shown with a thick black border. For example, in the Edit Person window, the default button is the Save button.

RETURN key	Clicks the default button if the cursor is not blinking inside a multiline text field.

TAB	Moves cursor to next field.

SHIFT + TAB	Moves cursor to previous field.

ESC key	Cancels or closes the dialog box.

SHIFT-click	Layout pop-up menu button to open the Layout window.

Scrolling List Shortcuts

If a window contains a list, you can use a variety of keyboard shortcuts to select items in the list. See the Index section of Chapter 9 for the best time-savers. You can also use the Arrow, PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN, HOME, and END keys to scroll and select different entries in the list. When an entry is highlighted in a list, pressing the RETURN or ENTER key is the same as double-clicking an entry.

Place/Last Name Shortcuts

When the cursor is inside any place field or the Last Name field:

Up/Down Arrow	Selects previous/next entry in the Speed Names list.

Up/Down Arrow Box Shortcuts

When the cursor is inside an up/down arrow box:

Up/Down Arrow	Increments/Decrements by 1.

Page Up/Page Down	Increments/Decrements by 10.

Home/End	Enters lowest/highest possible entry.

Editing Text in Dialog Box Windows

Text appearing in an editable text field (such as the Misc. Notes field) in any dialog box window may be selected using standard Windows mouse techniques. Selected or highlighted text can be edited using the following keyboard shortcuts:

Triple-click	Text in any dialog box window to select an entire line of text.

Quadruple-click	Text in any dialog box window to select an entire paragraph of text.

CTRL + X	Cut

CTRL + C	Copy

CTRL + V	Paste

CTRL + Z	Undo

CTRL + A	Select all

CTRL + B	Bold

CTRL + U	Underline

CTRL + I	Italic

CTRL + T	Plain (text)

BACKSPACE (z)	Clears previous character

DELETE	Clears next character

Highlighted text can be typed over, or you can position the cursor (using the mouse or arrow keys) within the text to delete or insert text. When the entire contents of a field are highlighted, you can press the BACKSPACE or DELETE key to clear the entire field.

SHIFT-Open the EasyTree Application

Pressing the SHIFT key while EasyTree's "splash screen" is showing (the opening screen) deletes the EasyTree preferences file. This file is located inside your System/Preferences folder and stores global preferences -- those that apply to all family files, such as the choice of word processor. Occasionally this shortcut is used for troubleshooting.


EasyChart Control Key Shortcuts

To perform Control key shortcuts, you must hold down the CTRL key on the keyboard while you press another key. For the most part, these shortcuts are shown in the menus. Shortcuts indicated with an asterisk (*) are not shown in the menus.

a	Add Caption

c	Copy Text in dialog box fields

d	Top Left

e	Center

f	Fonts

g	Squeeze -- Left-to-Right tree charts only

h	Show Source Person -- tree charts only

F5	Optimize Height -- timeline charts only

i	Get Info

k	Colors

l	Left-to-Right -- creates Left-to-Right tree charts only

l	Legend/Grid -- timeline charts only

m	Frame

o	Open

p	Print

q	Quit

s	Save

t	Top-to-Bottom -- tree charts only

v	Paste Picture (text, in dialog box text fields)*

w	Close

x	Cut (in dialog box text fields only)*

z	Undo

1 	Zoom 1:1

2 	Zoom 2:1

etc.

[	Zoom In

]	Zoom Out

Other EasyChart Shortcuts

To scroll a chart in a window, click anywhere (except on the object) and drag. The cursor becomes a "grabber hand."

To switch between different drag modes, CTRL-click the mouse button anywhere on a chart (except on an object). This displays a pop-up menu with the five drag modes (tree charts only).

Double-click	A zoomed-out chart to zoom in on a particular spot. Double-click again to zoom out.

CTRL + SHIFT + double-click	A box to delete the box and its branch.

CTRL + SHIFT + double-click	A caption, bar, or perspective event to delete the object.

SHIFT + double-click	A box to add a new box connected to the one you double-clicked.

HOME	Refocuses the screen on the source person.

PAGE DOWN	Scrolls down one screen.

Left/Right arrow	Scrolls left/right one column.

Up/Down arrow	Scrolls up/down one line.


Technical Support and Warranty


Customer Service Support and Sales

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On-Line Sales

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Internet France:	http://www.sierra.fr

Internet Germany:	http://www.sierra.de


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Torrance, CA  90504	Torrance, CA  90504

*Returns valid in North America only.

NOTE: To replace a defective CD-ROM(s) please send the defective CD-ROM(s) and a copy of your dated receipt to the above fulfillment address, if less then 90 days from your purchase.  After 90 days from your purchase, for replacement of defective Programs, you must also include a $10.00 check payable to Sierra On-Line, Inc. for shipping and handling fees along with the defective CD-ROM(s).  For replacement Program documentation, you must include a $5.00 check payable to Sierra On-Line, Inc. for shipping and handling fees and a photocopy of the jewel case from the Program.  Payment must be made at the time of your request.  Sorry, no credit cards.  Returns to this address valid in North America only.


Technical Support

Self Help

Here are two valuable resources you can exploit on your own before calling us:

1. If you are logged on to the Internet, you can click the Web button on the toolbar. This will take you to a special Web page devoted to Generations users. This page will include a troubleshooting area, chat rooms, frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers, articles about using Generations, and much more.

The genealogical community on the Internet is a rich resource and is constantly changing. With personal Web sites on the rise, as well as genealogical societies making their presence known on the Internet, more and more information is available on a daily basis.

2.	Check the Readme file that was installed in your Generations folder. This file will contain information, such as conflicts, suggestions, and other news about Generations. This file is especially valuable for learning about changes in either the software or the user's guide that were made after this user's guide was printed.

Automated Technical Support Line - USA:

1-425-644-4343

Sierra On-Line offers a 24-hour Automated Technical Support line with recorded answers to the most frequently asked technical questions. To access this service, call (425) 644-4343, and follow the recorded instructions to find your specific topic and resolve the issue. If this fails to solve your problem, you may still write or fax us with your questions, or contact us via our Web site.

U.S. Technical Support
Sierra On-Line	Main: (425) 644-4343
Technical Support	Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:45 p.m. PST
P.O. Box 85006	Fax:   (425) 644-7697
Bellevue, WA 98015-8506

Automated Technical Support Line - United Kingdom:

(0118) 920-9111

Havas Interactive offers a 24-hour Automated Technical Support line with recorded answers to the most frequently asked technical questions. To access this service, call (0118) 920-9111, and follow the recorded instructions to find your specific topic and resolve the issue. If this fails to solve your problem, you may still write or fax us with your questions, or contact us via our Internet or CompuServe sites.

U.K. Technical Support
Havas Interactive	 	Phone: (0118) 920-9111
2 Beacontree Plaza,	Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Gillette Way,	Fax:   (0118) 987-5603
Reading, Berkshire 	Disk/CD replacements in the U.K. are £6.00,
RG2 0BS United Kingdom	or £7.00 outside the UK. Add "ATTN.: Returns."

France
Havas Interactive
Parc Tertiaire de Meudon	Téléphone: 01-46-01-46-50
Immeuble "Le Newton"	Lundi au Vendredi de 9h à 19h
25 rue Jeanne Braconnier	Fax: 01-46-30-00-65
92366 Meudon La Forêt Cedex
France

Germany
Havas Interactive	Tel: (0) 6103-99-40-40
Robert-Bosh-Str. 32	Montag bis Freitag von 9 – 19Uhr
D-63303 Dreieich	Fax: (0) 6103-99-40-35
Deutschland	Mailbox: (0) 6103-99-40-35

Spain
Havas Interactive	Teléfono: (01) 383-2623
Avenida de Burgos 9	Lunes a Viernes de 9h30 a 14h y de 15h a 18h30
1º-OF2	Fax: (01) 381-2437
28036 Madrid
Spain

Italy	Contattare il vostro distribotore.


Copyright/Trademarks

1999 Sierra On-Line, Inc. ® and ™ designate trademarks of, or licensed to, Sierra On-Line, Inc. All rights reserved.


Internet Center
Generations Internet Center

Welcome to the Generations Internet Center!  Genealogy research and the tremendous resources the Internet now offers have become a closely knit pair. Never before have family history records and genealogy resources been so accessible. Every day more companies, organizations and individuals are adding to the millions of records already on-line. The Internet Center is your key to some of the great services and research tools now available right from your home computer.

The Internet Center consists of 6 items that link you directly to sites on the World Wide Web. These links include:

Cyndi's List
Ancestry World Tree

Internet Detective
Talkshow
FamilyHistory.com
Records Requestor

Please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider), and an Internet browser, like Netscape or Microsoft's Internet Explorer, in order to use these tools. Generations alone will not give you Web access.  For more information on any of the services within the Internet center, click on one of the corresponding links above.


Cyndi's List

Generations Internet Center

http://www.cyndislist.com

One site you'll surely want to check out is the brainchild of Cyndi Howells, author of Netting Your Ancestors: Genealogical Research on the Internet and a consultant in the development of Generations. Cyndi is the owner and Webmaster of Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet. Cyndi's List not only includes valuable information on researching your family tree, but it also includes an index of over 42,000 sites. Here at Generations we are proud to be associated with this avid genealogist and cyber pioneer.

To access Cyndi's List from the Generations Launch screen, click on the Internet Center and select Cyndi's List.  Please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and an Internet browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, in order to use this tool.


Ancestry World Tree
Generations Internet Center

http://www.ancestry.com/worldtree/tree.htm

One of the most satisfying aspects of family research is often that of locating and connecting with other people researching the same families and individuals as you. The Ancestry World Tree helps you do that and more! Composed of pedigree files submitted by visitors, the Ancestry World Tree is one of the largest collections of its kind on the Internet. With it you can share your family tree and search through other trees submitted from all over the world. The idea behind the Ancestry World Tree is to continually add to a free database, already containing millions of names, that will help you find fellow researchers, connect with distant family members and maintain a free database of family files for everyone interested in tracing their roots.

To submit family files to the Ancestry World Tree, simply click on Ancestry World Tree in the Internet Center. This will launch your Internet browser. Once on-line and connected to the Ancestry World Tree site, you'll be given the opportunity to submit your family file – simply follow the instructions provided by Ancestry.

Note: It is not necessary for Generations users to create a GEDCOM file in order to submit your family file to the Ancestry World Tree. Ancestry has made it possible to submit your EasyTree family file (.UDS) without any need to convert it!

About Privacy

Whenever you submit family files to any on-line database or even share family data in any form, it's a good idea to remove all information about living relatives; including names, dates, notes, etc.  While some free databases like the Ancestry World Tree take extra precautions to ensure information that should not be divulged is kept private, it is still a good idea to correct these privacy concerns at their source – you.


Internet Detective

Generations Internet Center

http://www.sierra.com/sierrahome/familytree/

Genealogy on the Internet has taken off like a rocket in the past few years and can be a great help to those just beginning their research, as well as to those who have been at it for years. With Generations, you can quickly access the Internet and have a great jumping-off place to start surfing the web!

If you already have a connection and a browser, then you're ready to go! At the Generations Launch screen, click on the Internet Center and select Internet Detective. This will take you straight to the Internet Detective page located on the Generations Family Tree Web site. Here you'll find news about Generations (including plans for future versions), troubleshooting tips, how-to tips on getting started in genealogy, and links to thousands of other sites where you can actually do genealogical research on the Web.


TalkShow
Generations Internet Center

http://www.talkspot.com/

The Generations team is committed to uncovering the past using technology of the future.  Generations: Find Your Roots, the first-ever Internet broadcast talk show dedicated to genealogy, is the latest creation in our on-going efforts.

Each week, Generations: Find Your Roots brings together a community of fellow family researchers in a unique, interactive, on-line forum where our goals are to learn from each other, make new genealogy discoveries, and have a good time along the way.  Generations: Find Your Roots is like a radio talk show, a TV talk show and an Internet chat room all rolled into one. Like a radio show, you can sit and listen to the audio broadcast and even call-in on an "800" number with questions for the hosts or guests. Like a TV talk show, you can see the hosts, the guests, and other images important to the current discussion.  And, just like a chat room, you can type away on your keyboard to interact with others participating in the show!

Our host, Elon Gasper, is an avid genealogist and the designer of the Generations line of software.  Each week he features a new guest equally dedicated to family research and together, they discuss genealogy topics and news of interest.  Join us on-line and take part in this exciting new technology while we use the future to uncover the past!

For more information on show times and topics, click the TalkShow logo located in the Generations Internet Center. Also, please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) in order to use this tool.


FamilyHistory.com
Generations Internet Center

http://www.familyhistory.com/

FamilyHistory.com is a Web site dedicated to the free exchange of genealogical information and ideas between researchers at all levels of experience. Currently, the site features over 50,000 surname, state, country, and genealogical topic message boards. Additional services will be added in the near future. FamilyHistory.com is sponsored by Ancestry.com, the leader in on-line genealogical research resources and genealogical reference publishing.

To access FamilyHistory.com from the Generations Launch screen, click on the Internet Center and select FamilyHistory.com.  Please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and an Internet browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, in order to use this tool.


Records Requestor

Generations Internet Center

The Records Requestor, brought to you through a partnership between Generations and Ancestry.com, combines the convenience of written letters with the know-how of getting information from a variety of government services and agencies. Family history resources like birth certificates, death certificates and social security information can be obtained easier by going on-line and filling out the request forms Ancestry has provided. Once you have filled out the correct form(s), you can either e-mail it or print it out and mail it by hand. Addresses to many of the national and state agencies that provide such records for family research are provided as well.

For more complete explanation of all the services offered by the Records Requestor, go online by selecting Records Requestor from the Generations Internet Center. Please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and an Internet browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, in order to use this tool.


Generations Family Center

Generations Family Center

Welcome to the Generations Family Center!  The Family Center provides tools to let you share more about your heritage with your family.  Tools like Snapshot and sites on MyFamily.com will help you fill out your family tree with restored photos and connections to your family through your own family web site, and the Names Glossary is a fun database filled with definitions and origins of hundreds of given names.

The Family Center consists of 4 items that link you directly to family related applications and sites on the World Wide Web. These include:

SnapShot Express

Names Glossary

MyFamily.com

SierraHome.com

Please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider), and an Internet browser, like Netscape or Microsoft's Internet Explorer, in order to use some of these tools. Generations alone will not give you Web access.  For more information on any of the services within the Internet center, click on one of the corresponding links above.


SnapShot Express

Generations Family Center

SnapShot Express photo-enhancing software lets you repair your old photos to add to your family tree.  When your photos are in the best shape they can be, you can import them into Generations and display them in your charts.  Some important features include:

•	Repair and preserve photos and documents that have been damaged by time.

•	Suite of editing tools allows you to make a variety of adjustments in your photos.

•	Use your computer hard disk and floppy disk drives, digital camera, scanner, CD, or the Internet to access photos.

•	Search tool makes your photos easy to find.

To install SnapShot Express, click the SnapShot icon in the Generations Family Center and follow the on screen instructions.  For more information about SnapShot Express, see the on-help files installed with the SnapShot software.


Family Tree Art CD-ROM

Generations Family Center

The Generations Millennium includes a CD-ROM full of family and heritage related art for you to use.  The art on the CD-ROM is sorted into folders by subject to make the art easier to browse.  Some folders are split into subfolders, due to the large amount of content.  This makes it easier to import the art into SnapShot when you wish to browse the files.  These subject folders include:

Flags	Medals

Frames	People

Heraldic Crests (subfolders 1-8)	Ships

Heraldry	Trees

Maps (subfolders 1-3)	United States

A very easy way to use the Family Tree Art CD-ROM is to install SnapShot Express and create albums. To do this:

1.	Install SnapShot Express following the instructions in the Generations Millennium Quick Start Guide.

2.	Insert the Family Tree Art CD-ROM--CD#21 in the Generations Millennium set.

3.	Run SnapShot Express: Click Start, Run, Programs, Sierra, SnapShot Express, and choose SnapShot Express.

4.	Click the Organize button on the main SnapShot screen.

5.	Click New Album.

6.	Give the album a name.  Choose something that reflects the contents of the art folder you wish to browse, i.e.: Trees.

7.	Click the Get Pictures button.

8.	Click the My Computer button.

9.	Choose the CD-ROM from the drop down list next to the Look In: box.

10.	Choose the folder that fits the description of your Album (i.e. Trees) and double-click to open it.

Note:  If you would like to copy the files to your hard drive when you create the album, check the box labeled 'Copy to the acquire picture directory.'  This will copy the art that you have selected from the CD-ROM to the My Documents\Photos folder on the hard drive where SnapShot is installed.

11.	To add all pictures from the selected folder:

a.  Click the first picture in the list.

b.  Scroll to the bottom of the list.

c.  Hold the Shift key on the keyboard and click the last picture in the list.

d.  All files should be selected.  Click Open.

12.	An information window will become available when all of the files have been added to the Album.  Click Close on this window.

Now that you have created your album, you can browse through the art.  If you have not copied the art to your hard drive, you will need to reinsert the Family Tree Art CD-ROM when you wish to view the art.  If the CD-ROM is not inserted when you select a picture, you will receive an error message stating that the file cannot be found.

Some of the features in SnapShot will not work if the SnapShot Express CD-ROM is not in the CD-ROM drive.  If you wish to use these features, you will need to copy the art file to your hard drive, and then replace the Family Tree Art CD-ROM with the SnapShot Express CD-ROM.


Names Glossary

Generations Family Center

As part of Generations' databases, the Names Glossary provides a unique perspective into the historical roots of names. When you conduct a search for a particular name using the Names Glossary, the Names Glossary responds by providing a "definition" associated with that name. While many names do have historical roots, it is important to remember that these name meanings are not an exact science.  Names, like all words, can have several variations with many etymological roots and are, therefore, not always easily associated with any one region or country.

Searching the Names Glossary

To search the Names Glossary, click on the corresponding icon from the Research Center launch screen. A search screen will appear where you can fill in the name field.  To begin the search, click Search.  Generations will then prompt you to insert the correct CD-ROM if it is not already in the drive.  The results of your search will appear in the large search window.


MyFamily.com

Generations Family Center

http://www.myfamily.com/

MyFamily.com offers a unique service to families and other close-knit groups with a free, private place to share and distribute family information on the Web. With the services of MyFamily.com, you have the power to design and build your own virtual community. Whether it's for your family, or a group of genealogy friends, MyFamily.com makes it easy to quickly create safe, private Internet communities. Each site you build contains features like chatrooms, calendars, message boards, file cabinets for storing files on-line, photo albums for pictures, and lots more. For the genealogy buff, they even have a feature that automatically converts any GEDCOM file you submit into an on-line pedigree tree that anyone on your site can read!

To access MyFamily.com and begin creating a site of your own, simply select MyFamily.com from the Internet Center and follow the instructions provided on-line.  Please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and an Internet browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, in order to use this tool.


SierraHome.com

Generations Family Center

http://www.sierra.com/sierrahome/

Generations is just one of the many home productivity software titles produced by SierraHome. Each product is designed not only to perform a specific task, but also to make it an enjoyable experience along the way. SierraHome.com is an extension of our dedication to providing customers continued support, information, and community surrounding each of our products. The Generations Family Tree site is no exception.

The Generations Family Tree site, located on-line at http://www.sierrahome.com/familytree  has grown to include not only up-to-date information with the latest news surrounding Generations, but also a community of people, just like you, using Generations for their family research. Together with fellow genealogists in this on-line community, you can share common tips and tricks you've discovered while using Generations or conducting research. It's also a great starting point for on-line research and involvement in the expansive community of genealogists all over the Internet.

Visit us at SierraHome simply by clicking the SierraHome logo on the Internet Center. We hope to see you there!  Please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and an Internet browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, in order to use this tool.


Generations Research Center

Generations Research Center

Welcome to Generations Research Center! The Research Center is provided to help both the novice and the expert genealogist alike take advantage of some new and exciting research materials and methods. Genealogy can be a daunting task, especially to the novice; therefore we have sought to keep our research tools simple and straightforward. Those among you who are well versed in approaching the mysteries that genealogy often holds may find the Research Center a helpful and refreshing tool as well. Since much of our data is unpublished in this form, you may just find the missing piece to a puzzle you have been trying to solve for years.

The Research Center consists of the following six utilities:

Generations World Name Index

Social Security Index

Historic Records

Civil War Muster Rolls

Immigrant Ships

Ellis Island

The Generations World Name Index is a bibliographic index of all the Historic Records, the Social Security Index, the Civil War Muster Rolls, and millions of other resources including various printed books, magazine articles, and private Internet databases that search engines are not able to reach. Since this is the most inclusive research tool, we recommend you start your search here.

Searching the Databases

To search any of the databases, select the one you wish to search by clicking on the corresponding icon on the Research Center Launch screen. Generations will then prompt you to insert the correct CD-ROM (for example, one of the CD's marked Social Security Index).

A search screen will appear and ask you to fill in fields for Surname, Given name, Year of Birth, and Year of Death. The actual search fields may vary depending on which database you are searching. For the best results, fill in all the information you can, but in order to perform a search you must fill in at least the person's last name.

The results of your search will appear in the large search window. If the window overflows, use the arrow icons to the right to access more results. (Generations will tell you how many names were found in the Search Results field.)

Please be aware that these records are not a primary source such as a will or manifest. What you have in front of you are thousands of names collected from records, charts and legal documents spanning hundreds of years.  While these names and databases can certainly point you in the right direction, (the actual will or manifest you need), they should not be mistaken as primary sources of conclusive research.

When you embark on your quest, keep in mind that genealogy is not only about people, it is also by people. Record-keepers took great pride in their work, yet their task was not an easy one. With waves of immigrants arriving in American ports, new citizens pushing the frontier and cities growing in size at an unimaginable rate, mistakes were simply unavoidable. Naturally, this poses a great problem to anyone using this information. If the original entries were faulty, subsequent documentation based on the original data will also be faulty.

It is our goal to provide you with a great stepping-stone for your exploration backwards in time. We hope this historical information will help you find those long gone but certainly not forgotten.


Social Security Index

Generations Research Center

The Social Security Index (SSI) is file of individuals that the U.S. Social Security Administration reports as deceased. (Of course, most of the entries are Americans.) It contains over 50 million entries, and can be a good starting point for further genealogy research. It is most likely to contain records with the names of deceased Social Security recipients whose relatives applied for Social Security death benefits.

Note: An individual had to have a Social Security number and been reported as deceased to be included in this index.

The SSI is an excellent resource for finding information on individuals who died after the 1960s. (Most of the records are for individuals who died after 1962.) A record can contain the following information: an individual's Social Security number, the state of residence when the number was issued, last name, first name, Soundex code, date of birth, and date of death. Many records contain the zip code of the deceased's last known residence and the primary location associated with that zip code. In some cases, the record includes the zip code and primary location where a Social Security death benefit payment was sent. For individuals that died when residing outside the United States, the record may include a special state or country residence code.

If you find a person in this index, you can order a copy of that person's original application for a Social Security number from the Social Security Administration.  The application includes the name of the father, mother, birthplace, and birth date of the applicant. By finding a person in the SSI and knowing the individual's date of death and residence at the time of death, you can discover information that might lead to finding that individual's birth certificate or death certificate, or an obituary.

Possible problems with searching for individuals in the SSI

You may not necessarily find an individual in the SSI. It's possible that person did not have a Social Security card (many occupations in the first half of the 1900s did not require Social Security enrollment). An individual may be listed under another name, their name may be spelled differently, or their record may be incorrect in some way. It's also possible that a person's death was never reported to the Social Security Administration.

The following issues and errors may affect your ability to find a person in the SSI:

•	The person who entered the record data into the database made a typo or several typos. The person's name may also have been recorded incorrectly during the initial application process.

•	Older record information may not necessarily have been entered into the SSI database. In some cases, the information may have been lost before the records were transferred to the database.

•	An individual's information may have been reported incorrectly to or by a census officer. (Sometimes census information was gathered from a second-hand source and was not accurate.)

•	An individual may only have a single name entered (for first or last name only).

•	Women may be listed under a maiden name.

•	The person's name may be listed with a title (such as Jr., Sr., Dr, The 2nd, Col., and so on). Titles to consider include military rank, occupation, family rank, and religious order. There may be variations in the way the title was entered. For example, usually the Social Security Administration placed the Jr. after the surname without a comma, but sometimes with a comma. So if you're looking for James Smith, Jr., you should try both of these:

Smith Jr.

Smith, Jr.

in the Surname field, (with James in the Given Name field, of course).

•	The name may be a nickname or some other common variation of their proper name.

•	The individual may have altered his or her name on purpose. Motivations for this include avoiding military enlistment, distancing him or herself from life in a previous country, or trying to blend in as an American.

•	Double S's ("ss") used to be spelled using an "f".

Searching the SSI

You'll be asked to fill in fields in the search screen for Surname, Given name, Year of Birth, and Year of Death. Fill in what you can, but you must fill in at least the person's last name. The results of your search will appear in the large search window. If the window overflows, click the Next button to access more results. (Generations will tell you how many names were found in the Search Results field.)

Requesting information from the Social Security Administration

Original applications of deceased Social Security cardholders can be requested through the Freedom of Information Act. You will need to send $7.00 (if you know the individual's Social Security number) or $16.50 (if you do not know the number). For the latest information on how to request information through the Freedom of Information Act and the correct address for requests, see "Making a FOIA Request" on the Web page "Guide to Freedom of Information Act Requests" (http://www.ssa.gov/foia/reading_room/foia_guide.htm).

For other useful information, see Social Security Online (http://www.ssa.gov) and the Freedom of Information Reading Room page (http://www.ssa.gov/foia/).


Historic Records

Generations Research Center

Generations Historic Records contains hundreds of thousands of names, all of which can be easily searched and accessed.  Our goal is to provide both the casual browser of family history as well as the scientific genealogist with a new well of information from which to derive additional clues to conduct their exploration.

The Historic records comprise the following 13 databases:

Confederate Generals
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients
Revolutionary War
Titanic Passenger list
United Kingdom Wills†
Union Generals
Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients
Vietnam Memorial
War of 1812
WWI Medal of Honor Recipients
WWII Medal of Honor Recipients
WWII Prisoners of War
WWII and Korean War: Graves and Monuments‡

All the names in Generations Historic Records are indexed in the Generations World Name Index, so that you may search all these databases, and much more, with one tool. You'll also find Generations World Name Index a more sophisticated index. We recommend you start any search using GWNI first, and then move to the Historic Records database(s) indicated to retrieve any additional information.

It should be noted that these databases are not complete listings of everyone who participated, or was thought to have participated, in the historical events associated with the databases. In particular, less common surnames were given a priority, so there are few - in some cases no - entries for Smith, for example, among a few of these databases. Sierra Home will continue to extract more information from the source archives, and from other resources as they become available; check the website for news and postings.

Searching Historic Records

To search the Historic Records, click on the corresponding icon from the Research Center launch screen. A search screen will appear where you can fill in fields for Surname and Given name.  In order to perform a search you must fill in at least the person's last name, then click Search. Generations will prompt you to insert the correct CD-ROM (for example, the CD marked Historic Records) if it is not already in the drive.  Use the Database drop down menu to select the particular records you wish to search.

To begin the search, click Search.

The results of your search will appear in the large search window. If the window overflows, use the arrow to the right to access more results. (Generations will tell you how many names were found in the Search Results field.) Please be aware that these records are not a primary source such as a will or manifest.

Some of the results have additional information available associated with them. Click on More info, or double click the name in the results window to access this information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

† The United Kingdom Wills are a collection of wills mostly from the 17th century that were filed in the Court of Canterbury for £50.00 or more. It is not a collection of every will filed in the UK.

‡ The WWII and Korea: Graves and Monuments database mainly consists of a number of veterans who served in WWII and/or Korea and were either buried overseas, commemorated by a monument in the United States or overseas, or were reported as MIA's. This is not a complete record of all the brave men and women who served in these wars.


Civil War Muster Rolls

Generations Research Center

Civil War Muster Rolls or certificates were produced roughly between 1861 and 1865 in order to keep track of a soldier, his rank, unit, equipment, and pension benefits. The original rolls consist of the actual cards soldiers completed and filed with their headquarters.

The Civil War Muster Rolls were first compiled on microfilm by the National Archives to assist researchers in their efforts to investigate those who served in the civil war. The database presented in Generations Research Center was created from this same collection of microfilm.  It is the largest known electronic collection of those who served in the war and we are proud to play a part in making it readily accessible for the first time to so many people. Users should understand, however, that this is not a complete database of all those who served in the civil war.  Most of the records here deal with enlisted men and do not cover high-ranking officers (See the Union Generals or Confederate Generals databases in the Historic Records for information on these and other high-ranking officers.)

Searching the Civil War Muster Rolls

To search the Civil War Muster Rolls, click on the corresponding icon from the Research Center launch screen.  A search screen will appear where you can fill in fields for Surname and Given name.  In order to perform a search you must fill in at least the person's last name, then click Search.  Generations will then prompt you to insert the correct CD-ROM (for example, the CD marked Civil War Muster Rolls) if it is not already in the drive.

The results of your search will appear in the large search window. If the window overflows, use the arrow to the right to access more results. A partial listing of information concerning the results of your search appears to the left of the given name field. This information consists of the soldier's middle initial (when present)*, company, unit, rank going into the service, and rank coming out of the service. Generally speaking, however, only the first few bits of information are provided this way. To see the entire listing of information, click the More Info button. This will open a reference window where all the information is fully displayed.

* Watch out for middle initials! When a soldier does not have a middle initial, the soldier's company appears first, and not his middle initial in the partial listing of information next to the given name. Conducting a search for George Walker, for example, can produce the following results:

Surname	Given Name 	Information
WALKER	George 	D, 23 North Carolina Infantry...
WALKER 	George 	K, 34 North Carolina Infantry...
WALKER 	George 	A., A, 16 Maine Infantry., Pri...
WALKER 	George 	A., B, 16 Vermont Infantry, W...

Notice that the first two George Walkers have the letters D and K appearing first. While this may look like they could be middle initials, they are in fact the soldiers' corresponding companies. The last two results in this list provide an example of soldiers with middle initials. In both cases, the middle initial is an A indicated as such by ending with a period. The basic rule is that middle initials are followed by a period, while company letters are followed by a comma. Of course, you can always click the More Info button to see the full listing of information where everything is spelled out.


Immigrant Ships

Generations Research Center

The Heritage Quest Immigrant Ships database is a complete extraction of all passenger vessels arriving at the port of New York from 1820 to 1850. The United States National Archives' M237 microfilm series was used to compile this work. It contains an official list of arriving vessels and the passengers on each vessel. Since a complete index to passengers arriving at New York for the period 1846-1897 does not yet exist, this work will prove to be a valuable research tool. Even without an alphabetical passenger index, a search can be narrowed by noting the possible port of embarkation and nationalities of passengers. If the ship name is known, then the search is even more direct.

Ship information is shortened to codes to fit in limited space. The information from the ships is displayed in columns as follows:

Column 1     (Date)	Date of arrival.

Column 2     (Ship)	Name of the ship.

Column 3     (Ship Type)	Type of ship

Column 4     (Captain's name)	Name of the Captain of the ship.

Column 5     (Route)	Includes the port of origin and/or ports of call along the way.

Column 6     (Nat1)	The most prevalent nationality of the passengers. Standard codes for the country of origin are used.

Column 7     (Nat2)	The second most prevalent nationality of the passengers. Standard codes for the country of origin are used.

Column 8     (Nat3)	The third most prevalent nationality of the passengers. Standard codes for the country of origin are used.

Column 9     (Roll # - List #)   	The Roll number in the M237 series which the National Archives has assigned to this specific roll of film, followed by the list number. Each ship's passenger arrival list is numbered sequentially throughout                               the film.

To access the Immigrant Ship Records CD-ROM included in Generations, click on the Immigrant Ship Records icon located on the Research Center launch screen. If you have not installed the digital microfilm viewer, you will be prompted to do so. Once the viewer has been installed, you will be able to launch the program directly from the Research Center.

To install the viewer with Windows AutoPlay activated, simply insert a Family Quest Archive™: Digital Microfilm CD-ROM (Immigrant Ships, Marriage, or Land Records) and follow the on-screen instructions. If you do not have Windows AutoPlay activated, insert the CD, select Run from the Start button and type D:\Install. This assumes your CD-ROM is designated as drive D. Substitute the drive letter as needed.  More information about installation and use of the digital census records is available on the Family Quest Archive™ CDs.  You only need to install the viewer once in order to view the files on the Immigrant Ship, Marriage, or Land Records CD-ROMs.

For code lists of the immigrant ships, see the following:

Nativity Codes

Ship Type Codes

Route Codes


Nativity Codes

Generations Research Center/Immigrant Ships

The Nativity, or country of origin, codes are as follows:

ABER	Anhalt Bernberg

ADES	Anhalt Dessau

AFRI	Africa

AK	Alaska (U.S.)

AL	Alabama (U.S.)

ALGE	Algeria

ALOR	Alsace Lorraine

ALSA	Alsace

ANHA	Anhalt

ANTI	Antigua

AR	Arkansas (U.S.)

ARAB	Arabia

ARGE	Argentina

ARME	Armenia

ASEA	At sea

ASIA	Asia

AUSL	Australia

AUST	Austria

AZ	Arizona (U.S.)

AZOR	Azores

BADE	Baden

BAHA	Bahamas

BARB	Barbados

BAVA	Bavaria

BELG	Belgium

BENG	Bengal

BERM	Bermuda

BOHE	Bohemia

BOSN	Bosnia

BRAN	Brandenburg

BRAZ	Brazil

BREM	Bremen

BRUN	Brunswick

BUCH	Buchau

BULG	Bulgaria

BURM	Burma

CA	California (U.S.)

CANA	Canada

CAME	Central America

CAPE	Cape of Good Hope

CEYL	Ceylon

CHIL	Chile

CHIN	China

CISL	Canary Islands

CO	Colorado (U.S.)

COLO	Colombia

CRIC	Costa Rica

CROA	Croatia

CT	Connecticut (U.S.)

CUBA	Cuba

CZEC	Czechoslovakia

DALM	Dalmatia

DC	District of Columbia (U.S.)

DE	Delaware (U.S.)

DENM	Denmark

DTER	Dakota Territory (U.S.)

ECUA	Ecuador

EGYP	Egypt

EIND	East Indies

ENGL	England

EPRU	East Prussia (Ostpreußen)

EURO	Europe

FINL	Finland

FL	Florida (U.S.)

FLOW	Franconia, Lower (Unterfranken)

FMID	Franconia, Middle (Mittlefranken)

FRAN	France

FRNC	Franconia

FRNH	Frankenhausen

FRNK	Frankfurt, Germany

FUPP	Franconia, Upper (Oberfranken)

GA	Georgia (U.S.)

GALI	Galicia

GBRI	Great Britain

GENO	Genoa, Italy

GERM	Germany

GIBR	Gibraltar

GREE	Greece

GREN	Grenada

GUAD	Guadeloupe

GUAM	Guam

GUAT	Guatemala

GUTT	Guttenburg

GUYA	Guyana

HAIT	Haiti

HAMB	Hamburg, Germany

HANO	Hanover, Germany

HCAS	Hesse Cassel (Kurhessen)

HDAR	Hesse Darmstadt

HESS	Hessen

HHEC	Hohenzollern Hechingen

HHOM	Hesse Homberg

HI	Hawaii (U.S.)

HOHE	Hohenzollern

HOLD	Hesse Olddorf

HOLL	Holland

HOND	Honduras

HSIG	Hohenzollern Sigmaringen

IA	Iowa (U.S.)

ICEL	Iceland

ID	Idaho (U.S.)

IL	Illinois (U.S.)

IN	Indiana (U.S.)

INDI	India

IOFC	Isle of Corsica

IOFG	Isle of Guernsey

IOFM	Isle of Man

IOFW	Isle of Wight

IREL	Ireland

ITAL	Italy

ITER	Indian Territory (U.S.)

JAMA	Jamaica

JAPA	Japan

JERU	Jerusalem, Israel

JUTL	Jutland, Denmark

KS	Kansas (U.S.)

KY	Kentucky (U.S.)

KSAX	Kingdom of Saxony

LA	Louisiana (U.S.)

LAUE	Lauenburg

LDET	Lippe Detmold

LIEC	Liechtenstein

LITH	Lithuania

LOMB	Lombardy

LSCH	Lippe Schaumberg

LUEB	Luebeck

LUXE	Luxemburg

MA	Massachusetts (U.S.)

MADE	Madera

MALT	Malta

MD	Maryland (U.S.)

ME	Maine (U.S.)

MECK	Mecklenburg

MEXI	Mexico

MI	Michigan (U.S.)

MN	Minnesota (U.S.)

MO	Missouri (U.S.)

MONT	Montenegro

MORA	Moravia

MORO	Morocco

MS	Mississippi (U.S.)

MSCH	Mecklenburg Schwerin

MSTR	Mecklenburg Strelitz

MT	Montana (U.S.)

NC	North Carolina (U.S.)

ND	North Dakota (U.S.)

NCOD	No code

NE	Nebraska (U.S.)

NETH	Netherlands

NGRA	New Granada

NH	New Hampshire (U.S.)

NICA	Nicaragua

NISL	Nevis Island

NJ	New Jersey (U.S.)

NORW	Norway

NV	Nevada (U.S.)

NY	New York (U.S.)

NZEA	New Zealand

OEMP	Ottoman Empire

OH	Ohio (U.S.)

OISL	Orkney Island

OK	Oklahoma (U.S.)

OLDE	Oldenburg

OR	Oregon (U.S.)

PA	Pennsylvania (U.S.)

PALA	Palatinate

PALE	Palestine, Israel

PARA	Paraguay

PERS	Persia

PERU	Peru

PFAL	Pfalz

PHIL	Philippines

PIED	Piedmont

PLOW	Palatinate, Lower

POLA	Poland

POME	Pomerania (Pommern)

PORT	Portugal

POSE	Posen

PPFA	Palatinate, Pfalz

PRHE	Palatinate, Rhenish

PRIC	Puerto Rico

PRUS	Prussia

PSAX	Province of Saxony

PUPP	Palatinate, Upper

RALL	Reuss Altere Linie

REUS	Reuss

RGRE	Reuss Greiz

RHIN	Rhineland (Rheinland; Rheinprovinz)

RI	Rhode Island (U.S.)

RJUL	Reuss Jungere Linie

ROMA	Romania

ROST	Rostock

RSCG	Reuss Schleiz Gera

RSCH	Reuss Schleiz

RUSS	Russia

SALT	Saxony Altenburg

SAME	South America

SARD	Sardinia

SAXO	Saxony

SC	South Carolina (U.S.)

SCAN	Scandinavia

SCHW	Schwarzburg

SCOG	Saxony Coburg Gotha

SCOT	Scotland

SCRO	St. Croix

SCRU	Santa Cruz

SD	South Dakota (U.S.)

SDOM	Santo Domingo

SERB	Serbia

SHAN	Shanghai

SHOL	Schleswig Holstein

SIAM	Siam

SICI	Sicily

SILE	Silesia (Schlesien)

SKIT	St. Kitts

SMAR	St. Martins

SMEI	Saxony Meiningen

SPAI	Spain

SRUD	Schwarzberg Rudolstadt

SSON	Saxony Sondershausen

STHO	St. Thomas

STUT	Stuttgart

SURI	Surinam

SVIN	St. Vincent

SWAB	Swabia

SWED	Sweden

SWEE	Saxony Weimar Eisenach

SWIT	Switzerland

SYRI	Syria

THUR	Thuringia

TN	Tennessee (U.S.)

TRIN	Trinidad

TRIP	Tripoli

TURK	Turkey

TUSC	Tuscany

UKRA	Ukraine

UNKN	Unknown

URUG	Uruguay

US	United States of America

UT	Utah (U.S.)

VA	Virginia (U.S.)

VENE	Venezuela

VISL	Virgin Islands

VT	Vermont (U.S.)

WA	Washington (U.S.)

WALD	Waldeck (Waldeck Hesse Nassau)

WALE	Wales

WEST	Westphalia (Westfalen)

WI	Wisconsin (U.S.)

WIND	West Indies

WPRU	West Prussia (Westpreußen)

WURT	Wurtemberg

WV	West Virginia (U.S.)

WY	Wyoming (U.S.)

YUGO	Yugoslavia


Ship Type Codes

Generations Research Center/Immigrant Ships

The Immigrant Ship Type Codes are as follows:

BARGE	BARGE

BARK	BARK OR BARQUE

BRIG	BRIGANTINE

GALLI	GALLEON OR GALLEY

KETCH	KETCH

PACKT	PACKET

SCHOO	SCHOONER

SHALL	SHALLOP

SHIP	SHIP

SLOOP	SLOOP

STEAM	STEAM SHIP


Route Codes

Generations Research Center/Immigrant Ships

The Immigrant Ship Route Codes are as follows:

ABACO (BAHA)

ABERDEEN (SCOT)

ABERDEEN,DUNDEE (SCOT)

AFRICA (AFRI)

AGUADILLA (PRIC)

ALEXANDRIA (EGYPT)

ALICANTE (SPAIN)

ALLOA (SCOT)

ALLOA,LEITH (SCOT)

ALMERIA (SPAI)

ALTONA (GERM)

ALVARADO (MEXI)

AMOY (CHIN)

AMSTERDAM (NETH)

AMSTERDAM (NETH)/CORK (IREL)

ANGOSTURA (MEXI)

ANGOSTURA (MEXI)/ST THOMAS (VISL)

ANGUILLA, CARIBBEAN

ANTIGUA (GUAT)

ANTWERP (BELG)

ANTWERP (BELG)/BORDEAUX (FRAN)

ANTWERP (BELG)/BREMEN (GERM)

ANTWERP (BELG)/LIVERPOOL (ENGL)

AQUIN (HAIT)

ARCHANGEL (RUSS)

ARECIBO (PRIC)

ARENDAL (NORW)

ARICHAT (CANA)

ASPINWALL (CAME)

AUX CAYES (HAIT)

AUX CAYES (HAIT)/BARBADOS (BARB)

BAGA (CUBA)

BAHAMAS (BAHA)

BAHIA (HOND)

BANGOR (IREL)

BARACOA (CUBA)

BARBADOS (BARB)

BARCELONA (SPAI)

BARI,FIUME,NAPLES,PALERMO,TRIESTE (ITAL)

BARMOUTH (WALE)

BARMOUTH,PWLLHELI (WALE)

BARROW & DUBLIN

BATAVIA (ARGE)

BATHURST (CANA)

BAY OF ISLANDS (NZE)

BAYAMO (CUBA)

BEAUMARES (WALE)

BELEM (BRAZ)

BELFAST (IREL)

BELIZE (HOND)

BELIZE,HONDURAS (HOND)

BERBICE (GUYA)

BERBICE (GUYA)/NICKERIE (SURI)

BERGEN (BELG)

BERMUDA (BERM)

BERMUDA (BERM)/HAVRE (FRAN)

BERMUDA (BERM)/ST THOMAS (VISL)

BERMUDA (BERM)/TURKS ISLAND (BAHA)

BIDEFORD (ENGL)

BLACK RIVER (JAMA)

BOCAS DEL TORO (CAME)

BOLIVAR (COLO)

BOMBAY (INDI)

BONAIRE (VENE)

BONAVISTA (CANA)

BORDEAUX (FRAN)

BOSTON (MA)

BOULOGNE (FRAN)

BOULOGNE (FRAN)/ROTTERDAM (NETH)

BOURDEAUX (FRAN)/ST CROIX (VISL)

BRAVA (AFRI)

BRAZOS (MEXI)

BREMEN (BREM)

BREMEN (GERM)/LE HAVRE (FRAN)/SOUTHAMPTON (ENGL)

BREMEN (GERM)/SOUTHAMPTON (ENGL)

BREMEN,HAMBURG (GERM)

BREMERHAVEN (GERM)

BREMERHAVEN (GERM)/COWES (ENGL)/HAVRE (FRAN)

BREMERHAVEN (GERM)/SOUTHAMPTON (ENGL)

BRIDGEPORT

BRISTOL (ENGL)

BRISTOL (ENGL)/CORK (IREL)

BUENOS AIRES (ARGE)

BUENOS AIRES (ARGE)/MONTEVIDEO (URUG)

CADIZ (SPAI)

CADIZ (SPAI)/MARSEILLES (FRAN)

CADIZ (SPAI)/MARSEILLES (FRAN)/NAPLES (ITAL)

CADIZ,MALAGA (SPAI)/MARSEILLES (FRAN)/NAPLES,PALERMO (ITAL)

CAGLIARI (ITAL)

CALAIS (FRAN)

CALCUTTA (INDI)

CALCUTTA (INDI)

CALCUTTA,MADRAS (INDI)

CALLAO (PERU)

CALSORONA

CAMEROON (AFRI)

CAMPBELLTOWN (SCOT)

CAMPECHE (MEXI)

CANARY ISLANDS (CISL)

CANTON (CHIN)/MANILA, PHILIPPINES

CANTON (CHIN)/RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZ)

CANTON [GUANGZHOU] (CHINA)

CAP HAITIEN (HAIT)

CAPE BRETON ISLAND (CANA)

CAPE GRACIA

CAPE HENRY

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (AFRI)

CAPE VERDE (AFRI)

CARDENAS (CUBA)

CARDIFF (WALE)

CARDIFF (WALE)/CORK (IREL)

CARMARTHEN (WALE)

CARNAVON (WALE)

CARTAGENA (COLO)

CARTAGENA (COLO)/GIBRALTAR (SPAI)

CASTELLAMMARE (ITAL)

CATANIA (ITAL)

CAVANITO

CAYENNE (SAME)

CETTE [SETE] (FRAN)

CHAGRES

CHAGRES, HAVANA (CUBA)/SAN JUAN (PRIC)

CHAGRES/CARTAGENA (COLO)

CHAGRES/HAVANA (CUBA)

CHAGRES/JAMAICA (JAMA)

CHAGRES/KINGSTON (JAMA)

CHARLES/HAVANA (CUBA)/NEW ORLEANS (LA)

CHARLESTON (NZEA)

CHARLOTTETOWN (CANA)

CHERBOURG (FRAN)

CHINA (CHIN)

CHRISTIANIA [OSLO],CHRISTIANSAND (NORW)/COPENHAGEN (DENM)

CHRISTIANIA [OSLO](NORW)

CHRISTIANSAND (NORW)/GOTHENBURG,HELSINGBORG (SWED)

CHRISTIANSAND [KRISTIANSAND] (NORW)

CIENFUEGOS (CUBA)

COATZACOALCOS (MEXI)

COLON (HOND)

COLUMBIA (TX)

CONSTANTINOPLE (TURK)

COPENHAGEN (DENM)

COPIAPO (CHIL)

COQUIMBO (CHIL)

COQUIMBO (CHIL)/ARICA,CALLAO (PERU)

CORK (IREL)

CORK (IREL)/GLASGOW (SCOT)

CORK (IREL)/LIVERPOOL (ENGL)

CORNWALL (CANA)

CORNWALLIS (CANA)

COWES (ENGL)

CRONSTADT (RUSS)/USINEUR

CRONSTADT [KRONSTADT] (RUSS)

CROOKED ISLAND (BAHA)

CUBA (CUBA)

CUMBERLAND (ENGL)

CURACAO (VENE)

CUXHAVEN (GERM)

DALHOUSIE (CANA)

DANZIG (POLA)

DELFZIJL (NETH)

DEMERARA (GUYA)

DEMERARA (GUYA)/TURKS ISLAND (BAHA)

DEMERARA(GUYA)/ST THOMAS (VISL)

DIGBY (CANA)

DOMINICA [DOMINIQUE] (CARI)

DONEGAL (IREL)

DORCHESTER (ENGL)

DORDRECHT (NETH)

DOUGLAS (IOFM)

DRAMMEN (NORW)

DROGHEDA (IREL)

DUBLIN (IREL)

DUBLIN (IREL)/LIVERPOOL (ENGL)

DUBLIN,GALWAY (IREL)/HALIFAX (CANA)

DUNDEE (SCOT)

DUNDEE (SCOT)/NEWCASTLE (IREL)

DUNKIRK [DUNKERQUE] (FRAN)

EASTPORT (CANA)

ELEUTHERA (BAHA)

ELEUTHERA,NASSAU (BAHA)

ELMINA

ELSINORE (DENM)/ST PETERSBURG (RUSS)

EMDEN (GERM)

ESCALES/MARSEILLES (FRAN)

EXUMA CAYS (BAHA)

FAHRSUND (NORW)

FAIRFIELDS

FALMOUTH & STOCKTON

FALMOUTH (JAMA)

FAYAL (IREL)/GLASGOW (SCOT)

FAYAL [FOYLE] (IREL)

FERNANDINA (CUBA)

FIUME (YUGO)

FIUME/GIBRALTAR (SPAI)/NAPLES,PALERMO (ITAL)

FOGO (CANA)

FORTUNE ISLAND (CANA)

FREJUS (FRAN)

FUNCHAL (PORT)

GALVESTON (TX)

GALWAY (IREL)

GALWAY (IREL)/LIVERPOOL (ENGL)

GALWAY,LIMERICK (IREL)

GAMBIA (AFRICA)

GEFLE (SWED)

GENOA (ITAL)

GENOA (ITAL)/GIBRALTAR (SPAI)

GENOA (ITAL)/GIBRALTAR (SPAI)/NAPLES (ITAL)

GENOA,NAPLES (ITAL)

GEORGETOWN (GUAY)

GHENT (BELG)

GIBARA [XIBARA/HIBARA] (CUBA)

GIBRALTAR (SPAI)

GIBRALTAR (SPAI)/LEGHORN (ITAL)

GIBRALTAR (SPAI)/NAPLES (ITAL)

GIBRALTAR (SPAI)/NAPLES,PALERMO (ITAL)

GIBRALTAR (SPAI)/NAPLES,SORRENTO (ITAL)

GIBRALTAR (SPAI)/PALERMO (ITAL)

GIBRALTAR,MALAGA (SPAI)

GIBRALTER,CADIZ (SPAI)

GLASGOW (SCOT)

GLASGOW (SCOT)/LARNE (IREL)

GLASGOW (SCOT)/LONDONDERRY (IREL)

GLASGOW (SCOT)/MARSEILLES (FRAN)

GLASGOW (SCOT)/MOVILLE (IREL)

GLASGOW,GREENOCK (SCOT)

GLOUCESTER (ENGL)

GONAIVES (HAIT)

GOTHENBURG (SWED)

GOTLAND (SWED)

GOZDCOATCOS & QUOASCOCULGES RVR (MEXI)

GRABEL

GRAN CANARIA (CISL)

GRANADA (SPAI)

GRANGEMOUTH (SCOT)

GREENOCK (SCOT)

GREENWICH (ENGL)

GREIFSWALD (PRUS)

GRENADA,ST VINCENT (CARI)

GRIMSTAD (NORW)/GOTHENBURG (SWED)

GUADALOUPE (CARI)

GUADALOUPE (CARI)/TURKS ISLAND (BAHA)

GUADALOUPE,POINT A PITRE (CARI)

GUAJIRA, LA (COLO)

GUASCO-HUASCO (CHIL)

GUAYAMA (PRIC)

GUAYANA (GUAY)/VALPARAISO (CHIL)

GUAYANILLA (PRIC)

GUAYAQUIL (ECUA)

GUAYAQUIL (ECUA)/PAYTA

GUERNSEY (FRAN)

GUYANA (GUYA)

HAITI (HAIT)

HALIFAX (CANA)

HALIFAX (CANA)/LIVERPOOL (ENGL)

HALIFAX,ST JOHN (CANA)

HAMBURG (GER)/HAVRE (FRAN)

HAMBURG (GERM)/SOUTHAMPTON (ENGL)

HAMBURG (GERM)/ST UBES

HAMBURG (HAMB)

HAMILTON (BERM)

HAMPTON (VA)

HARBOR GRACE (CANA)

HARBOR ISLAND (NY)

HAVANA (CUBA)

HAVANA,MATANZAS (CUBA)

HAVRE (FRAN)/LONDON (ENGL)

HAVRE (FRAN)/SOUTHAMPTON (ENGL)

HEDWIGSWALD [HUDVIKSVALL] (SWED)

HELSINGBORG (SWED)

HELVIOTSLUYS

HOLGUIN (CUBA)

HONDURAS (HOND)

HOPEWELL (CANA)

HOYLE (ENGL)

HUASCO (CHIL)

HULL (ENGL)

HUMACAO (PRIC)

IRVINE (SCOT)

ISLE OF CARMAN (MEXI)

ISLE OF FRANCE

ISLE OF MAN (IOFM)

IVICA

IZABAL (GUAT)

JACKSONVILLE (FL)

JACMEL (HAIT)

JAMAICA (JAMA)

JAVA [JAWA], INDONESIA

JEREMIE (HAIT)

JERSEY (FRAN)

JOBOS (PRIC)

KERRY (IREL)

KEY WEST (FL)

KEY WEST (FL)/SISAL

KIEL (GERM)

KILLYBES (IREL)

KILRUSH (IREL)

KINGSTON (JAMA)

KINGSTON,JAMAICA (JAMA)

KINSALE (IREL)

KOENIGSBERG (RUSS)

KRAGERO (NORW)

LA GUAJIRA (COLO)/CURACAO (VENE)

LAGUNA, LA (CISL)

LAMAGRA

LANSAROTTE

LARNE (IREL)

LAURVIG (NORW)

LE HAVRE (FRAN)

LEA (ENGL)

LEER (GERM)

LEGHORN (ITAL)

LEGHORN,MESSINA,NAPLES (ITAL)/VALENCIA (SPAI)

LEITH (SCOT)

LIBAU (RUSS)/COPENHAGEN (DENM)

LIBAU [LIEPAJA] (RUSS)

LIBERA (CRIC)

LIMA (PERU)

LIMERICK (IREL)

LIMERICK (IREL)/LIVERPOOL (ENGL)

LISBON (PORT)

LIVERPOOL (CANA)

LIVERPOOL (ENGL)

LIVERPOOL (ENGL)/LONDONDERRY (IREL)

LIVERPOOL (ENGL)/NEWRY (IREL)

LIVERPOOL (ENGL)/QUEENSTOWN (IREL)

LIVERPOOL (ENGL)/TRALEE (IREL)

LLANELLI (WALE)

LONDON (ENGL)

LONDON,PLYMOUTH (ENGL)

LONDON,PORTSMOUTH (ENGL)

LONDONDERRY (IREL)

LONG ISLAND (BAHA)

LUNENBURG (CANA)

LUXEMBURG (LUXE)

LYONS

MACAO

MADEIRA (SAME)

MAGADAN (RUSS)

MAGADORE

MAGUADAVIC (CANA)

MAHON (SPAI)

MALAGA (SPAI)

MALAGA (SPAI)/MARSEILLES (FRAN)

MALAGA (SPAI)/TANGIER (AFRI)

MALAMORAR

MALDONALDO (URAG)

MALTA (MALT) & MARSALA (ITAL)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

MANZANILLO (CUBA)

MARACAIBO (VENE)

MARANHAM

MARANHAM/PARA (BRAZ)

MARIE-GALANTE (CARI)

MARSALA (ITAL)

MARSEILLES (FRAN)

MARSEILLES (FRAN)/ALICANTE (SPAI)

MARSEILLES (FRAN)/NAPLES (ITAL)

MARSEILLES (FRAN)/PALERMO (ITAL)

MARTINIQUE (CARI)

MARTINIQUE (CARI)/ST THOMAS (VISL)

MATAGORDA (TEXAS)

MATAMOROS (MEXICO)

MATANZAS (CUBA)

MATANZAS (CUBA)/NASSAU (BAHA)

MATAURA (NZEA)

MAURITIUS (AFRI)

MAYAGUEZ (PRIC)

MAYAMA (PRIC)

MAZATLAN (MEXI)

MEMEL [KLAIPEDA] (RUSS)

MENTON (FRAN)

MENTON (FRAN)/NAPLES (ITAL)

MESSINA (ITAL)

MESSINA,NAPLES (ITAL)

MESSINA,NAPLES,PALERMO (ITAL)

MESSINA,NAPLES,PALERMO,TRIESTE (ITAL)

MESSINA,PALERMO (ITAL)

MONROVIA (AFRI)

MONTEGO BAY (JAMA)

MONTEVIDEO (URUG)

MONTEVIDEO (URUG)/PERNAMBUCO (BRAZ)

MONTSERRAT (SPAI)

MOROCCO (AFRI)

MOVILLE (IREL)

MUSCAT (ARAB)

NANTES (FRAN)

NAPLES (ITAL)

NAPLES,PALERMO (ITAL)

NAPLES,PALERMO,TRIESTE (ITAL)

NAPLES,SORRENTO (ITAL)

NAQUABO (PRIC)

NASSAU (BAHA)

NASSAU,NEW PROVIDENCE (BAHA)

NASSAU,RAGGED ISLAND (BAHA)

NEVIS (CARI)

NEW BRUNSWICK (CANA)

NEW BURY

NEW PROVIDENCE (BAHA)

NEW ROSS (IREL)

NEWCASTLE (IREL)

NEWCASTLE (IREL)/ABERDEEN (SCOT)

NEWCASTLE (IREL)/PLYMOUTH (ENGL)

NEWFOUNDLAND (CANA)

NEWPORT (WALE)

NEWRY (IREL)

NICE (FRAN)

NICKERIE (SURI)

NORRKOPING (SWED)

NORWAY (NORW)

NOVA SCOTIA (CANA)

NUEVITAS (CUBA)

OAHU (HI)

OCHO RIOS (JAMA)

ODESSA (UKRA)

OMOA (HOND)

OPORTO [PORTO] (PORT)

OROTAVA

OSTEND (BELG)

PACIFIC OCEAN

PALERMO (ITAL)

PAPATOETOE (NZEA)

PARA (BRAZ)

PARA (BRAZ)/ST MARTINS (CARI)

PARAIBA (BRAZ)

PASSAMAQUODDY BAY (CANA)

PASTORA

PATAGONIA (ARGE)

PENSACOLA (FL)

PENZANCE (ENGL)

PERNAMBUCO (BRAZ)

PICTOU (CANA)

PLYMOUTH (ENGL)

POINT A PITRE (CARI)

PONCE (PRIC)

POOLE (ENGL)

PORSGRUNN (NORW)

PORT AU PARMA (ITAL)

PORT AU PRINCE (HAIT)

PORT CALHOUN (TX)

PORT MARIA (JAMA)

PORT OF SPAIN (TRIN)

PORT REPUBLICAN (HAIT)

PORT ROYAL (CANA)

PORTEVENTURA

PORTO ALEGRE (BRAZ)

PORTO IN THE PACIFIC

PORTSMOUTH (ENGL)

PRAIA (AFRI)

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND (CANA)

PRINCES ISLAND

PRINZAPOLKA RVR (GUAT)

PUERTO CABELLO (VENE)

PUERTO PLATA (CARI)

PUERTO RICO (PRIC)

PUERTO RICO (PRIC)/ST THOMAS (VISL)

PUNTA ARENAS (CHIL)

PWLLHELI (WALE)

QUEBEC (CANA)

QUEENSTOWN [COBH] (IREL)

RAGGED ISLAND (BAHA)

RECIFE (BRAZ)

REMEDIOS (CAME)

RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZ)

RIO DE JANERIO (BRAZ)/BAHIA (HOND)

RIO DE JANERIO,RIO GRANDE (BRAZ)

RIO GRANDE (BRAZ)

RIO PONGO

RIO SALADAO (NCOD)

RIODELA HATCH (NCOD)

RIOHACHA (COLO)

RIONUNEZ (AFRI)

RIVER EMS (GERM)

RIVER GAMBIA (AFRI)

RIVER LA PLATE

ROCHELLE, LA (FRAN)

ROSTOCK (GERM)

ROTTERDAM (NETH)

RUM CAY (BAHA)

RYE (ENGL)

SAFI (AFRI)

SAGUA LA GRANDE (CUBA)

SALT CAY (CARI)

SALT CREEK, ST MARTIN (CARI)

SALVADOR (BRAZ)

SAMARANG

SAMOS (GREE)

SAN BLAS (CAME)

SAN JUAN (NICA)

SAN JUAN (PRIC)

SAN LOUIS (TX)

SAN SALVADOR (BRAZ)

SANTA CRUZ (CISL)

SANTA MARIA (BRAZ)

SANTA MARTA (COLO)

SANTANDER (SPAI)

SANTIAGO (CHIL)

SANTIAGO DE CUBA (CUBA)

SANTO DOMINGO (SDOM)

SANTO DOMINGO (SDOM)/PUERTO PLATA (CARI)

SANTOS (BRAZ)

SAVANA LA MAR (JAMA)

SAVANILLA

SCHIEDAM (NETH)

SHANGHAI (CHIN)

SHEDIAC (CANA)

SHIELDS (SCOT?)

SHIELDS, SOUTH

SIBERIA (RUSS)/CAPE VERT (AFRI)

SICILY (ITAL)

SIERRA LEONE (AFRI)

SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA

SISAL (MEXI)

SKIEN (NORW)

SLIGO (IREL)

SMYRNA [IZMIR] (TURK)

SODERHAMN (SWED)

SORRENTO (ITAL)

SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

SOUTHAMPTON (ENGL)

ST ANDREWS (SCOT)

ST ANNE'S BAY (JAMA)

ST AUGUSTINE

ST BARTHOLOMEWS (GUAT)

ST BARTS [ST BARTHELEMY] (CARI)

ST BARTS, CARIBBEAN/RUM CAY (BAHA)

ST BARTS,ST EUSTALIA (CARI)

ST CATHERINES (BRAZ)

ST CATHERINES (CANA)

ST CROIX (VISL)

ST CROIX (VISL)/TURKS ISLAND (BAHA)

ST CROIX,ST THOMAS (VISL)

ST EUSTALIA (CARI)

ST GEORGE (BERM)

ST JAGO (CUBA)

ST JOHN (VISL)

ST JOHNS (ANTI)

ST JOHNS (ANTI)/MALAGA (SPAI)

ST JOHNS (ANTI)/SYDNEY (PERU)

ST JOHNS (CANA)

ST KITTS [ST CHRISTOPHER] (CARI)

ST KITTS,ST MARTINS (CARI)

ST LUCIE [ST LUCIA] (CARI)

ST MARKS [ST MARC] (HAIT)

ST MARTHA

ST MARTHA/CARTAGENA (COLO)

ST MARTINS (CARI)

ST MICHAELS

ST PAUL DE LOURDS

ST PETERSBURG [LENINGRAD] (RUSS)

ST PIERRE-MIQUELON (CANA)

ST PUIS,MARTINIQUE (CARI)

ST THOMAS (VISL)

ST THOMAS (VISL)/ST BARTS (CARI)

ST UBES

ST VINCENT (CARI)

STAVANGER (NORW)

STETTIN (GERM)

STOCKHOLM (SWED)

STOCKTON (ENGL)

SUMATERA [SUMATRA], INDONESIA

SUMATERA, INDONESIA/GIBRALTAR (SPAI)

SUNDERLAND (ENGL)

SURINAM (SAME)

SUVANELIA (SAME)

SWANSEA (WALE)

SWEARAH (AFRI)

SYDNEY (AUSL)

SYDNEY (AUSL)/CAPE BRETON ISLAND (CANA)

TABASCO (MEXI)

TALABACCA

TAMPICO (MEXI)

TENERIFFE (CISL)

TERCEIRA ISLANDS (PORT)

TEXAS (TX)

TOBAGO (TRIN)

TONSBURG (NORW)

TORQUAY (ENGL)

TORTOLA (VISL)

TRALEE (IREL)

TRIEST (ITAL)/SMYRNA (TURK)

TRIESTE (ITAL)

TRIESTE (ITAL)/GIBRALTAR (SPAI)

TRIESTE,MESSINA (ITAL)

TRINIDAD (CUBA)

TRINIDAD (TRIN)

TRUXILLO [TRUJILLO] (PERU)

TURKS ISLAND (BAHA)

TVEDESTRAND (NORW)

UNKNOWN

VALPARAISO (CHIL)

VELASCO,IBARRA (ECUA)

VENDEE (FRAN)

VENICE (ITAL)

VERA CRUZ (MEXI)

VICTORIA (MEXI)

WALES (WALE)

WATERFORD (IREL)

WEST INDIES (WIND)

WESTMORELAND

WESTPORT (CANA)

WEXFORD (IREL)

WHITEHAVEN (IREL)

WINDSOR (CANA)

WISMAR (GERM)

XIBARA [HIBARA] (ECUA)

YARMOUTH (ENGL)

YARMOUTH,PLYMOUTH (ENGL)

YOUGHAL (IREL)

ZANZIBAR (AFRI)

ZAZA (CUBA)


Ellis Island

Generations Research Center

Sitting in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island served as the principal immigration receiving station for more than 6 decades, from 1892 to 1954.  Over 12 million people passed through Ellis Island and it is estimated that 40% of all Americans can trace an ancestor who passed through its gates.

Generations Millennium provides a unique collection of facts, figures, and records about Ellis Island and the immigrants who came through her doors on this Exclusive Ellis Island CD-ROM.  Browse through a list of Famous immigrants and view images of the actual ship records.  A short video tour of the island and images of the Statue of Liberty round out this exceptional compilation of fascinating information.

Starting in 1892 and right up to WWI Ellis Island saw enormous amounts of immigrants and growth to its physical structure.  At its peak, 1900-1914, Ellis Island processed approximately 5,000 people a day.  Ships from all around the world came to Ellis Island, but the main influx was that of northern and southern Europeans.

Upon arrival the immigrants were subject to thorough medical inspections.  Trachoma, a potentially blinding and contagious disease, was high on the list of things that could deny you entry into the United States.  The inspectors also looked for the feeble-minded, the insane, and criminals.  This process was difficult for all involved and for the ones who were turned away the island was called "Heartbreak Island".  However, less than 2% of all who traveled to Ellis Island were turned away.

The outbreak of World War I reduced emigration from Europe to a trickle.  During WWI when "anti-immigrant" sentiment was running high the first of several laws was passed to stop the flow of people to the U.S.  A "literacy test" was the first of many laws that would place ever more restricting quotas on the amount of people admitted from various countries.  These laws, coupled with the Great Depression saw Ellis Island grow increasingly quiet.  Giving way to the fact that more people were flying into the U.S. than coming by ship Ellis Island was shut down in November of 1954.  The building sat empty for several years, but in the 80's a move was made to restore all of Ellis Island.  Funded with private monies this mission was completed and Ellis Island is now a popular destination for visitors to New York City.

To view the contents of the Ellis Island CD-ROM, click on Ellis Island in the Research Center.  You will be prompted to insert the Ellis Island CD-ROM, CD#20.  Once you have inserted the CD, click Okay.  Your default web browser will open, and you will see the main screen for the Ellis Island CD-ROM.


Generations World Name Index

Generations Research Center/Generations World Name Index

In recent years, computers have made genealogy research a little easier by making genealogical information more accessible to everyone. There are new genealogy disks, CD-ROMs and Internet resources popping up all over the place. But as these computerized archives grow ever larger and more numerous, it can be difficult to sort though all these huge collections and find just the information you need. Generations World Name Index is provided to help you sift through this "Information Age" and pinpoint the resources you're looking for.

Generations World Name Index (GWNI) is a bibliographic index containing millions of references to records including the databases provided with this product as well as various printed books, magazine articles, and private Internet databases that search engines are not able to reach.  When a search is performed, GWNI will automatically search through its list of over 400,000,000 names and resources and return a list of references containing possible matches.

Searching Generations World Name Index

To search GWNI, select the corresponding icon from the Research Center launch screen. This will bring up the Generations World Name Index window.  Fill in all the fields you can with the proper information - surname, given name, the year or range, and location contains. Hit the Search button to perform your search. Generations may then prompt you to insert the correct CD-ROM (for example, the CD marked Generations World Name Index #6). Once the search is complete, the results of your search will appear in the large search window. If the window overflows, use the arrow to the upper right to access more results. Next to every reference found is one of the following icons indicating whether the information is on CD-ROM, microfilm, microfiche, the Internet, a printed book or other media.

CD-ROM

Microfilm

Microfiche

Internet

Book or Magazine

CD-ROM and Internet Record

Census CD-ROM

To locate the source of any references, click on the More Info button. Clicking on the More Info button will tell you more about where and how this information can be obtained.

Other Generations World Name Index Features

Generations World Name Index uses abbreviations in its results fields. These abbreviations include:

Resd 	Resided
Srvd 	Served (in the Military)
Mgrt 	Migrated to. Also covers a number of cases including immigrated to, departed, going to, arrived in port at, etc.
Land	Mentioned in a land, or other real estate, transaction (usually as a buyer or seller).
Indx	Indexed in a bibliography or other compilation of names
Mrge	Marriage Record
Pens	Pension Record

See also

Names In Generations World Name Index

Locations In Generations World Name Index

References In Generations World Name Index

Common Records in Generations World Name Index

Getting Results Tips, Tricks, and Hints for GWNI


Names In Generations World Name Index

Generations Research Center/Generations World Name Index

As many researchers know, names are often spelled in various ways depending on location and time. What was once Thuesen in Denmark, for example, may be Thueson now in the United States.  When conducting research, therefore, it is important to consider variations of a name's spelling.  Keeping this in mind, Generations World Name Index lists results in alphabetical order according to surname and ignores any special characters, such as apostrophes or accent marks, in alphabetizing and collating its search results. The only exception is that an initial is alphabetized before all other given names beginning with that letter. Other spaces are ignored. Here's an example to illustrate the ordering,

P. Abraham 	Madison
P Adolf 	Madison
Packard 	Madison
Pa Kettle 	Madison
Pamela 	Madison
Pamela E. 	Madison
Pame laStrickland 	Madison
Pamela Willis 	Madison

Also,

Terry 	Durberfield
Theresa 	D'Urberville
Therese 	Durberville
Therese	D Urberville

It's a bit different than the standard dictionary, but it works much better in the face of errors made by various compilers of information (government records are notoriously typo-ridden); notice how the second to last Madison entry above, -- clearly a typo for Pamela Strickland Madison --  is collated with the other Pamela, where the researcher would undoubtedly prefer it. Likewise a search for  "O'Conners" or "Oconners" or "O-Conners" or even "O Conners", would ultimately provide all these variations for you.

This results method is done to aid you in searching all possible matches. Be sure to scroll though the list of resulting names in order to view any alternate name spellings.


Locations In Generations World Name Index

Generations Research Center/Generations World Name Index

We have tried to keep the location results consistent by listing the country first, followed by the state, province or region. For instance, "USA: Kentucky" or "UK: Huddersfield". In cases where states or regions were not recorded in the original data, only the country will appear under location. To further assist you in distinguishing data, we provided the country of origin in cases of the U.K. and U.S. data that had excluded this information. Thus instead of "Meltham", the results read "UK: Meltham". Likewise, instead of "Kentucky" the data reads "USA: Kentucky". If a specific area of the United Kingdom was listed in the data, it will follow in the results field, but we have not tried to assign areas to the separate parts of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, etc.). Sometimes the area may be known and UK is not included, however, so it may say "Great Britain" or "Wales".

Places are often classified as USA or UK even when the records predate the formation of those modern countries. (This was done for the convenience of genealogists, and we mean no disrespect to historians by it!)  We simply felt that a researcher looking for someone in Massachusetts would not want colonial records collated apart from post-revolutionary records. Additionally, we didn't want to edit the original data, preferring instead to be a strictly proper bibliographer. Unfortunately, this means things are not always consistent (since the originals were not either).

GWNI is designed for utility to genealogy researchers, not as a record of geopolitical history. So, with place names, countries, and state boundaries having changed at various times, be sure to really look around. If some 18th century record keeper wrote "Kaintuck" instead of Kentucky, for instance, or a poor speller of the 20th century wrote down Masachusetts, minus an s, GWNI will not know these areas are in the USA and will, consequently, collate them near Kenya and Madagascar, respectively.


References In Generations World Name Index

Generations Research Center/Generations World Name Index

Bibliographic references are provided with each result found in Generations World Name Index. To see these references, click once on the name you wish to view and then click the More Info button. This opens a Bibliographic Reference Window like the one below. (You can also double-click any name to open this window.)

The reference window lists the date, the location, the type of media the information is found on, and any notes associated with the name you selected.  In the above example, for instance, the reference window tells us that the name Newton Williaford, appears in the Civil War Muster Rolls database of the Generations Historic Records CD-ROM.  The amount of information and the way a reference appears will vary according to the type of media they are found in as well as the type of record it indexes. For instance, among the references included in GWNI are some that index the genealogy magazine, Everton's Genealogical Helper and Everton's online Epicard database -- a card catalog of sorts indexing surnames appearing in various published works. Since both of these records only index surnames, not given names, the given name field always appears empty in GWNI. Furthermore, neither date nor location apply to these databases. Instead, these fields are used for other purposes: in the Date field they simply say "Indx on Internet" and in the location field, references to Everton's Genealogical Helper says "Magazine", while references to Epicard provides the name of the associated book.

Important Tip!

Some references to census data have special characters associated with them to provide additional information. These include:

*	An asterisk means the interpretation of the name is in doubt.

+	The plus sign indicates the spelling of the name, while "unusual", is correct; as the census taker listed it.

?	A question mark means portions of the name were illegible, due to a torn, smeared, or ink-blotted page.

---	Hyphens indicate the information was not given.

[ ]	Brackets have been used to include additional information about the person listed.  It can be either an occupation, title, malady, or miscellaneous information useful to the user.

As you search Generations World Name Index, you'll see references to a variety of records including: census data, land deeds, wills, military records, marriage licenses, passenger lists, and many more. When faced with so many records and so much information, it may seem a bit overwhelming. The trick to using the information is knowing what types of records you are looking at, and how to use these records to get the information you want. While this help file can't address all the records available to genealogists, there are a few Common Records in Generations World Name Index we talk about in this chapter to help you better understand the information you find.


Common Records In Generations World Name Index

Generations Research Center/Generations World Name Index

As many researchers know, there are thousands of different records you can use to trace a person's family history. There are wills, marriage licenses, land deeds, muster rolls, family bibles, census records...the list goes on and on. Each record contains different information and offers different avenues for research. While we have tried to make the task of locating such documents a little easier with Generations World Name Index, learning what records to use and how to use them is still mostly up to you. We have included, however, a few notes on the common types of records you'll find with Generations World Name Index.

Marriage Records

A Marriage Record is a written document that confirms that a legal marriage ceremony took place between a man and woman on a certain date, performed in accordance with church or public law, and that the marriage was legally witnessed (if required) by at least one person other than the person performing the ceremony. Traditionally, a written marriage record was needed to prove that the union was legitimate in the eyes of the church. Except for land records, marriage records go back further in time than any other written record (e.g., in England, as early as 900 AD for the most well-born Saxon thane). There has always been a connection between marriage records and land records, because a recorded marriage record provided the proof of inheritance for a legitimate child of that union.

Land Records

A Land Record is any written document that relates to the legal disposition of land. The main land records include warrants, surveys, or patents, which are papers preliminary to or the final papers toward the first evidence of land ownership; land grants, which are recorded transfers, usually in the form of a patent, of a defined piece of land transferred to a private owner from a government; a land deed, which is a record of the private transfer of land from one person to another; or a mortgage, a document that defines conditions under which a parcel of land may be used as collateral against a loan.

Census Records

A census is an official counting of a country's population. Censuses were taken in Egypt as early as 3000 BC, and in most countries of the world over. In 1790, the United States became the first country in the world to have regularly scheduled censuses mandated by law. As a provision of the U.S. Constitution, population census schedules are prepared every ten years. Their primary function in the United States is that they are used to apportion the number of representatives to serve in Congress for each state, whose numbers are determined by a state's population. But for genealogists, their greatest value lies in the information the census takers recorded about individual people and families.

Examples of handwritten census records

Census data can be invaluable in finding your ancestors. An amazing wealth of information can be gleaned from them. But the peculiar complexities of dealing with these and other old-fashioned, handwritten 'databases' are often surprising to a modern person. And though the Generations World Name Index will help you find people in these archives, more knowledge about census organization and products will be essential to complete your genealogical research. We'll try to start you out below; there's a lot to learn about census use in genealogy, so for more in-depth information use the Generations Internet Detective, located in the Internet Center, to access Cyndi's List.  You can learn more about census records worldwide (http://www.cyndislist.com/census2.htm) or U.S. census records (http://www.CyndisList.com/census.htm).

Some definitions to begin with:

•	Extraction: Some census data has been "extracted". That means a person went through its handwritten pages and typed out the words to make a book that is easier to read, or a CD-ROM that can be searched by computer. Sometimes only the names, or even just the most important names (e.g., the heads of households) have been extracted, and the other information is still only available in the handwritten form.

•	Schedules: Census lists of people and information are often called "Schedules". Today we expect a schedule to be a timetable or calendar, but for census data it 's just an old-fashioned use of that word to mean a list. Some censuses included more than one schedule, for instance, one for people in general, another for information about farming.

•	Printed Schedules: Typewritten listings of the people and information about them, extracted  from the "original schedules".

•	Microfilm: The handwritten paper copies of old censuses are seldom available, but companies such as Heritage Quest sell and rent microfilmed copies of these original schedules.

The first six decennial censuses (1790-1840) taken in the United States counted the entire population but listed only the names of the heads of households. Other persons in a family were counted only by age categories. From 1850 forward, the population census schedules listed the name, age, and birthplace of each person living in a household. And in 1880, the census, for the first time, gave the relationship of each person in a household to the head of house. A 72-year privacy law prevents the release of the latest name lists of the census records by the National Archives, the agency that holds most of the old census records, thus the latest name lists from the census open for research by private persons is the 1920 census. Please note, as described above, that not all of the data in these censuses have even been extracted, let alone indexed. This can make it quite challenging to find an entry for a particular person.

Types of Census Products

There are three main types of census products listed in the Generations World Name Index bibliography:

Printed Indexes: Information contained in bound volumes has been extracted from microfilmed images of the original source documents. They are alphabetically indexed by surname, and presented in a printed book format. Here's an example of a printed index:

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CD-ROM Databases: Databases on CD-ROM have been electronically keyed from microfilmed images of the original source documents. They are alphabetically indexed by surname yet can be searched by any field including surname, given name, county, date, etc. enabling the user to quickly and easily search for needed information.

Microfilm: Microfilmed images of the original source documents. To obtain complete information from the record and to verify the accuracy of the extracted information, it is always prudent for the researcher to check the original source document in the research process. Note that films (microfilms) are readable only on microfilm readers typically available at libraries.

With several types of census data like these available, you may be wondering which is best for your purposes. A few things to take into consideration:

Books: Printed books have been the traditional method of storing data since the creation of the printing press. Having retained this role for centuries, there are millions of books that are still not available in any other medium. While technology is catching up quickly, when a CD-ROM or microfilm is not available, you may only be able to find extracted censuses in book form. So, for some types of census information, a printed book is your only choice. Books may also be a good choice, however, if you do not like to read, or have a hard time reading, off a computer screen.

CD-ROM: The invention of the computer and the CD-ROM has revolutionized the way we use and store data. By storing information digitally, we can search through large amounts of data quickly and with little effort. CD-ROM's offer perhaps the best way to research data today, as it can store hundreds of volumes of books and records on one CD and then search each of them simultaneously for the information you want. Not all records are available on CD-ROM yet, but more are being added all the time.

Microfilm: Before there was digital means of preservation, there was Microfilm. Microfilm is a miniature-photographed document usually of the original book or record. This is a great way to check that original, which you will want to do in order to guard against error and look for other clues that may not have been available in the extraction. You do need, however, a printed index, a CD-ROM, or a "microfilm index" such as Soundex, to know which microfilm to look at and where the information you wish to see is located on the microfilm. Learning how to use microfilm indexes is beyond the scope of this document.

For information on other types of records available within Generations World Name Index see:

Social Security Index

Historical Records

Civil War Muster Rolls

Immigrant Ships

Ellis Island


Getting Results: Tips, Tricks, and Hints for GWNI

Generations Research Center/Generations World Name Index

Understanding how the Generations World Name Index (GWNI) conducts a search can really aid you in finding the results you are looking for.  There are shortcuts, tricks, tips and hints that can be used once you have a basic understanding of how GWNI works. In this section, we'll go over the basic GWNI search process and then provide you with a few tips to help you make the most of your searches.

There are really only three basic concepts to understand about GWNI:

1.  When searching for a surname, GWNI follows the same simple structure as your average dictionary; alphabetical order. This means the A's come before the B's, the B's before C's, etc. So, if you search for Amblin, for instance, GWNI will start with surnames beginning with an A and not those beginning with a B.

2.  GWNI reads the characters (letters) in a surname or given name from left to right and then returns any exact matches first, followed by non-exact references in alphabetical order.  For instance, suppose you are searching for the surname Smith. GWNI reads the surname from left to right and excludes any surnames that would come before S-m-i-t-h in alphabetical order.

3. Perhaps the most important aspect to know about GWNI is this: GWNI is a strict bibliographer and as such tries to avoid correcting or second guessing the original data; even in cases where it seems pretty clear what the original record keeper meant. Thus, you may find a record listing "Kaintuck" as the location, even though it is pretty clear the record keeper meant Kentucky.  So, as you look through GWNI trying to figure out what happened to that lost relative, remember to try other possibilities: Maybe the record keeper spelled the name wrong or the location isn't quite where you thought it would be.

Now that you understand the basic thinking behind GWNI, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your searches:

Tip 1: Not all given names were listed by the record keepers. Sometimes, they simply wrote Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss in place of the given name. Remember, since GWNI operates in alphabetical order, Mr., Mrs., and Ms. may appear along with other given names beginning with the letter M. If the surname seems to be correct, but you just can't find the given name, try searching under Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss.

Tip 2: When entering a location into GWNI, notice the location field actually says "Location Contains". This means that GWNI will search all possible matches containing the word you entered. For example, if you enter "Louis" under location contains, GWNI will report results for references that include the word Louis; like St. Louis and Louisville. Likewise, when searching records in the United States, if you type US you will also catch those records that may have been listed as USA. This is sometimes a subtle, but important distinction. Because, if you use the word USA as location, you'll miss entries where the record keepers may have listed only US as the location.

Tip 3:  When searching for a specific date, it can be helpful to try a range of dates instead of a single date in order to maximize possible search results. If you are searching for civil war records dated around 1862, for example, but do not wish to exclude civil war records dated 1861 or 1863, you can enter a range of dates in the date field. To do so, simply type "1861-1863" in the date field.

Tip 4: In cases of long surnames, try shortening the surname by leaving out the last few letters. This can be helpful for a couple of reasons. First, some government records, including the Social Security Index (SSI), truncate long surnames limiting them to 12 characters. This means if you're looking for the surname Acevedo-Millan, the SSI will list it as Acevedo-Mill, leaving out the last few letters. An exact surname search for this name in GWNI would miss this SSI entry. Secondly, the general rule is this: The shorter a surname is the more results can be found. By truncating a surname, you're often able to catch alternate name spellings as well as any spelling errors the original record keepers may have made.

Tip 5: Watch out for middle initials! Names with middle initials are reported after names without middle initials in GWNI. The order looks something like this:

Walker, Robert 	1942	USA
Walker, Robert 	1959	Maryland
Walker, Robert A.	1912	USA:Virginia
Walker, Robert C. 	1972	USA:Utah
and so on...

So, if you don't specify a middle initial, but you would like to see matching names that do have middle initials, then be sure to scroll down the list.

Another important tip to know about middle initials is that not all databases handle middle initials the same way. While GWNI lists the middle initial next to the given name, for instance, the Civil War Muster Rolls database places middle initials inside the information box. So be sure to look around and don't assume you'll see the same name will appear the same way in each database. See the Civil War Muster Rolls for more information on how it records middle initials.


Heritage Quest Archive Center

Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center

Welcome to the Heritage Quest Archive Center!  Heritage Quest was founded by Brad and Raeone Steuart in 1983 under the name American Genealogical Lending Library (AGLL, Inc.), and recently became a part of the ever-growing SierraHome team.  What began as a small collection of microfilm has soared to over 250,000 titles.  A small part of this collection is provided here, in the Heritage Quest Archive Center, as Census, Marriage, and Land Records.

While still providing its collection of primary records, over time, Heritage Quest has evolved into America's largest genealogical information provider. The company is dedicated to producing high-use data; landmark publications; general reference books, such as American Naturalization Records1790-1990; and timely, informative periodicals for genealogy enthusiasts at every level.  Links to the Heritage Quest Catalog and online magazine, GenealogyBulletin.com, are also found in the Heritage Quest Archive Center.

The Heritage Quest Archive Center consists of 6 items that will help you with your search and sites on the World Wide Web. These include:

Census Records

Marriage Records

Land Records

HeritageQuest.com

Heritage Quest Catalog

GenealogyBulletin.com

Please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider), and an Internet browser, like Netscape or Microsoft's Internet Explorer, in order to use some of these tools. Generations alone will not give you Web access.  For more information on any of the services within the Internet center, click on one of the corresponding links above.


Census Records

Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center

Census records remain one the best sources of genealogical information you have for conducting family research. With the continued advancement in computer technology, access to these vital records is being made easier for everyone. Heritage Quest, a long-time leader in genealogy research records, has begun the process of digitizing census microfilm, making it possible to read census records at home on your own computer.

The thrill of finding a relative listed in a census record in the enumerator's own handwriting is indescribable. Generations has teamed up with Heritage Quest to offer samples of these superb digital census CD-ROMs. The sample CD-ROMS included in this package are taken from the 1800 US Census.

While we are only able to provide a small sample, there are many other digital microfilm CD-ROMs available from Heritage Quest.  In fact, with the Generations World Name Index you can locate which census microfilm a relative may be listed on and then use the microfilm information provided to order other census CD-ROMs carried by Heritage Quest.

To access the census CD-ROMs included in Generations, click on the Census Records icon located on the Heritage Quest Archive Center launch screen. If you have not installed the census record viewer, you will be prompted to do so. Once the viewer has been installed, you will be able to launch the program directly from the Heritage Quest Archive Center.

To install the viewer with Windows AutoPlay activated, simply insert a Heritage Quest Census CD-ROM and follow the on-screen instructions. If you do not have Windows AutoPlay activated, insert the CD, select Run from the Start button and type D:\Setup. This assumes your CD-ROM is designated as drive D. Substitute the drive letter as needed.  More information about installation and use of the digital census records is available on the Heritage Quest Census CDs.


Marriage Records

Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center

The Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center has a link to Heritage Quest's Marriage Records CDROM.  A Marriage Record is a written document that confirms that a legal marriage ceremony took place between a man and woman on a certain date, performed in accordance with church or public law, and that the marriage was legally witnessed (if required) by at least one person other than the person performing the ceremony. Traditionally, a written marriage record was needed to prove that the union was legitimate in the eyes of the church. Except for land records, marriage records go back further in time than any other written record (e.g., in England, as early as 900 AD for the most well-born Saxon thane). There has always been a connection between marriage records and land records, because a recorded marriage record provided the proof of inheritance for a legitimate child of that union.

Marriage records are an excellent source for genealogy and family history; and fortunately, many early records have been preserved.  Marriage registers (books of entry) were kept in most counties from their date of organization; and in many cases, original licenses, returns, bonds, and consent notices have been preserved.  Later, marriage applications and certificates were also filed and included even more detail.  This collection of computerized marriages represents official county records covering the period early to 1850. See Marriage Records and Legal Requirements for more information.

In addition to the official county records compiled herein, a variety of documents might indicate that a particular marriage took place.  These include family and home sources, church sources, compiled secondary sources, and other public and official sources.  Those from the family might include Bibles, diaries, journals, letters and photographs, as well as other historical records compiled by family members.  The local church or minister may also have recorded the marriage in the parish register, in a minister's list, as proclamations or banns, or in some other form. Marriage information might also be found in compiled secondary sources such as published and manuscript genealogies and family histories, biographical works, genealogical indexes and compendia, in periodical literature, or as a special marriage publication by local genealogical and historical enthusiasts.  You should consult these works as well as the county originals to gain a more complete picture relating to the genealogy of your family.

To access the Marriage Records CD-ROM included in Generations, click on the Marriage Records icon located on the Heritage Quest Archive Center launch screen. If you have not installed the digital microfilm viewer, you will be prompted to do so. Once the viewer has been installed, you will be able to launch the program directly from the Heritage Quest Archive Center.

To install the viewer with Windows AutoPlay activated, simply insert a Family Quest Archive™: Digital Microfilm CD-ROM (Immigrant Ships, Marriage, or Land Records) and follow the on-screen instructions. If you do not have Windows AutoPlay activated, insert the CD, select Run from the Start button and type D:\Install. This assumes your CD-ROM is designated as drive D. Substitute the drive letter as needed.  More information about installation and use of the digital census records is available on the Family Quest Archive™ CDs.  You only need to install the viewer once in order to view the files on the Immigrant Ship, Marriage, or Land Records CD-ROMs.


Marriage Records and Legal Requirements

Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center/Marriage Records

County clerks have typically been responsible for issuing and filing marriage records since counties were first organized.  Legislative Acts or Codes have outlined the procedures to be followed and the records to be kept.   The earliest records included marriage bonds, licenses and returns (often combined in a single document), consent notices, and marriage records (books of entry).  Later records, particularly after 1900, included applications, doctors' certificates, laboratory reports, waivers, and ante nuptial agreements.

Marriage bonds were executed by applicants for marriage licenses.  These usually show names of principal (groom) and sureties, amount of bond, names of contracting parties, condition of the obligation, date bond executed, signatures of the principal and sureties, oath that both contracting parties are of age, signature of officiant, date, and acknowledgment of the clerk.

Most counties have copies of original marriage licenses returned.  These typically show names of contracting parties, date issued, signature of clerk, date ceremony was performed, name of officiant, date of return, and date recorded in the marriage record.  The marriage record (book of entry) is a record of the marriage licenses issued and returned.  The earlier books usually gave the names of the bride and groom, the date and place of marriage, and the name of the officiator. More modern records normally show the number of license, date and place of marriage, names of contracting parties, color, age, birthplace, and residence of each, occupation of groom, name and official status of person performing ceremony, names and addresses of at least two witnesses, and the date recorded.

In most states it has been unlawful for any county clerk to issue a marriage license to any person where either of the contracting parties was under an age established by state law.  If either of the contracting parties was under that age, the parents, next of kin, guardian, or party having custody of the applicant had to give their consent to the marriage.  Often, a waiver of the age restriction might be obtained upon good cause from the judge of the probate, juvenile, circuit, or chancery court.  Typically, licenses will not be issued when it appears that either of the applicants is at the time, drunk, insane, or an imbecile. In many states, marriages cannot be legally contracted between close relatives.  This is usually defined as a lineal descendant of either parent, the child of a grandparent, the lineal descendants of husband or wife, or the husband or wife of a parent.

A second marriage usually cannot be legally contracted before the dissolution of the first. However, the first marriage can often be regarded as dissolved if either party has been absent for a number of years set by state law and is not known to the other to be living.

Persons often authorized to legally perform marriages include all regular ministers of the gospel of every denomination, Jewish rabbis, and members of the county legislative bodies, county executives, judges, chancellors, retired chancellors, and retired judges.


Land Records

Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center

The Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center has a link to Heritage Quest's Land Records CDROM.  A Land Record is any written document that relates to the legal disposition of land. The main land records include warrants, surveys, or patents, which are papers preliminary to or the final papers toward the first evidence of land ownership; land grants, which are recorded transfers, usually in the form of a patent, of a defined piece of land transferred to a private owner from a government; a land deed, which is a record of the private transfer of land from one person to another; or a mortgage, a document that defines conditions under which a parcel of land may be used as collateral against a loan.

To access the Land Records CD-ROM included in Generations, click on the Land Records icon located on the Heritage Quest Archive Center launch screen. If you have not installed the digital microfilm viewer, you will be prompted to do so. Once the viewer has been installed, you will be able to launch the program directly from the Heritage Quest Archive Center.

To install the viewer with Windows AutoPlay activated, simply insert a Family Quest Archive™: Digital Microfilm CD-ROM (Immigrant Ships, Marriage, or Land Records) and follow the on-screen instructions. If you do not have Windows AutoPlay activated, insert the CD, select Run from the Start button and type D:\Install. This assumes your CD-ROM is designated as drive D. Substitute the drive letter as needed.  More information about installation and use of the digital census records is available on the Family Quest Archive™ CDs.  You only need to install the viewer once in order to view the files on the Immigrant Ship, Marriage, or Land Records CD-ROMs.

For more information about using the contents of the Heritage Quest Land Records CDRom, see Using Land Records and Land Records FAQs.


Using Land Records

Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center/Land Records

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible to maintain and protect the Secretary of the Interior's official land records, including the historical land patent documents of the old General Land Office (GLO).  Since 1989, the BLM Eastern States Branch has been automating the GLO land patents under its care to preserve the quality of these original documents while also increasing their availability to the general public.  This CD is the result of that monumental work.

It contains approximately 1,821,000 records relating to earliest land transactions in nine eastern states, some dating to the 1820s.  These records are often the only available source offering the identification of legal land descriptions and transfer of property ownership from the U.S. Government to private landowners (patents).

The index to patents for nine states are included: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The kinds of patent documents included are: cash entries, credit entries, homesteads, military warrants, and other lists filed prior to 1908. They show who obtained what land from the federal government and when it was obtained.

Information includes: patentee's first name, middle initial, last name; state accession number (directly relates a document image to the original hard copy document); land office where the land was located; a legal land description, including Section Number, Township, Range, and Meridian/Survey Area; size of the land in acres; type of patent and patent number (used to order a copy of the original record from the BLM); application number (if there is one); date of the signature; and Act/Treaty authorizing the sale.


Land Records FAQ
Land Records Frequently Asked Questions

Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center/Land Records

To help you understand the land records, a number of questions with answers are given below. This material is excerpted from the GLO Internet site: http://www.glorecords.blm.gov.  Please refer to this site for additional information.

What is a patent?

Patents are deeds transferring land ownership from a sovereign (the U.S. Government in this case) to a         buyer. A patent is the first record in a chain of title for a parcel of land. Before March 2, 1833, all original patents were actually signed by the President of the United States; after that, designated officials signed in his behalf.

What is the history of land patents?

The Congress of the Confederation opted for a policy of orderly land settlement with the adoption of the Land Ordinance of 1785. The ordinance provided for the survey and auction of public lands. After the first surveys were completed in the Northwest Territory, now Ohio, the first public domain lands were sold from a one-room office of the Board of Treasury in the Federal Building located in lower New York City. That office moved to Philadelphia in 1790.

At first, the U.S. land sales policy included the requirement that all public lands be paid for in cash, which brought wide spread demands for a reform of public land laws. On May 10, 1800, President John Adams signed a new public land law meeting most of the demands of the settlers and providing for establishment of local land offices near the lands being sold.

In 1803, President Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, adding more than 500 million acres of public        lands west of the Mississippi. From 1800 to 1812, Congress created 14 new land districts besides those        established in 1800. For each new district, a land office had to be set up and two new officials appointed        to run the district. When the public lands were sold or transferred through executive order, "patents" were issued.

How was the land sold or disposed of?

Land was disposed of by the authority of many Acts of Congress - cash and credit sales, homesteads,

military warrants for military service, timber culture, mineral rights, etc. One of the primary purposes of

the public land laws was to encourage people from the East to move West.

CASH ACT

The Act of April 24, 1820, called the "Cash Act" set the minimum price for sale of public land at $1.25 an acre. The minimum unit of sale was 80 acres and the maximum was 640 acres. Public lands were initially offered by district land offices at pre-announced, scheduled, public auctions. Then, if unsold, lands became available for purchase at the $1.25 minimum price on a first-come-first-served basis. When a land office first opened and virgin land was first offered for sale within a region of the public domain, the land office was a very popular place. Many prospective land buyers would line up in front of the land office, which led to the phrase, "doing a land-office business" used to this day.

HOMESTEAD ACT

The Homestead Act of May 20, 1862, authorized unrestricted settlement on public lands to all settlers, requiring only residence, cultivation, and some improvement to a tract of 160 acres. Any person was eligible who was head of a family or had reached the age of 21, who was a citizen or intended to become one, and who did not own as much as 160 acres. After living on the land and farming it for 6 months, he could buy the homestead at $1.25 an acre. But after five continuous years, he could apply for and receive a patent or title to the 160 acres for a filing fee of $15.

MILITARY WARRANT ACTS

Several Military Warrant Acts granted public land to soldiers instead of pay. Among them are:

Virginia Military Warrant Act

During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress offered land bounties to recruits who joined the Army or Navy. The Virginia Military Warrant Act of August 10, 1790, enabled the officers and soldiers of the Virginia Line to obtain titles to certain lands lying northwest of the Ohio River, between the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers.

Military Survey and United Brethren Act

The Act of June 1, 1796, provided for grants of land for military service during the Revolutionary War. The Act

also provided for the regulation of grants for the  Society of the United Brethren, for the purpose of propagating the Gospel among the heathen in Ohio.

Creek Nation Act

The Act of March 3, 1817, between the U.S. Government   and the Creek Nation, provided for the location of lands reserved for the settlement of the Creek people.

Choctaw Treaties and Act

The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was signed on September 15, 1830, between the U.S. Government and the Choctaw Nation. The treaty and subsequent Act of August 23, 1842, addressed the settlement of the Choctaw people west of the Mississippi River.

What are public lands?

The public lands (or public domain) are that part of the United States acquired by the federal government from the states or another government, by treaty and by purchase. These are the lands now embraced in the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Why are there no public lands in the thirteen colonies and other early states in the east?

In the very early years of the United States, the Congress of the Confederation declared it would sell or grant the unclaimed lands in "the West" (given up by the States to the United States) for the common benefit of the United States. This means the States gave up their claims to what is now Alabama, Michigan, and part of Minnesota, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The United States could then use this land to raise money for the Treasury by selling the land. In turn, the United States gave up its claims to any land in the Colonial States.

Are there any vacant public lands in any of the Eastern States?

There are few unoccupied and vacant public lands left in the Eastern States. Because of Federal laws passed more than a hundred years ago to allow people to buy and settle the public lands, less than 30,000 acres - or an area 10 miles by 30 miles square - is left. These lands are not in one big parcel. They are scattered in very small amounts throughout each of the Eastern Public Lands States. GLO Field Offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Jackson, Mississippi have information about lands that may be available for sale.

How do I order a certified copy of a patent?

The GLO web site provides a Certified Document Order Form. Fill in the necessary Information, include your payment, and mail it to the GLO at 7450 Boston Blvd, Springfield, VA 22153-3121; or you may provide credit card information and submit the order electronically to: records@es.blm.gov. Please allow a week to 10 days to receive your document.

You will receive a certified copy of the document maintained at the GLO for the Secretary of the Interior.

The original document prepared by the Scribe looks exactly like the copy of the patent given to the landowner, except it is signed by the Scribe for the signing official.

The certified copy of the patent you receive will not be full-sized. It will be printed on a letter-sized sheet of paper (8.5 x 11 inches). You may specify whether you want plain paper or parchment. If you prefer, the patent can be enlarged to its original size of 11 x 17 inches.

Can you explain the Rectangular System of Surveys and its parts?

The Rectangular System of Surveys was used to exactly identify a parcel of land using a "base line" (horizontal) and "meridian"(vertical) grid. From it, Townships, Ranges, and Sections are established, and the parcel is defined, being stated in Aliquot Parts.

Township / Range

The Township identifies a major subdivision of the public lands under the rectangular system of surveys. Most Townships measure approximately 6 miles on each side and contain approximately 23,040 acres. A Township is identified by its relationship to a base line and a principal meridian. For example, "Township 5 South, Range 12 West, 5th Principal Meridian" identifies a particular Township that is 5 tiers south from the base line of the 5th Principal Meridian.

The Township Direction indicates whether a Township is located north or south of the baseline. In the example "Township 5 South, Range 12 West," north indicates the Township Direction from the (horizontal) baseline.

The Range, used in conjunction with the Township data field, identifies a row or tier of Townships lying east or west of the principal meridian and numbered successively to the east or west from the principal meridian. In the example "Township 5 South, Range 12 West," the number 12 represents the Range Number that is used to identify the Township that is 12 tiers to the west of the principal meridian.

Section Number

The Section Number identifies a tract of land, usually 1-mile square, within a Township. Most Townships contain 36 Sections. Standard Sections contain 640 acres. A Section Number identifies each Section within a Township.

Aliquot Parts (Section Parts)

Using the rectangular system of survey, lands were divided into Townships containing 6 square miles. Each Township was subdivided into 36 Sections, each containing approximately 640 acres. Each Section was further subdivided into halves and quarters, repeatedly, until the parcel of land was accurately described. Without the use of Fractional Sections, Blocks, or Lots (in the case of uneven parcels of land), Aliquot Parts (Section Parts) were used to represent the exact subdivision of the section of land. Halves of a Section (or subdivision thereof) are represented as N, S, E, and W (such as "the north half of section 5"). Quarters of a Section (or subdivision thereof) are represented as NW, SW, NE, and SE (such as "the northwest quarter of section 5"). Sometimes, several Aliquot Parts (Section Parts) are required to accurately describe a parcel of land. For example, "ESW" denotes the east half of the southwest quarter containing 80 acres and "SWNENE" denotes the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter containing 10 acres. It is important to remember that the Aliquot Parts (Section Parts) shown in the database (e.g., "SWNENE") usually translates into words found on the land document.

In general:

o	a section contains 640 acres,

o	a half section contains 320 acres,

o	a quarter section contains 160 acres,

o	a half of a quarter contains 80 acres,

o	a quarter of a quarter contains 40 acres, etc.

What other land records are available after a land description has been learned?

Every land transaction in the public domain was maintained by the GLO in several types of records.  Before a patent was issued, the land transaction was recorded in a plat book and a tract book at the field office of the GLO. The original books contain the name of an entryman plus a full, legal description of the land in question. In addition, a case file folder was used by the GLO field offices to file any correspondence, copies of receipts, and any other papers related to the land transaction. Each transaction was identified by the legal description of the property and the name of the entryman.  While the patents, tract books, plat books, and survey documents for the Eastern States are maintained today at the Bureau of Land Management office in Springfield, Virginia, the case file folders are located at the National Archives in Washington, DC. For the Eastern States land transactions, there is a case file folder for every land sale. Genealogists may find additional information about an ancestor buying land from the federal government by obtaining copies from the case file folders.

To obtain copies of the case files, you must use form NATF 84, which can be obtained by contacting Old Military & Civil Land Team, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC 20408.


HeritageQuest.com

Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center

http://www.HeritageQuest.com

Come explore one of the hottest Web sites in genealogy.  Here you'll be able to interact with other family researchers and exchange vital information through the QueryCenter. The site's LinkCenter and EventsCenter features inform you of the latest happenings in genealogy, both on and off the Internet. Browse the European Gallery — with its breathtaking photos and personal narratives — and expand your genealogy network. You may even discover a distant relative. The site also includes the World's Largest Genealogy Store, which showcases countless family resources to further the search for your heritage. Order numerous books, CDs, magazines and software programs online to help "jumpstart" your heritage quest. For successful armchair research, be sure to visit Heritage Quest online.

You'll also find out what's new from the online Heritage Quest News page — the latest products, services, and events. In addition to genealogy news, you'll be able to browse sample articles from Heritage Quest Magazine.

Take advantage of a free subscription to the online Genealogy Bulletin by logging onto GenealogyBulletin.com. It features fresh articles from nationally acclaimed author, William Dollarhide; lively columnist, Donna Potter Phillips; and Internet Guru, Cyndi Howells, the creator of the award winning Web site CyndisList.com.

Please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and an Internet browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, in order to use this tool.


Heritage Quest Catalog

Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center

Browse America's largest commercial archives. It offers a wealth of genealogy-rich documents you'll need to authenticate your discoveries. The majority of records are preserved on microfilm and microfiche. However, Heritage Quest is on the cutting edge of genealogy research tools with its record digitization projects. Today, virtually our entire collection of US Federal Census Records is available on CDs for use on your home computer. The total collection of primary source materials, spanning the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, includes: US Census Records, 1790-1920; Military Records; Selected State Censuses; Surname Collections; Native American Records; Ship Passenger Lists; Vital Records; Family Histories; African American Records; Canadian Censuses; Special Collections and Other County Records. This catalog, indexed by locality, allows you to quickly identify source materials available for a particular state and county. The enormous holding of records in this catalog makes Heritage Quest your best genealogy resource center.

To access the Heritage Quest Catalog included in Generations, click on the Heritage Quest Catalog icon located on the Heritage Quest Archive Center launch screen.  Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed in order to view the catalog file.  If you have not installed Adobe Acrobat Reader, you will be prompted to do so. Once the viewer has been installed, you will be able to launch the catalog directly from the Heritage Quest Archive Center.

To install the Adobe Acrobat Reader, insert CD#19 into your CD-ROM drive.  Select Run from the Start button and type D:\Adobe\ rs405eng.exe. This assumes your CD-ROM is designated as drive D. Substitute the drive letter as needed. Click OK to run the Adobe setup.


GenealogyBulletin.com

Generations Heritage Quest Archive Center

http://www.GenealogyBulletin.com

Get this FREE, weekly magazine and get answers for your family research today. For over 15 years, the Bulletin has been providing insight for successful family research. Now as an online magazine, the Genealogy Bulletin has assembled a trio of genealogy superstars to deliver weekly content: William Dollarhide, Cyndi Howells and Donna Potter Phillips. As a Nationally Acclaimed Author, Dollarhide weaves a tapestry of historical background that produces the rhyme and reason for his mastery of research techniques. His in-depth articles give insight into family record discovery, organizational techniques, record-keeping tips, resource centers and more. Internet Guru, Cyndi Howells, introduces a new "Pick of the Week" Web site in each issue. And, Columnist, Donna Potter Phillips, introduces the new and notable as well as the informative and intriguing aspects of family research. Together these authors provide a valuable service that you'll want to include in your research arsenal.

Please note that you will need Internet access via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and an Internet browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, in order to use this tool.