TMG-L Archives

From: TRACY REINHARDT <>
Subject: TMG-L: multiple sources
Date: Tue, 02 Nov 1999 19:02:16 -0800

Hello again,

I just did my own test, using my own little older versions of FTM and TMG, to
see just what I did wrong when I gedcomed from FTM to TMG.

I created 8 people in FTM, and for every single birth and death date of all 8
people, I cited the exact same source. (copy and paste) plus I used the same
source for a marriage between two of the eight.
I had 17 citations of the same source.

I then exported as a gedcom file, and imported this same gedcom file into TMG.
When I opened the TMG database there were 17 sources, number 1 thru 17, and of
course these same sources can only be combined two at a time. BUT WAIT.
I went back and did it all again, and this time I checked out the Setup button
before my final import, and lo and behold, the 'Combine Identical Sources' box
was NOT checked. So I checked it, and presto, my file imported into TMG and
only has ONE source,

So, if you want to be sure to learn from my own sad experience, when gedcoming
a file, follow these steps to insure a compact source list:

Open up Master Genealogist.
Select FILE
Select DATA SET
Select IMPORT FROM
Select (GEDCOM) or other
When the dialog box appears asking for the name of the Gedcom file you want to
import, and the name you want to save it to, you should also see several
buttons on the side of the dialog box, and one of those buttons is for SETUP.
Select SETUP and be sure that you check off the box next to "Combine Identical
sources"


For future new Master Genealogists, couldn't this box be CHECKED as the DEFAULT
setting, instead of not checked. It would save newcomers so much headache.
I can't for the life of me imagine any one instance where a newcomer would want
to leave that box unchecked.

Tracy Reinhardt

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This thread:

• TMG-L: multiple sources by TRACY REINHARDT <>