TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2000-05 > 0957230048


From: Richard Brogger <>
Subject: [TMG-L:] Re: TMG-L: TMG Beginners luck
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 20:14:08 -0500
References: <4.3.1.2.20000501161655.00a6e830@195.241.48.143>


Hi David,

Converting from FTM to TMG is neither simple or impossible. A lot
depends on the FTM file. I word of warning, DO NOT upgrade your files
to FTM V7.5 if you are thinking of going to a real genealogy program
like TMG. If you think your V5 file was a mess going to V7.5, wait until
you see what really happened to sources. In going from the old style
sources to the new style sources, FTM does not convert the old. It
appears they leave the old style and add the new style. This does not
show in FTM but it does when you import into TMG. I can not speak from
experience but it might be smart to use GEDCOM between FTM V4.x and FTM
V7.5 and clean the GEDCOM file in-between.

Your facts in FTM are a second source of problems. Let's say you have
two records with Occupation: One says City Policeman in Fargo, North
Dakota. The other says Carpenter for Union Railroad. Is your
Occupation fact followed by a comment or a location? It is this type of
problem that one needs to be aware of and prepare. TMG will let you
choose but you have to know what fact labels are followed by comments
and which one have comments.

Long before I purchased TMG I had gone through all my BMD locations and
listed them in a City, County, State, Country format. If I did not know
the county, I still entered the comma. TMG handles those just fine but
what I did not do was carry the three comma concept to Fact Locations.
Before I can get a clean import to TMG I have to correct sloppy entries
in FTM. I maybe shouldn't say sloppy. I knew I had entries like
Hafslo, Norway but I should have entered Hafslo,,, Norway. Looks
strange in FTM but TMG likes it just fine.

This are just a few of the things that one should be aware of and that
is why Jean's idea of a procedure is needed. It is not right, IMO, that
I need to make multiple trial imports to learn if my FTM entries will
import correctly. A simple chart that lists from and to locations for
each type of data and a few notes on the format would be a big help.
Since everyone's FTM file will be different, I don't think the procedure
can be specific and I don't think a Wizard would work either.

When one imports and merges a database you often have to tell the
program that your field named 'Surname' is the same as the field 'Last
Name' in the imported file. Most database programs will show the field
names and allow you to match them. A chart that shows the FTM field
names and where the data should go in TMG; accompanied by steps to do in
FTM before importing, steps to do during import and things to check
after import is not that big a deal but it would appear that darn few
are willing to help make one. It seems that most people do not want to
take time to share their knowledge. They got their file fixed and you
and I can find our own path. In a few months I might feel the same way,
I want to get on with genealogy and file conversion is just a step to
get out of the way.

I am often asked if I recommend TMG. I highly recommend TMG for someone
who is buying their first genealogy program. For those who have
existing files and must convert them I still recommend TMG but with a
WARNING that it is not going to be easy.

David, I think you are following a wise coarse by learning before you
leap but if your data is important enough to you, you will probably bite
the bullet and buy TMG. I will not tell you the task is easy but it is
a long way from impossible.

Richard

David Ward wrote:
>
> The following was part copied from TMG-L-digest V3 #1134
>
> From: Richard Brogger <>
> Subject: Re: TMG-L:Beginner's problems
>
> Jean Todd wrote:
> >
> > Perhaps we beginners need a book on " Step by step what to do when
> you have
> > downloaded from your previous FTM or Paf or whatever" so as not to
> wreak
> > things for later.
> >
> > Jean
> > "Lang may your lum reek"
> > E-mail
> >
>
> >>Hello Jean,
>
> >>I fully agree. The first file I converted from FTM to TMG was my
> main
> >>file. After three days of trying to fix it, I gave up and deleted
> it.
>
> >>A step by step procedure should probably begin with what to do in
> ____
> >>(FTM or Paf or whatever) before importing that program's file to
> TMG............. etc., etc.
>
> As yet, I still haven't ordered my copy of TMG. I want to but I have
> the misfortune to be a prospective migrant(FTM). In the TMG blurb, I
> read that the switch over from FTM to TMG should present NO problems.
> In the short time that I have been following, amongst others, this
> particular saga, I can only draw the conclusion that a conversion
> appears to be nigh on impossible.
> Now this disappoints me greatly,as I have seen how TMG works but this
> was someone who was a complete beginner to genealogy and not tainted
> by preconceived ideas of "FTM did it so, so should TMG".
> I sincerely hope those at TMG development read Richard Broggers e-mail
> but would like to add to his suggestions that the much rumoured v5
> comes complete with a CONVERSION WIZARD.
>
> But just to put things in perspective, I still use FTM 4 DOS as well
> as FTM v5, the latter being used since it came out. Not 4 weeks ago I
> took the plunge and went for the FTM upgrade to 7.5. I will not bore
> you with the outcome except to say that 7.5 made a dog's breakfast -
> no protests from dog lovers, please - of my data files and I had to
> re-convert my FTM4 data files to get v5 working again. There is no
> backward compatibility from FTM 7.5 to 5 - similar to the MS Word
> problem a short while ago. No I will not throw the DOS version out -
> it at least is very quick, stable and produces good charts and reports
> and yes I will keep on using v5 as too many of my family use it to be
> thrown but its capabilities are limited.
>
> Yes, I want TMG but I think it would take a great leap of faith to go
> now - I think I'll wait for the true 32-bit windows version with all
> the goodies as suggested by this forum's subscibers.
> But again, surely there are other ex FTM users who must have been able
> to convert without problems? Lets hear from them as well.
>
> Dave
> Utrecht, Holland.
>
> PS. A4 paper size is used by many more countries and millions more
> people than Americans but trying to get them to convert would be the
> same as asking the UK to convert to the new European Monopoly money
> otherwise called with great originality, the Euro. I would go so far
> as to say Monopoly money is perhaps worth more.
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