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Archiver > TMG > 2002-01 > 1009896803


From:
Subject: Re: [TMG] Data set advice wanted
Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2002 09:53:23 EST


We go through this thread at least three or four times a year. There are
differences of opinion but the general consensus, as I read it, is that, all
other things being equal, one large data base is better than several smaller
ones. My own rule is pretty simple. If there is any connection between
families I put them in the same data base to avoid data entry more than once
for the same person. If the families have no known connection and likely
don't have one, even if they have the same surname, I keep them separate.
However if I am working in a given county with a surname where I suspect
there may be a connection and I just haven't found it yet I will put
unconnecteds together in their own or an existing data base, give them a
father named "Unrelated (Surname), and hopefully connect them to someone
known in the future. As I mentioned data entry is my prime reason for
sticking to a data base as large as possible, but there are probably other
reasons like it is easier and less complicated in TMG to separate out people
from a data base than it is to merge smaller ones into larger ones. Or so the
experts, which I am not, seem to say. Good luck-Dale

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