TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2002-03 > 1015011079


From: Lee Hoffman <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] newbie questions
Date: Fri, 01 Mar 2002 14:31:19 -0500
In-Reply-To: <00a801c1c145$5de6de40$6de6950c@94bde>


Colleen and James Conlan wrote:
>Greetings-
>I'm new, still confused, taking lots of deep breaths, and taking it on
>faith that I will eventually be glad I chose this program! I'm still
>entering data into a PRACTICE set, as I read on Lee's tips page. Can
>anyone help me with these specific questions? (I have silver edition,
>version 4.0)

You indicate that you have TMG (Silver) v4.0. However, the latest version
is v4.0D. If you don't have it, I recommend that you download it (free)
from the Wholly Genes web site <www.whollygenes.com> and upgrade your
current copy. If you are unsure, open TMG, and click on Help=>About TMG
option on the top menu..

>-Many of my sources are copies of birth, marriage and death certificates.
>Some I got from my mother, and some I got from Vital
>Records, either in person or by mail. Is each certificate a source? Does
>each have its own entry and source number in the master source list? I
>know its "up to me" how I want to enter sources, but how do you folks do
>it? The examples in the SAMPLE dataset don't include any birth records or
>certificates.

This is one of the many things in TMG that have no correct answer. The
choice is up to you. The Mills style of source citations were designed for
manual use (pen/pencil and typewriter/word processor) rather than for
computer programs. For that reason , her models are designed for use as
individual sources (e.g., one certificate per Source). However, in using
this method, a genealogy program user might conceivably have a great many
of the same type source which are wevry much the same. Therefore many
users enter some of their Sources (such as birth and death certificates,
etc.) in somewhat generic form. Then as they assign that Source to a Tag,
they enter the distinguishing data in the Source Citation Detail
field. For example, I have both individual and generic birth certificate
Sources. I use the generic form when I have multiple certificates from the
same locality (state or other issuing authority). For some of my birth
certificates, I enter them as individual Sources because I only have one
instance for the locality. Note here, that my gerneric form is by state
(much as you seem to be considering) while others may settle on some other
form (county, hospital, etc.).

>-As I was entering new sources, I was clicking back and forth between the
>SAMPLE set and my PRACTICE SET. A few times I cancelled entry of the
>source, then went back to it. Now my automatic numbering is off. I have to
>renumber each source after I have entered it. Is there a way to remedy this?

Yes, there are a couple of ways. Select Tools=>Master Source List (MSL)
from the top Main Menu of TMG. You may choose to Renumber (click on the
button) all Sources or a single Source. If you choose the All option, the
Source will be re-numbered something like the following:

Old Numbers New (as Renumbered)
1 1
2 2
4 3
5 4
7 5
9 6
10 7

This is probably fine when you are just getting started, but after you have
entered hundreds of Sources there may be reasons why you might prefer the
single method and retain the older numbers on most Sources.

Another method to "filling in the holes" is to open the MSL and click on
the More>> button. Now as you add Sources, they will be assigned the
lowest unused Source Number.

>-In Person View, in the narrow column between Type and Date, what does the
>asterisk (*) signify? Not all items in this view have one.

This indicates a Primary tag. For example, you may have to conflicting
sets of birth information on a person. The first entered with be the
Primary tag. Then when you enter a second set (maybe a different date,
place, and/or Memo data) in a tag, it will be a non-Primary tag (e.g., no
asterisk). The Primary Birth Tag will be the one against which age
calculations are made. Of course, if you prefer, you may change which
Birth Tag is the Primary tag.

>-My program came with the Getting Started Manual. Is there a way to
>purchase the User's Guide and Reference Manual?

You could upgrade to the Gold edition which will include the printed TMG
Reference Manual. But the Silver Edition Installation CD has a copy of the
Reference Manual in Adobe PDF format in a file called REFMAN.PDF. You may
print this file using the free Adobe reader program. If you print the
entire file, you will have the full manual as if you had received it from
Wholly Genes (except in unbound form). I would suggest that you just use
the reader program to read mostly and only print a few pages as you need them.

Hope this helps -

----------
Lee Hoffman/KY
E-mail:
TMG Tips: <http://www.tmgtips.com>;
My website: <http://www.tmgtips.com/lhoffman>;
--------------
A user of the best genealogy program, The Master Genealogist (TMG)

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