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Archiver > TMG > 2002-04 > 1017752888


From: Frank Courtney <>
Subject: RE: [TMG] Assist Request
Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2002 08:08:08 -0500
In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.0.20020402062308.009fc230@pop.sprynet.com>


Darrell, thanks very much for the response. I haven't' slung code in a
long time, so playing with this should be fun. I'm looking forward to
using this program, even if it is much more strict than FTM. See you on
the list. Frank

Frank Courtney
Moncks Corner, SC


-----Original Message-----
From: Darrell A. Martin [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2002 7:55 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [TMG] Assist Request


At 07:02 AM 4/2/02 -0500, Frank Courtney wrote:
>Hi folks. Enjoyed the discussion on the Lower-Delmarva list on The
>Master Genealogist so much that I went and bought it and have been
>playing with it all weekend. After using Family Tree Maker for over
>five years, it is quite a change. Now, from you experience folks who
>are experts in TMG, I would like some guidance.
> I make extensive notations on land records and other court
>proceedings that I find, in an attempt to make each person come alive
>in the data base, rather than just a collection of dates and places. I

>am having trouble deciding on a good format to enter such narrative,
>and still be able to print the data in the genealogy report. So far, I

>am in a quandary. For a program that makes such extensive use of a
>relational data base, it seems the gave little thought to land and
>court records. Now, I may be off base, here, but I've read the get
>started manual, and have scanned the reference volume, but have not
>reached an optimum solution.
> Has anyone developed a good approach to this?
> One other note, TMG imported over 7000 names from FTM without a
>hiccup!!!!!!!
>
> Seeking some guidance here. If you don't want to respond to the
>list, please respond directly at <mailto:>
>.
>
>Frank Courtney
>Moncks Corner, SC

Hi, Frank:

I transferred from UFT some time ago, and yes, TMG's import facility
(GenBridge) is far and away the best I have seen for getting from
program A
to program B.

In my opinion, the capability of TMG that you need to explore is the use
of
a Custom Tag. This will allow you to practically design your own record
format, in effect. The method takes some getting used to, as you will
need
to develop four skills not usually necessary with other programs:

1. How to design a TMG Default Tag Sentence

2. How to use split memo fields using the dual vertical bar delimiters
- ||

3. How to use the Sort Date to order tags for screen display and
printed
output

4. How to filter through eighteen different ways of accomplishing the
same
goal (TMG and its users are famous for that) <grin>, and selecting the
best
one for you, BEFORE committing hour upon hour to data entry/cleanup

Also, you need to know that you can use tags that use only the Memo
field
for the sentence structure that amount to free-form typed narrative. Cut

and paste from your source document, if you wish, and slap on an
appropriate Sort Date and see how they work. I would name a tag or two,
but
I'm not at all sure what came with TMG and what are the result of my UFT

import <grin>.

Let me recommend that, having started with TMG at version 4.0d (if not,
go
back, download the free upgrade and re-import your data!!), you learn to

use the "Roles approach". TMG users are divided into two *NON*-warring
camps. More experienced users tend to use the Roles "Principal" and
"Witness" because -- I think -- that was all that was available in
earlier
versions, and they have developed skills in writing sentence structures
that are based on that approach. You can do *marvelous* things with
Principal and Witness. Don't try <grin>. With v 4.0d came the
opportunity
to define other Roles, although TMG still insists on Principal and
Witness
in certain limited contexts. Go down the Roles road. If nothing else,
the
terminology is a *little* less confusing, IMHO. I personally have found
it
also offers more flexibility in using witness sentences, which you will
find out about as time goes on.

The Wholly Genes web site will point you to some third party "tips"
pages.
They are excellent, wide ranging, and written for the most part by
people
who will be happy to help you right here on this mailing list. They have

different opinions on many subjects, and most will either not agree with
me
on the "Roles approach" thing or will not take a position one way or the

other <grin>. Pay attention to them anyway. The URL
is: http://www.whollygenes.com/related.htm or you can get to it from
the
main page by using "Jump to" in the upper right corner, and select
"Support
-- Related sites".

I have just recently used the "Roles approach" to create tags with
sentence
structures for census information that allows me to get almost *exactly*

what I want for different census years and data formats. The sentence
structure in TMG can be quirky, but you can get help on this list like
no
other support group I have ever encountered. If I can pull off what I
wanted, you can too.

I hope this is of some use.

Darrell


Darrell A. Martin
a native Vermonter currently in exile in Addison, Illinois




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