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Archiver > TMG > 2002-09 > 1030995455


From: "Darrell A. Martin" <>
Subject: [TMG] Unrelated people - memo or witness? (was: Census people...)
Date: Mon, 02 Sep 2002 14:39:01 -0500
References: <5.1.0.14.2.20020831173536.00a9c7d0@pop3.airmail.net><88.1d6a3269.2aa26cbc@cs.com><5.1.0.14.0.20020901220411.00a168c0@pop.sprynet.com>
In-Reply-To: <3D73759C.DE9A55C5@bellatlantic.net>


At 10:28 AM 9/2/02 -0400, bob gillis wrote:
>"Darrell A. Martin" wrote:
> >
> > By choosing not to use the "normal" TMG method, which is to create a person
> > record for Joseph Tombas and connect him to the census tag as a witness,
> > one cuts oneself off from many of the best features of TMG (current and
> > future). So even if it works *perfectly* and *exactly* as one expects,
> > *NOW*, I would still advise against recording "witness info" in a memo
> field.
> >
>
>Adding unrelated people by adding as witnesses is not the "normal" way.
>It is one way. I add often add unrelated people in the memo especially
>if he has a different surname as is a "fisherman boarder".
>
>If I come across the name later I can do a search for memo contains
>"whoever" and find the tag.
>
>What features are we depriving ourselves of?
>
>bob gillis

Hi, Bob:

Well, I did enclose "normal" in quotes for a reason [grin]. And I will
happily concede that "right and wrong" are not at issue (you didn't suggest
that either). It's just that TMG is designed with a certain structure of
the data in mind, and I think works best in most cases if that structure is
followed.

The problem with putting unrelated people in a memo is that you only
*think* they are unrelated -- now. You may very well be right, but then
again.... ("You may be right, I may be crazy. But I just might be the
lunatic you're looking for.")

Further, how would you *know* it if you "come across the name later" unless
you have an excellent memory, and can depend on it to that extent? I do
myself, usually, and almost always can (do - have an excellent memory, that
is; and, can - depend on it). But I have had enough cases in which it
failed me, that I was convinced to change from people as texts in memos to
people in person records linked as witnesses. I am glad I made the switch.

One feature that you deprive yourself of is the search for potential
duplicates. And who knows what will be added to the program in the future??

Darrell


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



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