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Archiver > TMG > 2003-04 > 1049305902


From: Lee Hoffman <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] OT Genealogy Society Database Management
Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2003 12:51:42 -0500
References: <5.2.0.9.2.20030401154833.0919c8b8@pop3.norton.antivirus>
In-Reply-To: <000001c2f92f$4b647890$6701a8c0@Laptop>


Arne H Trelvik wrote:
>1. Leave as spreadsheets with different one for various categories. As
>an example we've already done this for our obituary collection. We're
>at 38,000 for this and are concerned about exceeding the capacity of a
>spreadsheet.
>
>2. Use TMG. I'm still just "experimenting" with TMG 4 so I'm a novice
>when it comes to using TMG. This option has the obvious advantages of
>having the power and flexibility of TMG but I'm a little concerned about
>the "output format" It is intended to be used by volunteers responding
>to research requests and perhaps by visitors to our library doing their
>own research.
>
>3. Use ACCESS or other DB Program. Probably a good choice but none of
>us have any experience in designing a database and suspect that the
>design part pretty critical. ACCESS would be preferred but only because
>we already have a copy of the program.
>
>4. ??? - perhaps sticking with the paper card files isn't such a bad
>idea? It would probably continue to be maintained anyway.

A lot depends on what the society wants and what will be done with the
databases. Each has its own pros and cons. #1 & #3 are not do not provide
for any easy method of data transfer for submission to other
programs/computers. Of course, a full backup of these may made but the
person desiring the data may or may not have the spreadsheet or generic
database (DB) program that can read the file.

If we rule out spreadsheets and the generic DB programs, this leaves the
TMG (or some other genealogical DB) program and hard-copy. The downside of
hard-copy in whatever form is that pages/cards tend to disappear. But they
can be easily photo-copied by visitors and if access is controlled or
supervised the disappearance problem can be reduce.

As for a genealogy DB program, TMG is a good choice -- particularly if
multiple computers via a network are available. This would allow more than
one person to access the data at the same time. With a genealogy DB
program like TMG, visitors can extract the information for persons in whom
they have an interest and export that data via GEDCOM files.

Either hard-copy or GEDCOM export can be used as minor money-makers for the
society in that it could charge for the photo-copies or sales of blank
diskettes. They society could not expect to make very much, but it could
do a little better than break even on the sales. Then same could be said
for data extracted/printed from a spreadsheet or generic DB program
although it is hard to say if the sales would be as great and I would guess
not (I could be wrong).

Hope this helps -

Lee Hoffman/KY
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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