TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2003-04 > 1049330030


From: Richard Brogger <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] New to TMG and GEDCOM
Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2003 18:33:50 -0600
References: <004c01c2f970$05e45a60$3a8440d8@com>


Anita wrote:
>
> Hi. Can I put the GEDCOM file from family tree maker V. 9 onto TMG and play with it then if it doesn't work delete it and start over. I have never used a GEDCOM file. I have read in the archives but it doesn't say anything about this. Thanks for help. Anita

Hello Anita,

A GEDCOM is not a good way to import data from another program. For
example, some years ago I made a GEDCOM using FTM 6.0. I imported that
same GEDCOM using FTM 6.0. Not all of the data was imported. Using the
same version for both import and export is ideal, or should be. The
farther one gets from the ideal, the greater the chances are that data
will be lost or corrupted. Thus Wholly Genes, the makers of TMG has
provided a better means and it is called GenBridge.

You will probably receive other suggestions but here is mine:

Start TMG and on the Welcome Screen you will see a button named
[Import...].
Click on [Import].
On the Wizard window you will see two radio buttons. One for Simple
Wizard and one for Advanced Wizard. For now leave it as Simple Wizard,
the default.
Click [Next]
In Step 2 of the Wizard you will see Import file type: Select 'Family
Tree Maker (*.FTW)
Just below is "File to import:". To the right of that is [Locate...].
Press [Locate...] and find and [Select] the FTW file that you would
like to import.
Click {Next]
In Step 3 you are asked to Provide a "New project name:. You can use
the default but I suggest something like "Simple Import".
"Put in folder:' and I will suggest adding "Experiments" name after
... the master genealogist\projects\
Click [Next]
Click [Finish]

Once the import has completed, A dialog box will appear. Click [OK].
The next dialog box will ask if you want to see a report of problems,
not where the list is stored and then click [Yes]. It may say "No
errors encountered." or it may list some errors. Read what it has and
then Close it.
Another box will appear asking about Locked or Unlocked, click
[Unlocked]

What you will see next is the Standard Layout. In the Details window
will be a person's Name. Below that are the names of Father and
Mother, if they are available. Look at the lower part of the Detail
window. Under "Type" you will see Tag names such as Birth. If the
person has children you will see Dau-Bio and/or Son-Bio.

From the Menu select Tools> Master Place List. Depending on your
settings, you will probably see boxes open that tell about the
feature. Read them as they appear.

As I have been writing this message, I have been following the steps
as I imported a World Family Tree data set. In the MPL under Country I
see: "DIED AS INFANT", "Civil War" and some that are actual places.
This is not uncommon when the Simple Wizard is used. Comments attached
to FTM 'Facts' have been interpreted as locations. This can be fixed.

Play around with the MPL and make any changes that you like but use
this just for learning and experimenting. Do not even attempt to fix
all entries. When you are through looking at the MPL, find another
item to look at such as: Tools >Master Source List. Look at the MSL
and experiment but again don't waste time fixing anything except as a
means of learning. Continue looking around TMG.

When you have spent time looking and experimenting with this import,
the next step will be to import a subset of your FTW file. Select one
or two dozen people that have a lot of data and import them. These
should be people with whom you are very familiar. I suggest you, your
spouse, children and grand parents. For this import use the Advanced
Wizard. Read each screen carefully and use the settings that best
match how your data was entered in FTM. Once the import is finished,
look it over very carefully and note everything that did not import as
it should. Try another import with different settings and check it
carefully. Repeat these imports until you have learned what settings
give you the best import. Using those settings, import your entire FTW
file.

Good luck and do not hesitate to ask questions if you do not
understand what is in Help.

Richard Brogger

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