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Archiver > TMG > 2004-07 > 1088778164


From: Lee Hoffman <>
Subject: RE: [TMG] RE: Assigning ID Numbers
Date: Fri, 02 Jul 2004 10:22:44 -0400
References: <20040702070453.20195.qmail@web80108.mail.yahoo.com><200407021121.i62BL7Vd029031@ms-smtp-03-eri0.ohiordc.rr.com>
In-Reply-To: <200407021121.i62BL7Vd029031@ms-smtp-03-eri0.ohiordc.rr.com>


Jill Morelli wrote:
>I agree completely with what Tim and Paul have so coherently laid out. My
>only source organization is that I have my father's line in one series and
>my mother's in another....after that the next piece of evidence is the next
>number. I have actually been very pleased with the system over time and
>especially with TMG's ability to find the information (I use the reference
>field to put the evidence number in AND I include it on the abbreviation so
>I have it on the list of sources in plain sight.)
>
>The other reason why I wouldn't want to have long ID numbers for
>individuals, is that there are times when I want to put the ID number in the
>report I am generating. Right now I have ancestors that number in the 4
>digits and it still looks ridiculous at times. I can't imagine what it
>would look like with 30 in superscript!
>
>I think you will spend more time worrying about the number than recording
>the information....which is more important?
>
>These, too, are just my thoughts.

Like Jill, I will add my "me too" thoughts to Tim and Paul. I use a simple
numbering system for my Source documents -- the TMG Source Number. Once I
enter a Source I never change the number on it (the exception being
possibly within a day after the original entry/assignment. This ties my
TMG project/data set to my documents and vice versa. In regard to filing,
I am a little different in that I don't file strictly by document (Source)
number. I file all loose documents first by family surname and then by
document (Source) number within the appropriate surname folder. Sources
that are more than just loose papers and the like are filed variously
depending on their size. Those of any size may be filed in the folders or
possibly on a bookshelf as appropriate. This lets me quickly find a
document. When I want to review a document, I am likely to want to see
another document for the same person and mostly they would be in the same
surname or family folder.

In many cases, I use generic Sources in TMG. I keep those kind of
documents together by assigning a sequential number (-1, -2, -3, etc.) to
the Source number and file those in a folder by themselves -- unless the
documents are family letters or similar in which case they stay with the
family folder. I also have a few folders tied to geo-political divisions
that contain documents that basically are related to the history of those
areas and thus may also relate to multiple families.

There are all kinds of exceptions to my filing rules mostly being
simplistic in nature. But I am very flexible in that regard while
retaining the "easy to find" maxim as the main consideration.

As with others, I find the methods of numbering by any kind of relationship
indicator very cumbersome. I find that in most cases, I don't really care
about the specific relationship of a person so much as "where is the
document" when I want it. If I want the relationship, TMG can give it to
me much more quickly than I can visualize it.

Using my system, I have not had to re-number and thus re-file any documents
based on adding newly found family members or relationships. With an
ahnentafel system there is always this possibility.

I also considered filing documents by type (and a few are -- one of the
exceptions I mentioned). But I have found the family folders (with
exceptions) to be more suitable for my purposes. The main reason is that
there are many documents that are "one of a kind" or only apply to a single
family. Still many people use that system and like it.

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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