Migrating from FamilyTreeMaker to Legacy - questions.
Hi all! In need of advice. I have been trying to decide how to move my family file from FTM to Legacy. Its a mess. Lots of info but the sources are horrible. If there are any at all listed. I have all of my paper files tho. Should I just started physically transferring my info and correcting all of the errors, or transfer a GEDCOM file? I am going to try to use Clooz along with Legacy, and I believe it will import/export from Legacy. All suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks?
I did a gedcom file from FTM. If I was going to do it again I would start from scratch. I have spent a lot of time on cleanup and I'm still not done.
ReplyDeleteAlthough you can do it (and I think that how to is what Lee Drew referred to) the real question (and I think what you asked) is should you. I agree with Shannon Thomas that is a good idea to start with good data input (if you have a GEDCOM in good shape, have sources the way you want them, etc.). If what you will be doing is moving a mess - take the opportunity to make a clean sweep. I find it easier to do that data entry and pay attention than to move stuff and play clean up. Just my two cents.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tessa Keough and Shannon Thomas. I have previously imported gedcom files and spent longer tidying up the data. I was also left unsure about what had converted successfully. Of course it does depend on the size of the task ahead!
ReplyDeleteI would take the opportunity to incorporate many of the systems and conventions for sources, locations etc that I now know about. If you haven't already done so have a good look at Tessa's excellent suggestions and take some time to build a plan before you start.
I have been doing this for a long while and when I started I was not sourcing correctly. In January I started the Genealogy Re-Do. It has been a lot of work but a great experience. I now have my census documents in the file and properly sourced. I am adding my certificates and bible records and sourcing them as well. If I have information and cannot figure out where I got it, I mark it a UNSOURCED and update my to do list for that person to solve the problem. I know with my new file, that I can find the things I need and am not sharing bad information with others.
ReplyDeletegreat advice Debby Flood - I also find it easier to work on a set of the same documents at a time. I sourced all my FindAGrave as a project, I sourced all my censuses by year (1870, 1880, 1900, etc.). Since I am a lumper I had the source and was able to work through the source detail pretty painlessly. It took time but using the tagging option, I just worked through them and then knew that group was done correctly.
ReplyDeleteWork out a system that works for you and then just do it - even if it is only 30 minutes a few times a week - slow but steady wins the race (or gets your sources organized). Let us know what you do and how it works for you.
Thank you for all the responses. I was pleasantly surprised at the unanimous answer. +Debby Flood you mentioned the genealogy Re-Do. What is that? A study course, etc? I've really been dreading this project. I have actually imported my file, and been working on cleanup, but the task is so huge just trying to keep up with the cleaned and uncleaned information is enough to make you walk away. I've been trying to plot out my storage and backup storage for all of my files. Which cloud to use, etc. Things have certainly changed since I started my research. I get so put out with myself for not doing it right the first time. But, I know that there is information hiding in my files, so I can't wait to find it all.
ReplyDeleteThomas MacEntee did a webinar on January 21, 2015 on a Genealogy Do Over. I was inspired to use this method to fix about 40 years of hit and miss issues. I had so many people and did not know what was done right and what wasn't. Like I said, it is a lot of work, but it has been eye opening.
ReplyDeleteI did notice when syncing people with famiysearch, if I shared an event from Family search to my person in Legacy, the source does not come over and I have to go back and source it myself. i.e. if they have a census that I do not have, I can click on the little arrow to bring that event over to my legacy. However, it is not sourced and does not have an image of the census page. You have to do that on your own. I just keep a list when I am doing this and go back and pick them up while I am thinking about it, or add it to the to do list for that person. Hope this is not too long or convoluted.
Does Thomas MacEntee have a website?
ReplyDeleteHis webinard is in the Legacy Webinar Library which you can access if you are a member.
ReplyDeleteVicki Ellisor LeMere there is a Facebook group fro the Genealogy Do Over as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm in just starting the clean-up from FTM to Legacy. What a mess! The only good thing I can say is....When I see a FTM source, I know I need to clean it up.
ReplyDeleteThanks +ShannonThomas I'll check that out. I need all the help I can get!
ReplyDelete+Vicki Ellisor LeMere. I am using Clooz in conjunction with Legacy and it seems to work fairly well. It depends to some extent on where your data comes from. I'd say their adaptability to US records is very good. For some other locations (I'm working with UK and Canadian documents) their built-in templates need work and they are aware of that, but they are promising a major upgrade to Clooz 4 sometime this year which could well address the key issues. As for exporting docs to Legacy, I've had no problems - data transfer works quite well.
ReplyDeleteEd Allard
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input. I have been trying to decide which to use Clooz or Evidentia. Still have a little time, trying to set up all of my backup storage and clouds. I am leaning toward Clooz, I know more about it, but if anyone has any input for Evidentia I would love to hear it.
I tried Evidentia. It is really awesome if you are a professional genealogist. For the rest of us amateurs (especially me) it was way more than I could handle. Clooz works great for me.
ReplyDelete