Color-coding MRIN filing.
This is a VERY small thought, but maybe helpful to someone. After watching the seminar on archiving files, I noted that someone used the color coding in Legacy and applied it to their physical files.
So I thought about the MRINs. I had already renumbered the first 4-5 generations so that they were in a logical order.
I also was thinking about the find your papers method of organizing physical papers.
And I realized that the method could easily be applied to my digital history photos. So I set up a master file location, and in that file, I have folders named things like "MRIN-5 Johnson-Smith" where every picture I have for the johnson-smith family will go.
I have tried several methods - renaming and name tagging... but this is the best thing I have ever tried. Decisions are easy and file locations easily found.
I am quite unsure about using Rins for grouping family data as new family members are numbered as they are added not necessarily in the correct number sequence, assuming you are still adding family members.
ReplyDeleteNaming photos with the Rin prefix is a great idea that I have been using a long time.
ie 123.1.jane_smith.jpg or 123.1.jane_smith.docx. The second number can be 1 to 9 for up to 9 photos and the then a-z if you have more than 9 pictures.
Just do not renumber you Rin's or you are in real trouble finding everything.
I hope I understood you correctly and hope you can follow my ramblings.
Thanks for your thoughts, Neil. I can see how that system could be really helpful.
ReplyDeleteIn my situation, I assigned my MRINs (the marriage numbers) values from the beginning of using Legacy, and this is the only family tree I plan to make for which I will also have many photos, so it works for me.
And I am lucky enough to have lots of photos, so organizing them has always been a challenge.
Sounds like you have a great working system, too, Neil.
I use RIN's and MRINS's. The way I organize genealogy Files on my computer is first by Surname such as Smith (it does not matter if they are related or not all Smiths go in this folder). Within this in this folder I would put a folder for each individual who was born with that Surname.
ReplyDeleteThese folder's names would look like this "[413][34]John1834-1912".
I would colourize the folders according to the Mary Hill 4 Colour scheme using a program call "Folder Colorizer" .
I have tried other systems to try and organize files and Folders but they all have issues. This system has its problems to like you might input Johns data as above example and he gets his RIN as 413 and a month later you input his Brother Mathew in and he gets a RIN of 1273. There RIN numbers will not align This system is not perfect but it helps to quickly find a person.
Files I try and organize them by date for instants "1834B John Baptism Index Family Search" The "B" stands for Birth and Baptism Records. I also use "M" for Marriage Records and "D" for Death Probates and Burial Records.
I hope you understand how I organize and is of help to you. The one thing I would say is to figure out a system that suits you and stick to it, don't slip.
This is what Smith Family Folder system looks like on my computer.
ReplyDeletehttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CueKmDn7L-2r90rompjzmqjxL1ZylO27W4c148m_SgXzu2ZPQ48-8duFciEO_aULdbsvAZUtV_b5wKVdoe_0TxgDwCQr9RsRj0s=s0
Grandma Deb I file ALL my ancestor files by MRIN. Here's my system if you'd like to have a look. jlbeeken.blogspot.ca - MRIN Filing System
ReplyDeleteGarry Parkes Folder colorizer looks useful! will check it out! ~~~ checked it out online. Looks promising.
ReplyDeleteJL Beeken Watched your presentation, thanks for sharing it =] Three things stand out to me. #1. File IDs for sources. I want to learn more about those. #2 Filing pictures with multiple people in the oldest person's slot. Great suggestion. Good food for thought! #3 Look into PhotoMechanic - it looks like a great asset to be able to control more metadata. Thanks!