Section 6: Tips and Tricks in FTM

 This section covers miscellaneous tips and tricks using FTM

Google Search

The Google Search engine is one of the "the artificial intelligence applications" useful to the genealogist.  If I have time I will go over each of these functions, but there are some videos for each.

• Google Search Commands  (Cheat Sheet) (Discussion) (YouTube)
• Google Images and Photos 
• YouTube
• How to search for an image you have
• Google Earth is the easiest to use... to walk the streets of today (a quick example in class)
• Google Earth Pro-  This provides even more function, especially if you download the desktop version.  It is most useful for overlaying old maps or even different focus maps (such as property tax info) on top of a photo view of an area. For the versions and to download, go to Google EarthVersions, including Pro .  Hour long YouTube tutorial on using Google Earth Pro for genealogists.  

The Tree Browser in FTM

You can find every tree on your computer or on ancestry using this feature, which is available from the dropdown of the tree icon on the Workspace toolbar.  Tree Browser Presentation.  

Using "Compact File"

What is Compact File?  It is a feature under Tools.  

It is used to "clean up" your database by reconstructing it, removing false links, reestablishing missing links, etc.  (The database is a relational DB, eg MySQL.)  It removes blank, erroneous, and redundant data.

There are two general cases where you should use it:

1. When FTM incorrectly shuts down.  You can get such a message and will be taken to the New Tree Tab of  the Plan workspace. If so, click on the tree you want to open and left click on Compact File.  An intermediate window will display with two check boxes.  Usually you can not check either one and you can click on "Compact."  asking you if you want to back the tree up before continuing and   Usually you can say "no".  The feature will run and provide a summary of results.  Close that window and go back and open your tree the usual way.   See  Recovering from an FTM Failure.
2. When FTM seems to show erroneous trees or just isn't performing as expected.  

The "Workflow"

Here are the steps to being most efficient and accurate when creating a tree

1. Update your FTM template with what you have learned from previous trees
2. Create a new folder for your new tree
3. Start your FTMTemplate.
4. File.Export- gave name for the new tree and make sure you are in the right folder.
5. Go to File and open the saved tree (which will be an .ftmb file type.  (Change the file selection criteria in the lower right so .ftmb is selected.)  Select the .ftmb file and click the "Open" button.
6. Save the generated .ftm file to the same folder.  Your new tree is ready to use.
7. Add the home person by entering information (Menubar.Person.Add Person.Add Unrelated Person.).  
8. Delete the person that was in the Template as your "example."
9. Start your Web Search for the home person.  Add immediate family (parents, children).  
10. Go to as many web sites as you need to to add information.  Pick primary documents or more reliable secondary documents.  
11. Add media from your own or web sources.  Link the media to all relevant people.
12. If necessary, go to the sites that are less reliable to add information.  But keep all the people in the family "clean" by reviewing and merging facts and deleting or "noting" facts that conflict with biology or primary data.  Use the Person.Timeline Tab and add check "Show Family" and, if you think it will help, "Show Historical Events."  Print the Timeline Using the Print icon, or print other reports to validate what you have.  
13. Stay within the Web Search environment when browsing to web sites and content within websites.  If you do that, then you can easily add facts to the person or persons.  Don't forget you can move to the People, Place, or Media workspaces without losing your place in the Web Search Workspace.  
14. As you work with each person, especially while linking, keep the person's facts clean through merging, standardizing places, and linking facts to sources.  I have several YouTube tutorials in the list on the right on how to do that. 
15. When done with the first family, repeat above for the next. 

WARNING:  Do not just add large batches persons and families from family trees from any secondary source without cleaning up. I very much regret that I  did this for years:  It takes years to clean up.

Another tip:  After a few families, write a story about the people you have added and use the error reports and timelines to confirm data.  

The Reports Workspace

I'll review this in class.  The presentation is :  Step by step guide to FTM Reports.  This presentation does not include the Books option.  I'll cover this very briefly in class.