More luck

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:53 am

Hi Frances

Yes to an extent they do but they are geared toward an English system or use the LDS approach which has way too many headings which don't fit in with the Scottish records.
Andy was trying to dvelop something which had a greater degree of specificity (try saying that at two o'clock in the morning

)
Cutting out some of the unneccesary columns and boxes.
Additionally, not everyone is using genealogy software and would appreciate a paper system which would not be too paper hungry and fill a zillion leverarch files.
Would also help when going visiting to your friendly local archive which has no lap top facilities.
I use FTM but have not found it totally useful for that kind of paper record.

Russell

Post by **emanday** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:04 pm

Actually, Russell, in FT you can create a custom list of similar format to Andy's certificate list. That can then be exported as a CSV file and opened in Excel.

I ran that a while ago and printed it off. Now I can write in all the new certificate dates on that.

However, as mentioned, not everyone uses a genealogy program, or uses a different one, so it's great that Andy's package has that form included.

His other forms are brilliant as well.

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:33 pm

Hi Mary

Hmm! I've have only been using FTM for a couple of years and obviously hadn't got to that bit yet.

k
The problem with software packages is you become familiar with the bits that you need initially and don't go on to explore some of the other options.
A bit like MS Word. Most folk use wordprocessing but never find out how to set out Tables or layout pages.

Must explore the Computer & Software problems area and see what is there.

Ta

Russell

CatrionaL · Post by **CatrionaL** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:29 pm

Hi Andy

You're doing a great job. Your Sheets will be a great help to folks. Doing these lists from scratch is time consuming.

I've had a Names from Sources list for each of my families for a few years now. ID, Name, GName, Role, Event, Family Involved, Date. are the headings I've used, plus one other, my favourite one: Relationship Found. It's been so exciting over the years to see this column filling up!

The Addresses from Sources List has also been very helpful, especially when using Excel, because you can play about with the columns and regroup addresses, by town or street or number, all of which often causes flashing lights in the darkness behind the brick wall.

Best wishes

Catriona

Post by **emanday** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:19 pm

Russell wrote:Hmm! I've have only been using FTM for a couple of years and obviously hadn't got to that bit yet. k
The problem with software packages is you become familiar with the bits that you need initially and don't go on to explore some of the other options.
A bit like MS Word. Most folk use wordprocessing but never find out how to set out Tables or layout pages.
Must explore the Computer & Software problems area and see what is there.

My problem is that in my previous (i.e. working life) I was an IT consultant/programmer. No formal training - it was just that the geek in me couldn't be satisfied till I found out what everything can or can't do! Before I knew it, it had turned into a real skill set, and I landed my first rather lucrative contract

I'm still a geek

but happy to stay at home and only do wee jobs now and again, when I feel like it.

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:07 pm

I've been using FTM for about 2 years as well and get really frustrated trying to make it do what I'd like - one of the things I'd like being the chart produced by Pandabean

The excel sheets are great, but I worked myself into a rage about FTM's shortcomings, because having entered all the guff into FTM I don't feel like re-doing it all into a useful format.

I'm now going to look at Mary's suggestion which I didn't know about. Though I only have FTM 2005 - wonder if it has that facility?

For those who don't use a software programme (and maybe even for those of us who do) Pandabeans sheets are excellent.

Best wishes
Pinkshoes

Later : hmm ... is FT the same as FTM? If so, the custom list produces exactly that - a list containing whatever people/items I select. Can't see an option to export as anything but an ... OOPS ... went back to FTM to see what I could export it as, realise I was looking at export file instead of export report. DUH ... right, try again.
2 mins later - it works! I've just got a list of people and facts - nothing to show family groups etc., but it's a start. Thank you Mary and apologies for contributing to this thread going totally awry. Maybe should continue conversation elsewhere (if anybody's got anything else to say on't subject)

Post by **emanday** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:12 pm

It's the 2005 version I use as well, Andy.

Click on the Reports button, Select Custom**
Click on the Items to Include button (2nd down on right of page)

**If an existing report has come up, clear all the items in the right window using the << button. You might be asked to save the previous one first. Do so, then...

Select each item you want to use and click the > symbol to add it to the other list (I have Name, Birthdate, Marriage date, Death Date, Burial Date, Spouse Name and Will Date)

When you have done this, click on OK and it will run the report.

Select File, Save As, and give it a name. I just called mine Certificates & Facts Report.

Select File, Export Report, To Spreadsheet (CSV)

You can now open this in Excel. To get the best out of it, I always re-save these things as .xls files as there are better functions that will be saved when you close it.

Have fun