FTM - How to banish "preferred" label?

[Lorna Allison]

Hi

I have this problem when printing Family Group Sheets that the census dates don't run in date order. Been trying to work out why and now think it is because when I first started out I used "preferred" on some sources (didn't really know what I was doing - clearly still don't )

I can't find a way of getting rid of "preferred" once it is there. The button is greyed out, only usable if the source is not "preferred" already.

If this has been discussed before could some kind body give my a link to the answer (if there is one).

Regards

Lorna

[Currie]

Hello Lorna,

I don’t have the program so I could well be barking up the wrong tree but nevertheless I’ll stick my neck out. Is yours the same problem Dick Eastman was rattling on about here? http://eogn.typepad.com/eastmans_online ... mak_2.html

Family Tree Maker 2005 allows for "alternate facts" or "alternate events," as well as "preferred facts" that should take care of this problem. This capability allows for recording of all the data for my great-great-grandfather. To add an alternate fact or event, you do the following:

1. Open the Edit Individual dialog box for the individual.

2. Just as you would add a new fact, choose the Add Fact button and enter the alternate fact. Family Tree Maker will allow you to add conflicting facts.

3. If the Make Preferred button is grayed out (so that you cannot click on it) this means that the displayed fact is the current preferred fact for the individual. If you would like another fact to be the preferred fact, click on that fact and click the Make Preferred button. The previous Make Preferred fact will be grayed out.

I was disappointed that the program requires one of the facts to be the "preferred fact." It defaults to the first fact that is entered although that can later be changed. In the case of my great-great-grandfather, I have no clue as to which fact is more likely to be correct. Which one do I select as "preferred?"

The preferred fact is also the only one that shows up on the screens and reports. Most other modern genealogy programs allow the user to enter multiple dates and locations and do not require any guess as to which is the more likely correct fact.

Hope that’s something to do with it,
Alan

[Lorna Allison]

BINGO

Alan, you are a star. I now think that FTM must make name, birth, death automatically "preferred" and then perhaps the first of a new named source. I did not want any more "preferreds" pushing in so did not think to actually "p" the earliest dated census entry (which had not been the first census entered - if you get me).

After reading your advice I "Preferred" the 1841 census and the others all slotted into place below it. It's the old adage - Simple when you know how.

What would I do without you all out there

Another question I have been meaning to ask - I am withdrawing from GR finally in March and hear talk of all the other better sites for chasing relatives. I have had a somewhat hesitant try at Rootsweb and Genesforum but no joy. Are these reckoned to be the best? I would like to try to find info on a Canadian family after 1901 if poss.

Once again a big "thank you" Alan.

Regards

Lorna

[Muriel]

Hi Lorna

I got round the census problem in FTM 2005 by changing the title of the census info. Instead of putting just "census" in the Type box & then the date in the Date box I have Census 1841, Census 1851 etc in the Type box & either nothing or the actual date the census was taken in the Date box. This means that even if they are not in order in the individual's notes they do come out in order on Family Group Sheets, genealogy reports etc.

It's quite easy to do - you just type the "new" fact into the Type box & you'll get a message saying that it's a new fact & do you want to add it to the list. The problem is going through your tree & changing them all I tend to do them when I'm working on a particular branch.

Muriel

[Lorna Allison]

Hi Muriel

Thanks for that - gives me another alternative. I agree with you about this business of standardising entries . As my kids used to say BO - RING.

I have come to the stage of worrying that I might drop off the hook during the night and no-one will be able to make head nor tail of my reseaches. They wouldn't consign them to the skip, would they? (Answer: they jolly well might). So I am trying to collate, annotate and blaze a well defined trail through my tasteful yellow folders and matching box files - hoping that someone will give them a home for posterity 8-[

Regards

Lorna

[emanday]

The preferred fact is also the only one that shows up on the screens and reports.

Iin many of the reports there is the option to select which facts to include. When this is available they more often than not offer the option of either "preferred fact" or all facts relating to that event.

I have used it several times where there is conflicting BMD dates or locations.