A daft question [I know!].....

[Brenda]

Being a novice with both genealogy and computers I'm wondering how all of you keep the data you collect.

Mine is scribbled in jotters , or on index cards!!!

I have folders for the data on families I am researching and print out what I find.

Have noticed mention of GEDCOM , what is that?

Told you it was a daft question

[paddyscar]

Not daft at all, Brenda! If no one had any questions, there'd be a lot fewer posts to TalkingScot.

GEDCOM is a standard format used in genealogy software programs. It has a defined set of fields or tags where information is entered - ie name, birthdate, birthplace, etc. This format allows transferrring information from one user or database to another, without having to re-enter the information manually.

See - http://genealogy.about.com/library/weekly/aa110100a.htm

There are several discussions on TS covering how others store and arrange their information. Some use paper files, commercial software, free software and there are even some record sheets on TS that you can use.

Commercial software reviews:

http://genealogy-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/softw ... index.html

Excel sheets that are very handy, can be seen and downloaded from TS by going to:
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=13
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ight=sheet
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5661
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ight=sheet

Hope this helps,

Frances

[wini]

Brenda,
my tip for what it is worth, is to download one of the free versions of genealogy software early on and start puttiing in all your research while it is at a manageable amount. It becomes a big task later on unless you like inputting data.
I also print out my certificates and file them in Lever Arch files.

wini

[LesleyB]

Hi Brenda & all
Despite the fact that much of my stuff in stored on PC, I too have several lever arch files, several loose leaf folders and a "to be filed" tray ...that never quite gets seen to!

If you are visiting libraries or archives you also need a notebook or two - well, I do. I used to use sheets of paper but I kept misplacing things and not being able to find the one piece of info I needed. Its a bit like being at school - I'm taking notes anywhere I head each page in the notebook with the date and location and I've recently added page numbers so that I can refer to them in notes on the PC e.g. "transcription in notebook 2, page 57"

Best wishes
Lesley

[HeatherH]

Hi Brenda,
I have to agree with Lesley a combination of Paper and Pc works best. I use Legacy which is availlable free online ( though I didn't know it at the time I bought my copy ) I also use manilla files for each family to keep track of the different certs census and other notes and details I collect.
Its so easy to open my software and work from there when on my PC. Allowing me to see at a glance who belongs to which family and other details. 1 piece of advice I would give you when it comes to Tree Softwear. It doesn't matter which program you use , you will find something among the many availlable that suits you and your needs what matters is you make backups often. I found this out when my computer crashed over a year ago and I had to start almost from scratch.
Happy Hunting,
HeatherH

[Brenda]

Franes, Wini & Lesley

Thank you for the suggestions.

In the begginging of my search I just saved everything on my hard drive and you guesed it, didn't save to disc, so when my PC crashed I lost everything

The thought of starting over again is very daunting


Thanks again

Brenda

[Russell]

Hi Brenda

Heather's, and other's, suggestion of a combined PC record plus paper backup of all certificates gives a detailed base to start from should your PC die on you. Lever arch files take up a lot of shelf space but will only fall victim to flood and fire. So take your electronic backup and keep a copy elsewhere than at home.
I was lucky when my PC crashed. I was able to salvage the hard drive and install it as a second store in my new machine but often it is the HDD which becomes corrupted.
Programmes like Family Tree Maker(FTM) are readily available and accept data from other programmes/software. The reports most programmes generate are useful when you want to let your living rellies know about their particular line. The paper copy can be sent by snail mail or saved as a separate file and sent as an e-mail attachment.
No programme I know will do all you will ultimateley want it to do but I wouldn't swap my FTM software for another simply because I know what it can do.

Russell

[Lorna Allison]

I'm with BT-Yahoo Option 2 and with that they provide what they call a "Digital Vault". Having been clever enough to lose my flash drive with my FTM back-up (Yes, it will be somewhere )I have backed up to the digital vault set up.

That kind of thing is really a bit beyond me and I wonder if anyone else has done this and had to find it again? Is it relatively simple? Seems like a good idea if it works.

Lorna

[SarahND]

Hi Lorna,
Is the "digital vault" something like the idisk for Macintosh users? I have stuck my family tree program files "up there", wherever that may be but have never had to get them back again, so can't tell you whether or not it works... I just keep backing up and uploading the files with my fingers crossed
Regards,
Sarah

[AnneM]

Hi

David has Norton Ghost which seems to do much the same thing, createin cyberspace a copy of your files. I only hope 1. I never need it and 2 it works. Having said that I make back up discs regularly for my files which are on Family Historian.

Anne