This article appeared in the May/June 1999 issue of Everton's Genealogical Helper.
The Master Genealogist Tips
| Custom Source
Categories. Have you added one or more Custom Source Categories to a dataset, told a
friend, and then they want the details so they can add one just like yours? You can export
those Custom Source Categories to a .CSC file which your friend can use to import into
their dataset. It is very easy to export and import -- only a few steps are needed. Select the System Configuration option from the Utilities menu (v3.7) or the Options selection from Tools menu (v4.0). Click on the Configure button. In the Custom Source Categories window click on the Export button. All Source Categories are then shown in a scrollable window. You will want to mark each category that you want to export and unmark the rest. When the desired categories are marked, enter a Directory/Folder name where you want the exported file place. Include the Drive if it is different from where you have TMG. Enter a filename -- be sure to add (or leave the ".CSC" extension). Now click on the Export button. After the export is finished, answer OK to the notice and give the created file to your friend. To import the file, select the System Configuration option from the Utilities menu (v3.7) or the Options selection from Tools menu (v4.0). Click on the Configure button. In the Custom Source Categories window click on the Import button. Enter the filename and path or use the Search button to find the .CSC file that you just exported and gave to them. If the exported Custom Source Categories are all new to them and have different names from anything they now have, then they can just click on the OK button. Otherwise they will want to choose whether to overwrite or append. Now click on the OK button and answer the Warning screen that is next displayed The Custom Source Categories are then imported. Acknowledge the notice and the new custom categories may be seen in the Custom Source Categories window and may be used as desired. Organizing Your Sources. When you have only a dozen or so Sources defined, it is very easy to look at the Master Source List and select particular Source that you wish to use in a citation. When you have a few hundred, it begins to be difficult to know which Source is which unless you have some organization to your Master Source List and structure the Source Abbreviation so that you can easily find the desired Source. Some users enter whatever coding their filing system uses in the |
Source Abbreviation.
Others simply add a code to the front of the Abbreviation that groups the Source
Definitions. Some example codes are:
As you
can see this will apply to most sources and you can add more code as you need them. Some
users add the state abbreviation, or the family name, or some other coding next.
Basically, whatever works best for you can be used. Stepping Through the Dataset. Have you
tried to select a person from the Picklist, but you can’t decide which one you want
because many have the same name and dates are very close? So you select one and it turns
out wrong. Don’t call up the Picklist again, just click on an arrow on either side of
the Picklist icon. Each time an arrow is clicked, the next person on the Picklist is made
the Focus of the View. If you combine this feature with a Custom Picklist, you can quickly
edit a specific group of persons one right after another without searching for each
person. |
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Further information about The
Master Genealogist can be obtained from Wholly Genes, Inc., 5144 Flowertuft Ct, Columbia,
MD
21075, on the TMG website <http://www.whollygenes.com
> or tollfree at 1-800-982-2103, TMG Tech Support is available at
1-410-715-2260 or by e-mail at <tmg@whollygenes.com>.
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