TMGW v5.x, v6.x, and v7

The following topics are discussed below:

TMG v5x and v6x users now have a user-written book to help them learn the best ways to use use TMG.  For more information about 

Getting the Most Out of The Master Genealogist

Click here

While there are many new and slightly changed feature in TMG v7, the majority of the above book is still applicable to TMG version 7.

MULTIPLE USERS

Many TMG users realize that TMG v5.x introduced the capability for more than one user at the same time to access the same or a different project and data set.   This may be on the same machine or via a network.   But few realize that by definition, the Internet is a network and users separated by many miles can use it to record and analyze their research in TMG v5.x and this continues in v6.0.   

Warren Culpepper of Georgia and Lew Griffin of Arizona have been doing this for awhile now while doing research on their family history.  Warren has written a case history about their experiences in trying this giving enough information for those that want to pursue the concept with others.  But this is one way to easily share research information with other researchers. 

Place Information and Mapping Site Update Files

Beginning with v5.10.000, TMG includes a new Place Information and Mapping feature. On any screen in the program where a place can be edited, there are two buttons, 'Look up this place on the web' and 'Get a map of this place'. The buttons open two screens -- each with a list of web site selections where you can find information or maps related to the place that you are editing.

The web sites available using these two buttons come from two text files located in the TMG program folder, placeinfo.ini and placemap.ini. Sites can be added to these two INI files by placing specially-constructed update (UPD) files into the TMG program folder. The next time that TMG is started, the sites from any UPD file present will be added to the appropriate INI file.

For more information, read the TMG on-line Help topic "Place Information and Mapping". The topic includes a link to a document explaining how to construct sites and UPD files.

The following UPD FILES are available for downloading:

• Placeinfo_getty_tgn.upd -- Created by Jeff Clenard and Jim Byram to add additional sites to the placeinfo.ini file. This UPD file adds sites for the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names On Line site. The UPD file is commented to explain the Getty web site and to act as a design guide and example for creating your own UPD file. You should download this file and look through it carefully. If you wish to add the Getty sites to your place information selections, copy the UPD file to your TMG program folder. Don't be overwhelmed by the number of sites in the file. Only a small number will be available from the Place Information screen depending on the data present for the place being edited.

Additional UPD files are requested from users wishing to share them.  When received, they will be placed here for downloading by users as desired.

Research Log

The Research Log and Research Tasks are not a new feature of TMGW v6 having been in TMG from the beginning.  However, a number of users have asked questions about various parts that it seemed that a more in depth discussion of the topic is warranted.

MS/Word Macros for use with Exhibits and Index Entries

When Event Exhibits are included in reports such as the Journal report, they may be placed in the event sentence following a semi-colon but before the period at the end of the sentence. Frank van Thienen has created a Macro for MS/Word to move the Exhibit to the next line following the period and any footnote/endnote references.  Also he included a Macro to move index entries before the period at the end of the sentence to prevent them getting lost during a paragraph move in MS/Word.  Download the Macro File and open it in MS/Word for instructions on how to use it.

Hot-Key Quick Reference

Rusty Wright has created a couple of quick reference cards for TMG v6 hot-keys.  One is single-sided and designed to be printed on a single side of a sheet of letter sized paper.  The other is also designed to be printed on a single sheet of paper, but it is designed to be folded and taped for a smaller size card.  These are now in a Zip file and may be downloaded and printed using the free.

DeAnna Burghart has also created a TMG Helps Cheat Sheet for TMGW v6x (MS/Word form _&_ PDF). For v7, see DeAnna's web site at <http://www.rootsandthreads.com/tmg/> for the latest version..

Sources

Caroline Gurney's Custom Source Categories for use with United Kingdom source Documents.

Many users seem to continue to have difficulty understanding source documentation including how to determine how a document is entered as a Source in TMG.  This tutorial may help some in to understand Sources. 

Sources (Simplified)

Stuart Armstrong has written a tutorial on Sources and how to create them. This is based to a great extent on what most of us learned in grade school.  Many users may benefit from this at least until they become more comfortable with Sources. 

Languages

A number of users have had question on using the Language feature of TMG v6.0.  This tutorial explains much of the this feature.

Comments to:  Lee Hoffman/KY

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