Genealogy Chat

Evening all. When I started my tree on FTM I put people from both my maternal and paternal sides into one file. Now that I'm nearing 1000 people I'm finding it increasingly difficult when running reports etc. to remember which names are from what side of my family. Is there a way I can keep one full file with everyone in - but also split this down into my maternal and paternal sides - so have three trees in all? Thanks, Emma

hi Emma, I use FTM 2005 and all i do is have a seperate file for each family line and i have a file which is all of the files put together. I did each file then copied them then merged them, there is probably an easier way to do it but knowing me i missed it in the help file. kaz

Emma, I did exactly the same thing and am having the same problems, though I haven't got anywhere near the 1000 yet. I would be interested to know how to split them into two. Wish I knew my tree was going to get so big when I started. SO - tip to all people starting - start off with 2 trees if doing yours + husband's/wife's side of the family !!!!!!!!!!!! I will follow this thread to see what to do next. Dea x

Hi kaz, Yeah it would work doing it that way if I was starting with lots of files - but because I'm starting with one it doesn't split them in the same manner unfortunately. It just copies over direct people and not all the cousins, in laws etc from that line. Thanks though Em

Alan, off to try that now. Will let you know. Em

Alan, Unfortunately I've done what you told me to try and this only pulls across direct ancestors of my father, leaving out all cousins, aunts etc from my fathers side. But thank you very much for trying to help. Em

Hi Alan, Yes, I guess that's the only way I'm going to be able to do it. Many thanks for your help. Will get started on that in the morning. Em

FTM 2005 files Message me with full details of what you are wanting to do and I will attempt to come up with a solution (in the next couple of days...!)

Have PM'd you Peter, Thank you very much, Em

Hi Emma, Ok I am with you now. What you need to do is to split your tree into two parts, but keeping the all the relationships on each of the sides, but not between the two. 1. First of all make a copy of your tree - call it Emma_Master or similar. You need to get back to this if things go wrong. 2. Split your tree by removing the marriage between your mother and father - a bit drastic but trust me. Decide which of the split trees you want to be on, say your mum's and select the other spouse, i.e. your dad 3. Select People, Fix Relationship, then detach spouse. In this example your dad will be removed and you will stiull be attached to your mum. 4. What you now do is to creat a kinship report for your mum. Select Reports, Kinship Report. Go into Contents, # of generations to show and uncheck the limit tick. This will ensure that you pick up all of your mums relations. 5.With the report displayed on screen, Select File, Export file and then Copy/Export Individuals. Save as Emma_Mum, or similar. Save your files as FTW types. 6 .Exit the report and select your dad. Repeat steps 4 & 5 and save as Emma_Dad 7. To re-marry your mum and dad, select the one that you are attached to, then using People, Fix Relationship, then attach spouse, put your dad back in his rightful place. FTM remembers the last file that you exited from so to switch between your files select File Open and the one you want. Later versions allow more than one to be open at the same time. Finally you need to decide on an update strategy. One way is to always do your update on each of your split trees, then, periodically, create a gedcom file for each, and merge these back into your master file. Do make sure you know what your files are called and where they are located so you can always retrieve them. I have a folder in My Documents called Family Tree. Inside this folder are two more, FTM Data and Reports. The Reports folder is where I save any reports I produce to file, for example which I might want to send to someone else. The FTM Data folder contains my Master files and their Auto Backups. A sub folder called Backup contains copies that I have made from time to time, with the date in the name. These get copied onto CD as well. Finally there is another subfolder called Gedcom this is where I keep any gedcoms that I create or receive from others. Good luck Peter