PhilJames.net


My Process

Steps I take to build a family tree, with memories and documentation. 

  • Family Tree Maker . My default location for a family file is Family Tree Maker software. About FTM (Wikipedia) Built-in reporting and charting. From there, I synchronize a tree to:
  • Ancestry.com , where I can give a client/family access to view information, share with selected individuals, and either allow the tree to be index and available for search by other Ancestry members, or not. Linking to Ancestry allows my full membership to browse the 19 billion records they have available for paying members.
  • Also, FamilySearch.org . FamilySearch is a collection of billions of records and user-submitted trees. It contains a wealth of information, available for free. (A free account is needed to access the website.)
  • Reporting. I use several tools for reporting:
    • Built-in charts, reports, and "books", in FTM, provide rich ways to view a family tree and other information: pedigree charts, Ahnentafel charts, timelines, Place reports, a comprehensive Table of Contents and Index -- dozens of choices, with hundreds of choice options.
    • Family Book Creator provides additional narrative files, showing a true book of family treasures. See features.
    • Charting Companion  (CC): for additional charts, when further customization and options are needed. See videos about CC.
    • Other reporting tools, as needed. YouTube videos? Interview questions? Zoom-type meeting transcripts of family interviews?
    • Typically: I provide interim versions of materials, as we go, in a private client DropBox folder.
  • Administrative materials:
    • A GEDCOM version of your file, which you can use to continue any work on your own, in Ancestry.com, and/with another program and/or genealogist. (This is the universal interchange format. Bare bones but interchangeable with other programs.) Look for a ".GED" file.
    • A set of FTM files, in case you want to continue with in Family Tree Maker. (Look for ".ftmb" and  ".ftm" files.)
    • Copies of contracts. 
    • An Ancestry.com version of the tree. Limited to the client and chosen family members.
  • DNA analysis: various tools, depending on what the client needs, wants to know, and depending where they might already have relatives listed:
    • others...

 
 

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