TreeShare and Sources

I'm still trying to figure out the best way to handle Ancestry hints, TreeShare and sources.

I have a fairly well sourced database that includes a lot of census research. Some of that census research dates back to the microfilm days. I tried to use the standards of the time to write citations for the data. My original citations would have been written in PAF as a NOTE. Some of those citations still exist in my current data. When I transferred from PAF to The Master Genealogist, I tried to go back thru my file and convert those NOTEs to facts. In the process, I also started using one of the citations templates provided by TMG: Richard Lackey's Cite Your Sources (c1980). Since the Master Genealogist community promoted the use of Elizabeth Shown Mills' Evidence! Citation Analysis for the Family Historian, I switched to that set of templates for my sources.

When my data was transferred from TMG to RootsMagic, I also participated in Thomas McEntee's Genealogy Do-Over. In the process, I soon realized that my source citations were not detailed enough and definitely short of the current standards. I also realized that when possible, I needed to add images of the source to the citation. Thus, I started working my way back thru my tree to update those older citations using Elizabeth Shown Mills' Evidence Explained.

I was thrilled when RootsMagic announced they would develop the ability to sync my data between my RootsMagic database and Ancestry. Thus, I volunteered as a beta tester. From my experiences as a beta tester, I knew that I had to select either my Ancestry tree or my RM database. I also knew that there was an issue with at least one image in my database since uploading my entire database with images never completed. Thus, when TreeShare was released, I uploaded my RM database without images to Ancestry.

I recently discovered an issue with the way I was using TreeShare to accept the hints -- especially in regards to the sourcing of the events. Unfortunately, this issue affects the way my tree is handled by Ancestry.

To explain what is going on, I'm going to use the 1900 census event for Paul Emory Mentzer in my Crawford-Briles tree on Ancestry. All of my RootsMagic sources transferred to Ancestry but are listed under 'Other Sources'.

If I scroll down his page, I can find the citation for the 1900 census.

When I look at the TreeShare comparison for the source on the 1900 census, they appear to be identical.

However, Ancestry doesn't recognize that I've already used the 1900 census. Thus, I get webhints on Ancestry and a yellow lightbulb on RootsMagic.

Since I want to get rid of those yellow lightbulbs, I've been clicking on the link to pending hints and working my way thru the hints. This process has allowed me to make sure my citations have been updated and to recheck my data.

Because I already have this data in RM, I rarely check anything on the right side of the screen.

Since I'm still transitioning from TMG to RootsMagic, I often have to add the note and verify that the sentence structure reads correctly.

When I look at TreeShare for Mentzer, Paul Emory, there is a box next to the 1900 residence entry on RM -- due to the added note.

Even though, I accepted the 1900 census at the top of the AncestryHints window, the source isn't pink on the TreeShare window.

If I go back to the AncestryHints window and click on the Residence fact on the Ancestry side of the screen, I'm given options to update my RM Data.

I've been ignoring this since I don't want to change the date, place or add the description. So -- I just clicked 'OK'. Now I have an Accept Changes box.

Now, when I go to TreeShare, the RM source is pink. If I click on the pink box, I can see the source changes.

By clicking to Accept the change on the Ancestry Hints window, I've added a second source for the 1900 census to my RM database.

When I select the 1900 residence event in the TreeShare window, I'm given the choices of updating the sources and the note.

After selecting to update the source and the note, I click the Accept Changes button and the data is now uploaded to Ancestry

On Ancestry, the source now appears under the list of Ancestry sources.

If I go back to RM and look at the sources for the 1900 census, there are now 2 sources listed -- both for the 1900 census in Woodson County, Kansas.

My original source has research notes/comments while the new Ancestry source (shown above) does not.

My source has media attached. Since I downloaded the media directly from Ancestry, I was able to organize it and give it a recognizable name. If desired, I am also able to use that one piece of media for multiple source citations.

The Ancestry source also has media attached. This media file is dumped into a folder containing all media from Ancestry and given a generic name.

My list of sources also has a new entry: 1900 United States Federal Census (Ancestry Record). Thus, Ancestry is lumping all 1900 census into one source.

I haven't been lumping all 1900 census together. Instead, I have been lumping by the year and county. Thus, I have a source for the 1900 Woodson County, Kansas census.











I don't really want duplicate sources in my RM database. I don't really want generically named images dumped into a folder. And, I really don't want multiple copies of the same image on my computer. However, right now, it appears that is what has to happen to keep RootsMagic and Ancestry in sync AND to have my tree show up in an Ancestry search.