My DNA Story

Ancestry recently made some changes to their Ethnicity display. I first became aware of this change during a webinar. I was reminded of this change this morning when I read "Ancestry Updates DNA Ethnicity Presentation" on The Genes Blog.

Thus, I decided to check out my Ethnicity screen.

The 'new' part of the presentation is the time line. As I began clicking thru the time line, it showed the migration from Europe to the United States.

I still need to learn about these maps and how they can help me with my paper research!

Learning to Use RootsMagic Research Log

My first 'research logs' were paper based and I was fairly consistent about keeping those records. However, when I started using software to manage my family tree, my diligence in recording what sources I had used began to slip. My software of the time, The Master Genealogist, had the ability to maintain a research log but I incorporated that tool into my research process.

Recently, webinars and blogs that I follow have emphasized the need to maintain an accurate log of sources used. Knowing that I was lacking in this area, I decided to try the tools within RootsMagic to see if I could improve my research process.

I first tried this logging process while on a trip to the Midwest Genealogy Library. I transferred data from my TODO spreadsheet into tasks on RootsMagic.

During my visit to the library, I was able to mark the task completed and transfer it to the Research Log. With the Research Log window open, I then entered the bibliographic information and transcribed data directly into the log.

At the end of the transcription, I noted where the images were stored.

I recently started using the IOS app, iScanner. This app allows me to group all images from a source into one folder. I can export the images as a .pdf file or as individual .jpeg files.

By using the Research Log in this way, it is harder for me to loose track of research notes. Once ready to input the data into RootsMagic, I can just copy/paste the transcription info and attach the .pdf file or individual media files.

Oct 31, 2017 -- This issue has been confirmed by RootsMagic support. Contrary to my theory, they found that the note stuck to the FIRST event. Until the update comes out, the suggest was to transfer these notes one event at a time.

Renaming Ancestry Tree & TreeShare

Historically, I have published most of my genealogy research under 'Heartland Genealogy'. When RM introduced TreeShare, I was having trouble getting a new tree established with that name. Thus, my TreeShare name is currently called 'Crawford-Briles'. For the sake of consistency, I would like my old tree name back. Thus, I asked the Facebook community if it was possible to change the name.

So, I'm going to try to change the name of my tree. I have closed my tree in RM and backed it up. Dropbox is in the process of syncing both the file and the backup.

On Ancestry, I opened Tree Settings and changed the name of the tree.

I then re-opened RootsMagic. In RootsMagic, my file is called Crawford-Briles. Hopefully, it will still link to my renamed tree on Ancestry - Heartland Genealogy. To test that, I clicked on the TreeShare icon. Thankfully, it is telling me it is connected to my Heartland Genealogy Tree.

RootsMagic TreeShare / Event Notes

Due to my tree not showing in a search on Ancestry, I'm learning more and more about how TreeShare works.

One of my observations is that I often have a 'note' at the bottom of my sources on Ancestry. One of those notes was a 'burial' note. Most of the time, they are titled, 'residence note'. Pictured is such a note on the record for George Mentzer in my Crawford-Briles tree.

TreeShare / Sources / Images

After working thru my 'study' of what happens to sources with TreeShare, I wondered whether an image gets downloaded multiple times when attaching a census source to individuals of a family.

In my previous post, TreeShare and Sources, I looked at the 1900 census for Paul Emory Mentzer. In that census, Paul was listed as a 4 year old son of Charles Mentzer.

Prior to accepting any Ancestry hints for the 1900 census for Charles Mentzer, I had one source attached to that event.

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'.

UPDATE - Tree Not Searchable (Ancestry / RootsMagic)

The verdict is in! 

 I need to accept hints on Ancestry in order for my tree to become searchable.

Ironically, my DNA 'shared matches' list was working even though I was accepting the hints on RootsMagic and not on Ancestry!

Not only do I have shared Ancestry hints and circles but the list of hints and circles has been growing.

Thus, I didn't think there was an issue with the way I was using RootsMagic!



Now, that I'm aware of the issue, I'm going to change my workflow.

• Accept valid hint on Ancestry
• Use RootsMagic to source that hint and manually add the image (as I was doing prior to TreeShare)
• Ignore pink sources and media on TreeShare

 In the meantime, I'm going back thru my 5 generation pedigree and

• Clicking confirmed sources and changing them to undecided within RootsMagic
• Accepting those sources on Ancestry

 Now, I wait for Ancestry indexing to pick up my tree.

I would like to thank the RootsMagic community (both Facebook and RootsMagic Forums) for helping me work thru this issue.

Ancestry / RootsMagic - Tree not Searchable

I work from RootsMagic.
I click on the lightbulb and accept the hints.
I write the citations within RootsMagic.
I then use TreeShare to upload my changes to Ancestry.

All of my citations transfer to citations -- but -- are listed in the 'other citations' area. Even though they are based on those accepted hints, they are not listed as Ancestry citations. Below is a link to Judson Foster Crawford on my tree:

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/115166653/person/270137689801/facts

My tree (Crawford-Briles) has lots of sources attached.

Ancestry views my tree as having NO sources. Thus, it doesn't show in a search. [Try searching for Judson Foster Crawford died 1949 and look for the Crawford-Briles tree.]

Yes, this and the member connect issue are Ancestry issues.

BUT -- they wouldn't be occurring IF I didn't use the lightbulb to accept the hints.

Yes, I could avoid this issue by accepting the hints on the Ancestry side -- BUT

• I lose control of the citation format
• I lose control of where the media is stored
• I lose control of how the media is named

Right now, I don't like my choices:

• Continue my workflow realizing that my tree won't be searchable
• Switch to accepting hints on Ancestry and lose control over citations and images
• Quit using TreeShare so that I can have a searchable tree and control where the downloaded images go

I don't like any of those choices and am hoping that RootsMagic will work with Ancestry to resolve this.