Computer file Creation, Cleanup, Conversion, Sourcing

Ex. You think or have computer files in genealogy programs. Personal Ancestral File (PAF), Ancestral Quest, Legacy, or others.

You know you have genealogy information in them. You have multiple files on computer, floppy drives, CD-ROM, DVD, USB/Flash drives or multiple computers. But its so overwhelming you don’t know where to start or have the time or desire to do it.

At ForGenerations we tackle this problem.

1. We start by going through the computer files and determining which Programs you are using. What versions of software you have and discuss the best solutions for your needs in software and version.

2. We then review the files and get them all on the same software and version.

3. We then compare files and create a more updated file or files all by Surname and date.

4. We then review the files with you, get your approval and clear off old outdated software and files that would confuse you.

Now standardized we are ready to actually cleanup the files as needed.

5. We review the files for individual, marriage, children, or parent duplicates and clean them up.

Ex. Johan Jensen and John Jensen.  Both married to same wife and have some or all of same kids.

Johan is his birth name and John is his American name. Both are noted in notes and checked to see which are documented and with what. Then records are consolidated to clean up duplicates.  Duplicate children or spouses are cleaned up. This does away with doing temple work for the same people multiple times.

6. Next we cleanup suffix or prefixes.

Ex. Dr., Mr., Captain, Rev., Farmer, Jr., Sr.

These are titles not names. They get moved to notes and cleared from names. Jr. or Sr. are prefix suffixes and not usually given or surnames so they are moved to proper fields or locations. You don’t want this in fields as they get improperly processed in Temple work that way also.

7. Next we clean up information that doesn’t belong in event fields.

Ex. Deceased, died young, infant.  These are all to be placed in notes if dates not provided.

8. Next we clean up where possible given or surnames – no double names.

Ex. Delia or Cordelia Jones, Johnson or Johnston. Jan or John or Johann Doberstein. These belong in notes.

Jan is his birth name in Poland.  Later records in Germany or America are others. They should be listed in notes.

9. Where possible clean up order of spouses and children or parents.

Ex. Child listed under second marriage that belongs in first.  Child born 1845 listed before child born 1843.

Order ancestral parents together and other spouses in correct order.

10. Clean up notes. Put sources in as sources and not in notes.

11. Merge or cleanup duplicate sources.

12. Create Sources and add source citations where needed. Census should not just be listed under the father but for each person that was on the census. Full sources should be listed on 1850 U.S. Census or Union County, Ohio. It needs town/village/township, page, Enumeration District, etc.

13. Clean up existing sources where possible, correct titles, authors, publication companies, dates, places.

Upon completion of cleanup you are now ready to computerize new information or correct or update exiting information, from paper or new research.

See other tasks like ordinance updating, clearances, and new FamilySearch/Family Tree cleanup.

ForGenerations has experience working on such projects that help you determine the best approach to take.  Call us at 801-947-1897 to get started today.