Category Archives: Genealogy Software

Genealogy Software

Back Up, Back Up and Back Up!

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You never know when it might happen.

Before we left on our recent trip, my computer was beginning to act up. It would freeze for no apparent reason and my screen started to display what used to be called “snow” on old TV screens. By the way, my computer was five years old – certainly not new, but not horribly ancient for a home computer.

When we returned and I got back to my desktop, the freezing and snow issues increased with each day. I’d complain to my husband, who would come check out the problems. His take on the situation was that the hard drive was in the midst of dying!

I was not a happy camper since that meant I was restricted to a laptop or iPad. However, I was NOT worried.

I belong to many online genealogically oriented groups and I am amazed to keep reading messages that begin with “I should have known better. . .” or “My computer crashed. . . how do I. . . . ” or “I’ve heard about backing up my computer, but I never got around to it and now. . .”

Now, here I was, faced with the prospect of a hard drive crash. What did I do? I turned off the computer so that if we needed to access it for whatever reason, there might be a chance that it had a bit of life still left in it. Next, my hubby got busy ordering me a new computer. I was most impressed that it was ordered on a Tuesday, promised to arrive before the next Tuesday and it showed up at our door on Friday.

For the last three days, we turned the old computer back on and worked at transferring all my files and programs to the new one. It involved tracking down key codes and licenses and such, but the process moved along quite smoothly. I am happily working away on my new computer this very minute.

BUT – what if my old computer had actually died and it couldn’t be started up one last time? I believe in backing up – on a flash drive, to Dropbox, to an external hard drive and to both Backblaze and IDrive. Maybe I am a bit paranoid, but better safe than sorry!

Thomas MacEntee has written about the 3-2-1 Back Up Plan:

Have at least 3 different back ups, using at least 2 different media and at least 1 back up off site.

I wasn’t the least bit worried about losing one iota of my work. If just one person reading this post decides that now is the time, not later, to begin backing up his/her work, then I have done my job. Don’t delay!

Back Up, Back Up and Back Up!

Genealogy Software

Try Transcript 2.5 to Transcribe Old Documents

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Recently, I learned about a new transcription tool while listening to DearMYRTLE’s GenTools Study Group. I had never heard of it before. It’s called Transcript 2.5, developed by Jacob Boerema in the Netherlands.

Having deep colonial American lines, many documents have surfaced through the years. The problem is that, being digital versions of the originals, the handwriting is not always the easiest to read.

My usual M.O. is to print out a hard copy, set it next to my keyboard and then begin typing, just like in the days-gone-by era of secretaries typing up notes for the boss.

There certainly isn’t anything wrong with doing it that way, except I always realize what a waste of a piece of paper it is because I toss the paper as soon as I finish the transcription. The digital image is save and backed up.

Transcript 2.5 eliminates that paper waste. I downloaded the program from Jacob Boerma’s website. Note that this program is free for personal use. The developer makes a point to mention that use even by non-profit organizations requires purchasing Transcript Pro for 15 euros, which is about $16.38 at today’s exchange rate.

After installation, I opened the program and this box appeared:

TranscriptCrop1
Transcript 2.5 New Screen

Transcript 2.5 will open rtf, text and image files. I chose the probate file of Jonathan Shepley, who died in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in 1749. His son, Oliver, over age 14, refused or neglected to choose his guardian.

On the screen above, I went to FILE, chose OPEN IMAGE FILE and then collected this probate page from a genealogy folder on my computer.

Notice that the image can be scrolled up and down or left and right. I am ready to go. I just click the cursor in the work box below and start typing.

TranscriptCrop3
Typing in the Information

Notice the toolbar above the image window. It is much like Word, with buttons for bold font, italics, underscore, strikeout, etc. There are even choices for superscript and subscript, background color and text color. Font style and size can also be changed.

When I was ready to save my work, I went to FILE and SAVE AS, which only gives the option to save as rtf. Another option for saving would be to copy and paste it into a Word document.

Mr. Boerema did a fantastic job developing this program. Only one work screen is needed and no paper copy is necessary. The document in the work window can be enlarged or made smaller for easier viewing and because the features mimic those in Word, there really is no learning curve involved here.

If you have documents to transcribe, I highly recommend trying out Transcript 2.5.

The Transcript Pro version offers many extra features, including the ability to work on more than one project at a time. With the dollar to euro value now almost equal, I am even considering purchasing the Pro version. There is a paypal link on the website.

Thank you, DearMYRTLE! I always learn new things listening to your hangouts.

 

Genealogy Education, Genealogy Software

My 2016 Technology Resolutions

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Are there new products you’d like to try out, but don’t seem to have the time? Have you discovered new websites into which you’d really like to delve, but haven’t gotten around to it? I have!

This year, I decided to make a separate resolution list to cover various websites and software programs that I already own, but have made little progress in gaining much of any proficiency.

My second list, below, is somewhat linked to #2 in my 2016 Genealogy Resolutions that posted a couple of days ago, but it goes further than just choosing a new software program.

Somewhere along the way while I was discovering and, for lack of a better word, hoarding my new technology treasures, I started keeping a list so I could remember what I had. Currently, I have a baker’s dozen of items on it. A few of my treasures are simply websites or programs that I need to remember to use/review so they stay fresh in my mind. The others are software programs that will take some practice to retain information.

I am definitely a “list” kind of person and I do well keeping to defined schedules, so here is my plan for 2016.

Websites and programs in blue font indicate the first time they are on the calendar. Green font indicates live links to the website.

January – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Browse MyHeritage for new contacts. Try building a new tree in Family Historian 6. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic 7 users group.

February – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Use Evernote at RootsTech and in the Family History Library. I’ve used Evernote before, but so much time passes in between that I forget what I’ve learned. Continue with Family Historian 6 and try out Scrivener. Scrivener is a great product for story boarding and organizing one’s thoughts when preparing to write. The nice thing about the 30 day trial version is that it isn’t 30 calendar days, it is 30 different days of usage so if I start something on Monday, but can’t get back to it until Thursday, Thursday would only be Day 2. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic users group.

March – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Continue with Family Historian 6. Try out Ancestral Quest 14 software program. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic users group.

April – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Continue with Family Historian 6 and Ancestral Quest 14. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic users group.

I purposely have not introduced any new items in May or June. However, I am retired and, if I keep to this schedule, I might find that I am ahead of myself. If so, I will move up the new items as time allows.

May – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Continue with Family Historian 6 and Ancestral Quest 14. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic 7 users group.

June – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Continue with Family Historian 6 and Ancestral Quest 14. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic 7 users group.

July – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Continue with Family Historian 6 and Ancestral Quest. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic 7  users group. Try out Heredis 2015.

August – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Continue with Family Historian 6, Ancestral Quest 14 and Heredis 2015. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic 7 users group.

September – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Continue with Family Historian 6, Ancestral Quest 14 and Heredis 2015. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic 7 users group.

October – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Continue with Family Historian 6, Ancestral Quest 14, Heredis 2015 and GenDetective. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic 7 users group. Try out Evidentia.

November – First week update Pinterest and History Lines. Continue with Family Historian 6, Ancestral Quest 14, Heredis 2015, GenDetective and Evidentia. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic 7 users group. Try out Legacy 8.

December – By now, I should be well used to updating Pinterest and History Lines. I will also have had extended time to try out GenDetective and Evidentia. Continue with Family Historian 6, Ancestral Quest 14, Heredis 2015, RootsMagic 7 and Legacy 8. Attend the Pima County Genealogy Society RootsMagic users group.

By the time New Year’s Eve rolls around, I should easily have made my decision as to which genealogy software program will become my new #1.

If you are a regular user of any of these many programs, please leave a comment letting me know what you like best about each one. Thank you!