Computer Info – May 9, 2001

This Week’s Meeting

        Genealogy and the differences in Family Tree Maker and Family Origins will be discussed. Also using GEDCOM to transfer your data from one genealogy program to another.
Taskbar
        Closing An Open Program – To close an open program, you can do it from the taskbar. Right click on the program (where it is listed on the taskbar) and choose CLOSE.
        Minimizing all open programs and viewing the desktop -- In Windows 98/ME, you will find an icon in the QUICK LAUNCH area that is called SHOW DESKTOP. To quickly do this is Windows 95, right-click on the taskbar and choose MINIMIZE ALL.
        Display two or more open programs (or windows) at one time – This can be beneficial when you wish to view two different folders at the same time – maybe one of them is on your hard drive and one is on your CD drive. To do this, go to MY COMPUTER – then your C:\ Drive – and the folder you would like to view. Now go back and open MY COMPUTER again and locate a folder on your CD drive. Your taskbar should now show that there are two folders open. Right click on an empty area of the taskbar and choose TILE WINDOWS VERTICALLY. This will show both of the folders at the same time – each taking up one-half of the screen. This makes it easy to copy a file from your CD drive and paste it into a folder on your hard drive. You can right-click on the file and drag it between windows – choose COPY HERE when you are ask.
        This same principal of displaying two windows at the same time – can help when you are getting information on the internet to place into your spreadsheet program.
        Parts of the Taskbar – The Windows 98/ME taskbar is usually divided into three parts – the QUICK LAUNCH (where you place icons of programs you use a lot – they only require one click to run from this area) – OPEN WINDOWS AND PROGRAMS – SYSTEM TRAY (this is the area by the clock -- the icons in this area, all use system resources because they are running).
        Calendar – To quickly view the calendar, you can double-click on the clock. When you are finished looking up the day of the week that June 1st falls on – press the CANCEL button to exit the calendar and the date will be reset to the correct date.
        Opening a New Toolbar – The taskbar allows you many choices of what you want to display. You will find these options by rightclicking on the taskbar and choosing TOOLBARS – then LINKS – ADDRESS – DESKTOP – or NEW TOOLBAR. Personally NONE of these choices make any sense to have open. First, they expand your taskbar which takes up more of your desktop area. Second, if you want to see your desktop icons, you already have an icon that will allow that – it is in the QUICK LAUNCH area.
        Settings For the Taskbar – To view the settings for your taskbar, rightclick on the taskbar and choose PROPERTIES. The choices here are
                Always On Top (this is a good item to have on – it allows your taskbar to always be visible when
                        you are working in a program)
                Auto Hide (some people like to do this – but it can be quite annoying)
                Show small icons in start menu
                Show clock
 
 






Family Tree Maker – Family Origins ?????

When you open the program – which individual does it start with??
        Family Tree Maker – always starts with the last person that you were looking at.
        Family Origins – always starts with the designated person (which you have specified under OPTIONS – ROOT PERSON)
Opening the program with family view or tree view ??
        Family Tree Maker – only has the choice of family view. No tree view is availabe.
        Family Origins – have a choice of opening in the tree view or the family view. It is set under OPTIONS – PROGRAM OPTIONS – VIEW. But it is easy to change between the two methods of viewing.
How much information is displayed in the family view ??
        Family Tree Maker – You are limited to displaying four children at one time (tabs for only four children are there). To see the rest of the children, you much scroll through them (this changes the tabs). To determine if you have added any notes, photos, addresses for the individual, you must click on the button labeled MORE or SCRAPBK. To determine if the person had more than one spouse, you must click on the SPOUSE button.
        Family Origins – Up to 18 children are displayed at one time. An icon of a camera is placed next to the persons name if pictures are available. An icon of a notepad is placed next to the person’s name if notes are available. So, you know at a glance whether pictures or notes are there. Also there is a small photo of the person shown on the screen. The parents or the husband and the wife are listed on the family view – so to find their names, you do not have to click on tabs. The family view also lets you know if the person had more than one spouse.
The Index
        Family Tree Maker – On the index, only the name, date of birth and date of death are listed.
        Family Origins – On the index, date of birth, date of death, date of marriage, notes, and other information is listed. Also listed is the parents and siblings. With this information, it helps to determine if you have the right person.
Pedigree or Ancestor chart
        Family Tree Maker – Most of the charts in this program seem more for creating a display format for printing the report. The reports are not very viewable on the screen and there is a lot of formatting that can be changed.
        Family Origins – All of the reports (charts) in this program go directly to the screen and seem to be very viewable and understandable. If you wish to print it after viewing it, just press the PRINT button.
Book report
        Family Tree Maker – It was a little hard to understand how to run this one. But, from the top menu – choose BOOK – then NEW BOOK. You will be prompted for a name of your book. Then you will be given the options of deciding what you would like included in the book. The genealogy report and the index are the most useful to have. To view on the screen what you have chosen, double-click on the item in the right hand column or single click the item in the right hand column and choose EDIT. It does a very nice INDEX. The biggest factor to remember here is that the book is saved the moment that you add or edit anything – and the only way to get out of the book mode is to click on one of the other icon at the top – i.e. Family Page, Index, Go Back, etc.
        Family Origins – To create a report in a book form, choose REPORTS from the top menu – and then BOOKS. Here you are given the choice of what to include including photos. The book will be displayed on the screen – and then if you wish, you can print it. The book does an excellent job of the index.
Importing a Gedcom file
        Family Tree Maker – To open (or import) a GEDCOM file, from the FILE menu, choose OPEN FAMILY FILE. Change the FILES OF TYPE to read GEDCOM. Then, the most important thing – you must locate where you have placed the GEDCOM file on your computer. Then click on OPEN.
        Family Origins – To open (or import) a GEDCOM file, from the FILE menu, choose GEDCOM – then IMPORT GEDCOM. And, like I mentioned above, you must locate where you have placed the GEDCOM file on your computer. Then click on Then click on OPEN.
Exporting a Gedcom file
        Family Tree Maker – To export a GEDCOM file, from the FILE menu, choose COPY/EXPORT FAMILY FILE. Change the FILES OF TYPE to read GEDCOM. Then, the most important thing – you must locate where you have placed the GEDCOM file on your computer. Then click on SAVE.
        Family Origins – To export a GEDCOM file, from the FILE menu, choose GEDCOM and then EXPORT GEDCOM. Then click on SAVE. You will be given the chance to export the entire database or selected individuals.