I don't think a special interest group deserves it's very own blog post EVERY time it meets, but we really killed ourselves in this meeting and I thought it would be worthwhile sharing the pain. 
(Lorraine - be very glad you had something else to do).

The purpose of this session was to look at how to 1) create a GEDCOM file and 2) upload it into FamilyTree (on FamilySearch)

First of all we looked at what GEDCOMs were (special file types that handle your genealogical data - good for moving data from one genealogy program to another)

Then we created one in Family Tree Maker - that was ok.

Then we wanted to do a demo for uploading a GEDCOM file into Family Search and then transferring that information into a family tree. Esther put her hand up and we used her Family Search login and a GEDCOM file she had previously created at home.

Step 1.  Before even THINKING about uploading a GEDCOM, see who is in Family Tree already. Half of Esther's family was already in there (her Mother's side) and it went waaaaaay back. Sort of exciting, but we all understand that Esther has to confirm that the information is actually correct.

Step 2. Upload the GEDCOM via this page https://familysearch.org/family-trees Scroll down to the bottom to "submit tree". NOTE: once you upload a GEDCOM file here it is open access. There are no privacy settings on Family Search / Family Tree - except for living people. Living people can not be seen in the tree by anyone else - even relatives. You can delete a GECOM from FamilySearch.

Step 3. Then there is this process of reviewing the data you have in your GEDCOM file and seeing what is already in Family Tree. The program identifies people who are already in the tree, it identifies people who MIGHT be in the tree, people who definitely are NOT in the tree (we add them) and people who are living or "invalid" ("not valid" rather than someone who needs a new hip). "Invalid" might mean there isn't enough information, or there is information in a wrong field - maybe a number in a text field or something. I think. Living or "invalid" entries are not added to Family Tree.

Step 4. Unfortunately it can be tricky tying it all up. You might have added some people to Family Tree who haven't automatically been added to YOUR Family Tree. They are just drifting around like leaves in the wind. So even though we added them via this process we have just been through - we have to go and catch those leaves and stick them to our (their) branches.

So the main points

1) FamilyTree (FamilySearch) is open access. No privacy settings. 
2) On top of that - ANYONE can change ANY entry. If you put your genealogy into Family Tree you have to stop thinking of it as "yours". You become a part of a huge global family tree. So - keep a back up somewhere else.
3) Why put it in there? * It might be there already - like Esther found. * It is another backup. It doesn't matter what happens to your computer, it will survive. * It is a GREAT way to collaborate. * It is easy to use Family Serach's powerful search functions and find / attach sources.

Options for getting your data into FamilyTree

1) Look to see what is already there    https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=search
2) Add what isn't there by

a) Typing it in the old fashioned way or / and
b) Uploading a GEDCOM, going through the review process and making sure the added people have ended up in YOUR tree.

Which would I do? A bit of both. I would start with a GEDCOM upload and get as much as I could in that way and then fill in the gaps manually.

I have to say that it is a reasonably complicated process that requires both family history research skills AND technological ability.

NEXT MONTH (SAT 9TH AUGUST) WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A QUICK DEMO ON ADDING PEOPLE (AND INFORMATION TO PEOPLE WHO ALREADY EXIST) MANUALLY AND HOW TO SEACH FOR AND ATTACH RECORDS TO PEOPLE.
THEN WE ARE GOING TO HIT THE COMPUTERS AND PLAY WITH OUR OWN TREES. SEE WHAT IS THERE ALREADY AND ADD WHAT WE WANT TO.


Places are definitely going to be limited for this group so if you haven't been to one of our previous groups, give it a miss unless you are super confident with both family history research AND FamilySearch / FamilyTree. I'm going to say that bookings are necessary and the first 12? people get spots.

Home work 
1) Create a FamilySearch username and password https://familysearch.org/register/
2) Have a look around FamilyTree to see what is already in there for you
3) Bring some family history data of your own to add in - four generations is good
4) Optional - create a GEDCOM file (or bring in your laptop and I will help you) and we can go through that hair raising process of using a GEDCOM to put info into your FamilyTree TOGETHER!
5) Get plenty of sleep the night before

The English Interest Group held its first meeting on Tuesday 24 June at the Cottage with eight enthusiastic members in attendance.

The expertise of the members covered the spectrum from beginners to 25 +  years experience and we look forward to helping each other.

We are indebted to Jean Macleay who took us through the various sections of our Library where we would find information about England, and showed how to find them on the library catalogue.  Then it was into the computer room where Helen Burkett showed off the British Newspapers website and also how to use the National Burial Index.  Thank you Jean and Helen.

One item discussed on our first day was the FreeReg section of the FreeBMD website.  This is an excellent tool for baptisms, marriages and burials pre-1837. 

We also talked about the website www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk    If members think their ancestors’ homes may have historical value, this is a site to search.

In addition to trying to solve members’ problems, we have decided to study one English County per month.  At the 22 July meeting we have chosen to look at the county of Gloucestershire.   In the next four weeks members of the Group will be looking for websites and places with Gloucestershire records and will bring the results of their search back to the Group.  As we progress Webmistress Kate will produce a page for each County with a link from the English Interest Group page. Click here to see what is up so far. At the July meeting we will decide which County to research for the August meeting.

Any member with an interest in English research is very welcome to come to the Group meetings.  Remember – next meeting 22 July at the Cottage from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Esther Dean

#23

I wasn't really sure what to expect in terms of turn out for this event with the all day Rookwood excursion on the day before. I thought a few people might have been so exhausted at the end of the day that might have stayed down there and had a "little lie down".

However - we had a good turn out of about 9. People came prepared with questions, and we covered a lot of ground.

The focus of this first group was to go over the main features of FamilySearch and Family Tree - and we all learnt something useful and interesting (especially me).

I think the highlights were

1. For me - learning that you can search for a surname with a batch number and pull up all the name listings in the one batch. I didn't even know what a batch was!

2. For everyone else - learning that the batch search feature was still available. Many thought it had been done away with in the upgrades.

3. We looked at the FamilySearch booklet which is a great way to introduce the young people in your life to family history. See it here https://familysearch.org/campaign/myfamily. I can probably get you a free copy if you are interested. 

4. I think we were all surprised at the number of digitised online family history books available through the FamilySearch website. Check it out here https://books.familysearch.org/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=FHD_PUBLIC. If you open these books in your PDF viewer they are searchable.

5. And of course there was the highlight of watching me marry my father to my great great grandmother as a demonstration on how to add someone to the FamilyTree - and then not being able to delete the relationship. I managed to get it sorted, but nearly had to call head quarters for help! 

People went away planning to create their FamilySearch accounts and create their GEDCOM files to upload into FamilyTree. At the next meeting we will see how everyone went with that and learn some new features for searching and storing records.

If you missed this group and are ever interested in learning the basics of family search - contact me by email by clicking here - and I can arrange to meet you at the cottage and go through it.

The group will continue to meet monthly on the second Saturday. Next group scheduled for Saturday 12th July 10am - 12pm at the cottage.

Kate Walter #657

Wyong Family History Group launched its inaugural Family Tree Maker Workshop last Thursday (15th May)

Family Historian, Marie Heilbrunn, catered for the novice, right through to the experienced FTM users,sharing her knowledge and expertise with all there.

Many facets of FTM were covered in the short time available, including uploading portrait photos of ancestors, and incorporating official sources from various records.

There was a full-house in attendance, all of whom were generally impressed with the two hour workshop. So much so, that it was decided to run a regular FTM Interest Group - the details of which will be forthcoming on our website.

Click here for more info