Entering Convicts

[suzivegemite]

Hi All,
I'm looking for suggestions on entering Convicts into database. I have a lot of data and events but no recognised gedcom fields to put them in. Currently, I'm entering them all as misc. events with a description in the memo fields but am looking for options and ideas on how others handle it. 3 of my GG grandparents were convicts so there's a lot of info on pivotal people, so I'd like to enter it in the best format possible.
Thanks
S

[Dennis J. Cunniff]

Re: Entering Convicts

Hi All,
I'm looking for suggestions on entering Convicts into database. I have a lot of data and events but no recognised gedcom fields to put them in. Currently, I'm entering them all as misc. events with a description in the memo fields but am looking for options and ideas on how others handle it. 3 of my GG grandparents were convicts so there's a lot of info on pivotal people, so I'd like to enter it in the best format possible.
Thanks
S

Just off the top of my head, I would think that you'd set up a "Convict" flag (as others elsewhere might have an "immigrant ancestor" flag), and could place whatever information you want to record in a (custom) Convict Note or a Miscellaneous Note. Transportation is just another form of immigration, so you could use "Immigration" or set up a custom "Transportation" event. Your fellow Australians will no doubt be more help.

[suzivegemite]

Re: Entering Convicts

Thanks Dennis for your input, I've got the flag set up already, I can do the custom note easily enough. I like the transportation idea as it is another form of immigration. I suppose I need to treat it like military events. Set up a couple of really important custom fields and put the bulk into a note. The documentation you can get on convicts is excellent and its a shame to not be able to see these events in a timeline and still have it readable if you export a gedcom.
S

[Dennis J. Cunniff]

Re: Entering Convicts

The documentation you can get on convicts is excellent and its a shame to not be able to see these events in a timeline and still have it readable if you export a gedcom.
S

On the other hand, it seems a shame to limit yourself based on what can be conveyed via GEDCOM, which will always be an imperfect way to transfer information. If you put it in a note and include the note in your reports, you should get the job done nicely, I think. And a misc note would be included in a GEDCOM.