Copying Sources to another file

[PaulBScott93]

I am from the UK and fairly new to Reunion. I use generic sources but add detail on individual lines for each person. For example, my source may be "Census UK 1911, England & Wales, 2 April 1911". In the individual's file, I will add detail including census references, family address etc. This allows me to reduce the absolute number of sources but to maintain the full detail I need for the persons in my tree.

I'm now starting 2 completely new trees, and would like to avoid retyping the basic source data. One approach would be to copy an existing family file and then to delete all persons from it. However, I have already started the new files, so I would prefer to be able to import the sources from my older file. Is there a way I can do this, please?

[Bob White]

Re: Copying Sources to another file

...........I'm now starting 2 completely new trees, and would like to avoid retyping ...........

Instead of answering your direct question (I don't know the answer anyway) , I would advise you to research the subject of one tree vs. many trees both in these forums and the genealogy world at large. You may want to rethink this idea as you will face lots more work, duplication, problems such as you present here, etc., etc....

[PaulBScott93]

Re: Copying Sources to another file

Thanks, Bob.

I understand what you are saying, and I'm actually splitting up large files into smaller ones. I think they are easier to handle and reporting and charts become much more attractive and easier to understand.

Rgds

Paul

[Terry Medlar]

Re: Copying Sources to another file

Thanks, Bob.

I understand what you are saying, and I'm actually splitting up large files into smaller ones. I think they are easier to handle and reporting and charts become much more attractive and easier to understand.

Rgds

Paul

I strongly recommend keeping one large file. Then go to the Manual and study the section on Marking people. This is a powerful tool used to isolate small sections of your file. You can then create the small, reports and charts you need.

[Michael Talibard]

Re: Copying Sources to another file

Terry is right - really.

Also, since you say you are "fairly new to Reunion" it may not be too late to suggest you have a further think about handling sources. Why would you wish to have very few of them? You mention the 1911 Census: for this, I have 43 sources, each with an image attached. I find that a lot more convenient than it would be as one source with 43 images attached.

[PaulBScott93]

Re: Copying Sources to another file

Terry is right - really.

Also, since you say you are "fairly new to Reunion" it may not be too late to suggest you have a further think about handling sources. Why would you wish to have very few of them? You mention the 1911 Census: for this, I have 43 sources, each with an image attached. I find that a lot more convenient than it would be as one source with 43 images attached.

Thanks, folks. I can certainly have a rethink about sources and also about file sizes, but whilst I respect your greater experience I'm still to be convinced.

Let's take some examples of recording sources:

(1) My source may be a birth certificate. I need only one source, then have further detail within each individual citation. Any multimedia is attached to the citation, not to the source.
(2) For UK censuses, I have one source for each census - else I might have several hundred if I listed them all for all persons and families. I can keep the censuses in date order for ease of reference. Again, at the citation detail I show the census cross reference and (if I need it) can here attach the census copy. I don't attach the copy here as too many would simply increase the family fie size and slow down response. All census copies are stored on another drive, suitably indexed.

Using this method, if I have different family files I will have the same sources for each file - but the citations will be different. So, that is why I first had the question of copying the sources. Actually it is not so much of a problem as so far I have only 38 sources, so re-entering the data is not too big a problem.

Looking at the use of one or several family files, I'm open to different views and am still battling with that one. I accept the usefulness of one file to avoid duplicating data on connected individuals, but small files have other advantages. Anyhow, I really appreciate your help and hopefully you and others can give greater detail on this.

[PaulBScott93]

Re: Copying Sources to another file

Thanks, folks. I can certainly have a rethink about sources and also about file sizes, but whilst I respect your greater experience I'm still to be convinced.

Let's take some examples of recording sources:

(1) My source may be a birth certificate. I need only one source, then have further detail within each individual citation. Any multimedia is attached to the citation, not to the source.
(2) For UK censuses, I have one source for each census - else I might have several hundred if I listed them all for all persons and families. I can keep the censuses in date order for ease of reference. Again, at the citation detail I show the census cross reference and (if I need it) can here attach the census copy. I don't attach the copy here as too many would simply increase the family fie size and slow down response. All census copies are stored on another drive, suitably indexed.

Using this method, if I have different family files I will have the same sources for each file - but the citations will be different. So, that is why I first had the question of copying the sources. Actually it is not so much of a problem as so far I have only 38 sources, so re-entering the data is not too big a problem.

Looking at the use of one or several family files, I'm open to different views and am still battling with that one. I accept the usefulness of one file to avoid duplicating data on connected individuals, but small files have other advantages. Anyhow, I really appreciate your help and hopefully you and others can give greater detail on this.

You're right, Michael! I've just realised that my certificates are stored within the individual's multimedia box, not within the citations as I said. Sorry for misleading you! I'm also (slowly) coming round to having a larger, single file - but its taking me a while to be totally convinced. I read some info on the Legacy website where the views were mixed also. Anyhow, thanks - never too late to learn.

[Terry Medlar]

Re: Copying Sources to another file

Way back when I started using Reunion, I had several files. As time passed I became frustrated because I had to add data many times to the same person is every file. Then I decided to combine the files. Back then the Match and Merge function was not as reliable as it is now; however, it works quite well now. If you really prefer several files, you can always merge them later.