Legacy News

Legacy tip: special codes to customize your report titles

Question from a Legacy user,

I love your reports, but have a question about the title at the top of the page for each report. When I print a Family Group Record, the title is:

Family Group Record for John Smith

Since John Smith could have married more than once, I would rather have the title read:

Family Group Record for John Smith and Sally Jones

Is this possible?

Answer from Millennia:

Yes, this is certainly possible. The title of the Family Group Record, as well as any other report, can be customized to your liking. The image below shows the Family Group Record screen (Reports icon > Family tab). Notice at the end of the title is the [FullName] code. This is there by default. You do not need to touch this unless you want to customize the title.

   

You could replace the code with the actual names of the couple that you want to display in title. I would not recommend this however, because when you go to print a Family Group Record for a different family, the same couple name will still be there. Rather, just add the [CoupleNames] code and preview/print the report.

When the title is entered this way...

Family Group Record for [CoupleNames]

...it appears like this at the top of the report:

Family Group Record for John Smith and Sally Jones

I personally like to also include each person's lifespan next to their name:

Family Group Record for [CoupleNames, Lifespan]

Using these codes, the title will appear like this:

Family Group Record for John Smith (1850-1923) and Sally Jones (1852-1931)

The great thing about using these kind of codes in the title field is that the next time you create the same report, the title will retain your customization, so you'll always get a title you like.

Of course, using these codes is completely optional, and if you are a beginner, you might just want to leave everything how it is. But for those who like a little more flexibility, Legacy has a whole list of codes you can embed in the title field. They are listed in Legacy's help file, but we will republish them here for your convenience:

[Fullname] - The name of the current individual in given name-surname order. Use for individual type reports.

[Name] - Same as Fullname

[Firstname] - The first given name of the current individual or the quoted name if the Use Quoted Name option is selected.

[Givennames] - The given names of the current individual.

[Surname] - The surname of the current individual.

[HisHer] - "his" or "her" depending on the gender of the current individual.

[~HisHer] - "His" or "Her" depending on the gender of the current individual.

[HisHers] - "his" or "hers" depending on the gender of the current individual.

[~HisHers] - "His" or "Hers" depending on the gender of the current individual.

[Lifespan] - The life span years for the current individual. For example: (1812-1963)

[HLifespan] - The life span years for the current husband.

[WLifespan] - The life span years for the current wife.

[CR] - Inserts a carriage return in the title to assure it prints on multiple lines.

Use the following fields when doing marriage-type reports.

[HusbFullname] - The name of the husband in given name-surname order. Use for marriage type reports. For example: John A. Berdan

[HusbSurname] - The surname of the husband.

[HusbGivenNames] - The given names of the husband.

[HusbFirstName] - The first word in the Given Names field of the husband.

[HusbSurname, Given] - The husband's name in Surname, Given order.

[HusbPrefix] - The title prefix for the husband.

[HusbSuffix] - The title suffix for the husband.

[HusbRIN] - The record ID number for the husband. For example: -173

[HLifespan] - The life span years for the current husband.

[HusbUID] - The User ID# for the husband.

[WifeFullname] - The name of the wife in given name-surname order.

[WifeSurname] - The surname of the wife.

[WifeGivenNames] - The given names of the wife.

[WifeFirstName] - The first word in the Given Names field of the wife.

[WifeSurname, Given] - The wife's name in Surname, Given order.

[WifePrefix] - The title prefix for the wife.

[WifeSuffix] - The title suffix for the wife.

[WifeRIN] - The record ID number for the wife. For example: -173

[WLifespan] - The life span years for the current wife.

[WifeUID] - The User ID# for the wife.

[MRIN] - The record ID number for the marriage.

[CoupleNames] - The husband and wife names together. For example: Albert Berdan and Susannah Secord.

[CoupleNames, Lifespan] - The husband and wife names together with their life span years after each name. For example: Albert Berdan (1753-1818) and Susannah Secord (1759- ).

[GenNumber] - The generation number when printing Ancestor or Descendant reports. For example: Descendants of [Fullname][CR]Generation: [GenNumber]

 

Happy report title customizing!

New records online for California, Illinois, South Dakota, and West Virginia

FamilySearch continues its massive record digitization projects. They have just added over 6 million new indexed records and 1.4 million new images to its Record Search pilot program.

The West Virginia birth, marriage, and death records, and the South Dakota state censuses for 1915 and 1925 are now complete. Many thanks to the thousands of online FamilySearch Indexing volunteers who helped make these wonderful records available. See the chart below for more details. The new records can be searched for free at FamilySearch.org (Click Search Records, then Record Search pilot).

Record Search visitors might also notice the following changes to the pilot site after the latest update.

1. Region map flyover now lists the number of collections in a region
2. Rotate an image clockwise or counterclockwise in the viewer
3. New full screen view in the image viewer
4. Search form now displays the collection being searched
5. Image navigation- moved previous, next &  go to buttons to the bottom of the page
6. Collection list page is now a single column
7. Image only collections are identified
8. Changes to print selected area

New records include:

• California

- 1920 U.S. census

Illinois - Cook County birth certificates and registers

South Dakota - 1915 state census

South Dakota - 1925 state census

West Virginia - birth, marriage, and death records are now indexed and complete

How to get your family excited about genealogy

I met and proposed to my wife in a Family History Center (two separate days). Naturally, I thought we would spend a life together researching each other's roots. I later found out that she was just there for the student employment (the Family History Center was in a library of a university) and had little interest in genealogy.

We still got married, and I am still trying to convince her to love genealogy as much as I do.

Over the years I have learned a few dos and don'ts for "persuading" my family that genealogy is fun. In fact, Legacy Family Tree has many tools that has made this task easier for me. I am working on an article to be used for a conference syllabus which explains some of these ideas. I hope you will read it and publish your comments here regarding what has worked for you.

Click here to download the article (891kb, pdf).

How to identify your end-of-line ancestors

End-of-line ancestors. We all have them. We think about them. We study them. We even dream about them. Once we find their parents, we do a quick Genealogy Happy Dance, and then it starts over again - we now have new end-of-line ancestors.

Who are your end-of-line ancestors? Let Legacy Family Tree identify them for you using one of the two following methods.

Special Search List

1. First, in the Family View, navigate to yourself.
2. Click on Search > Find > Miscellaneous tab.
3. Select the "Direct-line ancestors with no parents" option and click on Create List.

The resulting Search List displays each of your direct-line ancestors who do not have parents. In other words, these are your end-of-line ancestors.

Now select one of them and see if Legacy can find their parents:

1. Click on Internet > Search Internet for Current Person.
2. Select one of the listed websites, and click on the Search button.

Fan Chart

Using Legacy Charting, you can creating a Fan Chart which provides a graphical perspective of viewing your end-of-line ancestors. Follow these instructions:

1. Launch Legacy Charting by clicking on its icon in the main toolbar (or go to Reports > Legacy Charting).
2. Select one of the 4 Fan Chart styles, and click Select.
3. On the Home tab, increase the number of generations until the Fan Chart starts displaying the "holes" in the outer rings.

See the Fan Chart below. Notice where the end-of-line ancestors are? Makes it pretty easy to see where the "holes" are, doesn't it? Happy hunting!

6th Annual Legacy Genealogy Cruise - September 5-17, 2009

In just 7 months and 3 days the 6th annual Legacy Genealogy Cruise will set sail from Barcelona, Spain (September 5-17, 2009). We hope you will join us to write your very own "Once upon a time" as you explore some of the most beautiful and historic countries in the world. You will visit:

• Barcelona, Spain
• Rome, Italy
• Naples/Pompeii, Italy
• Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Venice
• Katakolon, Greece
• Athens, Greece
• Ephesus, Turkey
• Istanbul, Turkey

While you are traveling the world, you will also learn about Legacy and other genealogy technology directly from the Legacy developers. In 12 hours of personalized instruction, you will learn many of the powerful features of Legacy that will really help you advance your genealogy research.

Norwegian Cruise Line's description of this cruise makes me wish we were leaving today:

Naturally, there are ancient cities, castles, museums and cobblestone streets at every turn. And the boutiques down the street are waiting to be discovered. Experience Europe the way you've always dreamed from your balcony stateroom on the Norwegian Jade this fall. You will drive by landmarks such as Trajan's Column, the Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. If there is one memory you will take home with you, it is of drifting through Venice's canals on a gondola as darkened waters lap your boat and music melts on the air. A scenic drive, of Amalfi coast then on to Pompeii, where you'll visit the Roman resort buried by volcanic ash. Plaster casts mark the positions of the fallen, who were swiftly overcome by the ashes. Have the opportunity to admire some of the most important sites of Athens, including the Acropolis - one of the most photographed and recognizable hills in the entire world. Drive through the Turkish countryside along a hilly road to arrive at the House of Virgin Mary; the site where the Blessed Virgin is reputed to have spent the last years of her life. This trip will be one of a lifetime to remember!

Norwegian Jade has 10 international restaurants. So take your pick, you could dine when and with whom you choose. Add to that the most innovative accommodations on the high seas, and you’ll see there’s no limit to the Freestyle choices for fun and relaxation aboard Norwegian Jade.

Click here for pictures and descriptions of each of the places we will visit. Prices start at US $1,159 per person. If you want more information, contact our travel agency, AA Travel Time at 1-888-505-6997 or send an e-mail to book@aatraveltime.com.

Hope to see you all there!

New records online for Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, United States

from FamilySearch.org:

30 January 2009

Since the last update on January 5, 2009, FamilySearch added over 40 million new records to its
Record Search pilot. Individuals with international roots from Argentina, Canada, Germany, Ireland,
Germany, Netherlands, and the Philippines will find some nice surprises in the newly added collections.

Birth, marriage, and death records were added for the Netherlands and Ireland. Irish researchers in
particular have been anxiously awaiting the 23 million records from the Irish Civil Registration indexes.
These records date from 1845-1958 and are also known as the Statutory Registration Records.
Statutory registration for Protestants began in 1845 and for Catholics in 1864.

Many thanks to the thousands of online FamilySearch Indexing volunteers who helped make these
wonderful records available.

See the chart below for more details. The new records can be searched for free at FamilySearch.org
(Click Search Records, then Record Search pilot).

Argentina

• 1869 National Census; 232,853 indexed records; 157,133 digital images; new collection

Canada

• Canada Census 1916; 1,811,736 indexed records; 36,263 digital images; new collection

Costa Rica

• Costa Rica Church Records; 1,387,505 indexed records; 260,367 digital images; new collection

Germany

• Germany Burials 1500-1900; 3,633,851 indexed records; new collection

Ireland

• Ireland, Civil Registration Indexes 1845-1958; 23,023,320 index records; 70,971 digital images; new collection

Mexico

• Mexico Aguascalientes Catholic Church Records 1616-1961; 601,572 digital images; new collection

Netherlands

• Netherlands Births and Baptisms 1,350,335 indexed records; new collection
• Netherlands Marriages 374,659 indexed records; new collection
• Netherlands Deaths and Burials 206,477 index records; new collection

Philippines

• Philippines Marriages 2,224,877 index records; new collection

United States

• California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records 1835-1931; 43,407 indexed records; 61,017 digital images; new collection
• 1920 United States Census; 2,437,479 indexed records; 50,364 digital images; added Alabama
• 1850 United States Census; 1,425,756 index records; added Alabama and Indian Population
• 1850 United States Census (Slave Schedule) 869,079 indexed records; added Alabama, Missouri, and South Carolina
• 1850 United States Census (Mortality Schedule) 37,993 indexed records; added Louisiana and Indian Population
• 1870 United States Census 7,954,406 indexed records; added Pennsylvania