Organizing genealogy files about more than one person can be tricky, frustrating, and can waste space. Using my recommended genealogy folder system for Mac along with Finder aliases ends all that.
This video will show you how Macintosh Finder aliases can help you save disk space and time when you have files that refer to multiple people of interest.
It builds upon earlier videos in the series. If you haven’t set up your family history folder and folders for people and places, go back and follow along with those videos.
Next article in the series: Genealogy File and Folder Organization System for Mac, Part 6, People and Places.
Thank you again for your wonderful screencasts. I am finally getting my files organized. Love the tips for using Aliases.
Have been going crazy with files everywhere – found your site and suddenly I am encouraged that I just
might get this right. You are an excellent teacher.
After you entered all of the others that had your last name did you go back and enter the places they came from and lived if different than your own?
I don’t keep files about a person in the geographic folders. I keep files about a place in the geographic folders.
In the Locations/Place Folder I have Census, US Directory, County/Local Histories, and a few Maps. For obituaries, cemeteries and headstones…would you suggest placing them in Locations/Places?
Thanks, Hugh
How do you deal with name changes before current generations. P2gf – Cotter P1gf- Grinfeld pf- Greenfield. Any help will be really appreciated.
I’ve started to follow your suggestions (though on Windows PC) and really like the way of using aliases/shortcuts to deal with multiple people/names etc.
One thing that concerns me though is portability. If my children, for example, want a copy of everything they’ll have to exactly replicate my file system and will different genealogy software even find the files?
If your children get a copy of everything they’ll get a copy of the file system. If they (or you) want to change it later there’s nothing stoping you. It’s simply a set of principles to help you keep your files organized.
The file system is separate from genealogy software.
I setup my files as suggested and for years this worked GREAT until something went wrong with my mac. Apple is not sure what happened but, I lost permission rights to my files. This meant that all the alias folders were broken links. Apple did try to use my last backup, but something kept writing over the permissions. I had hundreds of files I had to go back and relink by hand. We all do what we can to prevent problems but somethings you can’t foresee.
Just getting ready to scan my collection of documents into my computer and wanted to find a way to organize these files. Very happily stumbled on your blog and am thrilled. Very easy to follow and replay when I have questions. Do you have a similar system for photos I have on my mac?
No, sorry.
What formula do you use to create a digital file for a female that has been married more than once?
Jane Doe
Jane Doe Jones – Jones (Doe), Jane 1900-1999
Jane Doe Jones Smith ???
Thanks,