When you have genealogy data about children to enter into your family file you can accomplish the task fastest by using the batch entry and editing window of Reunion 9. Name, gender, status, birth, and death information can all be edited in a tabular form on one window, which is much faster than editing each child separately. The time saving gets even bigger when you’ve got more than one child in a family to add or edit.
This video from the MacGenealogist Archives, shows you the various ways to access the feature and how each option works. If you’re not using this feature you’ll want to dig right into this screencast. If you are using it I still suggest you watch the video to ensure that you aren’t missing out on any of the details.
Unfortunately there's no provision in the Edit Family window to enter Sources as you go along, so while this method does let you get the data in fairly quickly, you still have to open each child's card and go to the various tabs/fields to add the sources afterwards.
Unless you have already used the Edit Person window on someone to set a General Source to be entered, and then it will apply to everyone entered until it's turned off again.
I use the letter key shortcuts to quickly enter people to a family so typing this
nmc Roger [return]
nmc Adam [return]
nfc Sue [return]
nfc Lisa [return]
nmc Ben [return]
nmc Robert [return]
has entered the 6 children to the card without any clicking.
Then click on the first child button to go to that person, click their name to open the editing window. On the first one, create or choose the source you want to apply and put it on the name, then [Command]+[Tab] to the Events, and enter what you know, using Commad-R each time to repeat the source. Once done [return] to save the person, [pageup] to go to the next child entered (assuming that all new entries went to numbers at the end of your file, and not into empty gaps through the file), click their Name to open the Edit person screen and repeat.
I find this gets most “hands on keyboard” time, and least “grab for the mouse to click something” time entering large amounts of information – there is only a single mouse click on each person's name to open the Edit Person window.
Cheers
Roger
Thanks for those helpful observations Roger!
I had the general sources approach in my mind when I recorded the screencast, but failed to include it.
I have just installed Reunion 9 and by Gedcom and emailing myself from one of my PC's have installed the information that I have in my Family Tree Maker program.
Reunion 9 automatically assigned numbers to the listed members. It would be nice if the numbers had shown our own family as number 1, but Reunion doesn't know from the Gedcom file in what order the entries were originally made in Family Tree Maker. We wound up with a very obscure member as #!. Perhaps it might have at one time been a “last looked at” member. There are a bit over 1200 people in this particular file.
This numbering is of no great importance and I have, in preferences, moved our immediate family to the Home location so it will always open in that area.
I just wondered how Reunion 9 arrives at it's numbering system.
I recently received a letter with a great deal genealogy information. I was entering the children using the batch system. There were many names which were the same as other family's children and the only way I could identify them was by their spouses. I would have loved to have the option of adding a column for the spouse like you can with the Index window. Is there a way to add other options or delete ones that aren't applicable?
TIA,
Craig TenBroeck
No, sorry Craig. At this time Reunion 9 won't allow you to add or remove columns in the Children tab of the Edit Family window.
Reunion 9 automatically assigns an ID number to people and families (separately) in a serial fashion, starting at 1. This is the same as what you described FTM doing. As you noted, when Reunion imported the GEDCOM, the records were processed in a different order than when they were created in FTM. These numbers cannot be changed. Reunion 9 does allow one to record one's own ID numbers.
Under batch entry for children you show places How can I show birth and death place after I already have the the other info typed in. If I click batch entry all info is there. Does places not show on the family card?
Hi, Ramona.
You’ll need to switch views or alter the view you’d like the place info to appear on. Have a look at my series on Reunion views. The easiest way to find them is to click “Articles” on the menu and scroll to the bottom.
—Ben