GENBOX-L Archives

Archiver > GENBOX > 2010-08 > 1281801860


From: Paul Harris <>
Subject: Re: [GENBOX] Identifier Ideas...
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:04:20 -0400
References: <4C65BEE7.1030006@comcast.net><AANLkTikruM-8dx++9yPHWYScayCX+Zb5uEKKefH-n_mL@mail.gmail.com><007501cb3b74$ac1ce110$0456a330$@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To: <007501cb3b74$ac1ce110$0456a330$@comcast.net>


Rich and Denise,

Raising this issue has caused me to revisit same. Rich, I believe Bill's
intent was to use an Identifier that is linked to an Event (Defining Event),
not an individual Source. On the Identifiers Tab you can link an Identifier
to ONLY ONE EVENT. However, that unique Identifier can have multiple
Sources. When building a sentence for an event, the [N] code can be used to
generate the identifier that is linked to the event. Additionally, sentences
can be built with conditional phrases that will use the linked identifier if
one exists, or skip the phrase if it does not. I think there are two
purposes to this feature, one of which is not yet implemented.

As the feature currently exists, it can be used to show variations in
spelling associated with specific events. Alternatively, I think Bill
intended to develop that would automatically apply name CHANGES over time,
IOW, once a woman married, further references in a narrative would use her
married name. This could also be used for legal name changes or the adoption
of a nickname, etc. I guess you could accomplish this with the existing
setup by linking the desired Identifier with EVERY event and using the [N]
code throughout, but I believe this would be a rather kludgy workaround. I
would rather wait for V4.

In the process of reviewing this feature I ran some tests by linking events
to identifiers, only to discover that I cannot find a way to remove or
change the link once established. Help!

Paul

On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 1:50 AM, Denise L. Moss-Fritch <
> wrote:

> Hi Rich,
>
> Well, Bill has mentioned he would like to use the identifiers and the
> associated "Defining event" for name variation in reports. I too am
> identifying the variations of a name through time, for example Huyck,
> Huyke,
> Huyk, and Hyke for one ancestor between the christening record and the 1850
> census. So you are not alone in recording variations to a name.
>
> I too am watching Bill's Twitter entries and am hoping to see a version 4
> (beta or otherwise).
>
> Best,
>
> Denise L. Moss-Fritch
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [mailto:] On
> Behalf Of Paul Harris
> Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 9:55 PM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [GENBOX] Identifier Ideas...
>
> Hi Rich,
>
> Uh, wow. While you may have an argument for 'in the future,' even "I" think
> this may be overkill. In a similar vein, I create a separate Identifier for
> each UNIQUE occurrence of a persons name and then add Source Citations to
> that Identifier for each Source in which the name appeared EXACTLY as it is
> in the Identifier. That way, I can look at the Identifiers Tab and see ALL
> of the Name Variations for the individual and by clicking on the Citations
> Button I get a list of the Sources in which that name variation appeared. I
> believe this is appropriate and adequate for any questions I might like to
> pose about the sourcing of name variations. Nevertheless, you raise an
> interesting subject for discussion.
>
> Regards,
>
> Paul
>
> On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 5:53 PM, Rich Marek <> wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > Since starting to use Genbox years ago, I have entered a "new"
> > identifier for any occurrence of someone's name in any source I cite.
> > If my grandfather was found on say, 20 sources I would record that one
> > version of his name as found in a source 20 times even if the
> > identifier was identical. Thus creating 20 identifiers that were "the
> same".
> >
> > I was doing this because "in the future" Genbox would use the
> > identifier as found in that source in narrative reports. My question
> > would boil down to whether I am just chasing my tail by creating say
> > 20 identifiers using "Paul Marek". one for each event. Or should I be
> > creating one "Paul Marek" identifier linked to multiple events.
> >
> > BTW. I tend to agree with Paul Harris in that creating a large source
> > list is just what this software is for. I cite every line on the
> > census as a separate source linked to the higher source (the page).
> >
> > Details and minutia do not scare me. They just sooth my anal tendencies.
> >
> > Anyway, any thoughts either way would be appreciated. And I hope that
> > Bill's Twitter entries are pointing towards a chance to see "version 4
> > beta"!
> >
> > Rich
> > quotes in the subject and the body of the message
> >
>
> -------------------------------
> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes
> in the subject and the body of the message
>
>
> -------------------------------
> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes
> in the subject and the body of the message
>

This thread: