One of the reasons I started this blog was a disservice I saw taking place for the author(s) of Personal Ancestral File (PAF) current version 5.2 which is the largest user base of millions of users the World over for a genealogical software program.
The unsung heroes of this product and the author and owners Gaylon Findlay of Incline Software and new owner The Hope Foundation had created Ancestral Quest 2.2 and provided the full source code as a donation (YES, for FREE) to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints with the product initially renamed as PAF 3.0 with the only change for this initial Windows product by the Church in changes to icons and additional description of these icons. Little was said or acknowledged by the Church about this and millions of users and church employees, members, and others in the genealogy community have mistakenly assumed the product was created by the Church.
It was not. I repeat - It was not!
Minor press coverage, a limited time referral to The Hope Foundation for manuals by the Church was soon lost in the Church publishing a smaller, less complete manual of their own. Thus more lost revenues for a struggling genealogy software company.
Promises of working together and enhancements being sold by The Hope Foundation were not fulfilled and resulted in the demise of The Hope Foundation due to lost revenue and their product now available for free from the church to all the world while they sold their product for $39.95 at the time. The media made much news along with the genealogy community for the Church's new product but little mention of its true authorship.
Many of the original members involved in the agreements written and verbal for the Church moved to other areas with new developmental staff taking over the project and software development with little knowledge of its origins. Hence more lack of acknowledgement of original authorship.
Unable to generate sufficient revenues the Hope Foundation could not fulfill its obligations to Gaylon Findlay and Incline Software/Ancestral Quest and others resulting in the product going back to its original authors. Since this donation Incline Software & Hope Foundation have parted with Gaylon and Incline reclaiming Ancestral Quest and adding additional updates and upgrades to it.
So the authors of the largest installed base of genealogy software while surviving in a lesser degree have remained in much obscurity.
Others have come to the forefront with enhancement products like PAF Pal or PAF Insight with PAF Insight author Ohana Software receiving substantial recognition and sales promotion. The same has not happened for Gaylon Findlay and Ancestral Quest even with their new product enhancements and overlays with enhancements for PAF users. I think that's a travesty of justice and shameful.
So I'm writing to set the record straight. Hopefully to give some credit where credit is due. Hopefully to help people see the Ancestral Quest product upgrades not available in PAF and the overlays. And just maybe to get someone at the Church to correct the disservice done to Ancestral Quest/Incline Software and more actively work with Incline Software as they do with PAF Insight and others.
Having worked for many years with software development companies (SSI Software/WordPerfect, Electronic Text Corporation, IPRO, Invzn, and Optisys) I know that the church probably had to have spent for many years, over a million dollars in development of a Windows program that never made it to release with their receipt of the donated program from Incline Software originators. This donated software code, an immediately releasable product, not only expedited the release but was a better product than what the Church (more mainframe software oriented at the time) had and were working on and probably saved the Church another million or more dollars in development. So hopefully something better can come for these unsung heroes at Incline Software.
Incidently few enhancements have been made over the last several years by the Church to the program. I think its not to late to correct the matter. I am not affiliated with Incline Software/Ancestral Quest other than a user of their product before and after the donation.
So I have nothing to gain. Hopefully, Incline Software and its authors will. Hopefully more than just a little recognition. Hopefully a lot more.
That's all for now from the inside. James
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Avoiding Pitfalls in hiring a professional researcher or research company, Part I
Part I:
Looking to hire a professional researcher or research company -
They are not all the same. Here's how you can filter out non-professionals who really aren't.
Several tips and this checklist can help when looking for a professional researcher or company:
1. Do they have a website?
This may help to explain their company, policies, procedures and more. If they don't have one it tells you a little about them. They may not be computer saavy, utilizing email, internet, online databases, and fully functioning as a business. A website is not only informational but a credibility piece on the company or individual.
2. Do they have business cards?
Contact information including email, phone, fax, website and more.
2. What do they provide? (Deliverables)
Will they review your initial information and make a proposal on what they can do? Do they charge for this and if so what?
Do they have account managers that come to your home or business and bring samples?
Do they provide account numbers and project numbers for each project?
Do they take copies of originals and leave you with originals?
Do they provide email, calls, or mailed updates on progress on projects? Do they have automated tracking of projects?
Do they have tax deductible options?
Do they have corporate plans?
Do they do monthly installment payment plans and have other payment options?
Do they have any written contracts or agreements or order forms? Do you get copies?
Do you get copies of invoices or statements?
Do you get payment coupons or copies of your order forms?
What do you get when a project is delivered?
a. Research reports and/or summary reports.
Professional researchers do research reports, generally 5-10 pages for original research.
Original research being defined as research on a new person or line with no provided information or clues to start.
Verification research summaries or reports may only be a one to two page report per session listing the research objective(s), results - what was located, and recommendations for future research.
If you speak to someone and they don't have these reports or samples you can see you might want to think again about hiring them.
Research reports are used to allow the research to identify the methods, facts and conclusions, in a pattern not only for a customer but more importantly for future researchers. It along with research calendars or logs provide researchers with knowledge of what has been searched and those sources where something was found or not found. It lists the books and films looked at, what surname(s) or individuals were searched for and what was or was not found.
b. Research Calendars/Logs - These should be provided to help researchers see what has and has not been researched.
c. Documents - These are copies of documents that were found, birth, marriage or death certificates, censuses, military records, church records, cemetery records, biographies, etc.
d. Printouts - Pedigree Charts and Family Group Sheets on the session that was worked
e. Miscellaneous reports - Temple updates, Temple submissions, Temple Tracking.
f. Temple Submission Diskette or Cards and updating of these cards to a genealogy program
g. Entry of your information into a genealogy program - Personal Ancestral File (PAF), Legacy, Ancestral Quest, Family Tree Maker or others. All of these can output to a GEDCOM (file format) for use in any of the other programs.
h. Copies of the genealogy program files on disc after every session or project delivery.
Knowing the facts can save you and your family valuable time and money. Want to know more. Contact the professionals at: http://www.forgenerations.com/
Stay tuned for Part II:
What about A Genealogy & Family History Research Company versus a researcher?
Looking to hire a professional researcher or research company -
They are not all the same. Here's how you can filter out non-professionals who really aren't.
Several tips and this checklist can help when looking for a professional researcher or company:
1. Do they have a website?
This may help to explain their company, policies, procedures and more. If they don't have one it tells you a little about them. They may not be computer saavy, utilizing email, internet, online databases, and fully functioning as a business. A website is not only informational but a credibility piece on the company or individual.
2. Do they have business cards?
Contact information including email, phone, fax, website and more.
2. What do they provide? (Deliverables)
Will they review your initial information and make a proposal on what they can do? Do they charge for this and if so what?
Do they have account managers that come to your home or business and bring samples?
Do they provide account numbers and project numbers for each project?
Do they take copies of originals and leave you with originals?
Do they provide email, calls, or mailed updates on progress on projects? Do they have automated tracking of projects?
Do they have tax deductible options?
Do they have corporate plans?
Do they do monthly installment payment plans and have other payment options?
Do they have any written contracts or agreements or order forms? Do you get copies?
Do you get copies of invoices or statements?
Do you get payment coupons or copies of your order forms?
What do you get when a project is delivered?
a. Research reports and/or summary reports.
Professional researchers do research reports, generally 5-10 pages for original research.
Original research being defined as research on a new person or line with no provided information or clues to start.
Verification research summaries or reports may only be a one to two page report per session listing the research objective(s), results - what was located, and recommendations for future research.
If you speak to someone and they don't have these reports or samples you can see you might want to think again about hiring them.
Research reports are used to allow the research to identify the methods, facts and conclusions, in a pattern not only for a customer but more importantly for future researchers. It along with research calendars or logs provide researchers with knowledge of what has been searched and those sources where something was found or not found. It lists the books and films looked at, what surname(s) or individuals were searched for and what was or was not found.
b. Research Calendars/Logs - These should be provided to help researchers see what has and has not been researched.
c. Documents - These are copies of documents that were found, birth, marriage or death certificates, censuses, military records, church records, cemetery records, biographies, etc.
d. Printouts - Pedigree Charts and Family Group Sheets on the session that was worked
e. Miscellaneous reports - Temple updates, Temple submissions, Temple Tracking.
f. Temple Submission Diskette or Cards and updating of these cards to a genealogy program
g. Entry of your information into a genealogy program - Personal Ancestral File (PAF), Legacy, Ancestral Quest, Family Tree Maker or others. All of these can output to a GEDCOM (file format) for use in any of the other programs.
h. Copies of the genealogy program files on disc after every session or project delivery.
Knowing the facts can save you and your family valuable time and money. Want to know more. Contact the professionals at: http://www.forgenerations.com/
Stay tuned for Part II:
What about A Genealogy & Family History Research Company versus a researcher?
Ancestral File Revealed
Ancestral File (AF) for short is a collection of submissions by individuals to the http://www.familysearch.org/ website. Although a disclaimer appears on printouts from the website, many novice researchers, hobbyists, or amateur genealogists fail to read it.
Heres what it says:
"Ancestral File is a collection of genealogical information taken from Pedigree
Charts and Family Group Records submitted to the Family History Department since 1978. The information has not been verified against any official records. Since the information in Ancestral File is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the file to verify its accuracy. "
Two statements need repeating:
1. The information has not been verified against any official records
2. It is the responsibility of those who use the file to verify its accuracy.
What does that mean:
Sorry no shortcuts. It means you can't just accept the information. You have to research it and find primary documents (vital records-birth, marriage, death, church records, cemetery records, etc.) to prove the dates, names, and places or hire a researcher or research company [Shameless plug - http://www.forgenerations.com/ ] to do that for you.
Unfortunately, too many ignore this disclaimer. Its not verified. Its not documented. You need to verify it. You need to find documents to prove it. That's what they are saying.
Why the disclaimer. Because every day thousands of people download the files and take them as correct. They erroneously assume that because its on a site provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormons because of a belief in the Book of Mormon, another testament of Christ) that it must all be done and correct.
Wrong!.
So why post it. Because its a tool to help others know what's been done and others working on the same lines. Its a clue to help others.
In the professional research world, Ancestral File is looked at as only a clue, a starting point, not a destination. Sorry to present the gloom and doom but that's how it is.
Other Problems with Ancestral File:
1. When you submitted (submissions no longer updated for AF, since 2002) your GEDCOM file (a genealogy program file format) was uploaded to their file. Unfortunately they didn't tell you that it would strip all the notes and sources. [Oops!!!!] So all the documentation or verification done from others was stripped. [Thank you to the great minds who thought up that blunder]
2. AF no longer updated!!!
So if you are still sending correction diskettes or CD-ROM's ... STOP!!, they are not getting corrected and updated. Repeat - They are not getting Corrected or Updated!.
AF hasn't been updated for years, even prior to a formal announcement to Family History Consultants in early 2004 or 2005 that never got down to all the submitters. And yes, the printed correction pages where still on the shelves of the LDS Distribution center for AF years after they stopped updating.
3. Pedigree Resource File (PRF) -
Why PRF? AF was no longer being corrected or added to.
Why?,
A. Because it didn't have the sources or notes.
B. Because computer matching and merging of the information had created mistakes in the matching. Ex. You could find loops in pedigrees where the improper merging took two identical names and made the child and the grandfather have the same information. [Oops!!] Or two like named individuals had their marriages mixed up. And so on. [Among some researchers its referred to as incestous file, for all the improper matching and marriages.]
[Stay tuned for future post/article on PRF - its a dandy too!]
4. Why not just get rid of it?
With all its problems its still a source of information that can help others with clues. You just have to remember that this rose "AF" has some thorns.
Until next time - James Clemans, http://www.forgenerations.com/
Heres what it says:
"Ancestral File is a collection of genealogical information taken from Pedigree
Charts and Family Group Records submitted to the Family History Department since 1978. The information has not been verified against any official records. Since the information in Ancestral File is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the file to verify its accuracy. "
Two statements need repeating:
1. The information has not been verified against any official records
2. It is the responsibility of those who use the file to verify its accuracy.
What does that mean:
Sorry no shortcuts. It means you can't just accept the information. You have to research it and find primary documents (vital records-birth, marriage, death, church records, cemetery records, etc.) to prove the dates, names, and places or hire a researcher or research company [Shameless plug - http://www.forgenerations.com/ ] to do that for you.
Unfortunately, too many ignore this disclaimer. Its not verified. Its not documented. You need to verify it. You need to find documents to prove it. That's what they are saying.
Why the disclaimer. Because every day thousands of people download the files and take them as correct. They erroneously assume that because its on a site provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormons because of a belief in the Book of Mormon, another testament of Christ) that it must all be done and correct.
Wrong!.
So why post it. Because its a tool to help others know what's been done and others working on the same lines. Its a clue to help others.
In the professional research world, Ancestral File is looked at as only a clue, a starting point, not a destination. Sorry to present the gloom and doom but that's how it is.
Other Problems with Ancestral File:
1. When you submitted (submissions no longer updated for AF, since 2002) your GEDCOM file (a genealogy program file format) was uploaded to their file. Unfortunately they didn't tell you that it would strip all the notes and sources. [Oops!!!!] So all the documentation or verification done from others was stripped. [Thank you to the great minds who thought up that blunder]
2. AF no longer updated!!!
So if you are still sending correction diskettes or CD-ROM's ... STOP!!, they are not getting corrected and updated. Repeat - They are not getting Corrected or Updated!.
AF hasn't been updated for years, even prior to a formal announcement to Family History Consultants in early 2004 or 2005 that never got down to all the submitters. And yes, the printed correction pages where still on the shelves of the LDS Distribution center for AF years after they stopped updating.
3. Pedigree Resource File (PRF) -
Why PRF? AF was no longer being corrected or added to.
Why?,
A. Because it didn't have the sources or notes.
B. Because computer matching and merging of the information had created mistakes in the matching. Ex. You could find loops in pedigrees where the improper merging took two identical names and made the child and the grandfather have the same information. [Oops!!] Or two like named individuals had their marriages mixed up. And so on. [Among some researchers its referred to as incestous file, for all the improper matching and marriages.]
[Stay tuned for future post/article on PRF - its a dandy too!]
4. Why not just get rid of it?
With all its problems its still a source of information that can help others with clues. You just have to remember that this rose "AF" has some thorns.
Until next time - James Clemans, http://www.forgenerations.com/
Its a new Day - New Genealogy Insider begins
For years now I've been troubled by patterns I see repeated in genealogy or a lack of explanation and detail, hopefully I can unmask and clear up some of this family history gray matter and dispel some myths.
That's the thought anyway so here we go ....
That's the thought anyway so here we go ....
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