This page updated 12 Dec 2011
Version note: Applies to TMG 7 & 8
I find uploading extracts of my data to selected genealogy websites is a useful way to establish contact with other researchers. There are a number of sites, both subscription and free, where you data can be uploaded and other researchers can find it and potentially make contact with you. I have looked at several of them, but only the two discussed below in depth.
One of the oldest of such sites is RootsWeb, which has a section called WorldConnect that allows anyone to display their own "family tree" in a way that is easy for others to search, with some very nice display features. The user who posts the information retains complete control on how the information is displayed, and is able to change or remove it at any time. See the RootsWeb WorldConnect site for details. I have had an extract of my data posted there for some time and have made some useful contacts as a result. However, they seem to have fallen off in recent years, I suspect because the site has become less popular with researchers.
Ancestry has had a similar function for some years, which has evolved into their current Family Trees section. While you can upload data from your Project to an Ancestry Family Tree, they seem more designed for users to build trees on the site, using data found in the Historical Data section of the site. As a result, uploaded data is not handled as well as one might hope. Still, Ancestry's excellent search functions make it easy for others to find people of interest in your data, and Ancestry's "Hints" may be useful in finding additional information about people in your database. While you can remove your Tree at any time, if you make it public, which seems to offer the best chance of connecting with other researchers, any other user can copy your information to their own Tree with a simple click of the mouse. I'm still experimenting with this feature, and have not uploaded any substantial part of my data to this site.
No matter which public sites you choose to upload your data to, a key question is which people, and what data about them, do you include. I choose to include only people known to be not living, and about whom I would be interested in establishing contacts with other researchers. I include only basic birth, marriage, and death information. For more thoughts on this, see my article on Sharing Your Data.
Every site that I know of that allows uploading requires creation of a GEDCOM file. Some of TMG's features are quite helpful in managing the files you create. First, it helps to understand that the way you update your file on the site you are using. On both WorldConnect and Ancestry Trees, whey you submit a replacing file it completely replaces the existing file; it does not just "update" it. Because of this, once you have posted your file to one of these sites, you will want to be able to generate a new copy, reflecting any additions or corrections, easily. Unless you are sending your entire TMG file to the site, TMG's flag feature can be a big help in keeping track of who you have posted to the site in and creating updated GEDCOM files to submit.
To do this, open Flag Manager from the File > Flag Manager menu. Click Add, and enter a Label; I use "Worldconn." Enter values N,Y for no and yes. N is first so it's the default, and the Flag will be set to N for everybody at the start. You can ignore the Key area. Click OK or Yes as required to exit back to the main screen.
Next, identify the individuals you want to include in your file by setting the Flag to Y for them. The easiest way to do this is generally with the Secondary Output of the List of People report. If you need help with this, refer to my Filter Tips for suggestions (but remember to substitute the name of your Flag for the Scratch Flag shown in that section).
To generate your GEDCOM file use the GEDCOM Export feature. That feature lets you export selected people by use of the Focus Group, or by selecting them in the Project Explorer. To filter either with your Flag:
Before starting the Export process, open the Project Explorer.
| Field | Subfield | Operator | Value | Connect |
| WORLDCONN | = Equals | Y | END |
where you substitute the name of your Filter for "WORLDCONN." Click OK to close the filter.
Now start the Export wizard from the File > Export menu:
At Step 2, choose "Gedcom" and enter a file name.
At Step 4 choose the second option, the name of your Data Set, then under that choose either "Selected people in the Project Explorer" or "People in the Focus Group," depending on which method you used above.
Set the other export Options as you like, and generate the file.
The file will be located in the Export folder specified in Preferences > Current Project Options > Advanced.
When you decide that you have made enough changes in your Data Set to warrant updating your posting, you just create a new GEDCOM file as before. This will generate a new file including the same individuals as before, but reflecting all the changes you made to your TMG Data Set. If you want to add a few people to the file, you can either change their Flag setting manually to Y, or run a LoP report with a filter if that is easier.
I generally decide as I enter new people or add information about existing people if I want to include them in my next update, and if so, change the Flag for that person then. Adding the Flag to the Add Person screen makes this easy to do. See my article on Customizing the Workspace for how to do that.
My book, A Primer for The Master Genealogist, is again available in the U.S. and remains available in Australia.
Details are can be seen here.
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