Genealogy Chat

Evidently well worth occasionally exporting, deleting and then re-importing your tree based on new messages I've recieved. Of course, a few who have contacted me are not linked at all but two people are from unknown branches of my tree so I've discovered more info.

Thanks for that reply about import/export. I normally just type them up again. Andrea

Jane, I would recommend you export it as a gedcom file and keep a copy away from this site (i.e. on your PC). In that way if you ever lose it here, you can import it again. See the "Import/Export Tree" section on this site. Regards, Andy

Bob I think theres a glitch somewhere in teh system as one name has been down as "new" in my names summary since at least september. I dont think its someone deleting then re-adding the name every day - who'd have the patience!!! Zoe

I'm guilty of not always replying promptly but then replying to messages here is not the highest priority in life when you have a busy work and family life. I forget which ones I have replied to, so it would help if (like many email applications) next to each received message an indication of whether or not it has been replied to.

spot on Peter - I havent had any curt replies, but there are 3 or 4 non-replies. As you say, for a site promoting contact, its amazing they ignore queries. I give it a month to allow for holidays / illness / PC woes and then try again - after that I have to assume they arent interested. Deleting and uploading your tree doesnt delete contacts, you will see 'contacted' against the apparent new name. I think its a natural part of the process if you do your updating offline ....

Hi Peter, Sorry, been on the General. I must be a right nincompoop, I didn't know it nudged you up anywhere LOL. Don't know how that works!! I know what you mean though about people just wanting to "pick your brains". In my case that's the one cell tehe. I've had lots of people just ask to see my tree for no reason at all. Some have asked to see the tree with reason and then they don't bother to get back to me any more. Sad I think they are. Most people though are very nice and helpful aren't they, which is great because I've needed help loads at times. I try to be helpful too if I can and I have learned quite a lot since I joined at the tail end of last year. Hopefully, you can tell me how this nudging up your name works please. Jan

Jan, Of course you should upload your tree if you have new names on it, I think the thread is criticising those who deliberately re-load it (probably with nothing at all added) just to 'nudge' their names on to the name summary. My other complaint is with those who can't be bothered to answer, or who seem as nice a pie if they think they can get something from you then disappear down a hole when you ask them to reciprocate their information. I also always make a point of replying within a few days even if we find there is no connection, or if I know I won't have time to look at something for a while, acknowledge and say I'll get back. Rudeness makes my blood boil. After all we are presumably doing this because we enjoy the hobby, so what is the point in being rude. Iv'e had one or two people who have sent back curt replies with a 'what do you think you are doing bothering me' tone Surely the whole point of a site like this is to make contact with other people. If not then get off the site, I say.. Peter

I also received help from someone on these Boards. I didn't even know what a GED file was until then. I was really grateful for the help. Have to admit I do delete my tree and upload a new version. However, since my rellies are so hard to track down this doesn't happen very often. I had no idea it generated as "new names". Apologies if it inconveniences anyone but I cannot see the point in ignoring an availabile facility - the delete and upload really saves a lot of double work. I'm quite happy if people contact me twice in error - we all make mistakes, I'm sure I've done it myself in the past - and I hope I've not been rude to anyone. Jan

It dosnt matter if you do delete your contacts, because they will show up from a long time ago.

This might seem a very silly question, but if you build your tree on GR, is that considered imported/exported or do you still have to go through that stage. I have very few contacts through that side, but very grateful help through the tips board. Andrea

Its a good idea, but when your tree is ever growing and getting bigger and bigger, if I lost it I would cry and the thought of going round the church yards and cemetary again and again makes me go insane! Ive already considered moving there. If I think I might of contacted people I just say I think I may have contacted you before, 99% of you are very polite and helpful. (Yes Ive totally lost the plot, time for my valium) Yvonne

I don't understand why people dislike this approach. How else can one add new updates to the site? I certainly do not believe it's a good idea to have all your original data on this site. It's much better to have it stored on your own PC. As far as contacts go, provided your keep track and dont delete contacts, there is no confusion on who you have contacted before or not.

I never delete my contacts for that reason. They may be rubbish, but at least I know I have contacted them!!

The "already contacted" notice comes up, for me, according to the person who's put up the tree, not the names they've put there. That's certainly why I don't delete my contacts. Christine

Bob We are not objecting to NEW names, just the old ones being deleted and then re-imported which some people think is clever. It's not new possible contacts, just the same names re-hashed, so if we contact them again, do they show up as "already contacted"? Probably not. That way we waste time contacting someone again, and risk a rude reply.

Changing the subject but why do some people have to be so rude,have had a few snotty replies after asking questions regarding families had one other day saying no she isnt in anyway related to my !!then surname so sent one back saying sorry I bothered you!! I always reply politely and sometimes if I cant help know someone who may be able to and pass on details. Had one guy contact me about a ladies name I had on tree and thought perhas could have been his natural mother hed been searching for had tears in my eyes when had to write back and say it wasnt her,poor guy hopefully has found her now Karin

I agree Brian..that happened to me 2 weeks ago and I contacted someone who said " you've asked once"....thought it quite rude so did not send a reply!! Anne.

Uploaded gedcom files are a bane: they look like new names but aren't and so make you waste time checking what you already checked weeks or months ago. And with names, dates and places of birth they are worse than useless. In many ways I wish the site would only allow manual updating!

I personally find it very annoying when I think there are new names to contact, only to find they are the same ones again. Anyone genuinely interested will be checking regularly anyway. And I do hate a long list of names with no date or place of birth---how useless is that, especially with a name like Hughes or Jackson!!