AQ Version 14.00.9
AQ Version 14.00.9 is now available.
On 20 Mar 2013, Incline Software released version 14.00.9 of Ancestral Quest. This change does not involve a change to the Application Program Interface, however it does have corrections for some minor bugs in the last release.
Version 14.00.9 is not yet (23 Mar 2013) installed at the Ogden FamilySearch Library. When it is installed, there will be some minor changes to the Ancestral Quest default Preferences selected at the FamilySearch Library. Presently, Ancestral Quest will, by default, restore files to the AQ Data folder inside the My Documents folder. This default leaves user files vulnerable to being lost if the server should for any reason need to be re-booted. During the installation of the 14.00.9 version, this default will be changed. The AQ Data folder will be moved to the ‘Thawspace’ drive. With this change, user files will survive a restart on the server or on the local machine. If we should have a power outage, for example, the subsequent restart will not overwrite user files. If they survived the power outage, they will survive the restart. This change in file location will be transparent to users.
Of course, this change of location for user files applies only to the Ogden FamilySearch Library. The location of these files on your personal computer will remain as you have set it.
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AQ Will Do In AQ
You can put AQ Will Do into AQ
You can configure Ancestral Quest to access the lessons here in AQ Will Do with a few simple mouse clicks. Here’s how.
Click on the Internet tab of the Menu Bar, and select Favorite Sites....
This will present the My Favorite Web Sites screen. Click on the Add… button.
This brings up the Add/Edit Favorite Site screen.
Enter AQ Will Do into the Title: field.
Enter http://aqwilldo.wordpress.com into the URL: field.
Leave the Search this site** check box and the Represent space with: field as the are.
Click on the OK button.
AQ Will Do is now listed as one of your favorite sites. Click on the Close button.
When you want to review one of the lessons here at AQ Will Do, click on the Internet tab of the Menu Bar, and select Favorite Sites….
Highlight AQ Will Do, and click on the Connect button. Your browser will bring up AQ Will Do. You can then view Ancestral Quest and AQ Will Do side by side or flip between the screens from the task bar, for instructions on how to make a complicated task easier.
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AQ Version 14.00.8
AQ Version 14.00.8 is now available.
This change is, in part, because the church has instructed third party vendors that they can no longer combine individuals in the new.familysearch.org database. Since this is a change in the way Ancestral Quest can affect database records, it is highly advisable for you to download AQ version 14.00.8 before making any changes on the new.familysearch.org database. If you don’t, the effect may be undesirable.
Yes, I had to check those two words!
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New Policy
New Policy
The Ogden FamilySearch Library has received instructions that we are to no longer sell software and books from software vendors. We will fulfill our commitment to those who were enrolled in classes at the time we received those instructions, on approximately 20 Feb 2013. After those classes have ended, the remaining software and books will be returned to the vendors.
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Elucidation
Elucidation
One of my first postings was called A bit of humor. Here is why I like that posting.
We see the decimal numbering system daily. Our minds are trained from infancy to see things from the decimal perspective. That is why we immediately assign values to the digits we see. We even say the names of the values to ourselves in our minds, and to ourselves and others when we read aloud. The mind typically sees the digits 10 and excludes all non decimal interpretations of these digits. It isn’t that the other interpretations don’t exist. It is just that we live in a decimal oriented world.
In the binary world, things are just a little bit different. Since the only recognized digits in binary are 0 and 1, it is necessary to represent higher values in some other (non decimal) way. The following is a comparison of the decimal and binary representation of the numbers from zero to three.
Decimal Binary
0 = 0
1 = 1
2 = 10
3 = 11
Now you can see why there are only 10 (binary) kinds of people.
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Family Tree Preparation
Family Tree Preparation
This is not a typical AQ Will Do posting.
I am concerned about the things I am seeing when I look at the data that will be transferred from the new.FamilySearch.org database to the Family Tree. As I have looked through my own family records, I have seen many things with which I disagree. I have seen ‘abt’ dates selected when actual dates were available. I have seen incorrect place names selected, when the correct place-name was available. I have seen incomplete place names selected when complete place names were available.
It is up to us to verify that the information being moved to the Family Tree will be accurate and complete.
I am including two links which I hope will be helpful in clarifying both the problems and the possible solutions.
The FIRST LINK is to an article in Meridian Magazine entitled ’3 Things to Know Before Family Tree Replaces New Family Search’ which will help clarify the situation. The SECOND LINK is to a video from Incline Software which will show the Ancestral Quest way of correcting the problems.
We don’t know when access to the new.FamilySearch.org database will be terminated, so this may or may not be critical, but I for one, am not about to risk losing access to the available data, just because I decided to wait. I’m six generations back in my pedigree, but that is only direct line and their children. The amount of work not completed is far greater than the amount I have done so far. Important information could easily be removed from my access if I don’t hurry.
Do you want the information about your ancestors to be complete and accurate? Time may be short!
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Tools – Preferences – FamilySearch
How to – Preferences – FamilySearch
Preferences… are reached through the Tools tab on the Menu bar.
Clicking on Tools > Preferences… will present the Preferences screen. If it is not already showing, click on the FamilySearch tab.
If you intend to sync your family information with the FamilySearch Family Tree database maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you must check the Enable FamilySearch features check box. If this box is left unchecked, the Familysearch tab on the Menu bar will not be presented.
This is the Menu bar with the Enable FamilySearch features box checked.
This is the Menu bar with the Enable FamilySearch features box unchecked. This check box also controls the presentation of the FamilySearch icons and the Temple icons.
This is the Pedigree view with the Enable FamilySearch features box checked.
This is the Pedigree view with the Enable FamilySearch features box unchecked.
The next check box is View LDS Ordinances when matching. This is unchecked by default, because ordinance dates are not useful in determining whether a match exists between your record and a FamilySearch Family Tree record. You may want to check this box if it is your intent to update ordinance information in your database while linking/syncing records.
The next check box is labeled Return to Review after syncing families and checking duplicates. If this box is not checked, you will be returned to the Pedigree view or the Family view, depending on where you began these functions, when they are completed. If this box is checked, you will return to the Review screen.
The next check box is labeled Show Options when Linking/Syncing individuals. If this box is checked, you will see the following screen after choosing to link your record to a FamilySearch Family Tree record.
From this screen you can choose to link only or to manually review and selectively sync information. You can also choose to always use one of these options, and not see this screen again. If you should choose to always use one of these options, the only way to cause this screen to appear again is by checking the Show Options when Linking/Syncing individuals box.
The next check box controls automatic ordinance updating options.
If you have checked Use LDS Data on the General preferences tab, there are two main reasons for tracking ordinance data in your local records. The first is to cause Ancestral Quest to accurately select which temple icon to show for each individual record. The icon with the blue check mark or the icon with the green arrow will be chosen based upon completeness of ordinances in your local record, not by completeness of ordinances on the temple records. The second reason is for historical accuracy. The historically accurate date for an ordinance is the date when it was originally performed, either as a live ordinance or vicariously, not when that ordinance is repeated by a family member.
Since caching is no longer used, there is no reason to maintain obsolete cache files on your hard drive. If Ancestral Quest indicates that they are present, click the Delete Cache button.
The next check box should be used as advised by technical support. It will help them to correct problems with your file or with Ancestral Quest.
The last box can be useful if Tools > Database Check/Repair… shows excessive warnings.
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DNA
DNA – The Gene in Genealogy
Storing your genome
Ancestral Quest provides for storing the results of your DNA testing. This is done on the More tab of the Edit Individual screen.
To enter your DNA markers click on the DNA Markers… button.
Hers and His
DNA testing is gender specific. Females require mitochondrial testing. If the person being edited is female, the test type defaults to mtDNA.
If you attempt to select Y-DNA while editing a female, the following warning appears.
If you click No, the mtDNA screen returns, however, if you click Yes, the Y_DNA screen is presented. This would be useful only if the “female” had y-chromosomes. Males can be tested for both. The Y-DNA test refers to his paternal line, and the mtDNA test refers to his maternal line.
This is the Y-DNA entry screen. It has fields for specific markers. Enter the value returned for each specific marker. If additional markers are returned, use the Other Markers portion of the screen. Click the Add button and the following screen will appear.
Enter the Locus ID: and the Value: then click OK. These values can be highlighted later, and deleted or modified as needed.
To enter mt-DNA results, enter the HVR1 mutation marker or the HVR2 mutation marker in the appropriate column, then click Add. These values can be removed or modified later as needed.
The top section of each entry screen is where you record the information about the test itself. There is space provided for the name of the Testing Company, the Date of Test, the Test ID, and your Haplogroup. If your Testing Company is not listed in the drop-down window, select Other and put the name in the field to the right. Be sure to enter this information.
The help screens associated with DNA entry are very good, and you should read them before entering data.
For background information on DNA, follow this LINK to Family Tree DNA and their FAQ page.
Another place to LOOK would be the International Society of Genetic Genealogy.
Still another excellent reference is CeCe Moore’s blog, Your Genetic Genealogist.
From CeCe I learned about 23andme.com. As Agrippa said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me….”
DNA testing is an evolving subject. If you are interested, I would suggest that you spend some time with your favorite search engine, researching what is currently available, and what costs are involved.
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Tools – Preferences – Prepared By
How to – Preferences – Prepared By
Preferences… are reached through the Tools tab on the Menu bar.
Clicking on Tools > Preferences… will present the Preferences screen. If it is not already showing, click on the Prepared by tab.
The information from the Prepared by screen goes, optionally, into some reports and into the GEDCOMs you export. Consider where your reports and GEDCOMs may go before you place information there which you may not want to go public. Here are three examples:
This is the information on the Family Group Report.
This is the information presented on the Pedigree Report.
This is the information from a GEDCOM.
I guess there are two things to consider here. One is Privacy. Are you worried about what information you share?
The other is ease of communication. Is there someone reading your information who would like to contact you, but doesn’t know how?
As always, the choice is yours.
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Tools – Preferences – InfoBox
How to – Preferences – InfoBox
Preferences… are reached through the Tools tab on the Menu bar.
Clicking on Tools > Preferences… will present the Preferences screen. If it is not already showing, click on the InfoBox tab.
This screen controls the presentation of the InfoBox. The InfoBox is similar to the information presented in the Family view for the highlighted person.
The InfoBox is presented in the Pedigree view. It comes in two varieties, and it can be summoned in two ways. The first variety is called Dates Only.
For deceased persons, it contains the date and place of birth, the date and place of marriage, the MRIN, the date and place of death, and if requested, the LDS ordinance codes. It does not contain the age at marriage or the age at death.
The second variety is called Dates and Family Info. It adds a drop-down list of spouses with their MRIN, and a sliding list of children and their RIN. The children’s list includes a < for children with descendants. For living persons the InfoBox remains the same size, with blank spaces where appropriate.
The first way to summon an InfoBox is called Floating. This is done by hovering the cursor above the name of a person in the Pedigee view. The hovering time required before the presentation of the InfoBox is specified in tenths of a second in the Wait Time: field. The Floating InfoBox disappears when the cursor is moved away from the name.
The Locked Infobox appears when the name of a person on the Pedigree screen is clicked. It disappears the next time the Pedigree screen is clicked.
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