As a computer geek with an interest in math (I learned to read octal and hexidecimal notations), it occurs to me that one could use these two fields together to indicate a kind of "base 3" numbering system for the level of grandparents. If you decide that grandparents are 00, then:
Grandparents (possibly 4): 00 Great Grandparents (possibly 8): 01 2xGreat Grandparents (possibly 16): 02 3xGreat Grandparents (possibly 32): 03 4x Great Grandparents (possibly 64): 10 5x Great Grandparents (possibly 128): 11 6xGreat Grandparents (possibly 256): 12 7x Great Grandparents (possibly 512): 13 It continues on: 20, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, so the deepest level of grandparents you can indicate is fifteenth great grandparents. Seems adequate. And to me (maybe just to me), it seems easier to remember than Jenny's system. On Jul 25, 2011, at 12:26 PM, Jenny M Benson wrote: > On 25/07/2011 18:16, Paula Ryburn wrote: >> This method sounds useful to me. Would you mind too terribly much >> posting an example? > > It doesn't matter much how you choose to assign the numbers; the > important thing is to remember that the words "Anc" and "Des" really > have no meaning. > > Here's an example. I will refer to "your" grandparents, on the > assumption that you are the starting person for your tree. If you have > set relationships to your spouse or parent or child, then the system is > exactly the same but you will be using that person's grandparents, great > grandparents etc. > > Start with all Anc & Des fields set to 0. > Grandparents (possibly 4): Leave them with both Anc = 0 & Des = 0 > Great Grandparents (possibly 8): Set each one to Anc = 1 & Des = 0 > 2xGreat Grandparents (possibly 16): Set each one to Anc = 2 and Des = 0 > 3xGreat Grandparents (possibly 32): Set each one to Anc = 3 and Des = 0 > 4x Great Grandparents (possibly 64): Set each to Anc = 0 and Des = 1 > 5x Great Grandparents (possibly 128): Set each to Anc = 0 and Des = 2 > 6xGreat Grandparents (possibly 256): Set each to Anc = 0 and Desc = 3 > 7x Great Grandparents (possibly 512): Set each to Anc = 1 and Des = 1 > > and so on! > > If you want to check how many of, say, your 5xGreat Grandparents you > have found so far, do a Detailed Search with the following criteria: > > Individual - Anc Interest - Equal to - 0 > AND > Individual - Desc Interest - Equal to - 2 > > I do realise that this system fails if you have inter-marriage between > your ancestors such that, say, a 4xGreat Grandfather is also a 3x Great > Grandfather. > -- > Jenny M Benson > -- Allen A Watson [email protected] Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) and on our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
