I agree with Bob about garbage and inconsistency. But I find fixing it in Excel/Access a lot easier because you can see how the fields are used in every record. Errors jump out pretty quickly. I then want to get the data into Legacy so I can link up families and use the cool tools for sorting out place names. Luckily there are not extensive notes in this dataset, FUBARing the text isn't an issue here.
I commend Robert on the solution he is sharing. It works and the method is pretty elegant.
-- .../Paul Maclauchlan
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Janetzko" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 6:14 PM
Subject: RE: [LegacyUG] family information in MS Access database
Mike,
I've got to agree in theory. However, that only applies to data that can be expressed in standardized and universally agreed upon formats, such as numbers and possibly dates. Anything involving text is subject to being FUBARed, and genealogy involves a whole lot of text fields.
Also, each individual seems to have certain peculiarities in the way they create their files, and it seems to be different for every single person on this planet. Most people refuse to even be consistent with themselves. The problems compound when different programs are used to export/import GEDCOM files, each one having their own bugs and idiosyncrasies.
I have come to regret every file that I have ever imported into Legacy. There is more garbage to correct than could ever be imagined. Data is placed in totally inappropriate fields, gross misspellings are rampant, and some things simply defy description. It has taken me far more time (and aggravation) cleaning these files up and attempting to make them compatible with my existing data than it would have taken to retype the data in a consistent form. And the larger the file, the harder it is to tell whether you have finished the purging process.
Bob
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Michael F. Smith Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 16:20 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [LegacyUG] family information in MS Access database
[OT] To import or retype?
Some of us believe in the philosophy of the late John Kemeny (Co-author of
BASIC, Dartmouth Professor, President of Dartmouth, Chairman of Three Mile
Island Committee) that once data is entered into a computer and proofed, it
should NEVER be retyped in that some method should exist for it to be
transported to another use.
Mike
At 11:26 AM 11/15/04, you wrote:IF you can convert the access file to an excel file without too much
trouble, I can tell you how to use Excel to obtain a Gedcom. Not totally
painless, but faster than typing them all in. Let me know if you wan to try
this.
Robert
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Paul Maclauchlan Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 9:44 AM To: Legacy User Group Subject: [LegacyUG] family information in MS Access database
I recently received an MS Access database containing information on a few hundred people.
Is there any way to format this information into a GEDCOM file, or some other means that can be used to get the data into a Legacy family file?
If there isn't, I had better start typing! Thanks for your help.
--
.../Paul Maclauchlan
Whizzo Chocolate Company, Oakville ON Canada
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.vex.net/~paulmacl
Books, CDs & DVDs!
http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/redirect-home?site=amazon&tag=whizzopresent-20
"Show a little faith, there's magic in the night"
Legacy User Group Etiquette guidelines can be found at: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp
To find past messages, please go to our searchable archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup%40mail.millenniacorp.com/
To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp
