GenSmarts Genealogical

Research Workshop

David Ault

Dawn Bingaman

 

13 October 2007

 

Introduction

n    GenSmarts is a genealogical research tool that used “Artificial Intelligence” techniques to help you find your ancestors and improve the data that you have about them.

n    It was created and is maintained by Underwood Innovations, LLC, and information about it can be found at www.GenSmarts.com.

n    Neither Dawn nor I have any financial interest in GenSmarts or Underwood Innovations, LLC.

 

Genealogical Databases

n    Family Tree Maker (including FTM 2006)

n    PAF 5

n    The Master Genealogist (4,5, & 6)

n    RootsMagic (1, 2, & 3)

n    Legacy (4,5 & 6)

n    Ancestral Quest

n    Ancestry Family Tree

n    Brother's Keeper (Version 6)

n    Family Trees Quick and Easy (contact us for info)

n    Heritage Family Tree Deluxe (contact us for info)

n    GEDCOM

 

GenSmarts Research Options

n   You can limit the number of research items produced by GenSmarts in its suggested "To Do" list to achieve a more workable size list.

–   Person

–   Family

–   Library or Website limitation

–   Online availability only

–   Marked or not marked individuals

 

n   You can sort the "To Do" list based upon one of several criteria to further focus your research.

–   Research priority (preferred lines)

–   Surname (alphabetical)

–   Date (chronological)

–   Geography (county, state, …)

–   Record type (birth, marriage, death, burial, census, will, …)

 

n   Seek GenSmarts' help in finding information about an individual not in your database. "Kiosk Mode"

–   Select the “Query” tab.

–   Enter information about the

§   Person

§   His or her spouse

§   A child of theirs

 

n    Have GenSmarts give suggestions on places that you can benefit from cleaning up the data in your database.  (“Data Cleanup” tab)

 

n    You can make these corrections or additions in your database without leaving GenSmarts.

–   Clean up place names (“Place Names” tab)

–   Resolve “save issues” (“Save Issues” tab)

–   Find illogical dates in your data (“Estimating” tab)

 

n   Use GenSmarts to analyze any one of your several databases.

 

n   You can specify that GenSmarts analyze any of your major ancestor lines or limit your search to the specific lines that you prefer.

–   Under “My Genealogy File”

–   Tag or clear tag for selected ancestor(s)

–   Search for previously identified “root” markers

 

 

n   You can limit GenSmarts suggested sources to specific research locations.

–   Select “Research Locations” tab

–   List of research facilities and Websites

§   Facility address

§   Website link

–   List of research items available at each selected facility or Website

 

n    You can customize GenSmarts to also consider your specific Websites in its suggestions.

–   Add specific websites to the GenSmarts "sandbox" to launch web pages

–   This feature is not directly supported, but there is a 15-minute tutorial available at www.gensmarts.com/customanalysis for further information on the subject.

–   To use the sandbox features, one must begin within GenSmarts, not from your personal database.

 

n   You can request a variety of reports to aid your research.  (“Print/Export” menu item)

–   People, families, ancestral lines, …

–   “To Do” list

–   Call numbers from a selected facility

–   Data cleanup items, re: people and places

–   Choose output location and format

 

GenSmarts Presentation Summary

n    GenSmarts is one of many tools that may or may not aid your research project.

n    GenSmarts often provides useful suggestions.

n    GenSmarts is not always consistent in the suggestions that it makes from one individual to another.

n    GenSmarts requires a learning curve to understand all of its research aids.

n    We have not explored here all that it offers.