Change Logs

Tuesday’s Tips
By Don Taylor

I synchronize my local Family Tree Maker (FTM) tree with an Ancestry tree. It is simple to set up and has the side benefit of generating changelogs for my work. As I review various records, I enter the sources in my FTM and then create facts based on my source’s points. I hold off syncing my tree until I’ve finished with a particular set of records. Then when I sync my tree to Ancestry, I can print[i] out all of the additions, changes, and deletions I entered since my last sync. Because of the process, I don’t need to keep a log of my findings; the printout of changes IS the log.

Creating the log using Family Tree Maker 2019 for Mac[ii] is quick and easy. Do your work until you are done with a set of records (or a day’s work), then….

• • Click “Sync Now.”
  • Assuming you receive a “green weather” notification, Click “Continue.”
  • On the Sync Change Log, select “View Report.”
  • In the Share box, select the method you would like to use. I always “Export to PDF” then “Share.”
  • I then change the “Save As” file name by adding the Tree this synchronization is from and the date. For example, “Howell-Darling” as a prefix and “2022-01-01” as a suffix making the file name, “Howell-Darling FamilySync® Change Log 2022-01-01.pdf.”

That is it, log done. Then just continue to sync the FTM tree to Ancestry[iii].

Example – Howell-Darling Change Summary.

For example, I recently reviewed a set of wills and probate records for my wife’s 4^th great-grandparents, Samuel and Betsy Kinsey (Binford) Pankey of Virginia. Of course, just looking at the disposition of their property isn’t enough. Instead, I searched for wills and probate records for their extended family. I added 49 individuals in this recent activity and changed/updated 22 others. I had one deletion, but that was due to my merging two individuals. There were updates for 15 of my Binford ancestors, including several new siblings, aunts, and uncles.

Conclusion

Creating a log of your research activities is simple and easy. There is no reason not to keep a record of your actions this way. That way, if you need to back something out, the log will provide the information you need about what you did to get where you are.

Endnotes:

[i] I don’t usually print, rather I create a print file (PDF) that is searchable and can be printed if I want to.

[ii] Most major genealogy software programs that synchronize with Ancestry have a similar capability. Please consider indicating how your software can create a log of changes similarly in the comments below.

[iii] Note: It is important to not let your trees get to far out of sync. I am slow in my incorporating sources to people and events. As such, I need to synchronize every day or two. Also, I never make changes on my Ancestry tree directly. I make all changes to my FTM tree and  synchronize those changes to my Ancestry tree.