Copyright: Family Matters - Copyright 1995 - MatterWare


Help Contents
        (TM)

A Genealogy and Family History Program

Family Matters provides you the ability to maintain your detailed family Genealogy information using a Lineage-Linked Relational Database powered by the Microsoft Jet Database Engine. Family Matters is a Microsoft Access run-time application, with all the necessary run-time programs supplied, that supports Multiuser Genealogical Computing. It provides you (and your workgroup) a variety of means of viewing and accessing the genealogical information vital to your Family History. Family Matters' advanced features include:

All functions available while using FM's Family Group Form,

Several users can work on the same database at the same time,

Drag, resize, and dock the Toolbar anywhere on the screen,

Print Pedigree Charts, Descendancy Charts, Individual and Family Group Forms,

Form fields and buttons automatically resize to fit your computer screen resolution,

Rich GEnealogical Data COMmunications (vers 5.4) file import and export,

Sequential, lineage, and random access of families and family members,

Unlimited number of individuals, families, spouses, children, inter-relationships,

Free-form text entry of over 65,000 characters for each individual, and

Include photographs of families and family members.

Help Contents  These are the major help topics available for Family Matters. Use the scroll bar to view entries not currently visible in the window.

Getting Started

Forms and Fields

Descendancy Form

Family Group Form

Family Navigator Form

Field Definition and Data Entry

GEDCOM Import/Export

Individual Navigator Form

Pedigree Form

Preferences

Relationship Form

StartUp Screen

Unlink & Delete Control

Keyboard

Toolbar

Menus

Databases and Files

Multiuser Considerations

Microsoft, Microsoft Access, and Windows are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.

16Jan96


Getting Started

Welcome to Getting Started in Family Matters. The first screen presented upon starting FM is the StartUp Screen. There you will see a limited menu, the Family Matters Toolbar, and the title picture with a set of three selection buttons located just under the photograph. The buttons are labeled Start FM, Help and Exit FM.

The choice of your Family Group database file is made by using the FILE menu on this screen. The FILE menu also has entries for Database Compact and Repair, starting a NEW Database, GEDCOM import and export, Preferences, and obtaining database Statistics. Each file can hold hundreds of thousands of families and family members. You may have as many files as you desire. (The Demonstration Version is limited to one file of ten families, without limit to the number of people.) You will want to choose NEW. Then choose a file name that has meaning to you, like family.mdb or nicklas.mdb.

You may click on the Start FM button to go to the Family Group Form with your chosen Family Group database file. Most of your time will be spent on the next screen, the Family Group Form. This form demonstrates the power of the Lineage-Linked Relational Database used by Family Matters. The persons shown on this form are linked because they are a family. However, you will be working with the actual data of six persons (primary, spouse, and both their parents), plus all their children, as many as this couple might have had.

The Preferences Form provides a means to customize the appearance of the Forms and the Toolbar and Status Bar, and to set other default behaviors. You may open this form by use of the FILE menu. Of particular import is Family Matters' ability to vary the screen size of form objects to allow you to control the amount of data displayed on the screen resolution you are using.

You will want to begin entering data in the Family Group Form. Enter your own name in the Primary person area. Enter first name (or given name), then surname on the right. Under that, enter the Relationship that this person is to you (since it is you, enter Self) and then choose either male or female (m, f, or unknown). The third line (marked b) is for birth information. The fields are birth date and place of birth. You would simply enter the date as dd mmm yyyy if you have data indicating the date you are entering is exact. If an estimated date, or one you are not sure of, proceed the date with a qualifier like 'Est' or 'Abt'. The fourth line (d) is for date and place of death, followed by (b) burial date, then where buried. Skip these if the person you're entering is still alive. The next two lines (F and M) are for the birth dates and names of the Father and Mother of the Primary person.

The Spouse section fields are arranged up the same as for the Primary person. Enter the spouse data in these fields. This would be your own spouse, if you entered yourself as Primary.

In the next line, (marked m) enter the date and place of the marriage.

The Children section is arranged similarly. On the first line, enter the birth date, first name, and surname. The second line is for place of birth place and sex. Family Matters will display the children in birth order (if birth dates have been entered) or sibling number (if entered) the next time you view this form. Initially, the children will be displayed in the order you enter them. The area to the left of the birth date is for sibling number to indicate birth order. If birth dates are known, there is no need for you to enter a sibling number, unless you wish to. There is no limit to the number of children in a family.

You are now ready for the first automatic feature of Family Matters. Decide for whom you will next enter data. Choose a person for whom you have entered the first name and surname for on this form. This will be either a child, or either the Primary person's parent or Spouse's parent.

When you double-click on the name of a child or parent, Family Matters will take you to (will display) the family record for the chosen person. Since this family record doesn't yet exist, Family Matters will next ask you if you wish to create a family record for that person. Click on Yes. The newly created record will present the same information that was displayed on the current form, but arranged from the point of view of the person you just double-clicked on.

In this way, Family Matters will assist you in navigating among family members and in creating records of new family members. You have thus begun the creation of the Family Matters database of lineage-linked persons and families.

If you want to read more about the other features of Family Matters, click on the ">>" button above to advance to the next topic, and the "<<" button to return to the previous.


StartUp Screen

The StartUp Screen is the first screen seen when starting Family Matters. If this is your first time using Family Matters, you should read the Getting Started section.

The choice of your Family Group database file is made here. This choice can only be made from the StartUp Screen FILE menu. You may choose to keep your entire family in one file, or you may choose to have separate files for different parts of your family. Since there is no limit to the number of persons or families in a Family Matters database, you will probably choose to keep only one file.

See Databases and Files for more information about the Lineage-Linked Relational Database.

See Multiuser Considerations for more information about the use of Family Matters in a shared database multiuser environment.

Click on the Start FM button to go to the chosen Family Group Form with the chosen database file.

Click on the Exit FM button to exit Family Matters.


Forms and Fields

Forms provide you access to your Family Matters databases. Each page of a form represents one or a number of records, in the respective database. Fields are the individual entries you view in a form. Forms provide a means to simplify your use of Family Matters.

The Family Group Form is the main data entry form used in Family Matters. It provides you access to a linked, relational database, the primary Family Matters record storage. You may think of this form as providing one record in the family group database at a time. The persons shown on this form are linked because they are a family. However, you will be working with the actual data of six persons (primary, spouse, and both their parents), plus all their children. The Family Group Report printout also represents the same accumulation of the Family Group database. You may open this form by use of the GRP button on the Toolbar.

The Pedigree Form provides you a means of viewing a Pedigree database. You will link the person in your database to the "head" of the form, and Family Matters will fill in their ancestors, and vital statistics. Each form page represents one record in your pedigree database. There is an associated report for the Pedigree Chart. You may open this form by use of the PED button on the Toolbar.

The Descendancy Form provides a view of your database from the point of of the descendants of one person. You choose the person of interest, and Family Matters will list all the persons descended from that person, with their spouses and children, and all indented beneath their respective parents. You can also control the amount of data listed for each person. There is also an associated Descendancy Report. You may open this form by use of the of the DEC button on the Toolbar.

The Family Navigator Form provides quick Group Form access to any desired family. Fam Nav provides a summary list of all families in the database. You may open this form by use of the of the FAM button on the Toolbar.

The Individual Navigator Form provides quick access to a desired record, and assists in the Linking persons to other related persons. Also, Ind Nav is used for linking individuals into the Pedigree database on the Pedigree Form, and for choosing the proginator on the Descendancy Form. You may open this form by use of the IND button on the Toolbar.

The Relationship Form provides a simple means of entering relationships for the Family Group Form's Relationship field. You may open this form by use of the Window menu.

The Print Form provides a means to both preview and print Family Group Reports (a view of the Family Group Form), Individual Reports, Pedigree Charts, and Descendancy Reports. You may open this form by use of the FILE menu or the Printer button on the Toolbar.

The Preferences Form provides a means to customize the appearance of the Forms and the Toolbar and Status Bar, and to set other default behaviors. You may open this form by use of the FILE menu. Of particular import is Family Matters' ability to vary the screen size of form objects to allow you to control the amount of data displayed on the screen resolution you are using.


Field Definition and Data Entry

Date

The date fields are generally displayed in the format qqq d mmm yyyy. Hence, January 1, 1995 is displayed 1 Jan 1995, and the 31st is displayed 31 Jan 1995. Date entry of  Jun 5 is considered to be the current year. Date entry of 6 Jun 55 is considered to be June 6 of the 55th year of the most recent century. Entry of 6/5/1855 will result in display of 5 Jun 1855. Entry of 5 Jun 99 will result in display of 5 Jun 1899. This will be real handy after 2000.

Every date entered in Family Matters can have a corresponding date qualifier field. If you omit it, it is to indicate that that you believe the date value entered is valid and exact. If the date is an estimate, then proceed the date with 'Est' or 'Abt'. Use the Family Data area to indicate the basis of your estimate. If you calculated the date from another date, use 'Cal' as the qualifier. If you only know that the date is before or after a given date, use 'Bef' or 'Aft' as the qualifier. 'Int' for interpreted also may be used.

Family Data

Each Family Data field is a "Memo" field, and allows entry of up to 65,000 characters, including letters and numbers, for every individual. Unlike the other text fields, depressing the Enter key causes a new line in Family Data. The sub-title field on the Pedigree Form also behaves like this.

Pictures

The Pictures fields are for OLE objects. Use the Insert menu choice under the Edit menu. Scanned photographs at 120 dpi, 16 colors in bmp files are best. If your family pictures are linked (rather than embedded) they will remain in their separate files where they can be edited or later embedded. If embedded, they add size to the Family Group file. It's your choice whether to embed, or keep as separate files. If you choose to keep them as separate files, they can be shown in more than one record without taking up additional disk space. If embedded, they will appear more quickly on your screen.

Text

The balance of the fields are text fields of varying length. The Surname and Relationship fields are 50 characters each. First Names (or Given Names) are 100 characters. The Birth Place, Marriage Place, Place of Death, Burial Place are each 240 characters. Though all text in a field may not appear on the form at one time, all lines will print on the Group Report.

The birth and death fields on the Pedigree Form can contain a summary of the data you keep for the Family Group Form. Family Matters initializes the Pedigree fields when an individual first appears on a Pedigree, and then updates it whenever the data on the Group Form changes.


Family Group Form

The Family Group Form displays one full family at a time. You view the data for both parents, their parents names, and a brief summary of all their children. Using the Family Group Form, you can view, add, delete, link, and unlink people and whole families.

Primary and Spouse

Both the Primary and Spouse sections are set up for (in order) first name, surname, relationship, male/female, date of birth, place of birth, date of death, place of death, burial date, burial place, Father's birth date, Father's first name, Father's surname, Mother's birth date, Mother's first name, and Mother's surname. The individuals displayed as Primary and Spouse may be interchanged by the use of Swap on the EDIT Menu.

Children

The CHILDREN section has space for as many children as you can fit on your screen, with no limit per family or individual. You may scroll the children portion of the display. For each child you may enter sibling number (optional), birth date, first name, surname, place of birth, and sex. The Family Group Report will print as many children as you have entered, for a family. You can make room for more children to be displayed by increasing the length of the displayed form, or by decreasing the scale factor on the preferences Form. There will always be a last child record displayed. This is not a blank record. It is known as the new record. It does not become an actual record until you enter data into it. The children will initially be displayed in the order you have entered them.

Pictures

Three pictures may be placed into each Family Group record. They are associated with the primary, spouse, and family, from left to right. Their appearance may be toggled on and off (separately for each family) by clicking on the Pictures button. As you change the size of the displayed form, the pictures will always be displayed with a 5/4 aspect ratio.

You may set the picture display mode from the Preferences Form. Clip displays fastest, but will not display the entire picture at smaller form display sizes. Zoom expands or contracts the picture to fit either the height or the width, and may leave white space in either the width or height. Stretch makes both fit perfectly, but is the slowest, and could distort the picture to make it fit.

To insert pictures, first activate the picture "frame" you wish to insert into by clicking once on it. Next, choose Insert Object from the EDIT menu.

Family Data

The Family Data section is for your free text. You may have up to 65,000 characters of text. Use this area for nicknames, Social Security number, address, high school, college, profession, employment, questionable data, current data collection efforts, medical history, cause of death, or just an interesting story from Aunt Catherine.

Navigation

Double-clicking on a parent's or child's name will take you to the family record of that family members. Or, if no family record is found, Family Matters will prompt you to allow it to create a family record for the referenced person. Family Matters will then display the known information from the current family in the new family. The new record is then automatically placed in the correct order in the database. Note that the record data displayed is the same; it is just displayed from the point of view of a different family member.

Double-clicking on the Primary or Spouse name will take you to any other family that person is a member of, as a primary or a spouse, should there have been more than one marriage or family for that person.

The Fam Nav Form displays a summary list of all the families in your database. Double-click on a Fam Nav entry, and the Family Group Form (if loaded) will seek to that family. On initial display, Fam Nav will seek to the current family displayed on the Family Group Form.

The Ind Nav Form also provides navigation on the Family Group Form, in addition to displaying the data of each individual. On initial display, Ind Nav will seek to the last individual that has received the focus on the Group Form. Double-click on an individual on Ind Nav, and the Group Form will seek to that person, and display his or her family.

Family records can be accessed sequentially through the use of the Go To buttons on the Toolbar and the Go To selections on the Records Menu. In addition, one family per database file can be designated as "Home". You might choose this to be you and your spouse (if you have your own family), or you and your parents and siblings. This would be the family that you would most often like to seek directly to. This function is available to both the Group Form and the Family Navigator Form.

Linking

Individuals already in the database can be linked to others (as spouse, child, or parent) with the assistance of the Ind Nav Form. On the Ind Nav Form, display the person you wish to link. Click the Link button, causing the selected person to highlight (you may choose the person or one of the parents). Next, on the Family Group Form, click the name field of the position you wish to link into, or replace. You will be prompted to verify your choice. Choose Yes to confirm.

Suppose that someone is already in your database (Grandma Bianchi), and you wish to set up a new family record, but with her second husband. Use Link, when the Group Form is displaying the New (blank) record, to link Grandma Bianchi to be the primary in the new record. Note that her parents name appear as soon as you link her. Next, assuming that her second husband is not yet in the database (he's not your Grandpa, right?), type his information into the spouse area.

But what if she had children with the second husband, and you currently have them as children of your Grandpa? No problem. Just link each child to the newly-formed family. When you do this, FM will also unlink them from your Grandpa. Done. You have just pruned and grafted a part of your family tree.

Unlinking and Deletions

Likewise, individuals may be unlinked or deleted. The Delete and Unlink Control assists these operations. Click the Unlink (or Delete) button, causing it to highlight. Next, on the Family Group Form click a name field of the person you wish to unlink (or delete). You will be prompted to verify your choice. Choose Yes to confirm. If the person you are operating on has other linkages in the database that are not currently displayed, an additional confirmation will be requested, with the number and types of linkages (spouse, father, mother). You can set the preferences to cause the second confirmation to displayed regardless.

The family record you are viewing can be deleted, and the persons in it unlinked. Click the Unlink (or Delete) button, causing it to highlight. Next, on the Family Group Form click an empty name field, or the marriage place field. Note that this action does not delete anyone from the database, just the family links. It does, however, remove the marriage data and a family picture (the one on the right) if there is one.

Browsing

You may browse you database in a number of ways. The next or previous family may be accessed by use of either the Page Up and Page Down Keys, or the corresponding buttons on the ToolBar. Alternatively, you may use lineage browsing. A double click on the name of a child or parent will bring you to that record. By repeating this action, you may traverse up and down the branches of you family tree. Or, the Fam Nav Form can be used to scroll through the family names, then immediately access that family via a Group Seek by using the Fam Nav button.

Multiuser Considerations

If you are in a multiuser environment, be aware that linking, unlinking, adding and deleting can modify the records of many more individuals than just the ones you are physically viewing. Multiuser Considerations has more information on this topic.

Group Form Buttons

The buttons across the top of the form allow you to obtain Help, Swap the displayed primary and spouse individuals, toggle Pictures on and off for each family, and Close the Family Group Form.

Form Display

Note:  Family Matters allows you to set the vertical scaling and font size of the Group Form, Ind Nav, and Fam Nav forms. The Family Group Form displays well on a 1024x768 resolution display, at 96 logical dots per inch (dpi), using a 100% scaling and a 10 point type. The Preferences Form allows the scaling and type size to be set to values of your liking. If you have a VGA (640x480) display, Family Matters has initially set the Preferences values accordingly. Settings of other than 100% and 10 points may slightly slow the initial form display on some computers.


Pedigree Form

Each Pedigree Form page represents a single record in the Pedigree database. You will probably want to begin the first page with either you, your spouse, or your child, once you link the root person on the form (see below). Once you link the root person on a page, Family Matters will then automatically fill in your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents on that page.

There can be as many of these pages in your Pedigree database as you like. They will be sequentially viewed in the order determined by your entry into the sequence number field. Pedigree Form Reports may be printed, and will look exactly like the screen presentation, except that the sequence number is suppressed from printing, and the background will be white. (Note: Printing while viewing Print Preview for the Pedigree Report at the same time the Pedigree Form is visible may cause a resource shortage problem. Close the preview or form while printing the pedigree.)

Two fields of title text can be entered on each form. The second field (the sub-title) accepts the enter key as termination of its first line and the start of the second. An example of the Pedigree title text you might choose is:

The Pedigree of John Doe

John Doe and His Parents, Grandparents, and Great Grandparents

Chart Number One of Sixteen

The second page could be made nearly identical, such as:

The Pedigree of John Doe

Great Great Grandfather Johann Conrad Doe and His Ancestors

Chart Number Two of Sixteen

Linking

The Individual Navigator is used to place links to persons in the Pedigree database. With Link activated on the Ind Nav Form, click on either the Primary or the Spouse name field on the Pedigree Form. If there isn't a name there yet, there will be an empty rectangle in its place. Family Matters will verify the validity of the action, then link the individual in the desired role. The Delete and Unlink Control is used to reverse these actions.

The birth and death fields on the Pedigree Form can contain a summary of the data you keep for the Family Group Form. Family Matters initializes the Pedigree fields when an individual first appears on a Pedigree, and then updates it whenever the data on the Group Form changes.

Don't hesitate to make a form for Aunt Maria when she visits. Just link her as the root and Uncle Andy as her spouse. Then print her a page to take back home to show Uncle Andy and the family.


Descendancy Form

The records displayed on the Descendancy Form represent the descendants of the chosen progenitor; the contents of the descendancy database. You may want to show the descendants of perhaps your Great Great Grandfather. Begin by choosing him with the combo-box in the form header. Every person in your database is available to be chosen. They will be listed by last name and by birthday. Their birthdays are also displayed to facilitate choosing. Alternatively, you may use Link from the Ind Nav Form to choose the proginator.

Once you have designated the progenitor, you can generate his or her descendants by clicking the Generate button. Family Matters will then automatically fill in your family's descendants. You can choose whether you want the relationship, and place of birth and/or death included for each person.

The Ind Nav Form also operates in conjunction with the Descendancy Form. When Ind Nav is opened, or when you click on its Ind Nav button, the Ind Nav Form will jump to the person chosen on the Descendancy form.

Before you print your Descendancy Chart you may choose to edit any of the entries. You are free to do that, and your edits will be stored in your database. You may also decide to delete some records. To delete a single record, click once in the selection area on the left to mark the record, then use your delete key to delete the operation. To delete multiple records, either drag the mouse pointer through the selection buttons, or use shift-arrow to select the records. Then use your delete key to perform the operation.

Don't hesitate to make a form for Aunt Blanche when she visits. Just link her as the head and Uncle Dick as her spouse. Then print her the Descendancy Report pages to take back home to show Uncle Dick and Laura and the family. Descendancy Charts can be made for any person in your database, and will be stored for next time.


Family Navigator Form
Family Navigator Form (Fam Nav)

The Family Navigator presents a summary listing of all the records in the Family Group database sorted by primary person surname and birthdate. The three columns are Primary Person Birthdate, Primary Person Full Name, and Spouse Full Name. Note that as the Fam Nav Form is opened, it will seek to the record of the family who currently has the focus on the Group Form. Once opened, you can cause it to seek again by clicking the Fam Seek button.

There is a FAM activation button on the Toolbar, as well as a menu entry under WINDOW.

Group Seek

Navigation to any family in the Family Matters database is performed by double-clicking on the desired person. The Family Group Form (if loaded) will then display the selected record. The slider on the Fam Nav form can be used to quickly position to help you get the desired record displayed. Double-clicking on the desired person, depressing Enter, and clicking on the Group Seek button will all cause the Group Form display of the desired family.

Fam Seek

This button causes a repeat of the action which takes place as Fam Nav is opened. The record displayed by Fam Nav will then be the most recent family displayed on the Family Group Form.

Home

This ToolBar button causes the Fam Nav to seek directly to the family you have previously designated as "Home"; perhaps your own family, or your parents' family.


Individual Navigator Form
Individual Navigator Form (Ind Nav)

The Individual Navigator presents a listing of all the individual records in the Family Group database sorted by individual surname and birthdate. The two columns are Birthdate and Full Name. Note that as the Ind Nav Form is opened, it will seek to the record of the person who currently has the focus on the Family Group Form or the Pedigree Form. Once opened, you can cause Fam Nav to seek again by clicking the Ind Seek button.

There is a IND activation button on the Toolbar, as well as a menu entry under WINDOW.

Group Seek

Navigation to any person in the Family Matters database is performed by double-clicking on the desired person. The Family Group Form (if loaded) will then display the selected record. The Ind Nav Form slider can be used to quickly position the Navigator Form to quickly get the desired persons record displayed. Double-clicking on the desired person, depressing enter, or clicking on the Group Seek button will cause the Group Form display of the desired person.

Link

Individuals already in the database can be linked to others (as spouse, child, or parent) with the assistance of the Ind Nav Form. On the Ind Nav Form, display the person you wish to link. Click the Link button, causing the selected person to highlight (you may choose the person or one of the parents). Next, on the Family Group Form, Descendancy Form proginator, or Pedigree Form, click the name field of the position you wish to link into, or replace. You will be prompted to verify your choice. Choose Yes to confirm.

Ind Seek

This button causes a repeat of the action which takes place as Ind Nav is opened. The record displayed by Ind Nav will then be the most recent individual displayed (focused upon) on the Family Group Form (whether primary, spouse, father, mother or child) or any individual either the Pedigree Form or the Descendancy Form.

Browsing

When the cursor is in the list area of the Ind Nav Form, the up and down arrow keys will move you from one record to the next. When you see data in an individual's record that you wish to change, you may use the mouse to directly enter the field of interest. To return to the list area, to continue browsing, depress F6. This will move the cursor from the data are to the list area of the same record. You may then continue with arrow keys.

Multiuser Considerations

If you are in a multiuser environment, be aware that linking, unlinking, adding and deleting can modify the records of many more individuals than just the ones you are physically viewing. Multiuser Considerations has more information on this topic.


Delete And Unlink Control

The Delete and Unlink Control form allows you to correct lineage errors, and to delete individuals and records from the database. It is used in conjunction with the Family Group Form, Pedigree Form, or the Individual Navigator Form.

Unlink

Depression of the Unlink button activates the Unlink function. A second depression deactivates it. Just as individual can be linked using the Ind Nav Form, individuals may be unlinked or deleted. Click the Unlink button, causing it to highlight. Next, on the Family Group, Pedigree, or Ind Nav Form click a name field of the person you wish to unlink. You will be prompted to verify your choice. Choose Yes to confirm.

Delete

Depression of the Delete button activates the Delete function. A second depression deactivates it. Just as individual can be linked using the Ind Nav Form, individuals may be unlinked or deleted. Click the Delete button, causing it to highlight. Next, on the Family Group, Pedigree, or Ind Nav Form click a name field of the person you wish to unlink. You will be prompted to verify your choice. Choose Yes to confirm. You may also delete the Pedigree or Family record. A click on an empty name field is interpreted as such a request. As always, you will be asked to confirm your action.

If the person you are operating on has other linkages in the database, not currently displayed, an additional confirmation will be requested, with the number and types of linkages (spouse, father, mother). You can set the preferences to cause the second confirmation to always be displayed.

Family Unlink

A family record can be deleted, and the persons in it unlinked. Click the Unlink (or Delete) button, causing it to highlight. Next, on the Family Group Form click an empty name field, or the marriage place field. Note that this action does not delete anyone from the database, just the family links.

Multiuser Considerations

If you are in a multiuser environment, be aware that linking, unlinking, adding and deleting can modify the records of many more individuals than just the ones you are physically viewing. Multiuser Considerations has more information on this topic.


Relationship Form

This form allows the entry and maintenance of the Relationship text that appears on the Family Group Form and Ind Nav Form on the Relationship drop-down menu.

The Relationship Form may be activated by the selection of a menu selection under Edit. Entries may be added, deleted and edited. Changes made via this form will be visible the next time a Family Group Form or Ind Nav Form is opened.


Toolbar

The ToolBar is the type that you can drag anywhere on the screen. Pull on its borders, and you can change its shape. Leave it in the middle, put it on the bottom, put it on one side. You can hide it altogether by clicking your right mouse button while pointing at it, and selecting hide. It will reappear when the next form is opened.

SAVE RECORD Saves your current Family Group or Pedigree record. Records are automatically saved as you move from one to another.

UNDO Undo your last edits.

UNDO CURRENT FIELD/RECORD Undo on a larger scale. Careful, there's no undo undo.

FIND, FIND NEXT, REPLACE Find or replace any text string in your entire database, in whichever form is active. Use the Preferences Form to set the default search behavior.

GO TO FIRST, PREVIOUS, NEXT RECORD, OR LAST RECORD Just like they suggest; navigate the database sequentially.

HOME Go directly to the Family record you have designated as "Home" for this database file. If no Home family has been designated as yet, you will be prompted to choose a home family. The Records menu allows designation of a new Home record. Each database file can have a Home family designated.

NEW Create a new family, pedigree, individual, or relationship record.

UNLINK AND DELETE CONTROL Displays the Unlink and Delete Control Form from which you can unlink or delete persons, families, or records from your database.

OPEN THE PRINT FORM Print and preview Family Group Reports and Pedigree Reports.

SHOW ALL Cancels the effects of a Quick-Sort. Shows and re-orders the records in the current form.

EDITOR Opens a text editor program window for pasting or collecting of externel text data. The choice of which editor you would prefer to use (e.g., Write, NotePad, WordPad) can be modified on the Preferences Form . Each depression will open another editor window. Successively depress Alt-Tab to switch between them. Release the keys when the desired window is visible.

GRP Opens the Family Group Form. If already open, it becomes the active window.

PED Opens the Pedigree Form. If already open, it becomes the active window.

DEC Opens the Descendancy Form. If already open, it becomes the active window.

FAM Opens the Family Navigator Form. If already open, it becomes the active window.

IND Opens the Individual Navigator Form. If already open, it becomes the active window.

CLOSE Closes all the database entry forms, and brings up the StartUp Screen. This also happens automatically when you close the last of the open database entry forms.


Menus

There are two Menus which may be displayed. The main menu is available when the editing forms are visible. A limited menu selection is available when the StartUp Form is visible.

StartUp Menus

FILE

New FM Database	Create and open a new FM database.

Open a FM Database	Open an existing FM database.

Create a Snapshot	Save your work in a new FM database. The current database file remains open.

GEDCOM Import/Export	Import or export data from/to another genealogy program database.

Database Statistics	Count the number of families and individuals.

Preferences	Open the Preferences dialog box.

Database Compact	Compact the current FM database.

Database Repair	Repair the current FM database.

Database Upgrade	Upgrade the current FM database to the current level. You will be notified if this is necessary.

Exit	Exit Family Matters.

HELP

Contents	Display the Help Table of Contents.

Search	Search for Help on a topic.

About	Display About Family Matters.

Data Entry Menus

FILE

Open Relationships	Open the Relationship list for editing.

Save Record	Save the currently displayed record.

Print	Open the Print dialog box.

GEDCOM Import/Export	Import or export data from/to another genealogy program database.

Database Statistics	Count the number of families and people.

Preferences	Open the Preferences dialog box.

Close	Close the current databases and return to StartUp.

Exit	Exit Family Matters.

EDIT

Undo	Undo the entries since record saved.

Undo Current Field	Undo current field changes.

Cut	Cut highlighted text to clipboard.

Copy	Copy highlighted text to clipboard.

Paste	Paste text from clipboard.

Delete	Delete highlighted text.

Find	Open the Find dialog box.

Replace	Open the Replace dialog box.

Delete & Unlink	Open the Unlink and Delete Control Form.

Links	Review linked OLE objects on current Group record.

Object	Edit or embed highlighted OLE object.

Insert Object	Choose OLE object (picture) to insert for current record.

RECORDS

Go To First	Go to the first record of the current database.

Go To Last	Go to the last record of the current database.

Go To Next	Go to the next record of the current database.

Go To Previous	Go to the previous record of the current database.

Go To New	Go to the new (last) record of the current database.

Set Home	Go to the Home family record of the current database.

Go To Home	Set the Home family record of the current database.

Family Navigator	Open the Family Navigator Form.

Individual Navigator	Open the Individual Navigator Form.

QuickSort Ascending	Causes the active form display to sort ascending on the currently highlighted field.

QuickSort Descending	Causes the active form display to sort descending on the currently highlighted field.

Show All Records	Shows and re-orders the records in the current form. Cancels the QuickSort.

WINDOW

Tile	Tiles the currently open windows.

Cascade	Cascades the currently open windows.

Arrange Icons	Arrange icons for minimized windows.

Size to Fit Form	Size the current window to just fit the displayed form.

Remember Form Size	Store the current window size.

Remember Form

Size and Position	Store the current window size and screen position.

Forget Form

Size and Position	Forget the current window size and screen position.

Family Group Form	Make the Family Group Form current.

Pedigree Form	Open the Pedigree Form.

Current Window List	Choose a currently loaded window to re-activate.

HELP

Contents	Display the Help Table of Contents.

Search	Search for Help on a topic.

About	Display About Family Matters.


Databases and Files

The Family Matters uses a Lineage-Linked Relational Database. Individuals and their data are stored in a table of individuals, and have links which "point" to their parents' individual table entries. Another table, the family table, has links which "point" to the primary persons and spouses, and contains the marriage information. The pedigree data table contains links to the individuals who are shown as the primary and spouses on the pedigree form. The descendency data table contains the last descendancy chart you generated. Each person's entry "points" to their corresponding entry in the individual table. Family Matters reads and interprets all this information to provide you with Family Group Sheets, Pedigree Charts, and Descendancy Charts to assist you in organizing, researching, viewing, and maintaining your family's history.

If you are using Family Matters in a multiuser environment, then you and your workgroup members may wish to simultaneously open the same database. The database you open will need to be placed in a directory that is shared across a network. While one person is viewing data, others might be working in the same database, and changing, adding, viewing, and/or deleting the same or related data. The only restrictions that exist are on a record basis. That means that if two users are modifying the same record at the same time, only one user's changes to a record will be stored into the database. The other user will be notified. You will want to use the Save Record function to complete your changes and allow the other user to proceed. Multiuser Considerations has more information on this topic.

The Family Group Form appears to view a single record at a time in the Family Group database. In fact, it allows you to view the contents of many records at the same time. As you step through the family data table, the Group Form displays to you the data for the six individuals making up the Primary, Spouse, and both sets of parents. Additionally, all the children who are products of this family, and some of their individual data, are shown in a scrollable area on the form.

As an illustration, when you are on the Group Form and your double-click on a child or parent elicits the question "Family record does not exist, create?", it's because you are on the "ragged edge" of your database. There is a table entry for the individual, but no family table entry "pointing" to that individual as a Primary or Spouse. This makes good sense for children who have not yet struck out on their own, and for parents of persons who might be unrelated to you (like that guy that your sister married). You want to have his parents' names and individual data, but you might not be interested in anything more about his family.

The Individual Navigator (Ind Nav) Form allows you to step through the data table containing the individuals. This presentation of your database shows all the individuals in the database, whether related to you or not. The Ind Nav Form also displays the parents' names of each individual. Likewise, the Family Navigator (Fam Nav) Form displays a summary of all the families in your database. By the way, the Database Statistics function shows you the total number of families and individuals in your database.

Another database table used in Family Matters is the one viewed by the Pedigree Form. This table contains links which "point" to the individual displayed as the primary (or root) of the chart, and to the spouse shown in the chart. You must, however, tell Family Matters the person who is to be the root of the chart. Family Matters "fills in" the other individuals and their vital statistics for you.

Family Matters provides you capability to account for multiple spouses. There is no reason why the same individual cannot be "pointed to" by many family table entries. When you do this, be sure to use the linking facility provided by the Ind Nav Form, rather than create a second individual table entry for the same person. Of course, you may wish to only choose one spouse, and address the others in the Family Data text area. You can choose the blood relative, or the spouse with which most children were had (or the current spouse if you are friends).

Database Upgrade

As the capabilities of Family Matters improves with new versions, the database will occasionally have to be upgraded. Currently the database is at version 2.40. If your database was begun with an earlier version of FM, you will be prompted to upgrade your database prior to proceeding.

2.00 to 2.30. This upgrade involves the replacement of the date-check filed with date qualifiers. The date qualifiers allow a more exact and more widely accepted means of indicating the accuracy of the indicated date. Using Upgrade, dates without their corresponding date-checks checked will have 'Abt' pre-pended to the dates. Use the find and replace functions to quickly locate the strings "abt 1 jan" and "abt 1" to adjust you dates.

2.30 to 2.40. This upgrade involves the addition of the Descendancy data table to the database, corresponding to the addition of the Decendancy Form and data generation.


Multiuser Considerations

Family Matters makes Multiuser Genealogical Computing transparent to the users. There are no special settings to be made to allow or disallow this feature. This is the same mechanism that allows a single user to view the same records using multiple forms at the same time.

Database Location

The database you wish to share will need to be placed in a directory that is shared across a network. Each computer requiring access will need its own copy of Family Matters. The copy of Family Matters running in the computer in which the database resides will have the fastest access.

While one person is viewing data, others might be working in the same database, and changing, adding, viewing, and/or deleting the same data. The only restrictions that exist are on a record basis. That means that if two users are modifying the same record at the same time, only one user's changes to a record will be stored into the database.

Requery

You will be able to view the data changes made by another user in the database within 60 seconds after they are saved. However, your view of the records will not be reordered, new records will not be displayed, and deleted records may display with #deleted in the fields. To fully update your view and obtain the latest, properly sorted data, either close and then re-open the form you are using, or simply depress shift-F9.

Record Locking

For maximum group and individual flexibility, Family Matters sets no record locking. The effect of this becomes a consideration beginning when you start to edit a record, and ending at the time it is saved. In database parlance, this is the time period in which that record's data is "dirty". Others may view the record while your copy of the record is dirty, but they will see the old data. Your changes will become viewable by the other users 60 seconds after your changes have been saved.

Another user may edit the same record. If those changes have already been saved, you will be notified when you attempt to save your changed data. The options presented to you will be to (1) overwrite, (2) copy your changes to the clipboard, or (3) discard your changes. Since the other user's database transactions have already been completed, and could have involved linkage modifications (invisible to you), your best bet is to choose discard. Any other choice could cause unpredictable results.

Linking, Unlinking, and Deleting

Linking, unlinking, adding and deleting can modify the records of many more individuals than just the ones you are physically viewing. For instance, when you add a spouse to an existing family, Family Matters will modify all of the records of the children to "point" to the new mother or father, and each record so modified will be briefly dirty as it is modified. The best arrangement is to restrict only one user to this type of database operation, and (for best performance) seat that user at the computer on which the database is physically located.

StartUp and Shutdown Procedures

Should the computer with the database become inaccessible to Family Matters, you may view a sequence of error messages from the database engine. Just continue to click on OK until you are able to normally exit Family Matters.

Should you wish to again use the same shared database you were using on another computer when you last exited Family Matters, make sure that computer and file is available before starting Family Matters. When you start Family Matters it will attempt to reattach to the database that was last in use. If it is inaccessible, you will be notified, and can open another database.


Character Set

The following table shows the character and the ANSI code in sort sequence. This is the Windows character set that addresses English, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Modern Spanish. The ANSI codes for the extended character set shown can be entered by using the ALT key and the numeric pad digits on your keyboard (see International Settings in your Windows manual). If you plan to transfer your data to another program that only reads plain text, it may not recognize the extended character set.

Char	ANSIcode	Char	ANSIcode	Char	ANSIcode	Char	ANSIcode

0	48	D	68	k	107	U	85

1	49	d	100	L	76	u	117

¹	185	Ð	208	l	108	Ù	217

2	50	ð	240	M	77	ù	249

²	178	E	69	m	109	Ú	218

3	51	e	101	N	78	ú	250

³	179	È	200	n	110	Û	219

4	52	è	232	Ñ	209	û	251

5	53	É	201	ñ	241	Ü	220

6	54	é	233	O	79	ü	252

7	55	Ê	202	o	111	V	86

8	56	ê	234	Ò	210	v	118

9	57	Ë	203	ò	242	W	87

A	65	ë	235	Ó	211	w	119

a	97	F	70	ó	243	X	88

À	192	f	102	Ô	212	x	120

à	224	G	71	ô	244	Y	89

Á	193	g	103	Ö	214	y	121

á	225	H	72	ö	246	Ý	221

Â	194	h	104	Õ	213	ý	253

â	226	I	73	õ	245	Ÿ	159

Ä	196	i	105	P	80	ÿ	255

ä	228	Ì	204	p	112	Z	90

Ã	195	ì	236	Q	81	z	122

ã	227	Í	205	q	113	Þ	222

Å	197	í	237	R	82	þ	254

å	229	Î	206	r	114	Ø	216

B	66	î	238	S	83	ø	248

b	98	Ï	207	s	115	Œ	140

C	67	ï	239	Š	138	œ	156

c	99	J	74	š	154	ß	223

Ç	199	j	106	T	84	Æ	198

ç	231	K	75	t	116	æ	230


Compact Database

To make the best use of your memory and disk space, you may want to periodically compact your database. Compacting makes a copy of the database, rearranging how the database file is stored on disk if it is fragmented. File storage can become fragmented when you make many changes to a database. The compacted database file is usually smaller and often provides better performance.

Additionally, compacting reduces the file size by removing space once consumed by deleted records. Furthermore, since FM database space is only consumed by data (although a field may allow 250 characters maximum, it only uses as much space as is required), compacting will remove the space once used by fields.

If you are in a multiuser environment, you will not be able to compact the database if other users have the database in question currently open. The process will be quicker if you perform the compaction from the computer in which the database is resides.

While on the StartUp Form, the FILE menu contains a Database Compact selection. This choice will cause your current database to be compacted. This may take a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the size of your database.

If the database is compacted successfully, the original file is replaced with the compacted version. The compact operation succeeds only if you have enough storage space on your disk for both the original and compacted versions of the database. The original will still be on your disk as .old.

Databases can also be compacted by use of a command line option. The command "acrn200 DataBaseName.mdb /compact" will cause compaction of DataBaseName. Both /compact and /repair can be used on the same command line.


Repair Database

Repairs a corrupted database. The database can only become corrupted if Family Matters were to quit unexpectedly: for example, if there is a power outage or your computer experiences a hardware problem. The database will not become corrupted if you exit normally.

If you are in a multiuser environment, you will not be able to repair the database if other users have the database in question currently open. The process will be quicker if you perform the repair from the computer in which the database is resides.

While on the StartUp Form, the FILE menu contains a Database Repair selection. This choice will cause your current database to be repaired. This may take a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the size of your database.

Databases can also be repaired by use of a command line option. The command "acrn200 databasename.mdb /repair" will cause repair into the same file name. Both /compact and /repair can be used on the same command line.

When you open or compact a corrupted database, Family Matters may ask if you want to repair the database. If you choose OK, Family Matters repairs the database. In some situations, Family Matters may not detect that a database has become corrupted. If a database behaves erratically, use Repair Database to repair it.


Save Record

Saves changes to the data in the current record. Choose Save Record to save changes while the record has the focus. Save Record is available both on the toolbar and on the Menu Bar, under Records.

Saving data in the current record usually is unnecessary because the record is automatically saved when the focus leaves it. For example, Family Matters saves a record when you move to a different record; close the active form, database; or exit Family Matters.

If you are in a multiuser environment, you should save your changes to a record so that other users can view your changes, and not overwrite them.


Undo Current Field/Current Record

Reverses all changes made to the current field or record since you started editing the record, or saved it.

The appearance of the command on the Edit menu depends on whether the changes to the current field or record can be reversed. If they can't be reversed, the command is dimmed and made unavailable.

Family Matters automatically saves a record when the focus leaves it. For example, Family Matters saves a record when you move the focus to a different record; close the active form, or database; or exit. You can save a record while it has the focus by choosing Save Record.

To reverse your most recent typing in a field without reversing other changes, choose Undo. To reverse changes to the last saved record, choose Undo Saved Record from the Edit menu.

You can't reverse Deletes, Links, or Unlinks.

Shortcut

Esc


Undo

Reverses your most recent action, changes to the last saved record, or typing. Use Undo to reverse an unwanted change when you are editing a record.

The name of the command on the Edit menu depends on what can currently be reversed.

After you make a change, you can reverse it until you make another change.

You can't undo the most recent delete or paste of a record, or a completed replace operation. You can't reverse Deletes, Links, or Unlinks.

Shortcut

Ctrl+Z, Alt+Backspace


Find

Searches for the data you specify in the current form or database. To search for multiple occurrences of specified data, you can use the Find Next button in the Find dialog box, or you can close the dialog box and press Shift+F4. Use Replace to both Find and Replace.

Find What

Type the string you want to find in your database. You can use wildcard characters to make the search more general.

Where

Click the drop-down arrow to display a list of search locations:

Any Part of Field

Searches for any occurrence of the text string. For example, searching for berg finds Bergen and Heidelberg.

Match Whole Field

Recognizes a match only when the text string matches the complete contents of the field. For example, searching for London finds London, but not Londonderry.

Start of Field

Searches for the text string at the beginning of a field. For example, searching for berg finds Bergen, but not Heidelberg.

Select which of the above three you wish to be the default by use of the Preferences Form.

Search In

Select one of the two options for searching:

Current Field

Searches through all records in the current field only. Searching in the current field is almost always quicker than searching through all fields, and is generally much quicker when you search on an indexed field.

All Fields

Searches through the entire table.

Direction

Select the direction of the search:

Up

Toward the first record.

Down

Toward the last record.

Match Case

Select if you want to search for the text string exactly as you typed it in the Find What section. For example, searching for Street finds Street, but not street or STREET.

Search Fields as Formatted

Select if you want to find data based on its display format. This would be the normal choice.

Find First

Finds the first occurrence of the text string in the table. This button is not available until you specify what you want to find.

Find Next

Finds the next occurrence (relative to the current position of the insertion point) of the text string you specify. This button is not available until you specify what you want to find.

Close

Closes the dialog box.

Shortcut

F7 or Ctrl+F


Replace

Finds an existing text string in the current form or database and replaces it with the string you specify. Use Find to search without replacing.

Find What

Type the text string you want to find. You can use wildcard characters to make the search more general.

Replace With

Type the text string that will replace the existing string.

Search In

Select one of the two options for searching:

Current Field

Searches in the current field only. Searching in the current field is generally quicker than searching through all fields.

All Fields

Searches through the entire table.

Match Case

Select if you want to search for the text string exactly as you typed it in the Find What section, matching uppercase and lowercase letters. For example, if you want to replace references to Street, but not references to street, select this option.

Match Whole Field

Select if you want to match the text string with the complete contents of a field.

Find Next

Finds and highlights (but doesn't replace) the next occurrence of the text string you specified in the Find What box.

Replace

Replaces the highlighted text and finds the next occurrence of the text string. If you don't want to replace a particular occurrence of the string, choose the Find Next button.

Replace All

Replaces all occurrences of the text string without stopping for confirmation. You can use this as an alternative to repeatedly pressing the Replace button.

Close

Closes the dialog box.

Shortcut

Shift+F7 or Ctrl+H


Wildcard Characters

The asterisk (*), question mark (?), number sign (#), exclamation point (!), hyphen (-), and brackets ([ ]) are wildcard characters. You can use these characters in queries, commands, and expressions to include all records, file names, or other items that begin with specific characters or match a certain pattern. You can also use wildcard characters and matching characters to further refine a Find or Replace search.

*	Entering "wh*" (without the quotes) finds what, white, and why.

Entering "*at" finds cat, bat, and what. Like the MS-DOS asterisk (*)

wildcard character, this asterisk matches any number of characters. But

unlike MS-DOS, it can be used as the first character in the search string.

?	Entering "b?ll" finds ball, bell, and bill. Like the MS-DOS ? wildcard

character, this symbol matches any single character.

#	Entering "1#3" finds 103, 113, 123. This symbol matches any single digit.

[ ]	Entering "b[ae]ll" finds ball and bell but not bill. This method matches

any single character within the brackets.

!	Entering "b[!ae]ll" finds bill and bull but not bell. This method matches

any character not in the list.

-	Entering "b[a-c]d" finds bad, bbd, and bcd. This method matches

any one of a range of characters.

Note:  The wildcard characters

*	Asterisk,

?	Question mark,

#	Number sign, and

[	Opening bracket

can match themselves only if enclosed in brackets. For example, to search for a question mark, you would enter [?] in the Find dialog box.


Insert Object

Embeds or links a scanned photograph, from an OLE application to the . Use this command to embed Pictures in your Family Group database. If not already the picture "frames", click on the Pictures button on the Group Form. From left to right the frames are for Primary, Spouse, and Family pictures. Activate the frame of choice by clicking on it once. You will see its outline change to indicate it is activated. Next, use the EDIT menu to choose INSERT OBJECT.

Create New

Select this button to create and embed a new OLE object. Use Create from File in Family Matters.

Create from File

Select this button to embed or link an object you've already created and saved using another OLE application. After you choose Create from File, the File box, the Browse button, and the Link box appear.

Object Type

Lists the other OLE server applications installed on your computer. Select an object type from the list if you want to create and embed an object. To embed or link an object (Paintbrush Picture) you've already created and saved, choose Create from File.

Display As Icon

Not used in Family Matters.

File

Type the name and path of the file you want to link or embed.

Browse

Opens the Browse dialog box, in which you can choose the file you want to link or embed.

Link

Link the file displayed in the File box. (If you do not choose Link, the file will be embedded.)

Change Icon

Not used with Family Matters.


Links

Displays the Links dialog box in which you can update, modify, or break the OLE links in the activated picture. This command is available only if links exist in the selected object or field (a Picture field has the focus).

Links Dialog Box Options

Link Group

Select either OLE links or DDE links to display the appropriate grouping you want to list in the Link box. Choose OLE.

Link

Select the link that you want to update, modify, or break. Displays the names of the linked file, item information such as the x-y coordinates of a bitmap, the object application or type of application, and the type of updating selected for this link.

Source

Displays the complete name and location of the object file selected in the Link box.

Type

Displays the object application or type of application to which the file selected in the Link box is linked.

Update

Specify how you want to update information. Select Automatic to update the information whenever new information becomes available. This is the default. Select Manual to update the information only when you select a link and either choose the Update Now button or press F9.

Update Now

Updates the link selected in the Link box. If information has changed in the object document, the new information shows in your form.

Open Source

Opens the selected file in the object application for editing.

Change Source

Displays the Change Source dialog box, where you can specify a different object file for the selected link or change item information.

Break Link

Breaks the link selected in the Link box.

Change Source Dialog Box Options

File Name

To change the object, type the file name you want to link to, or select the file name from the list.

List Files of Type

You can list All Files only.

Drives

Select the drive on which the file you want to link to is stored.

Directories

Select the directory in which the file you want to link to is stored.


Object

Displays a submenu of commands you can use for the selected OLE object.

Use this submenu command	to:

Activate	Activate the OLE object in place.

Change to Picture	Change the object so it can't be edited from Family Matters.

Edit	Open the object application so you can edit the selected

OLE object and then return to your form, report, or datasheet.

Open	Open the object application in a separate window.

Play	Play the selected OLE object (such as a sound object). Not supported in Family Matters.

Properties	Open an OLE-specific property sheet for the OLE object.

Run	Run the selected OLE object (for example, a media object).

The submenu always contains the Change to Picture command. The other commands on the submenu vary depending on the object application.

The name of this command changes to reflect the type of OLE object you've selected. For example, if you've selected a picture that was embedded from Microsoft Paintbrush, the name of the Object command will be Paintbrush Picture Object.

When you choose the Edit submenu, the object application opens in its own window. If the object application supports OLE version 2, then you can edit in place directly on the form or report. When you edit in place, some of the object application menus may temporarily replace the Family Matters menu.


Preferences Form
Preferences

Use these options to set the characteristics of your Family Matters environment.

Scale Factor:  60% to 100%

Sets the vertical display scale factor on the Family Group, Ind Nav, Fam Nav, and Relationships Forms. The most desirable setting for a 1024x768 resolution display, at 96 logical dots per inch (dpi), is 100% scaling. If you have a VGA (640x480) display Family Matters has initially set this to a lower value.

Font Size:  6 to 10

Sets the text font size on the Family Group, Ind Nav, Fam Nav, and Relationships Forms. The most desirable setting for a 1024x768 resolution display, at 96 logical dots per inch (dpi), is 10. If you have a VGA (640x480) display Family Matters has initially set this to a smaller font.

Picture Mode:  Clip, Zoom, or Stretch

Clip displays fastest, but will not display the entire picture at smaller form display sizes. Zoom expands or contracts the picture to fit either the height or the width, and may leave white space in either the width or height. Stretch makes both fit perfectly, but is the slowest, and could distort the picture to make it fit.

Large ToolBar Buttons:  Yes or No

Displays toolbar buttons in a large, easy-to-read format. Intended for use with video resolutions higher than VGA. With VGA resolution and below, some buttons on the ends of the toolbar may disappear from view. To see all the buttons, drag the toolbar from its docked position to a convenient location on the screen.

Color Buttons on ToolBar:  Yes or No

Displays or doesn't display toolbar buttons in color. The buttons may be made monochrome for better appearance on some laptops.

Show Status Bar:  Yes or No

Displays or doesn't display the status bar. When on, the field data entry messages will appear. Also, the right hand sections shows the status of CAPS, INS, and NUM.

Show ToolTips:  Yes or No

Displays or doesn't display ToolTips.

Confirm Deletes and Unlinks:  Yes or No

Displays or doesn't display a confirmation message box when you Delete or Unlink individuals. If the person you are operating on has other linkages in the database, not currently displayed, an additional confirmation will be requested, with the number and types of linkages (spouse, father, mother). If this option is set to yes, this confirmation is always displayed.

Default Search Behavior:  Fast Search, General Search, or Start of Field

Sets the default behavior for find and replace operations. Fast Search searches the current field and matches the whole field. Start of Field matches against just the first characters in the field. General Search searches all fields and matches any part of the field. Changes made to this setting don't take affect until the next time you start. To change the behavior for a specific find or replace operation, choose Find or Replace from the Edit menu, or the Toolbar, and then set the appropriate options in the dialog box.

Text Editor:  Write, NotePad, WordPad, or any other

The choice of which editor you would prefer to use can be modified here. External text files can be edited and cut of pasted into or out of Family Matters


GEDCOM Import / Export

GEDCOM was developed by the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to provide a flexible and uniform format for exchanging computerized genealogical data. GEDCOM is an acronym for GEnealogical Data Communication. GEDCOM is provided to foster the sharing of genealogical information and the development of a wide range of inter-operable software products to assist genealogists, historians, and other researchers.

Family Matters' rich GEDCOM facility complies with GEDCOM Standard Draft Release 5.4, dated 4 Aug 1995. The GEDCOM Import / Export Control allows data generated in another program (or another Family Matters) to be imported. It also allows the export of your data, to the same standard, for import into another genealogy program.

Considerations

The Relationship and Sibling fields are unique to Family Matters. Hence, you may not wish to export this data unless you anticipate the file will be imported by Family Matters. The GEDCOM import and export processes, especially for large files of over 10,000 individuals, can be time consuming. You may want to perform these operations with only the StartUp Form displayed, to allow as much free memory as possible, and thus minimize the time consumed.

Import

Tells Family Matters to begin the specified GEDCOM import.

Export

Tells Family Matters to begin the specified GEDCOM export.

Import Relationships: Yes or No

Indicate whether you want to import the Relationship field information from the GEDCOM file. You would not wish to do this if the relationship data is relative to someone else.

Export Relationships: Yes or No

Export the Relationship field information to the GEDCOM file. Relationship is not a standard GEDCOM file data item, hence it will generally not be used by another program, but might be read as a NOTE field.

Export Sibling Number: Yes or No

Export the Sibling Number field, which represents birth order, to the GEDCOM file. Sibling Number is not a standard GEDCOM file data item, hence it will generally not be used by another program, but might be read as a NOTE field.

Export Notes: Yes or No

Export the Family Data field information to the GEDCOM file. Normally this would be set to Yes. You might choose to set it to No if the export was strictly for a GEDCOM matching service, rather than for someone to import and use.

Source and Version

On import, indicates the source of the GEDCOM data. On export, Family Matters.

Date

On import, indicates the date the GEDCOM file was created. On export, today.

Destination

On import, indicates the destination indicated by the person preparing the GEDCOM. On export, your choice. Generally accepted values are:

FamilyMatters - Default value

ANSTFILE - LDS Family History Department for Ancestral File

TempleReady - LDS Temple submission

GEDCOM FILE

On import, use the associated file open button to specify the desired file. On export, you specify the desired file name and path. Default is the FM data file name, with a .ged extension.

FM Data File

The name of your Family Matters data file.

Name

On import, indicates the name of the person preparing the GEDCOM. On export, your name should be here.

Address

On import, indicates the first address line of the person who prepared the GEDCOM file. On export, your street address should be here.

Address2

On import, indicates the second address line of the person who prepared the GEDCOM file. On export, your city and state (or province) should be here.

Address3

On import, indicates the postal code of the person who prepared the GEDCOM file. On export, your postal (or zip) code should be here.

Phone

On import, indicates the phone number of the person who prepared the GEDCOM file. On export, your phone number should be here.

Progress

Indicates the operation that Family Matters is currently performing during the import and export process.

Save Defaults

Saves your entered export values for Name, Address, Phone, and Yes/No choices.

Get Defaults

Retrieves your saved export values for Name, Address, Phone, and Yes/No choices.


Print Form
Printing and Print Control

The Print Control Form allows the choice of reports to print. You may choose either the Family Group Form Report, Individual Report, Descendancy Report, the Pedigree Form Report. You may print the active or selected form, or report. To specify a printer and its connection, choose the Setup button. (Note: Printing while viewing Print Preview for the Pedigree Report at the same time the Pedigree Form is visible may cause a resource shortage problem. Close the preview or form while printing the pedigree.)

Preview

Previews the selected report, and the selected records to be printed on that report. The number of records to be previewed (and therefore printed) will first be displayed to allow cancellation if desired. While viewing the Preview, use P to print, S to open setup, Z to zoom (or unzoom), and C to cancel.

Setup

Displays the default printer and printer connection dialog box. Also margins, paper source, and other printer-specific settings can be changed independently for each report type. The upper and left margins should be set to allow one Pedigree Chart per page, and the width of one Group Form Report per page. You may wish to change the margins if, for instance, you print on A4 size paper instead of 8 1/2 by 11.

Print

Prints the selected records on the selected report. The number of records to be printed will first be displayed to allow cancellation if desired.

Report to Print

Specify the report you want to print or to preview.

Family Group Report

Allows preview, printing, and setup of the Group Form Report. Each Group Form Report may span multiple pages, depending on the number of children and the amount of Family Data you have entered.

Individual Report

Allows preview, printing, and setup of the Individual Report. This report is very similar to the Family Group report, but represents the data for an individual. Each report may span multiple pages, depending on the amount of you have entered.

Pedigree Chart

Allows preview, printing, and setup of the Pedigree Chart Report. Each is one page.

Descendancy Chart

Allows preview, printing, and setup of the Descendancy Chart Report. This report is printed in its entirety, rather than by selecting records.

Print Range

Specify the records you want to print.

All

Prints all the pages of all the selected records.

Current

Prints the pages the Group Form or Pedigree Chart most recently displayed.

Family Names

Prints the pages the Group, Individual, or Pedigree Chart having the selected surname. For instance, you may print all the Smiths in your database. Note that all individual surnames in the database are available in the dropdown list, though you may not have Family Group Reports or Pedigree Charts for all those surnames.


Keyboard

Editing and Control Keys

Press	To

Ctrl+A	Select All.

Ctrl+C	Copy the selection onto the Clipboard.

Ctrl+F	Open the Find dialog box (same as F7).

Ctrl+H	Open the Replace dialog box (same as Shift+F7).

Ctrl+V	Paste the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point.

Ctrl+X	Cut the selection and copy it onto the Clipboard.

Ctrl+Z or

Alt+Backspace	Undo typing.

Esc	Undo changes in the current field or current record; if both have been changed, press Esc twice to undo changes; first in the current field and then in the current record.

Backspace	Delete the selection or the character to the left of the insertion point.

Delete	Delete the selection or the character to the right of the insertion point.

Function Keys

Press	To

F1	Display context-sensitive Help related to the active form.

Shift+F1	Display the question mark pointer. Move the pointer to the form you want help on, and click for context-sensitive Help.

F2	Switch between editing mode (with insertion point displayed) and navigation mode.

F4	Open a combo box or list box.

Shift+F4	Find the next occurrence of the text specified in the Find or Replace dialog box when the dialog box is closed.

Ctrl+F4	Close the active window.

Alt+F4	Quit Family Matters, or close a dialog box.

F6	Cycle forward through the data section, list section, and footer of a form such as the Ind Nav.

Shift+F6	Cycle backward through the footer, list section, and data section of a form such as the Ind Nav.

Ctrl+F6	Cycle between open windows.

F7	Open the Find dialog box (same as Ctrl+F).

Shift+F7	Open the Replace dialog box (same as Ctrl+H).

F8	Turn Extend mode on; EXT appears in the status bar. Once Extend mode is on, pressing F8 repeatedly extends the selection to the word, the field.

Shift+F8	Reverse the F8 selection; press Esc to cancel Extend mode.

F9	Activate the OLE object.

Shift+F9	Requery the underlying tables; pressing Shift+F9 in a child record reorders the children of the family according to your entries.

Alt+Spacebar	Displays the Control menu.

Cursor Movement and Navigation

Page Up	Next record (or group of displayed records).

Page Down	Previous record (or group of displayed records).

To Move The Insertion Point Within a Field or Line (In Editing Mode)

Press	To

Right Arrow	Move one character to the right.

Ctrl+Right Arrow	Move one word to the right.

End	Move to the end of the line.

Ctrl+End	Move to the end of the field in multiple-line fields.

Left Arrow	Move one character to the left.

Ctrl+Left Arrow	Move one word to the left.

Home	Move to the beginning of the line.

Ctrl+Home	Move to the beginning of the field in multiple-line fields.

To Navigate Between Fields and Records (In Navigation Mode)

Press	To

Tab, Right Arrow,

or Enter	Move to the next field. The Enter key will start a new line in the Group Form Family Data area, and the Pedigree Form 2nd title.

Shift+Tab	Move to the previous field.

To Navigate In a Text Box

Press	To

Down Arrow	Move down one line.

Up Arrow	Move up one line.

End	Move to the end of the current line.

Ctrl+End	Move to the end of the last line.

Home	Move to the beginning of the current line.

Ctrl+Home	Move to the beginning of the first line.

To Select Text Within a Field (In Editing Mode)

Press	To

Shift+Right Arrow	Extend the selection or deselect one character to the right.

Ctrl+Shift+Right ArrowExtend the selection or deselect one word to the right.

Shift+Left Arrow	Extend the selection or deselect one character to the left.

Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow	Extend the selection or deselect one word to the left.

To Select a Field

Press	To

F2	Select the current field if you are in editing mode.

Tab or Enter	Select the next field.

Shortcut Keys for Data Entry

Press	To

Ctrl+; (semicolon)	Insert the current date.

Ctrl+: (colon)	Insert the current time.

Ctrl+Alt+Spacebar	Insert the default value for a field (if present).

Ctrl+' (quote)	Insert the value from the same field in the previous record.

Ctrl+Enter	Insert a new line in a field, a label, or the Zoom box.

Ctrl++(plus)	Add a new record.

Ctrl+-(minus)	Delete the current record (CAUTION: This will bypass any link adjustments. Use Unlink & Delete Control instead.)

Spacebar	Toggle the value in a check box or option button.

Print Preview Function Buttons

Press	To

P	Print the active object.

S	Open the Setup dialog box.

Z	Zoom in for a magnified view of part of the page.

C or Esc	Cancel Print Preview.

To View Different Pages In Print Preview

Press	To

F5	Move to the page number box; then type the page number you want to go to and press Enter.

Page Down or

Down Arrow	Move to the next page.

Page Up or Up Arrow	Move to the previous page.

To View Different Parts of a Preview Page While Using Zoom

Press	To

Down Arrow	Scroll down in small increments.

Page Down	Scroll down in large increments.

Ctrl+Down Arrow	Move to the bottom of the page.

Up Arrow	Scroll up in small increments.

Page Up	Scroll up in large increments.

Ctrl+Up Arrow	Move to the top of the page.

Right Arrow	Scroll to the right in small increments.

Ctrl+Right Arrow or

End	Move to the right edge of the page.

Ctrl+End	Move to the lower-right corner of the page.

Left Arrow	Scroll to the left in small increments.

Ctrl+Left Arrow

or Home	Move to the left edge of the page.

Ctrl+Home	Move to the upper-left corner of the page.