Back to Q/A Part 3 GenSmarts Q/A Part 4 Forward Q/A to Part 5

Q) How can I delete place with wrong county listed?
A) Fix your data using your record keeping program (e.g. PAF, FTM, etc.)

Q) How to indicate friend not spouse?
A) Use your record keeping program (e.g. PAF, FTM, etc.)

Q) I have over 7000 name in my data base. It has been several months since I have entered new names. When I click "No Status" the new names do not apper. How do I fix this problem.
A) "No Status" is a filter which will display any suggestions which you haven't marked. This may or may not have anything to do with you entering new names in your file. Use the MY GENEALOGY FILE tab and find some of the new people you've entered. If you can't find them, then you're not analyzing the same file with GenSmarts that you're changing, or you added the people since you opened GenSmarts and you haven't REFRESH/REOPEN'ed. If you find the people in the MY GENEALOGY FILE tab, but not in the TO DO list tab, then GenSmarts simply didn't have any suggestions for this new data.

Q) Full Version
A) We refer to the edition of GenSmarts sold at GenSmarts.com as the "full edition" or "full version" because it has a few more features than some of the "specialty" editions sold elsewhere. The differences are primarily in the product form (available both as a download and on CD) and in the number and variety of file types supported.

Q) How do I print out the Data Cleanup?
A) You can't currently.

Q) How do I record results of search?
A) The same way you did before GenSmarts, plus you can use the FOUND, NOT FOUND, etc. in GenSmarts to help you keep track of things.

Q) How do I change the 'tree' that I wish to search for information about?
A) Use the TAG AS DIRECT ANCESTOR button on the MY GENEALOGY FILE tab to mark the most modern ancestor of the tree. Use the FIND NEXT ROOT and CLEAR TAG to clear any other trees you've marked.

Q) How do I add a state census to check for an idividual?
A) TOOLS...CUSTOMIZE RECORDS

Q) What is div1
A) The first division of locality after Country. In the USA it would be a STATE, in the UK it would be a county.

Q) After using My Genealogy File it sends me to to do list.
A) Double clicking on someone in the MY GENEALOGY FILE tab will take you to the TO DO list and show you the suggestions for this person and their family.

Q) Every name i double click comes back with no information or suggestions found
A) Then GenSmarts doesn't have any suggestions for that person or that person's family. In order for GenSmarts to produce suggestions for you, it needs to understand your data, so if you've not entered dates and places, or not entered your place names in a way they could be understood... then GenSmarts won't have anything to work with. Check the DATA CLEANUP, PLACE NAMES tab for a list of place names GenSmarts found issues with.

Q) I read all these questions. Now just what do I do to get some use (just what does it do?) out of this software?
A) See the demo... http://www.GenSmarts.com/demo

Q) how do i print
A) Top line menu in GenSmarts, the word PRINT... click that...

Q) Why isn't GenSmarts picking up missing data?
A) Only suggestions that fill missing data are highlighted... missing data that GenSmarts doesn't have a suggestion for is not noted.

Q)I just upgraded to TMG v.6, and downloaded GenSmarts. At the time of the download, I was instructed to upgrade my Adobe Reader, which I did. Since then, Adobe Reader has taken over my genealogy floppies from previous software - UFT & TMG v. 5. For instance, a floppy I had labeled UFT, is listed now with an Adobe Reader icon, and "Parry The Master Genealogist v. 6 1,424KB" . I tried to open it, but AR said it was not a supported file type or was corrupted. I was planning to reformat the floppy, and simply checked on contents before. I think this is somehow related to GenSmarts, as GenSmarts asked for the Adobe Reader upgrade. What is going on?
A) No, GenSmarts did not tell you to upgrade Adobe Reader, and what you're describing is unrelated to GenSmarts. Adobe Reader does that all by itself when you use it and it detects an upgrade. What you're describing sounds like a well known Windows bug where Windows icon cache gets corrupted. Google it and you'll find lots of solutions.

Q) Add another paid site
A) TOOLS...CUSTOMIZE RECORDS...

Q) How do I find information not in my family tree ?
A) Using more questions marks usually doesn't help... but the QUERY tab allows you to search on information not in your tree. Type anything you want.

Q) What is research priority?
A) GenSmarts way of putting things at the top of the list that we think you'll be most interested in.

Q) What good is this program, if all it tells me is what I already know. It looks like all it does is want me to buy more programs.
A) Use the FILLS MISSING DATA filter to only see suggestions that supply data you don't have. Use AVAILABLE TO YOU ONLINE to only see suggestions that you have access to. Other suggestions are provided for your reference or for you to use as confirmation/corroboration (e.g. additional sources). GenSmarts doesn't really care what you do or don't subscribe to... set it to display however you prefer.


Q) How do I apply information from GenSmarts to Family Tree 2005 and vice versa?
A) Apply your research finds/corrections to FTM 2005 the same way you did before - GenSmarts doesn't change that. Though you can quickly move from an individual in GenSmarts to the same individual in FTM using the F2 key in GenSmarts (which invokes F2 in Family Tree Maker).

Q) How do I set country of origin?
A) Change your data to include the country or use GenSmarts TOOLS...SETTINGS... to establish a default country when one isn't present in your data.

Q) Names listed as children in explanation are not children of researched individual
A) GenSmarts gets all it's information from your file, so perhaps you're not looking at the file you think you are, or your file is corrupted.

Q) Please explain the numbering system for the individuals in my program.
A) It's your program's number system, so look at the documentation for it for an answer. It's usually simply a unique number without any specific meaning attached. Turn it off with GenSmarts TOOLS...SETTINGS...Display tab if you don't want to see it.

Q) What does show only mean
A) These are filters to allow you to shrink the TO DO list to only items of interest.

Q) How do i save query?
A) Not possible currently... of course if you put this data in a file (e.g. PAF, FTM, etc.) it will be saved.

Q) How do i get rid of old suggestions?
A) IGNORE

Q) How do I remove something from the To Do list
A) IGNORE

Q) Please assist me in setting-up the "internet exployer" program as my default browser?
A) In Internet Explorer, choose TOOLS...INTERNET OPTIONS... and check the box that says "Internet Explorer should check...default browser". Press Apply. Close all instances of IE. Now the next time you run IE it will check and, assuming it's not your default, it will ask you if you want it to be the default (say yes). If that doesn't work, re-install IE.

Q) Tell gensmarts not to search for particular types of records
A) Their aren't filters to do this yet, but it's a good idea and we'll try to get this capability added.

Q) How do I print call numbers for a research location?
A) Select the AVAILABLE AT RESEARCH LOCATIONS SHOWN BELOW filter. The TO DO list will likely go blank, because you haven't picked any locations yet. Pick the location you want call nubmers for from the drop down list below this check box. Now, when you print TO DO list reports, FULL, WORKSHEET, or RESEARCH PACK options, they will contain the call numbers for the selected facility.

Q) Can I go straight from the "To Do" list to the online data?
A) Press the AVAILABLE ONLINE button.

Q) How can you get information from the Clayton Library when you live at a different location?
A) Ask your local library and see if they can get the material on loan, or search their catalog to see if the same volume is available closer.

Q) Palm OS
A) We hope to have an enhancement later this year which will support PDA's.

Q) I have a new subscription, how do I let GenSmarts know?
A) TOOLS...SETTINGS...Subscriptions tab

Q) How do you list info for hospital where birth occurred
A) GenSmarts reads place names from right to left (that's reverse of the way English is normally read). Anything more specific than city that you put on the left won't bother GenSmarts at all.

Q) I changed the data to correct errors in data clean up but the suggestion is still in the gen smarts notes
A) If you've tagged the suggestion, clear the tag in GenSmarts. Otherwise, you updated a different file than what GenSmarts is analyzing (or you just made the change and didn't have GenSmarts REFRESH/REOPEN).

Q) Can I search for living persons born after 1930
A) TOOLS...CUSTOMIZE RECORDS... (version 1.0.7.30 or later)

Q) How do I delete a A in the Clean up
A) Fix your place name in PAF, FTM, etc. Alternatively, you can mark them in GenSmarts with Right Click, "EXCLUDE FROM PLACE NAME CLEANUP"

Q) When it says the information is available online where do I go to find it?
A) Look at the bottom of the EXPLANATION, and it will tell you.

Q) Where does the information on Gen Smarts come from. It says my father is on the 1920 census in WV but I can't find him.
A) GenSmarts produced research suggestions, based on your data and an inventory of known records. GenSmarts knows the type of records, what they contain, and the dates and places covered, but it doesn't know who's on them... GenSmarts suggestions are just that - suggestions of where your ancestors might be found. They may or may not actually be in the records in question.

Q) Delete a suggestion I know is wrong?
A) IGNORE button

Q) My direct ancestor root does not appear in My Genealogy File list
A) You're analyzing the wrong file (or at least not the one you think you're analyzing).

Q) How to export GEDCOM for other software?
A) Look at the documentation you have on your "other" software. Google it's name and the word Gedcom and often you'll find someone has asked this question before.

Q) I have names of people that I do not know...
A) They're in the file you're having GenSmarts analyze. So either you don't know everyone in your file or you're having GenSmarts analyze the wrong file.

Q) How do I change a county name.
A) Specify it in your place name using your record keeping software (e.g. PAF, FTM, etc.)

Q) How do I indicate what is "available to me online?"
A) These are things that are available online for free, or availabe to sites you subscribe to, as you indicate to GenSmarts using TOOLS...SETTINGS... Subscriptions tab.

Q) How do I print the people facts and estimates to take to the library?
A) Watch the demo - http://www.GenSmarts.com/demo

Q) I will be traveling to Texas. How do I find just the info I lack on my ancestor that are there.
A) Click the FILLS MISSING DATA filter, and then type TEXAS in the TO DO list <= SEARCH box. Print the TO DO list with the "ALL THOSE DISPLAYED" and the FULL option to run a report with all the results. CAUTION: you'll get a page for every suggestion so check the number of suggestions displayed (to the right of the <= SEARCH box), before printing to make sure you'll be printing a reasonable number of pages.

Q) How do I change the Font size?
A) Not currently possible. You might look into Windows Large Fonts feature and see if that would be helpful.

Q) Is there a tutorial that I can print out to GenSmarts?
A) No, but there's video... a demo at http://www.GenSmarts.com/demo that illustrates GenSmarts use, and various training topics at http://www.GenSmarts.com/training.asp

Q) Do I need to save anything when I close the program?
A) No, GenSmarts saves things for you every few minutes and also when you close.

Q) How do I switch update check on?
A) First, it's only off if you turned if off. See the HELP file for info on how to turn it on.

Q) Putting in the key number
A) See http://www.GenSmarts.com/installFAQ.asp

Q) why is it just showing census in suggestions?
A) Look further in the list. Often times the upper part of the list gets dominated by 1880 US census suggestions because they're free, available online, and provide lots of data (not only on a person, but on the person's parents as well).

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