RootsMagic Can Import Sources From FamilySearch Family Tree

Louis Kessler informed me of a question in the Genealogy & Family History Stack Exchange, which asked:

"Is there any program that automatically imports sources attached to the FamilySearch tree?  https://genealogy.stackexchange.com/q/10116/29?sem=2"

I responded immediately to Louis saying yes, and said I would write a blog post about it.  Hopefully, Louis will add a link to this post in an answer to the Stack Exchange message.

RootsMagic 7 (and other programs like Legacy Family Tree, Ancestral Quest, and perhaps others) can interact with the FamilySearch Family Tree.  RootsMagic users can add or change names, relationships, event content, media, notes and sources using the FamilySearch Person Tools (once the user has provided their FamilySearch credentials to the program.

Here is a process example from my database:

1)  On the Family view in RootsMagic (it works in Pedigree or Descendants view also), I clicked on the blue FamilySearch icon for Edward Hildreth (it's on the right side of the person's name).  

Previously, I had matched my Edward Hildreth person profile to the FamilySearch Family Tree profile, and added or edited the names, event data and relationship information..

2)  Clicking on the blue FamilySearch icon opens the FamilySearch Person Tools screen in RootsMagic on the "Share Data" tab:

At the top of the screen above are also tabs for "Discussions," "Sources," "Notes" and "Changes."

3)  I clicked on the "Sources" tab and the screen showed my RootsMagic sources on the left side of the screen, and the sources attached to the FamilySearch profile on the right side of the screen:

Earlier, I had added many of my sources to the FamilySearch profile, but there were several additional sources on the FamilySearch side of the screen above that were added by researchers using FamilySearch Record Matches.

4)  I want to add one of the FamilySearch sources, and picked the one for "Edward Hildreth in Hattie Louisa Hildreth, 'Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915.'"  I clicked on the square box next to that source on the FamilySearch list, and the screen to "What do you want to do with this FamilySearch source?" appeared:

I clicked on the "Person" item, which should add the source to the person's name in RootsMagic.

5)  The RootsMagic "Edit Person" screen for Edward Hildreth opened, and I clicked on the name and then on the "Sources" button (lower right-hand corner) to find the added source.  It was the last one on the list:

6)  I clicked on the "Edit" button on the screen above, and the "Edit Source" screen opened:

The added FamilySearch source has the following information:

*  Master Source:  Edward Hildreth in entry for Hattie Louisa Hildreth, "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915"

*  Footnote:  "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FXCP-31T : 1 March 2016), Edward Hildreth in entry for Hattie Louisa Hildreth, 28 Nov 1857, Northborough, Worcester, Massachusetts; citing reference ID #232, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1,420,936.

*  Short Footnote:  "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FXCP-31T : 1 March 2016), Edward Hildreth in entry for Hattie Louisa Hildreth, 28 Nov 1857, Northborough, Worcester, Massachusetts; citing reference ID #232, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1,420,936.

*  Bibliography:  "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FXCP-31T : 1 March 2016), Edward Hildreth in entry for Hattie Louisa Hildreth, 28 Nov 1857, Northborough, Worcester, Massachusetts; citing reference ID #232, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1,420,936.

*  Source Details:  [blank]

6)  This is, of course, the Freeform source citation template in RootsMagic.  Source citation purists would say that the Source Details are embedded in the Footnote, Short Footnote and Bibliography.  However, it is a "pretty good" source citation in Evidence Explained format that enables the researcher to find the record and evaluate the quality and veracity of the source.

This source citation should transfer exactly in a GEDCOM file to another program or an online family tree.

Each source citation downloaded from FamilySearch Family Tree is this process will create a unique "one-off" master source, which will add to the RootsMagic user's "Master Source" count.  Some users may choose to not use this process, but create their own RootsMagic Master Source (with information in the Master Source name, Footnote, Short Footnote and Bibliography fields) for the database and use the "Source Details" field to identify the specific record (with or without the specific URL for the record on FamilySearch).

A user could click on the hyperlink and see an image of the record, download it to their computer, and attach it to the name or event in their RootsMagic database.

7)  In conclusion, a source citation from FamilySearch can be added through a relatively simple multi-step process (not "automatically").

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Disclosure:  I am a very satisfied RootsMagic user and have paid for every version of the software that I have used.  I have not received material considerations from RootsMagic.  I try to be an objective writer in these blog posts.  

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/11/rootsmagic-can-import-sources-from.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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