Is there a way to note that not all the children are listed for an individual family. Many times I am interested to get to a distant ancestor in my database and I do not add all the children for all of the ancestors along the way to the most distant ancestor.
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I do not think any program could find the unknown. Like you I frequently look for a direct path to an ancestor and need to fill in additional information later. My approach to look for missing facts and possible children of ancestors that I do not have, is to compare my database entries to FamilySearch using the FS icon at the bottom of left had panel on RM10.
You would first match your database to the FS database. Using PEOPLE in the search bar on the left side on RM10, type the rin numbers in the search box and compare what you have on a family to what is in the person’s FS entry. Obviously not all you are looking for will not be in the FS database, but you should find possible new entries. A word of caution, I have found lots of useful information and a number of errors. On a large database it can be a slow process
As I add the information in FS I do not have, I often consult the US census on Ancestry, the vital record sources I have access to, standard genealogies, etc.
If you have a large database, it can take a long time to run the initial match with FamilySearch. Mine is over 300,000 and the first time it took 24 hours.
As in visual cue -or- for reports/export ? And presumably searchable ?
Since it’s a database of individuals (at its core) with differing “view” panes offered… should there be visual cues on all extant family members (both parents -and- each of their already-entered children) ?
If yes, a color-code (eg. Gray) for all -or- a Group to add incomplete families to -or- Custom Fact type. If no, then for both parents… a color-code -or- a “tell-tale” fact such as a Custom Fact type -or- a Description Fact -or- a Miscellaneous Fact, etc.
How do You envision a solution compatible in a programmatic way ? The program currently offers Tasks as the intended approach.
Perhaps I did not explain my question well enough. There are times when I find a really distant ancestor and in a hurry to “connect the dots” I will only enter the relative chain that directly connects me rather than enter the relatives and all of their family members. So, I was looking for a way to note in the DB that there are more children to a relative listed.
Not really needed to be searchable, just an indicator that I have not listed all the children for an ancestor. For example: an ancestor family has 5 children and I only need one to connect me through each generation. Perhaps I just need to give it more thought.
Maybe not an important thing for ones database. There are plenty of other things more important. It was just something that I thought of as I was entering information to connect me through other families to my distant ancestors.
I would create a color code group for those I need to continue research on. Simple add the main person to the group. Another option is to create a task for the person and also a folder for those type of additional research needed. Then when your ready simple start working on those tasks.
I just merely want to note that there may be more children, not that I want to add more with more research. For some entries in my database, I may only want to list the child that shows my direct connection to a distant ancestor. It is a tedious task to add all children of everyone in ones database and all I wanted was a simple way to note that not all children are listed in a particular family.
Add a child to each family with a name like:
Given: “Other”
Surname: “Children” or the default family name
Add a personal note to each such child explaining the context and whatever else you think is relevant.
Add a task, if you wish, to those you want to investigate further.
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I use Tasks to remind me I have unfinished business to attend to on a person or family.