RootsMagic 4 Unwrapped – Citation Quality


Another quicky while I’m at the BYU genealogy conference.

We all know how important it is to add sources for the information we enter. When adding a source in RootsMagic, we’ve always been able to enter the “quality” of the citation. But it has been limited to “primary”, “secondary”, “questionable”, and “unreliable”. Until now.

Citation Quality

As you can see, RootsMagic 4 now follows approved standards for evidence analysis in an easy to understand format.

To learn more about evaluating your genealogy sources, visit:

http://www.bcgcertification.org/skillbuilders/skbld085.html

And our friend Mark Tucker over at ThinkGenealogy.com has put together a Genealogy Research Map that covers the full research process (including assessing the quality of a citation). You can download it for free from:

http://www.thinkgenealogy.com/2008/07/31/genealogy-research-process-map-version-2/

This isn’t the only new source enhancement coming in RootsMagic, but we’re saving the best for later. Stay tuned.

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July 31st, 2008
17 Responses
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Reader Comments

Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Mark Tucker
Posted on:
August 1, 2008 at 12:54 am

Way to go Bruce! Now my excitement level has jumped a few notches.

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Bruce Buzbee
Posted on:
August 1, 2008 at 6:39 am

Thanks Mark. I updated the link in the post to point to the updated map you posted about an hour after I linked to it .

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
George Dyer
Posted on:
August 1, 2008 at 9:47 am

What a great idea to further design the program around accepted genealogical concepts.

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
Nettie
Posted on:
August 1, 2008 at 8:27 pm

Thanks Bruce for including the source enhancement, which is going to be a great help and for also referring to Mark’s great research map, which is on my wall above the computer.

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
William R. Thomas
Posted on:
August 2, 2008 at 8:59 am

I am a Family History Consultant. I see that two venders of product are on with inerface to nFS. I didn’t see RootsMagic on the list. I was told when I bought the program it would be there. Will we be able to download from nFS to RootsMagic soon? I do like your product and it was recomended by Renea Zumora. Thanks Bill Thomas

Comment Number:
6
Written by:
Romer
Posted on:
August 2, 2008 at 3:51 pm

Bruce,

Looks great! I’m very pleased that you’re addressing these types of improved source-related details.

Besides Mark Tucker, I also hope you’ve been in contact with Elizabeth Shown Mills during RM 4.0 development! I’m very eager to see what other source enhancements might be up your sleeve.

Thanks.

Comment Number:
7
Written by:
Bruce Buzbee
Posted on:
August 2, 2008 at 4:41 pm

William,

Yes, RootsMagic will have full integration support with New FamilySearch.

Comment Number:
8
Written by:
Susan Michael
Posted on:
August 4, 2008 at 9:24 am

This is fantastic. I am currently working on my certification portfolio and these additions are just what I need!!!

Hopefully, RM4 will be unveiled and available for purchase at FGS in a few weeks……

Comment Number:
9
Written by:
John James
Posted on:
August 5, 2008 at 10:22 am

Yes, it can’t be far away now, I am down to checking every couple of hours in expectation of the first major feature peek and it’s just not working )~:

Comment Number:
10
Written by:
Shelia Hunt
Posted on:
August 6, 2008 at 4:02 pm

Thanks, Bruce! I’m really pleased to see all these exciting new features coming in the new version of RootsMagic, which is already the best genealogy software on the market. I’m sure glad I changed to your software years ago.

Comment Number:
11
Written by:
Dave Bird
Posted on:
August 14, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Hi Bruce. As the citation quality screen is so different from the existing screen, what happens to the current entries (primary, secondary, etc) when I upgrade? I very much like RM and am looking forward to the upgrade.

Comment Number:
12
Written by:
gsinbcmo
Posted on:
August 15, 2008 at 8:00 pm

Alright, enough already. When’s it coming?

Comment Number:
13
Written by:
GentleGeek
Posted on:
August 25, 2008 at 8:47 am

One the screen image you showed, there is a misspelling..
“Primary: This information was provided by somone with firsthand knowledge…”

“somone”??

Comment Number:
14
Written by:
Bob Cole
Posted on:
August 31, 2008 at 8:26 pm

The categories under “Evidence” for citation quality (especially “negative”) seem to not fit well. Instead of Direct, Indirect & Negative, I think Conclusive, Substantive, and Supportive would show better they quality of the particular type of evidence for the citation. Just a thought. Thanks.

Comment Number:
15
Written by:
Laura Beeman
Posted on:
September 25, 2008 at 2:25 pm

Hi Bob,

RM4 is following the guidelines of the Board of Certified Genealogists for citation qualities.

This web page has helped me understand how they work.

http://www.bcgcertification.org/skillbuilders/skbld085.html

Laura

Comment Number:
16
Written by:
Jeff Hodge
Posted on:
October 14, 2008 at 7:51 pm

I went to the BCG site through the link you provided. Under their paragraph “Direct or Indirect Evidence” they don’t discuss negative evidence. Should the definition you are using be something like “Refutes the statement” rather than “the source is missing information”?

Comment Number:
17
Written by:
ThinkGenealogy Innovator Award #4 | ThinkGenealogy
Posted on:
July 4, 2009 at 12:10 pm

[...] 4 the end of March 2009.