I don't think that my approach is perfect but I use RIN's and have developed a filing system that combines the last name (maiden name for females) and the RIN. Just using a number wasn't informative enough for me, and any filing system that just used names didn't work because I have about 8 George Coopers etc.
On paper and electronic files I use last name - RIN - item number as a File id number. e.g. Cooper_28_1 for first item (maybe a birth record or a marriage record), Cooper_28_2 for the next one. I keep those in binders so that if I'm working on a line I can check and see what sources I have on file. I'm falling behind on the filing part though... If I'd started my research earlier I might have a different approach but I've been collecting things since about 1980.. With online images the availability has been far easier so there are tons more to print/store... What I download from sources like Ancestry or other databases I give a more descriptive file name to the attachment. I've use something like Cooper_George_28_marriage_1894.jpg. Since the filing is getting to be a challenge with the paper I may just add the images to the Legacy records. I admit that I'm afraid to get rid of the paper at this point. I've added some of the images to records but with 4,000+ people and many 'proofs' for a lot of them it will be a major task to add images to the Legacy records. At this point I've got the images filed by family name on my hard drive, with backups on an external drive and CDs/DVDs occasionally. Under Documents\Genealogy\Families I have names of families I'm involved with in separate file directories. As I reduce the file size and add the smaller versions to the Legacy records I'll move the small images to c:Legacy\Pictures but that project isn't underway yet. Yes there are some things that could go in more than one place. Sometimes I put them in more than one place if it seems wise. In general I put census records under the name of one of the ancestors and it hasn't been a big deal so far. If I have a 1901 census record for my Cameron family that includes my grandmother, my great grandparents and several great aunts, uncles I'd probably have 'filed' it using the name and RIN for my great grandfather. I add the census to all the family members and use the file name e.g. Cameron_10_3 (10 is his RIN and I have his birth, his marriage) in the File id field in the Source detail. Census records for him before 1901 might be under his father/mother. In the Text/comments field for the Source detail I put the names and details related to the household. I tend not to have it print for every member of the family but do tick the boxes to print for anyone direct ancestors and if I'm doing a report for someone else I can go back and make changes. I haven't made extensive use of the MRINs and find it interesting that others do. They are on my records but I don't use them for filing purposes or for sources. Just my $.02 (Canadian yet) Kathy Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
