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Text File | 1991-11-29 | 160.5 KB | 2,902 lines |
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-
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- Table of Contents
-
- Description of the program 1
- Setting up your disks 1
- General typing information 2
- Adding people to the file 3
- Message lines 9
- Modifying people 10
- Individual add (single) 12
- Edit text file 12
- Options 13
- Print routines 17
- Descendant chart 17
- Ahnentafel 18
- Name and number print 18
- Last names 20
- Word search 20
- Printer strings 21
- Backup data files 21
- Tree chart 22
- Ancestor charts 23
- Group sheets 23
- Register style reports 24
- Descendant box charts 26
- Four family box charts 27
- More ancestor reports 27
- Merge two databases 27
- Split one database 27
- Import or export gedcom 28
- Utility program 30
- Appendix A. How to correct problems 32
- Appendix B. Printer problems 34
- Appendix C. Explanation of relationships 35
- Appendix D. Sample printouts 37
- Appendix E. Changes from prior versions 38
- Appendix F. Converting from version 4.5 40
- Appendix G. Suggestions and help 40
- Appendix H. Technical stuff 41
- Appendix I. Alt keys 42
- Appendix J. Shareware 43
- Appendix K. Config.sys file 44
- Appendix L. Custom reports 46
- Appendix M. Commonly asked questions 48
- Index 52
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 1
-
-
-
- DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM
-
- BROTHER'S KEEPER is a set of programs that will help you organize your
- family tree information, and that will print the information in several
- ways. You will be able to print descendant charts that show how anyone in
- the file is related to everyone else. You also may print ancestor charts,
- family group sheets, alphabetical name lists, descendant trees, birthday
- lists, ahnentafel charts, box charts, and customized reports. For each
- person entered you may include a date of birth, a date of death, and three
- other dates, and you may store a place of birth, a place of death, and a
- place for three other events. You may record source information for every
- date or location. You also may enter two additional fields that you may
- define. Each person may have up to seven message lines of additional data
- or a text file of unlimited size containing additional data. Fields are
- available to store the person's current mailing address. Each person may
- have up to eight marriages stored. Each marriage record can hold a
- marriage date, a place of marriage, one additional date and place, and
- divorce information, and the marriage can connect up to 24 children.
-
- You will need 512K or more of RAM memory in your computer to run the BK
- program (640K is recommended). This program may have problems if you have
- memory resident programs running also. It is strongly recommended that you
- install the program and the data files on a hard disk because the program
- will run very slowly if the data is on a diskette.
-
- Note: If you have used a different genealogy program, read Appendix F for
- information about converting data from other programs.
-
- Read the README.DOC file for changes to this manual.
-
- SETTING UP YOUR DISKS
-
- If you have problems starting the program, then read APPENDIX M.
-
- NOTE: If you already have data in Brother's Keeper files, make a backup
- copy of the data before installing a new version. If there are data files
- on the diskettes, they may copy over your existing data files, so make a
- backup copy of your data before installing a new version.
-
- If you have a HARD DISK, create a subdirectory called BK5. To do that, at
- the C:> prompt, type: MD \BK5 <enter> Then change to that directory by
- typing: CD \BK5 Then put disk number 1 in the A: drive and then type:
- COPY A:*.* C:\BK5 <enter> to copy all the files on the program disks
- into the subdirectory. Repeat the same copy command for each disk of the
- Brother's Keeper disk set. To run the program just change to that
- directory CD \BK5 and then type BK5 and the program will start. You may
- enter up to 1,000,000 names with this version (if you have enough disk
- space).
-
- If you have a 2 DISK DRIVE computer (no hard disk), then put the BK program
- disk in the A: drive and have a separate blank formatted disk available for
- the data files. Start the program by typing BK5. The very first time you
- start the program it will say, "if you have only 1 disk drive, insert the
- data disk now." This does not apply to you since you have your data disk
- in the B: drive so just push enter. The program should then ask you for a
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 2
-
-
- "path" and you would type B: since that is where your data will be. You
- may put about 1000 names in the data files before you will fill up a 360K
- disk and about 2000 names if you have 720K disks. However, if you have a
- hard disk, use it for your data files. Putting your data on a floppy will
- result in the program running very slowly.
-
- If you have only 1 DISK DRIVE, put BK5.BAT, BTRIEVE, BK5MAIN, and
- LANGUAGE.BK5 on one disk and have a separate blank formatted disk available
- for the data files. Start the program by typing BK5 /H <enter>. The /H
- tells the program to stop and say "press enter" after the program is
- loaded. When it says press enter, take out the program disk and insert the
- data disk. After inserting the data disk, do not remove it until the
- program is stopped. To run the other programs that appear on the main
- menu, you will need instead to pick S to stop, and then put in a disk that
- has the program you want and then start that program. You will need to
- create for each program a batch file that has a first line that is the same
- as the first line in BK5.BAT and a second line with the name of the
- program. Note that this paragraph only applies to people with only one
- disk drive, such as users of some laptops.
-
- If you cannot get the program to run, see APPENDIX M.
-
- GENERAL TYPING INFORMATION
-
- When you are typing, use the following keys to make corrections:
-
- Backspace - delete the character to the left of the cursor
- Esc - erase the whole field. Esc again will restore it.
- Left arrow - move the cursor to the left
- Right arrow - move the cursor to the right
- Del - delete the character the cursor is under
- Ins - insert mode - to insert letters
- Home - move the cursor to the beginning of the field
- End - move the cursor to the last character in the field
-
- If you make a mistake and are past the field where the mistake is, you may
- type Shift-Tab or UP arrow and move back to the field and correct the
- mistake. Then push Enter or Tab or DOWN arrow to move forward to the next
- field you wish to input. On most keyboards, the Tab key is to the left of
- the letter Q.
-
- * You may set up Alt-keys to repeat any name or city (see Appendix I).
-
- * You may type " to duplicate a location name that is above.
-
- * If you want to type an accented or foreign letter, hold ALT and press F2
- and a chart will pop up. Then hold ALT and type the number that you want
- on the number keypad. Then release ALT.
-
- * Press F4 to display the mailing address fields, and then press CTRL-L
- (Control L) to print a label. If a person has an address entered, the
- letter "A" will be above the name on the modify screen.
-
-
- The main menu of Brother's Keeper will show all the routines and programs
- that you may run.
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 3
-
-
- Add names or link Tree of descendants
- Modify or look anCestors
- Individual add (single) Group sheets
- Edit text file Register style report
- Options Box charts (descendants)
- Help 4 family box charts
- Descendants 3 more ancestor reports
- ahnentafeL merge 2 data files
- Names-custom-birthday split 1 database
- Word search gedcom import/eXport
- Print strings Utilities program
- bacKup data files Stop
-
-
- To select the routine you want to start, either type the letter that is
- capitalized (or the number) or else use the arrow keys to select the
- desired routine and then press enter. Each menu choice will be described
- below.
-
- ADD NAMES OR LINK
-
- You use the Add routine to add new people to the file, and to link together
- people who were previously entered.
-
- The Add screen shows husband information in the top section of the screen,
- wife information below that, the marriage information next, and then child
- information. After each child is added, that child's information is erased
- from the screen and another child may be added. The way to add people is
- first to type in the husband, then the wife, then the marriage information,
- then each of their children in order.
-
- You may start entering families in any order that you wish. You may start
- with yourself, or with your oldest known ancestor, or with anyone else that
- you wish. The reports will look the same, regardless of which family you
- enter first. An example of adding a family follows a discussion of the
- fields.
-
- When you are Adding someone, you may enter the following information:
-
- (size of field)
- PERSON'S NAME 40
- SEX M or F 1
- DATE OF BIRTH 15
- PLACE OF BIRTH 40
- DATE OF DEATH 15
- PLACE OF DEATH 40
- 3 OTHER DATES 15 each
- 3 OTHER PLACES 40 each
- REFERENCE 15
- OCCUPATION 25
- MESSAGE LINES (7 lines 78 characters each)
- TEXT FILE 120 lines each
- SOURCE LINES (3 lines for each date)
- MAILING ADDRESS (6 lines 40 characters each)
-
- When you are adding a marriage, you may enter:
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 4
-
-
- MARRIAGE DATE 15
- PLACE OF MARRIAGE 40
- OTHER DATE 15
- OTHER PLACE 40
- MARRIAGE CEREMONY Y or N 1
- DIVORCED/SEPARATED/ANNULLED 1
- END YEAR 4
-
- The person's name and sex are required information. The rest is optional.
- The sex is needed so that the program can correctly compute the
- relationships when printing.
-
- * When you are entering names, use maiden names.
-
- All date fields are 15 characters long. You may type any information into
- a date field and it will be accepted. If you type a date in the form
- MMDDYYYY where MM is the month, DD is the day, and YYYY is the year, then
- the program will convert the date into a standard format. If you enter
- MMDDYY (i.e. you only enter 2 digits for the year), the program will
- convert the year to 19YY. Each date will be converted to whatever format
- (0-9) you have set in the options area. Format type 0 (zero) means no
- change from the way you type it. The other date formats (1-9) will do a
- conversion on the date you type (provided it is typed as MMDDYY or
- MMDDYYYY). If you wish to include /'s around the day you may, e.g.
- 5/4/1954 is acceptable for input. The following is an example of how the
- dates will be changed based on the format you have set. If you enter
- 05041954, it will be changed to (based on the date type you have chosen):
-
- Type 1 04-MAY-1954
- Type 2 04 MAY 1954
- Type 3 05/04/1954
- Type 4 05-04-1954
- Type 5 MAY-04-1954
- Type 6 MAY 04 1954
-
- Date types 7, 8, and 9 are only used when you want to ENTER dates in
- European date format (DDMMYYYY). Using the European date input, if you
- enter 04051954 you would get:
-
- Type 7 04-MAY-1954
- Type 8 04 MAY 1954
- Type 9 04-05-1954
-
- You may change the option called "Months capital or lower case" on Options
- screen 1 so that the months will appear as May instead of MAY and the day
- will appear as 4 instead of 04. If you have already entered dates in one
- format and wish to change to another format, you may use the utility
- program to change all dates.
-
- Generally, if you type in less than 6 digits or more than 8 digits or type
- any alpha characters (A-Z), then no date conversion will take place no
- matter which date format type you have set. You may, however, type either
- a ? or a _ for parts you don't know and it will still convert. For example
- if you don't know the day of the month you could type 05__54 and it will
- convert to __-MAY-1954 if you are using type 1 dates.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 5
-
-
- Most dates will require 10 or 11 characters when converted. However, the
- field is 15 characters long to accommodate the exceptions. If you are not
- sure of a date, you may add additional information. The program will
- automatically recognize certain 3 character abbreviations such as ABT for
- about, CIR for circa, BEF for before, and AFT for after. For example, if
- you know a person died before March 15, 1920 you may enter BEF 031520 and
- the program will convert it to BEF 15-MAR-1920 if you are using type 1
- dates. The abbreviations (ABT, CIR, BEF, and AFT) may be in upper or lower
- case. You may also enter dates with dual years such as 15-MAR-1680/81
-
- The location fields each hold up to 40 characters. These fields will not
- print on the descendant printout, but they do print on the family group
- sheets, the ancestor charts, and on the Register number system printout.
- Since many locations will be repeated, there are a few short-cuts to speed
- up your work. If the location has been entered previously, then type the
- first couple letters and then press the F8 key. A list of matching
- locations will pop up and you may use the up and down arrow keys to pick
- the one you want and then press enter. This will guarantee that you are
- consistent in the spelling of the locations and that will result in a
- savings in disk space. Another short-cut is to use the ALT-keys (see
- Appendix I) to have the program remember 36 commonly used names or
- locations. Using the ALT-key routine, you can enter a location by pressing
- just two keys. Another short-cut is that you may enter a quote or ditto
- mark in a location field and the program will copy into that field whatever
- location is shown in the field above. For example, if you enter the birth
- location as Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, and then move down to the
- place of death, you may enter either " or ' as the first character in
- that field and when you push enter, the field will show Detroit, Wayne
- County, Michigan. When you use either the " or ' , the program will
- duplicate the closest non-blank location field above the one you are
- entering. If you are entering a wife or child, it will even go to the
- person above to find the field to duplicate.
-
- Some disk space is used for every unique location, however once a location
- has been entered, it does not take any more disk space to have several
- people use the same location.
-
- Another short-cut when entering locations is = (the equal sign). When you
- enter = in a location field, it will make the location equal to what that
- same field was for the last person you entered or displayed. For example,
- if you are entering data for a wife, and she was born in the same city as
- the husband, you may enter = for her place of birth. When you push enter,
- it will display the same location that you entered for the husband. This
- is handy for times when " would not work because there are other
- locations directly above (such as husband's place of death) that are
- different. Using = will work even when the last person you entered is no
- longer showing, such as when you are entering children. If several
- children were born in the same location, you may enter = in the birth
- location and it will duplicate the location for the previous child. You
- may use = to duplicate any of the five location fields from the previous
- person entered. Remember that " will copy whatever is currently above on
- the screen at the time, whereas = will duplicate from the same location
- field from the previous person you entered, whether or not the person is
- still showing.
-
- While you are in a date or location field, you may press the F6 key and a
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 6
-
-
- screen will pop up allowing you to enter up to three full lines of
- information to describe your source. The information you are collecting
- and entering about people should be documented so that other people will
- know what your sources were. Often there will be a conflict regarding a
- date, and after a few years, no one (including yourself) will remember
- where you obtained the information. So "cite your sources" as the experts
- say. If the information is from a book, give the title, author,
- publication information, and perhaps where to find the book. Use the page
- number field to cite a specific page if you wish. If you are referring to
- a source you have previously entered, just type the first few letters in
- the source field and then press the F8 key to show the complete source.
- Each unique source takes up disk space, but duplicates take up no
- additional space. If your information is from personal knowledge or from a
- letter from someone, cite that also. On the modify screen, each date that
- has a source will have a dash on the left of the screen.
-
- The Reference field (which holds 15 characters) may be useful if you want
- to print out some other information about the person. For example, if you
- are getting your information from a family history book, you may use the
- Reference space to show the number already assigned to this person. When
- you print the descendant report, you have the option of printing this field
- in brackets after the name. In this version of Brother's Keeper you may
- also search and find people based on what is in their Reference field. For
- example, if you put JS1234 in the reference field, then whenever you want
- to find a person to modify or to print, you may type /JS1234 when asked for
- the name. The / character notifies the program to search based on the
- Reference field. If you want to use your own numbering system, put your
- number in the Reference field. Do not put the / character in the Reference
- field, just use it when searching.
-
- The program assigns a code number for each person added, but it is not a
- genealogy number. Genealogy numbers are automatically computed and printed
- on the appropriate reports. For example, when printing ancestor charts you
- have the option to print the "standard" number for each person. That is
- the same as the ahnentafel number (starting person is number 1, father is
- 2, mother is 3 and so on). When printing the Register report, the program
- will automatically compute the Register number for each person.
-
- You may assign any name you wish to the 3 extra date fields, the Reference
- field, and the Occupation field. Use the options routine to assign new
- names to these fields. Whatever names you assign in the options area will
- display on the screen and show on the printouts. If you need to change
- other words in the program or on the printouts, there is a program
- available called BK5WORDS that will let you change any or all of the words.
- This program is used by those wishing to translate the BK programs into
- another language. The program has been translated into several languages
- already including French, Danish, German, Norwegian, Polish, and Dutch.
- Before you go to the work of translating, check with John Steed to see if
- someone has already translated into the language you want.
-
- * After you have entered all the fields that you wish to for a person,
- push F1 (Function 1) and you will be moved on to the next person.
-
- If you are adding people who are not already in the file, just type in the
- person's information (type the name in normal first-middle-last order). If
- you are adding a spouse to someone who has already been added previously,
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 7
-
-
- you may type the person's code number or the person's first and last name
- and then F8 (F8 is the search key). For example to find John Smith type
- John Smith then F8. Since you pressed F8, the program will not add John
- Smith as a new person in the event you misspelled his name. If you type
- John Smith and press Enter, the computer will search for him, and if he is
- not found, it will add him.
-
- Let me show you an example to clarify this. Let's suppose you type in the
- following people.
-
- Husband - John Smith
- Wife - Jane Jones
- Child 1 - James Smith
- Child 2 - Carol Smith
-
- After typing them all in, press the F1 key to clear the screen. Now you
- want to type in information about John Smith's second marriage. Since you
- have already added John Smith, you now only have to let the computer know
- who you want. So when prompted for the Husband, either type his code
- number (which we will say is 25 - so you would type 25) or type his name
- John Smith then F8 and either way the computer would show you his
- information that you entered previously. The computer would then notify
- you that it has information about his marriage that is already on file.
- You would then be asked if you wanted to display his first wife or add a
- new wife. In this case you would respond that you want to add a new wife.
- Then the computer would ask you for the Wife information. After you add
- his second wife and second marriage date information, add the children of
- the second marriage (if any). Then you push the F1 key to clear the
- screen.
-
- Let's say you want to add the husband of Carol Smith, the daughter. (Carol
- has already been added.) When the add screen prompts you for a husband,
- type in the name of Carol's husband and the other data for him. When it
- prompts you for a wife, since Carol is already on file, type either her
- code number, (31 or whatever it is), or type Carol Smith and F8. Then
- type the marriage date information and their children (if any). Then push
- F1 to clear the screen.
-
- Now let's suppose you just found out that John Smith and Jane Jones had a
- third child, a son named Remington. You would add him this way. When
- prompted for a husband, type 25 or type John Smith and F8 and John Smith's
- information will show. The computer will inform you that he has two
- marriages on file. You will be asked if you want to display one of his
- wives or add a new one. In this case you are adding a child to a marriage
- that is already on file, so you will choose to display his first wife.
- When Jane is showing as the wife you will be asked if you want to keep this
- wife or display another. You would choose to keep this wife. When you do
- so, the program will jump to the child area, and will prompt you for child
- #3. You would then type in the information about Remington. (If the
- children are in the wrong order, use Modify to correct the order.)
-
- If you enter "N" in the marriage ceremony field, the program treat the
- couple as having not been married and will avoid printing the words
- "husband" and "wife" and "married" on the reports. If the field is blank,
- it is assumed they were married.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 8
-
-
- If you wish to designate a child as being adopted, a step child, or a
- foster child, then move to the last field for the child (the occupation
- field) and press CTRL-A (control A). Each time you press it, it will
- change the designation for the father and mother. This designation
- probably will be included on some of the reports in the future, but
- currently it will show up on the modify screen. You may also change this
- designation on the modify screen by moving to the occupation field and
- pressing CTRL-A.
-
- To enter a child under a second set of parents, when prompted for the
- child's name, type the code number for the child or type the child's name
- and press F8.
-
- So, in summary, when the program is asking for a person - either husband,
- wife or child - you may type in the person's name (if the person is new -
- i.e., is not already in the file) or you may type the person's code number
- (the number that is assigned to a person when they are added) or you may
- type the name of a person who is in the file and F8 and the computer will
- search and find that person.
-
- When you type a name and F8, the program searches for a person with that
- name. It is actually only searching for a person who has the same first
- five letters in the first name and the same first five letters in the last
- name. Because of this, you do not need to type in middle names when you
- are having the program search. Also, if the last name is over five
- letters, you may leave off all letters after the fifth. It is probable
- that more than one person could match when searching. If there is more
- than one match, the first person to match will display and you will be
- asked if this is the desired person or if you wish to continue searching.
- Push F1 if the person is correct, or push TAB to continue searching.
-
- When you type a name and push Enter (instead of F8), the program also will
- search for a name that is similar - just like pressing F8. However, you
- may change an option on option screen 3 so that when you type a name and
- press Enter, it will only show you exact matches in the event there is at
- least one exact match. If there is not an exact match, it will still show
- you the matches with the first five letters the same in the first and last
- names. The exact match option may be useful if you have thousands of names
- and do not want to review similar names that are not exact.
-
- If you are sure that the person you are adding is not already in the file,
- you may press F1 after typing the name (without pressing enter or F8) and
- it will add the person as new without searching the file and without
- showing any matching names.
-
- If you are not sure of the spelling of a name that is in the computer, you
- may use ? for the first and/or last name. For example use ? Smith to
- find all people with the last name of Smith. Or use Joseph ? to find all
- people with the first name of Joseph. This will work in the Add, Modify,
- and Print routines.
-
- If you are entering a family, where the father is unknown, you may use the
- name *UNKNOWN for the father's name, and there will not be any reference
- to a father on any reports. The name *UNKNOWN will not print. The
- computer will not save any information about a person with *UNKNOWN for a
- name. It is just a way to bypass a person and allow you to enter children
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 9
-
-
- with only one parent. If you want to save information about a person, but
- do not know the name, you may use _____ _____ for the name.
-
- When you are prompted for the name of a child, you may press F9 to display
- all the children entered so far. Also, you may press F6 when the child
- name field is blank to go immediately to the Modify routine and display the
- same family.
-
- In addition to the name field, you may enter an alternate name for each
- person. After you have entered a person's name, you may press F6 while at
- the name field to enter the alternate name. This alternate name is
- currently used as the person's current name when printing birthday lists.
-
- Remember when you are adding to the file that you should make copies of the
- data files regularly. You do not want to have to add all these names again
- in case of a disk going bad (it happens) or a bug in the program (it
- happens). You may use the Backup menu item to copy all the data files to
- another disk. If you are using a hard disk and the files are too large to
- copy to a floppy, then use the DOS BACKUP command or use another backup
- program. You also could use a program such as ARC or PKZIP to make a
- compressed copy of the data files. A program such as ARC will compress the
- data files down to about one quarter the regular size. (The actual data
- files are not reduced but the compressed copy may be saved on a floppy
- disk.) . If you have your data on a floppy then use DISKCOPY to make a
- copy of the diskette.
-
- Have at least two different backup copies of the data disk, and in case of
- a major problem, make more different copies before you attempt to fix the
- problem in case you make matters even worse. These suggestions come from
- years of experience with computers and years of experience in making
- matters worse.
-
- MESSAGE LINES
-
- If you want to put in other information for a person, you may do so using
- message lines (up to 7 lines) and text files (unlimited length). Since
- there is not room to show these message lines on the screen all the time,
- you may see or add message lines by moving the cursor to any date or place
- field and then pressing the F5 (Function 5) key. The bottom of the screen
- will then clear and display any existing messages for the person and let
- you add or modify the messages. After you are finished with the messages,
- they will be replaced on the screen by the child information. Remember
- that there are separate message lines for the husband and the wife. Since
- message lines will not always be showing, the computer will notify you if a
- person on the screen has some message lines already. It does this by
- putting the letter M on the screen on the line above the person's name. If
- you need more than 7 lines, see text files below.
-
- The descendant report and group sheet routine will let you print message
- lines. Each time you run those routines you will have the option to print
- no message lines or all message lines or certain message lines about a
- person. You might have certain messages that are only for your information
- about a person and other messages that you wish to print out. There is a
- way to designate certain message lines that you wish never to have printed
- out. If you want to enter a message line, but never have it print out,
- then start the message line with the # character as the first character in
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 10
-
-
- the line. For example, you could enter a message line as follows:
-
- #Committed suicide.
-
- Any message line that starts with the # character will not print, even if
- you ask for all message lines to print. If you want some message lines to
- print some of the time and all the message lines to print at other times,
- start each message line that you want to print some of the time with an
- asterisk * as the first character in the line. When printing, you may
- choose the option to print only message lines that start with an asterisk
- and other message lines will not print on that report. (The * will not
- print; it is simply a code to tell the computer which lines you want to
- print.) If you want either all message lines or no message lines to print
- on some reports, you do not need to start each line with an asterisk, just
- choose the correct option regarding message lines when printing.
-
- In addition to the 7 message lines, you also may designate a text file to
- be associated with a person. To do this, go to the message lines section
- for a person and type at the beginning of any message line two dollar signs
- and then the name of a text file. For example, if you have a text file in
- the \WP50 directory called SMITH.TXT you would type a message line of
- $$C:\WP50\SMITH.TXT (Nothing else should be after the name of the text
- file on that message line.) Then, whenever you are running a print routine
- that is printing all message lines, it also would print the file SMITH.TXT.
- The text file can be created by any word processor, provided it is saved in
- ASCII format or DOS text format. (That is the format that you may read
- directly on the screen by using the DOS command TYPE.) Each line in the
- file should have no more than 78 characters in it. If you do not want to
- use your word processor to create the text file, you may use a limited 120
- line editor that is included in this program. You start the text editor by
- entering a message line starting with $$ and the name of the file and then
- pressing F5 again. The file name may be up to 8 characters long followed
- by a period and then up to 3 more characters. There should be no spaces
- between the first $ and the last letter of the name.
-
- The text editor has a few features to help you when making changes. If you
- wish to insert a new line between two existing lines, then press F9. If
- you wish to delete a line, then first make the line blank (by pressing ESC)
- and then press F7 to remove the blank line. If you wish to move a line,
- press Alt F10, then when it is blinking, press Alt = (Alt and equal) then
- move to the new location and press Alt = again. The editor has a word wrap
- feature and includes mouse support.
-
- MODIFYING
-
- * If you want to LOOK at a person's information, use the modify routine.
- Then after looking, push F1 (Function 1) to return to the menu.
-
- The modify screen will ask you for a person's code number or name. When it
- finds the person, it will show the person, the person's mother and father,
- the person's spouse, and the names of the children. You may then modify
- any information about the person and the marriage. (You may not change the
- sex of the person if the person is married.) To change information about a
- person showing, use the up and down arrow keys to move to the field to
- change and type in the correct information. If a person has more than one
- spouse, you may display the other spouses in this manner: when the cursor
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 11
-
-
- is at the bottom right corner, push the F9 key (Function 9) and the next
- spouse will display along with the children from that marriage. If you
- want to change date or location information about the parents, spouse, or
- children, then you would need to switch to them (see below) as the person
- to modify. If you want to add the parent's names, use the Add routine, not
- the Modify routine. If you want to delete the parents (because of an
- error) then switch to one of the parents as the person to modify, and then
- pick D to delete the child.
-
- This same modify screen may be used to delete a child who was put in a
- family in error, to change the order of children, to delete a spouse who
- should not be married to this person, and to change the order of spouses.
- If you want to do one of these four things, type one of the following when
- the cursor is at the bottom right corner.
-
- R = rearrange the order of the children who are showing
- D = delete a child who is showing
- W = change the order of a spouse
- X = delete a spouse
-
- When you delete a child or delete a spouse, the child or spouse will still
- exist in the file, however they will no longer be connected to this person
- in any way. You are then able to add that person as a child of someone
- else, for example. If a person has the wrong parents, modify one of the
- parents and delete the child. If you want to add the parents for a person,
- use the add routine from the main menu.
-
- When you want to rearrange the order of children, you will be shown the
- children in their current order with the word OLD above their code numbers.
- You will then be allowed to type in the code numbers in the correct order
- under the heading of NEW. Type in the code numbers in the correct order
- and then press F1 and the computer will move the names of the children into
- the new order.
-
- To completely DELETE someone from the file, press / while on the bottom
- line. You will be asked if you really want to delete the person, and if so
- it will remove the person and delete all links from that person to parents,
- spouses, and children. After a person is deleted, that code number is not
- used again, but the disk space is reused by the next person you add.
- Perhaps in a future version there will be a way to reuse the number.
-
- There is no reason for you to have to reuse a number, but since a few
- people may want to do so, here is a method to use instead of the above
- method. To delete a person and allow the number to be reused: First, be
- sure that person is not linked to anyone else. Use Modify to call up the
- person and check that the parents say "not entered" and the spouse and
- child areas are blank. Then change the name to NOT USED and also blank out
- all the date and location fields and message lines. Then, the next time
- you are adding children to someone, type the code number that you wish to
- reuse. It will display any information about the person who previously had
- that number. Then use the UP arrow key to move up the fields to the name
- field. Type the new correct name and then all the correct date and
- location information. The new information will be stored with that code
- number and the person will now be linked into a family.
-
- Often, when you are looking at someone on the modify screen, you want to
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 12
-
-
- display someone else who is closely related to the person showing.
- Therefore, there is a quick routine for doing this. When the cursor is at
- the bottom right corner of the modify screen, you may type one of the
- following characters to move quickly to another person.
-
- F = display the person's Father
- M = display the person's Mother
- S = display the person's Spouse
- 1 = 1 to 9 to display child 1 to 9. 0 is 10. Shift-1 is 11
- O = display the next Older brother or sister of this person
- Y = display the next Younger brother or sister of this person
-
- If the person you are displaying is married, then you may also press F6 and
- you will go immediately to the Add routine so that you may add more
- children to the family.
-
- If the person you are displaying has two sets of parents, you may press the
- F8 key to see the other set of parents. The parents that are shown when
- you first display a person with modify are the primary parents, and the
- other parents are the secondary parents. When you print an ancestor chart,
- the primary parents will show. If you wish to switch the primary and
- secondary parents for someone, then on the bottom line of the modify screen
- type the : character.
-
- INDIVIDUAL ADD (SINGLE)
-
- Some people want to be able to add a person to the files without having to
- link the person to a spouse or parents. To do this, use the individual add
- routine. You may enter a new person using this routine, and then link the
- person to others at a later date using the normal add routine. One case
- where this routine might be useful would be if you have information on a
- person that you know fits into your family somewhere. You could enter the
- person, and then when you find the connection later, you may link the
- person to others without having again to look up all the details about the
- person.
-
- EDIT TEXT FILE
-
- The E routine will allow you to create or edit a text file with up to 120
- lines of text. (You also may access this editor by pressing F5 when in the
- message line area.) This is useful if you need to have more than 7 message
- lines for a person and are using the $$FILENAME option on one or more of
- the message lines (as described above in the add section). You may use
- this routine to create the file instead of having to stop the program and
- start your word processor. Although this is a quick way to edit files, it
- is limited in features. Besides the normal editing keys, the text editor
- has a few features to help you when making changes. If you wish to insert
- a new line between two existing lines, then press F9. If you wish to
- delete a line, then first make the line blank (by pressing ESC) and then
- press F7 to remove the blank line. If you wish to move a line, press Alt
- F10, then when it is blinking, press Alt = (Alt and equal) then move to the
- new location and press Alt = again.
-
- If you do not have a word processor, I would suggest the shareware program
- PC-WRITE that is available from several sources. You cannot use the E
- routine of Brother's Keeper to edit an existing file that is longer than
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 13
-
-
- 120 lines. If you use your word processor to create a file, there is no
- limit to the number of lines you may enter. The print routines that print
- all message lines will print the entire text file that you have named in a
- message line.
-
- If you use a word processor to create your text files, be sure that the
- file is saved in ASCII format and not in some special format that is unique
- to that word processor. The ASCII format is the format that can be read
- from DOS with the TYPE command. If you are at the DOS prompt (A: or C:)
- and enter TYPE and then the name of the text file, you should be able to
- read the text file on the screen. If you see strange characters, the file
- is not saved in ASCII format. Some word processors always save files in
- ASCII format, but most word processors have their own file format but also
- have an option of saving files as ASCII.
-
- OPTIONS
-
- The O options routine will let you change certain parameters. The first
- screen appears as follows:
-
- Default value
- color mono
- Form color (3) or (7)
- Data color (7) or (15)
- Background color (1) or (0)
- Date format (0-9) (1)
- Months Capital or Lower (0)
- Name for date below Born Baptized:
- Name for date below Died Buried:
- Name for date 2 below Died Other:
- Name for bottom line at left Ref:
- Name for bottom in center Occupation:
- Name for date below married Other:
- Menu default 1=Add 2=Modify (1)
- Special effects? curtain (yes)
- Beginning output (printer or display)
- Push Enter if 1 character (no)
- Character for # ASCII(35) (35)
- Path for data files (drive or path)
-
- On this screen you may change the colors, change the conversion format for
- the dates (see the ADD section above for description of date types), and
- have the dates converted to upper or lower case. Also you may change the
- names that will appear for the other date fields and for two other fields.
- Whatever description you put here in the options section will show on the
- Add and Modify screens and on the printouts. You may have the main menu
- default to highlight either the add line or the modify line, and you may
- cause the program to use special effects (like the opening and closing
- curtain.) The program may be set to start up with the output going to the
- printer or the screen (you may also change the output at the main menu by
- pressing F9.) You may either require the pressing of the enter key after
- filling a one character field, or you may have the program not require
- pressing enter. If your printer cannot print the # character, then change
- the value from 35 to a value that prints a symbol that you want printed
- before a person's code number.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 14
-
-
- The line for the path for the data files tells the program where your data
- files are located. That line should contain the drive and subdirectory
- name that will contain your data. For example, it might be C:\BK5 or it
- might be C:\SMITH or whatever directory name you have set up. The data
- files are the files that contain all the names, dates, locations, sources,
- message lines, and mailing addresses. Those files have names that end with
- the letters DT5.
-
- After you push F1 you will see screen 2, which has the printer options.
-
- Ascii vertical (179)
- Ascii horizontal (196)
- Ascii corner (192)
- Ascii vert/right (195)
- Ascii horz/down (194)
- Print generation bar (yes) 1 2 3 4
- Printer LPT1 or LPT2 (LPT1)
- Date format top of form (1) 1 = 01-JUN-1991
- 4 = 06-01-1991
- Pause after each page (no) continuous
- Compress print on (15)
- Regular print on (18)
- Bold print on (27) (69)
- Bold print off (27) (70)
- Can it bold/w compress (no)
- Can printer backspace (yes)
- Can it CR w/out LF (yes)
- Graphic spacing sideways (18)
- CR/LF for end of line (0)
- Print string 1
- Print string 2
- Print string 3
-
- The utility program (pick U from the main menu) can help you in setting up
- the codes for your printer. The defaults shown above work fine for dot
- matrix printers such as Epson and IBM. For the HP Laserjet printer, the
- utility program will set up the codes:
-
- Compress 27 38 107 50 83 0 0
- Regular 27 38 107 48 83 0 0
- Bold on 27 40 115 51 66
- Bold off 27 40 115 48 66
-
- If that does not work on your model of Laserjet, you may wish to try:
-
- Compress 27 40 115 49 56 72 0
- Regular 27 40 115 49 48 72 0
-
- The first five numbers on option screen 2 are the characters that are used
- when printing the tree chart (T from the main menu). If your printer does
- not print graphic lines for the tree chart, first try changing the dip
- switches in your printer to set up the IBM character set (look in the index
- of your printer manual under "dip switches" or under "character sets") and
- if that does not work, change the top five numbers as described in the
- description of the Tree routine in this document. The "print generation
- line" refers to the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 at the top and bottom of the
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 15
-
-
- descendant report (D on the main menu).
-
- If you do not know the answer to the 3 "can" questions about your printer,
- you may run the printer test routine by typing a T at the bottom right
- corner of option screen 2. The test routine will show you if your printer
- can backspace, if it can do a carriage return without a line feed, and it
- will show you whether your codes for compress, regular, and bold are
- correct.
-
- The three print strings allow you to save any information you wish to send
- to your printer later using the P routine. You may wish to change to a
- different type style, change the orientation for your laser printer, or set
- a left margin. Each of these strings can be up to 42 characters long. Set
- up the ASCII decimal values you wish to send to the printer with a comma or
- a / between values. For example, if your printer has a NLQ (near letter
- quality) mode, you could set print string 1 to be:
-
- /27/52
-
- and then when you send print string 1 to the printer using P from the main
- menu, the printer will be set to NLQ mode which will make the family group
- sheets look better.
-
- Consult your printer manual to see what features your printer has and what
- ASCII decimal codes must be sent to activate them. If you need more codes
- than what will fit on one line, you may use two lines and then send both
- lines. You may want to set string 3 to the code that resets your printer.
- You may even send short character strings to the printer by entering the
- decimal values for each letter. Note that most of the reports start by
- sending to the printer either the codes for regular size or compress size
- letters. Sometimes this will change your printer setup. For example, if
- you use the print strings to send codes to your printer to print in near
- letter quality mode, and then you start the D routine for descendants, your
- printer probably will not print in near letter quality because the D
- routine sends the codes for compressed print.
-
- Option screen 3 appears as follows:
-
- Character before last name [
- Character after last name ]
- Label size (lines top to top) 6
- Which address lines to print 1 2 3 4 5
- Put changes in BKAUDIT no
- Show date of change no
- Character to never print mess. #
- ASCII for vertical bar 124
- Enter will search exact names no
- Printer codes for superscript
- Printer codes cancel superscript
-
- On option screen 3 you may specify which characters to use to surround
- unusual last names. (See last names section.) Also you may set the size
- of your labels that you use for printing addresses. The size you set here
- is the total number of lines from the top of one label to the top of the
- next label. You may also tell which mailing address lines to print on the
- label, and in which order. For example, if you have the phone number on
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 16
-
-
- line 6 you may leave it off the printed labels, or you could print it as
- the first line if you want.
-
- If you answer yes for the BKAUDIT file, then when you make changes to a
- person using the modify routine, the changes will be written into the
- BKAUDIT file. The file will show the date you made the change, the
- person's code number, the field you changed, and the old and new value.
- The program can currently show changes made to the name, any of the five
- dates, the Ref and occupation fields. It does not currently show changes
- made to the location fields, the marriage information, or the sources.
- This BKAUDIT file, if used, will continue to grow in size until you delete
- it. To see what is in it, you may print the file or display it on the
- screen using either your word processor or the DOS command TYPE. Do NOT
- use your word processor to view any of the BK data files (that end with the
- letters DT5) or they will be damaged.
-
- If you elect to show the date of last change, it will display the date on
- the top line of the modify screen. The date shown will be the date the
- person was added, or the date a change was made with modify. Currently, if
- you move the cursor into any of the fields for a person being modified, it
- will change the date even if the field was not changed.
-
- Message lines that start with the # character (or whatever character you
- set up on option screen 3) will never print out even if you ask for all
- message lines to print.
-
- The vertical bar character is the character that is used on the ancestor
- charts, and the compressed group sheets. It is normally the | character
- which is ASCII 124, but you may change it to the graphics character ASCII
- 179 or another character.
-
- If you answer no on the line about "enter will search exact names," then
- when you type a name and press enter, the program will show you all names
- with the same first five letters in the first name and the same first five
- letters in the last name. (This is basically the way version 4.5
- operated.) If you answer yes for this option, then if you type a name and
- there is at least one exact match, then only exact matches will be shown.
- If you want to see non-exact matches you could still do so by typing the
- name and pressing the F8 key instead of the enter key. For example, if you
- have 15 people named Robert Jones, you might want to set this option to yes
- so that when you type the complete name, including the middle name, you
- will not have to skip through all 15 people.
-
- The codes for superscript should be set up using the utility program (U
- from the menu) to pick your printer. If your printer is not Epson
- compatible or HP compatible, you may have to set up the superscript codes
- manually. These codes are used when printing footnotes in the group sheet
- routine or the register report. On group sheets, the footnote numbers will
- be in superscript at the bottom, but not up by the locations. This was
- done intentionally because with several date and location lines all
- together, the footnote numbers, if superscripted, look confusing; they
- would appear to be subscript numbers for the line above.
-
- HELP
-
- Choosing H from the main menu will give you a summary of some of the
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 17
-
-
- information in this documentation. Even though it is brief, it may remind
- you of what you need to know. Also pay attention to the bottom line
- whenever you are in the add or modify mode, because it will show you your
- choices as you are entering data and moving from field to field.
-
- PRINT ROUTINES
-
- In any of the print routines (e.g. ancestor, tree, group sheets,
- descendants) you may type a person's code number or the person's name when
- specifying who to print. You may type a question mark (?) in place of a
- first or last name that you are not sure of. When given a print option,
- the default answer will show and you may push enter to keep that response
- or you may type in a different response.
-
- All print routines may have the output sent to the PRINTER, to the SCREEN,
- or to a DISK file. (You may use the Options routine to set up a default so
- that each time that you start the program it will be set for either the
- printer or the screen.) Whenever you are at the main menu, push F9 if you
- wish to change the output. There are two ways to write to a disk file.
- One way is to include the control codes (such as compressed and bold).
- This is useful if you want to print the information later. The other way
- is to send the output to a file without control codes. This method is
- useful if you wish to use a word processor to edit the file. (If you wish
- to save the output of an ancestor chart without control codes, you probably
- should first temporarily set the printer options to "cannot backspace" and
- "cannot CR without LF" since that report tries to underline the names if
- possible.)
-
- If you send the output to a disk file, you may type the name for the disk
- file or use the default name (which is the date.) If you send several
- printouts to the same file, it will append to the file (add to the end of
- the file). The output file may later be edited with a word processor or
- desk top publishing program, or may be sent to a printer with the copy
- command. You may edit a file you create in this way, but never edit one of
- the BK data files (all BK data files end with the letters DT5).
-
- If you are printing a multi-page printout and the second and following
- pages do not start at the top of the paper, it means you need to set your
- "top of form" on your printer. To set the "top of form," move the paper to
- the top of a page, then turn the printer off, then back on again. Once you
- set the top of form, it will remain set correctly as long as you do not
- turn the knob on the printer.
-
- DESCENDANTS REPORT
-
- Choosing D from the main menu will print the descendants of any person.
- You will have the option to print code numbers and message lines. You also
- have the option to double space and to print relationships. (The utility
- program also has the ability to compute relationships.) The descendant
- routine will show up to 20 generations. A sample printout appears in
- Appendix D. If you wish to show more information about each person, try
- printing the register report or the indented report (by choosing R from the
- main menu.)
-
- The D routine assumes your printer can print 132 characters in compressed
- (or condensed) mode. It sends the codes to put the printer in compressed
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 18
-
-
- mode. If the report does not print compressed on your printer, then use
- the utility program (U on the menu) and set up your printer with the "pick
- a printer" choice. You also could go to option screen 2 and enter the
- codes. If your printer can print more or less than 132 characters, you may
- type in a different number when asked for the number of characters per line
- (the range is from 70 to 250).
-
- The descendant report prints a series of numbers at the top and bottom of
- the page. These are generation numbers and they line up with the
- indentations for each new generation. If you prefer to eliminate those
- numbers, you may go to option screen 2 and enter a zero for the line that
- says "print generation bar."
-
- AHNENTAFEL
-
- The L routine will print an Ahnentafel list (Ahnentafel is from a German
- word meaning ancestor table). This is a list of ancestors of a person,
- without drawing a chart like the Ancestor routine. You have the option to
- show relationships (such as Parent, Grand Parent, etc.). This routine will
- show standard code numbers starting with 1. The father of any person has a
- standard code number of double the child. The mother of any person has a
- standard code number of double the child plus 1. The Custom report routine
- is used when printing so that you may choose which information to print
- about each person. See Appendix L for more information about custom
- reports.
-
- For example, when you pick L, it will ask who you want to print the report
- for. You type the person's name or code number. Then it reads all the
- ancestors into memory. Then you set up a custom report (or use a
- previously saved custom report). If this is your first time using custom
- reports, you could pick field 2 for the person's name, and then 40 for the
- name length, and then 4 for the person's birth date. Then when you press
- F1, the report will print. Note that the ahnentafel report will add the
- standard ahnentafel code number at the beginning of each line, so the line
- length will be about 8 characters longer than the total of the fields you
- pick.
-
- You also should try the other ahnentafel report that is available by
- choosing "3" from the main menu. That ahnentafel will print a paragraph of
- information for each person, and it also can print more generations.
-
- NAME, CUSTOM, BIRTHDAY PRINTOUT
-
- Option number 1 of the N routine will print all names, birth dates, and
- code numbers in numerical order. If a name field is blank or is equal to
- "Not used" or is equal to "*UNKNOWN" or if a person has been deleted then
- it will not print. Option number 2 also will print everyone, but it allows
- you to custom design a report with any information about each person. See
- Appendix L for information on custom reports.
-
- If you pick option number 3, you will create a file called ALPHA1.DTA which
- may then be sorted alphabetically. (You may create a file of all names or
- just the descendants of a certain person.) Each person's name will
- automatically be changed to last name first (see LAST NAMES below). This
- file may then be sorted into a file called ALPHA2.DTA and when that file is
- printed (option 4 or 5), you will have an alphabetical list. Remember,
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 19
-
-
- before you can pick routine 4 or 5, you must first run routine number 3 to
- create the file ALPHA1.DTA and then sort it. After the file ALPHA1.DTA is
- created, you may sort the file while still in the Brother's Keeper program
- if you have enough memory and if the SORTF.COM program is with your BK
- programs.
-
- If you are not able to sort from within the BK program, then you must stop
- the program in order to sort the file. To sort the file use the SORTF
- program. Copy the SORTF.COM file to your disk and then type SORTIT which
- is a batch file to sort the file. (To run the batch file, the files
- SORTIT.BAT and SORTF.COM should be on your data disk or in the same sub-
- directory as the data.) If you do not have the SORTIT batch file, just
- type:
-
- SORTF ALPHA1.DTA ALPHA2.DTA
-
- The sort may take a minute or so, depending on how many names you have.
- (The ALPHA1 file and the sorted file will each use up 59 bytes of disk
- space for each name.) When the sort is finished, restart the BK program
- and run the N routine option 4 or 5 to print the alphabetical list.
-
- You may run options 4 and 5 several times without having to sort the file
- again. However, you will need to sort again if you add people to the file.
-
- Option number 6 will create a file (called BIRTH1.DTA) that can be sorted
- to print a birthday list. This routine will only include people who are
- still alive (the date of death field is blank) unless you specify
- otherwise. This routine also will attempt to give married women the
- correct last name, even though you entered their maiden names. If you
- choose to create a file of the descendants of someone, you also will have
- the option to include other people in the list (just in case you want to
- include a relative who is not part of the descendant list). After running
- this routine, you may type Enter to sort the file or you may stop the BK
- program and sort the file by typing BIRTHDAY. That will run the batch file
- that sorts the data. The same requirements that are discussed above about
- needing the SORTF.COM program also apply to this sort routine.
-
- After the sorted file (called BIRTH2.DTA) is created, start the BK program
- and pick N then 7 to print a birthday list. This will show everyone's
- birthday in order, starting with January.
-
- If the results of the birthday list are not correct, check to make sure
- that the format of your birth dates matches what is specified on option
- screen 1 as far as date type. (See dates in Add section above.) If your
- dates are not all in the same format, you will get strange results. You
- may use the utility program to change the format if you wish, but be sure
- to have a backup copy of all your data files before changing the date
- format since sometimes the results are not what you expected.
-
- The files ALPHA1.DTA, ALPHA2.DTA, BIRTH1.DTA, and BIRTH2.DTA are temporary
- files that may be deleted (if you wish) after printing. They must be
- recreated anyway if you later want to print an updated report. You may
- edit these files if you wish to make changes before printing. DO NOT EDIT
- ANY FILE THAT HAS A NAME ENDING WITH .DT5.
-
- The .DTA files are created on the same drive or in the same subdirectory as
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 20
-
-
- the .DT5 data files. If your programs are on a different drive, or in a
- different subdirectory, you will need to change to that data area before
- sorting with the SORTIT or BIRTHDAY batch files. It is possible to change
- the batch files so that the drive or path is included in the batch file.
- Just put the drive or path name in front of the existing file names. For
- example, if your data is in the C:\SMITH directory, you could change the
- BIRTHDAY batch file to read:
-
- SORTF C:\SMITH\BIRTH1.DTA C:\SMITH\BIRTH2.DTA /+47,4
-
- If you have modified the batch file to include drive or path names, you may
- then exit the BK program, type the name of the sort batch file, and then
- restart the BK program without having to change directories.
-
- LAST NAMES
-
- Certain suffixes such as Jr and Sr will be ignored by the program while it
- is looking for each person's last name. If you put a suffix after a name,
- and the program thinks that the suffix is the last name, you may add a
- period after the suffix and the program will skip it and find the correct
- last name. For example, if you put MD after a person's name, you should put
- a period after it so that it will not be alphabetized under the M's. You
- could end the name with MD. or M.D. and then it should print correctly.
- The program also will attempt to place two part last names in the proper
- order. If you come across a last name that does not alphabetize correctly,
- then surround the last name with the [ and ] characters. For example, if
- you enter a name as John Steed of Kent, the program will alphabetize using
- the name Kent, but if you enter it as John [Steed] of Kent, then it will be
- alphabetized under Steed. The [ and ] characters will not print on the
- reports. The program automatically looks for many two part names such as
- those starting with Van, so the name Jack Van Ek should alphabetize
- correctly without using [ ]. But if a person's middle name is Van, then
- the program may assume it is a two part last name, so put in the name as
- John Van [Brown] and it will alphabetize under the name Brown instead of
- Van.
-
- WORD SEARCH
-
- The word search routine, like the other reports, can be either printed,
- displayed, or sent to a disk file. Press F9 at the main menu to change the
- output between print, display, and file.
-
- There are two types of Word searches. The first type will let you enter
- one word or name and will search all fields of each person for a match. If
- you type "Chicago" it will find all people who were born or died in
- Chicago, or have the word "Chicago" in a message line, or even have
- "Chicago" in their name. The second type of Word search is field specific,
- which means that it searches for a word only in a particular field. It
- also can search for people with several fields that match, and it uses the
- Custom report format for printing. This second type of Word search will
- let you find all the females who were born in Chicago in 1950.
-
- First a discussion of the first type of Word search. It will allow you to
- search all fields and message lines. Type the word or words you are
- searching for (capitals or lower case makes no difference). The program
- will then search the names, dates, locations, and message lines (not text
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 21
-
-
- files) to find a match and will display or print the names of people who
- have data that matches. When the end of the file is reached, you will be
- asked if you also want to search the marriage records. If you wish to
- search the 2 date fields and 2 place fields associated with each marriage,
- then push enter, otherwise you may skip the searching of the marriage file.
-
- Note that the first word search routine is looking for an exact match to
- what you type in. So if you type "Joe Doe", it will not match "Joe Q Doe".
- However, the search is useful to find all relatives who were born in, or
- died in, or were married in, a certain city. You also may match people who
- share a common date. For example, if you matched "1954" you would find all
- people who were born or died in that year.
-
- The second type of Word search will let you enter what you are searching
- for in the appropriate field. If you enter information in more than one
- field, a person will have to match ALL fields in order to be a match. Some
- of the fields (name and locations and message lines) will allow you to
- enter two words and you may specify whether it has to match both words or
- either word in order to qualify as a match. Some examples are given on the
- input screen. You may then use the Custom report format to print the
- matching names. (See Custom reports in Appendix L.)
-
- PRINTER STRINGS
-
- The P routine will send any of the 3 print strings (described in detail
- above in the options section) to the printer. It also has other print
- strings for laser printers. If your printer is turned off or reset, the
- strings you have sent will have to be sent again. You do not need to use
- this routine unless you want to send special information to your printer.
- The normal information such as regular size or compressed size letters is
- sent to the printer automatically when each report starts.
-
- BACKUP DATA FILES
-
- You may use the K routine to make a backup copy of your data files. I
- suggest that you do this on a regular basis. At some point in time you
- will have a problem, either caused by hardware problems, or software
- problems, or maybe even by you. I am sure that you do not want to start
- all over again. So take a minute and make a copy of your files. I have
- made the process as easy as possible. Just pick the BACKUP routine and
- then put a formatted diskette in the A: drive or the B: drive. When the
- Backup is complete, remove the copy and label it with the date. Have two
- or three different backups and store them in a safe place. If your files
- are too large to fit on a diskette, then it is very important that you use
- the DOS BACKUP command or that you buy a fast and easy to use backup
- program such as FASTBACK or PC-TOOLS to make backup copies of your data.
- You may find it faster to use an archive program such as ARC or PKZIP to
- archive the data files and then copy the condensed file to a floppy. If
- you have a single drive computer without a hard disk, use DISKCOPY.
- Whatever the case, be sure you have a couple backup copies of your data.
-
- No diskette and no hard disk will last forever. It will fail someday, so
- be ready. If you need to use a backup copy that you made with the K
- routine, you may just COPY the files from the floppy back to the correct
- subdirectory on the hard disk. If you need to use a backup copy you made
- with the DOS BACKUP command, you will need to use the DOS RESTORE command.
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 22
-
-
- If you are experiencing any problems, do not backup onto an existing backup
- copy of your data files, but instead backup onto a new blank formatted
- floppy. Always save the older backup copies when you notice a problem,
- because the problem may also turn up on one of your backup copies, and you
- may have to use an older backup copy in order to restore your data files.
- Try to always have at least two different sets of backup data diskettes
- that were copied on different dates. For example, today when I am done, I
- can backup to a diskette. Tomorrow when I am done, I backup to a different
- diskette. The next day I could backup onto the first diskette again. That
- way I have two different backups and the chances of the same problem being
- on both backups is reduced.
-
- It is a good idea to once in a while move one set of your backup diskettes
- away from your computer (in case someone steals your computer and grabs the
- box of diskettes next to it) or even take the backup to a different
- location (in case of a fire). Some people have been very happy that they
- shared their data with another genealogist because they were able to get a
- copy back after having a disaster on their computer.
-
- TREE PRINT
-
- Use the T tree print routine to print a tree chart showing the descendants
- of any person with the parents and children connected with lines. (If you
- do not get lines printed on your printer, see below for instructions on
- changing the line codes.) The tree report will print up to 20 generations
- at a time. If you do not have the option set to pause after each page, it
- will print continuously without page breaks until it finishes the left
- section of the chart. It will then do a form feed and print the right
- section of the chart. If you are not printing compressed, it also might
- have a middle section. You also have an option of printing sideways on an
- Epson or IBM graphics compatible dot matrix printer.
-
- When printing the tree chart, you have the option of leaving names at 40
- characters, or shortening them to fewer characters. (Names are shortened
- if necessary by removing the middle name.) The shortened name version will
- be able to print more generations on each page, thus condensing the size of
- the chart. You may include spouse names, and if you choose a name width of
- less then 40, you may include birth dates or code numbers.
-
- If you have your output set to the SCREEN instead of the PRINTER, the first
- 22 lines of the tree will display and you are given the option to shift the
- screen image to the left to see other generations on the right. Each time
- you press the right arrow key, it will shift by one generation. You also
- may push the down arrow key to see names below. You may move up, down, left
- and right having a total of 66 lines and 10 or more columns. Press enter
- for the next 66 lines.
-
- This tree routine is the one that uses the five ASCII codes that show on
- screen two of the options. These codes are used to draw the lines from
- parent to child. If your printer does not print IBM graphic characters,
- (see your printer manual for a dip switch to change for IBM character set)
- try the sideways option (if you have a graphics printer) or change the
- codes to the ones your printer uses that look like those that display on
- the options screen. If you CANNOT get the lines to look right, set the
- options as follows and print regular (not sideways):
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 23
-
-
- vertical (124) |
- horizontal (45) -
- corner (124) |
- vert/right (124) |
- horz/down (45) -
-
- Note: If you have a laser printer that can print landscape, you may set
- your laser printer for landscape mode using the Print string routine ("P"
- from the menu) and then you should print regular (not sideways). The
- sideways routine in this program is different from the landscape mode of
- laser printers. Also, laser printer users may have better results if they
- specify a page length of 59 lines instead of 9999. Also HP laser printer
- users can use the Print string routine at the main menu to send the string
- #13 which is 27, 40, 49, 48, 85 to cause the printer to use IBM graphic
- characters.
-
- ANCESTOR CHARTS
-
- The C routine will print an ancestor chart for anyone in the file. The
- ancestor chart will show the person you choose and that person's parents,
- grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. Birth, death, and marriage
- information also will print. You may choose 8 different sizes of charts
- when printing. If you need to print over seven generations, you will need
- to print multiple charts. For example, you may print a 5 generation chart
- starting with yourself. Then if you have further ancestors on file, you
- may print other 5 generation charts starting with each of your great-great-
- grandparents. This would give you a total of 9 generations printed. Using
- this method, there is no limit to how many generations you may print. The
- BKAA5 program ("3" from the main menu) does multiple charts automatically.
-
- The first 6 types of ancestor charts (A - F) and type (H) will shorten long
- names to 30 characters. This is accomplished by changing a middle name to
- an initial or removing a middle name if necessary. The (G) type of
- ancestor chart will leave names at 40 characters, but will print only 4
- generations per page.
-
- If you have a wide carriage printer, the (H) type ancestor chart will print
- 6 generations. This report also works with laser printers that can print
- up to 162 characters on a line in landscape mode.
-
- When printing a 5 generation chart, you have the option to print code
- numbers, no code numbers, or standardized numbers. Standardized numbers
- are what you see on hand generated charts and ahnentafel reports.
-
- When you are displaying an ancestor chart, you may press one key to jump to
- another person. Press F for father, M for mother, S for the spouse, and
- the number 1 for child number 1, 2 for 2, etc. These are the same keys
- that are used when browsing on the modify screen.
-
-
- GROUP SHEETS
-
- The G group print routine will print the information for any person along
- with the person's parents, spouse and children. Any message lines you
- entered may also be printed with this routine if desired. The group sheets
- are useful if you are organizing your data, creating a book, or you wish to
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 24
-
-
- send the sheets to relatives for further information. All fields will
- print for each person. However, if you are not using an optional field
- (such as baptized), and if you have set the name of the field equal to
- blanks (in the options routine), then that line will not print. Also, you
- have the options not to print a field if it happens to be blank for some
- people. Just answer no to the question "do you want to print blank fields"
- and those lines will not be printed. The program will print the birth and
- death fields and labels even if blank.
-
- There are many options when printing group sheets. If you choose All for
- children data, it also will include spouses of children. If you choose
- Compressed for children, it will print all information for up to 10
- children on one sheet of paper. If you set a left margin greater than two,
- you probably should print with Elite size or compressed size characters so
- that information is not lost on the right side of the page. If you wish to
- save the options you have chosen, press F5. The last option lets you add 4
- personal message lines to each page so that you could put instructions and
- your address on each page.
-
- You may print people one at a time, or you may choose to print a range of
- numbers, or everyone who is a descendant of or ancestor of a certain
- person. When the program asks for the name of the person to print, you may
- type the name, or number, or type an R to print a range of numbers (or all)
- or an A to print all the ancestors of someone, or a D to print the
- descendants of someone. If you type a D, you will then be asked for the
- name or number of the person for whom you want all descendants printed. If
- you type an R, you may either get a group sheet for everyone in the range
- you specify (2 sheets for each family - one showing the husband first and
- one showing the wife first) or you may choose to get 1 group sheet per
- marriage.
-
- REGISTER STYLE REPORTS
-
- If you choose R from the main menu, a program will start that will let you
- print register reports, indented reports, or 3 by 5 cards. The register
- and indented reports will print all the information about all the
- descendants of a person and will optionally print an alphabetical index.
- If you intend to publish a book and use the register style report, you may
- set the output to go to a disk file and then use your word processor or a
- desktop publishing program to enhance the book. The second choice for
- output to a disk file will use tabs instead of spaces at the beginning of
- the lines, and that will help if you intend to use a proportionally spaced
- font and if your desktop publishing program can handle the tabs.
-
- The register and indented reports will give you several options about what
- information to include and how the report will look. If you choose to have
- page numbers, it also will prepare for an alphabetical index at the end.
- When the report is finished printing, you will have the option to prepare
- an index file, and then sort the file. If your database is large (over
- 2,000 names), you may have to exit the program and sort the index and then
- restart the program and print the index. If your database is very large
- (over 20,000 names), it may not be able to prepare an index. In case of a
- printer problem part way through printing a long report, remember then you
- may set the output to go to a disk file (press F9 at the menu) and then you
- may edit or print part of the file.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 25
-
-
- The register report uses a numbering system where the first person is
- number one, and the children are numbers two, three, four and so on. Each
- person is given a number if they have children. To see more information
- about a person who is listed as a child, look for the same number in the
- next generation. To see who a person's parents are, look for the same
- number in the previous generation. The names are printed one generation at
- a time.
-
- Here are the specific questions when printing a register report (the
- questions for the indented report are similar).
-
- Print how many generations? If you wish, you may enter a number less than
- the maximum (currently 20) that the program will handle.
-
- Children's names. Pick how you want the children's names to print the
- first time, when they will be printed more fully later. If a child will not
- be printed later, then the full name will print.
-
- Abbreviate to b. and d. You may choose to have either the abbreviations or
- the full words for born, married, died, and buried.
-
- Include which message lines. If you have entered message lines for people,
- you may have them included in this report. If you choose A for all, then
- all message lines and text files will be printed. If you choose * then
- only those of the seven message lines that start with * will print. If you
- choose unformatted, then all the message lines and text files will print,
- however they will print exactly as you entered them and they will not be
- reformatted to the line length of this report. The unformatted option is
- also useful if you have very large text files and if this report gives you
- a message that it is not able to reformat a file because of its size.
-
- Print spouse messages also. If you indicated that you wanted to print
- message lines, you will be asked if you also want to print the spouse's
- messages.
-
- Label the generations. You may choose to have the header between the
- generations either say just "Next Generation" or say "Second Generation"
- and "Third Generation" and so on.
-
- Regular size or compressed printing. You may choose the size for the
- characters and the program will send the proper codes that are in the
- options area. If you choose "U" for unchanged, then no codes will be sent
- to the printer and it will remain in whatever mode it is currently set in.
-
- You may then indicate the size of the left margin, the number of characters
- to print on one line, and the number of lines to print on each page.
-
- If you answer "yes" for page numbers, it also will save information so that
- you will be able to print an alphabetical index at the end of the report.
- You may also designate a starting page number.
-
- Show code numbers. I recommend that you do not also print the person's
- code numbers, since it may be confusing when also printing the register
- number. However, if the report is for your own use, you may wish to see
- the code numbers that were assigned when the people were added to the
- database.
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 26
-
-
- Show baptized date and location. You will be asked if you want the date
- below the birth date also to print. If you say "yes" then it will print if
- it is not blank. If you answer "I" then it will only print if the birth
- date is blank. Sometimes a person's birth date is not known, but the
- baptized or christened date is known. If you want this date printed, you
- will be asked what word or abbreviation to use when printing.
-
- Show reference field. If you answer "yes" it will print after the date
- fields. You also will be asked what word to use when printing. If you
- answer "]" then the reference field (if not blank) will be printed after
- the name with the reference field enclosed with brackets.
-
- Show occupation. If yes, then also type the word to use when printing.
-
- If multiple spouses, do you want to show which spouse produced which kids?
- If you have cases of multiple marriages, this will allow you to show which
- children came from which marriages.
-
- You may then enter a page heading if you desire. This heading will be
- printed at the top of each page.
-
- It is anticipated that an option will be added to print footnotes for the
- sources. When it is added, you will be able to print footnotes to show the
- information that you entered in the source lines for each date or location.
- The footnote numbers will print in superscript based on the printer codes
- from option screen three or as set up in the utility program when you
- picked a printer.
-
- After answering the above questions, the report will start printing. Press
- ESC to interrupt the printout. When the report has finished, you may print
- an index if you had page numbering turned on.
-
- DESCENDANT BOX CHART
-
- The box chart program will print a descendant chart that has each person in
- a box and has lines connecting the boxes. The oldest person is at the top,
- and person's children are below, and the grandchildren are below them, and
- so on. Like most reports, the box charts may be printed, displayed, or
- sent to a disk file. When you display the chart, you may use the arrow keys
- to move around the chart.
-
- There is an option for small boxes with just dates, or larger boxes with
- locations also. You may also adjust the width of the boxes. The width of
- the boxes will affect the total number of people that can be printed in one
- generation and also will affect the length of the chart.
-
- If your printer has been set up to print the IBM extended character set,
- then you will be able to print solid graphic lines around the boxes or
- print shadows. Your printer will not print the IBM extended character set
- unless you set it up that way (normally by flipping a DIP switch or
- pressing some buttons on printer). Look in your printer manual in the
- index under "character set" or under "DIP switches" to find the section of
- your printer manual that tells you how to set up the IBM extended character
- set. Making this change will normally not affect the other programs that
- you use.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 27
-
-
- If you have a graphics dot matrix printer, then you may print the box
- charts sideways. The sideways printing will be slower than regular
- printing. When printing sideways, you will have an option for compressed
- print and an option to print faster if you have a 24 pin printer.
-
- If you have an HP laser or Deskjet printer, do not choose sideways, but
- instead choose regular print. You will later be asked if you want to print
- landscape.
-
- FOUR FAMILY BOX CHART
-
- The four family box chart is similar to the regular box chart described
- above, except it shows four families on the top line, and then all the
- descendants of those four families with dotted lines connecting the four
- families where marriages occurred. When looking at a person in the third
- generation, it is a combination ancestor and descendant chart. The
- children that are common to more than one of the families are only printed
- once under the first parent and a dotted line will show the connection to
- the other parent's family.
-
- MORE ANCESTOR REPORTS
-
- The BKAA5 program will print additional ancestor reports and charts. It
- can print multiple page ancestor reports, where the pages are cross
- referenced. You pick the starting person, and all of the person's
- ancestors will be printed with four generations showing on each page.
-
- You may also print a large ancestor wall chart with boxes for each person.
- This chart will contain nine generations (511 people) and will be about
- five feet high and two sheets of paper wide. It will include each person's
- name, the standard code number, and dates and locations for birth,
- marriage, death, and burial. People in the eighth and ninth generations
- will have abbreviated information.
-
- Also available is a version of an ahnentafel report with complete
- information for each person. The differences between this and the
- ahnentafel report on the main menu are that this one prints a paragraph for
- each ancestor which can include message lines, and also this report can
- print more generations.
-
- MERGE TWO DATABASES
-
- This program will allow you to merge two databases into one. If you have
- two Brother's Keeper databases that contain different names, you may merge
- them by adding one set of files to the other. I recommend that you make
- backup copies of both databases before you do a merge. As the files are
- merged, the code numbers for one of the files will be changed so that they
- do not conflict with the existing numbers in the other file. Currently,
- the program will not check for duplicate names, so do not merge two files
- that have several identical people in both files or else you will have to
- do a lot of deleting to clean the file up.
-
- SPLIT ONE DATABASE
-
- The program to split off part of a database is useful if you want to send
- information to another Brother's Keeper user. Often, the other person is
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 28
-
-
- only interested in some of the information that you have, and this program
- will let you pick certain people and create a new database of just those
- people. For example, you may select all the ancestors of a person, or all
- the descendants of a person, or any combination of ancestors and
- descendants of several people. After selecting the people, pick "C" to
- create the file. The program will run much faster if you create the new
- data files in a temporary subdirectory on your hard disk than if you create
- the new data files on a floppy. After creating the new files, you may then
- copy them to a floppy to send to someone else. If the other person uses a
- different genealogy program that can read GEDCOM files, then use the
- BKGEDCOM program ("X" from the main BK menu) to create a GEDCOM file from
- the new data files and send the other person the GEDCOM file.
-
- IMPORT OR EXPORT A GEDCOM FILE
-
- A GEDCOM file is a file with names, dates, locations, and notes that is in
- a special format that can be read by other genealogy programs.
-
- HOW TO IMPORT DATA INTO BK
-
- If someone else has given you a GEDCOM file, do not add it to your BK
- database until you know what is in it, otherwise you may not want the data
- and you will have to revert to your most recent backup copy of your
- database or else do a lot of deleting. One option is to import the GEDCOM
- file into a new BK database in a temporary subdirectory. Then use BK to
- look at it by changing the bottom line on option screen one to read the new
- temporary subdirectory. If all looks well, then you can import the GEDCOM
- file into your main database. Always do a new backup of your BK files
- before importing a GEDCOM file.
-
- If you already have a GEDCOM file from another program, skip to the next
- paragraph. To transfer data INTO Brother's Keeper, you first must create a
- GEDCOM file that contains the data in the other genealogy program. For
- example, if you have data in the PAF program (version 2.1), here is a
- summary of the steps to create a GEDCOM file. Type PAF to see the first
- menu. Pick Genealogical Information System or GEDCOM. Then pick
- Genealogical Data Communication or GEDCOM. Then pick Create GEDCOM file.
- It will show the location of the PAF files, and let you type in the drive
- and name for the GEDCOM file. If you want the GEDCOM file to be in a
- certain subdirectory of your hard drive, you can type both the drive and
- subdirectory name on the drive line. If you pick the name SMITH for the
- name of the GEDCOM file, the program will actually create a file called
- SMITH.GED (you do not type the .GED, the program will add it to whatever
- name you type.) It will ask if you want all the data transferred or just
- certain people. It will then ask for your name and address. This is not
- required if you are only transferring the data to another program. It will
- ask if you want Notes transferred. Finally it will ask if you want the
- data in the PAF 2.0 format or the PAF 2.1 format. Pick the 2.1 format.
- Then the GEDCOM file is created. Exit the PAF program.
-
- The next step in importing is to run the BK GEDCOM program so that the data
- can be changed into BK format. Pick X from the BK menu to start the GEDCOM
- program and then pick A to add the data to Brother's Keeper. Read the
- screen and type C to continue. It will ask for the drive for the Brother's
- Keeper data. If you want to add the data to an existing Brother's Keeper
- data file, give the drive and path location. If you want to create a new
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 29
-
-
- Brother's Keeper data file, give a drive and path location to create the
- files on. (It will not create the subdirectory - you must have already
- created the subdirectory using the DOS command MD.) Do not give any file
- name at this point - just give the drive letter and optionally the name of
- the subdirectory. Examples are shown on the screen.
-
- It will then ask for the name of the GEDCOM file to read. You also should
- give the drive location, and subdirectory name if any, in front of the name
- of the GEDCOM file. You should end the name with .GED. For example, if
- your GEDCOM file was named SMITH and it is on the C: drive in the \PAF\
- subdirectory, then you would answer the question with C:\PAF\SMITH.GED
-
- It will then open the files. If there is already data in a Brother's
- Keeper file there, then it will show you how many names are in the existing
- file. The new data will be added to any existing data. The program will
- not check for duplicates - all the data will be added as new additional
- data. The program will then ask which drive to create any message text
- files on. This drive information also will be used by the BK program when
- locating the text files. It will then ask if you are reading a PAF 2.0 or
- PAF 2.1 file. Pick either 0 or 1. If the GEDCOM file is from PAF 2.2,
- still pick 1 since version 2.2 files are the same as version 2.1 files. It
- will then ask where to move the TITLE field. If you used the TITLE field
- in PAF, then answer the question based on what you put in the title field.
- If you did not use the TITLE field in PAF, then just push enter. Finally
- it will ask if you are ready to do the copy. Type Y if you are ready and
- it will copy the data in.
-
- When finished, you can use the utility program, (menu item U in the main BK
- menu) and check the quality of your data file to be sure all the links
- between people are correct. You can then use BK to look at the file, and
- print all the reports.
-
- TRANSFERRING DATA OUT OF BK USING GEDCOM
-
- Note: when you create a GEDCOM file, all the names in your file will be
- transferred. If you want to only transfer part of your file, then you will
- need to first use the program described above to create a new smaller set
- of your data files. (See split one database above.)
-
- To transfer data from BK to another program, pick X to start the GEDCOM
- program and pick C to create a GEDCOM file. Read the screen that is
- displayed. One important thing to remember, is that some programs must
- have the dates in a specific format or else the dates will not transfer.
- If you have your dates in type 1 or type 2 format (see BK documentation
- about date types), then all programs should be able to understand them.
- Some programs like PAF will understand other formats as well. If you need
- to change your date format, then you will need to use the utility program
- to convert your dates before you create the GEDCOM file. The data
- conversion routine is not fast and you may not want to change your original
- database, so you might want to try creating the GEDCOM file with the dates
- the way they are and see if the other program can handle them.
-
- Next the BKGEDCOM program will ask you where the BK data files are located.
- Type in the path for the files. If the files are on your B: disk drive,
- then type B: and if the files are in the \BK5 subdirectory of your hard
- disk, then type C:\BK5 (do not type a file name, just a directory name).
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 30
-
-
- Then the program will ask for the name of the GEDCOM file you want to
- create. If you want the file to be created on a certain drive, then
- include the drive or path location also. Some examples would be
- B:SMITH.GED or C:\BK5\JONES.GED (note that you need to type the file name
- and it should end with .GED). The file name may be up to 8 characters long
- followed by .GED.
-
- The program will then open the files and show you how many names are in the
- BK data files. It will inform you that the GEDCOM file it creates will be
- in the PAF 2.1 format. That is the format that most other programs will be
- able to read. It will then ask if you are ready to create the file. If
- you say yes, then it creates it and if you say no, then the program will
- stop. After the file is created, you may use another program's GEDCOM
- reading routine to move the data into that program (see the other program's
- directions on how to read the GEDCOM file).
-
- UTILITY PROGRAM
-
- This program has a routine to check the quality of your data and can fix
- many errors that may turn up. If you get a "subscript out of range" error
- in any BK program, run the quality check routine.
-
- The utility program can set up the proper printer codes for certain
- printers. If your printer is not listed, you may have to consult your
- printer manual to obtain the printer codes and then use the options routine
- to enter them.
-
- The utility program also will let you save your options file by copying it.
- You may then restore the saved file at a later time. This may be useful
- for people who have 2 different types of printers. You may set up the
- options for one printer, and then save the file with a special name. Then
- set up the options for the second printer and save that file with a
- different name. You may then run the utility program and restore either
- options file depending on which printer you wish to use. All options on
- screen 1 and 2 of the options screens are saved or restored, so you may
- even save 2 different sets of screen colors, one set the way you like them,
- and the other the way your spouse likes them.
-
- You also may use the utility program to print all the values you have
- stored for the ALT key combinations.
-
- If you decide to change the date format after you have entered many dates,
- you may use the utility program to change from any of the 9 formats to any
- other of the 9 formats. Be sure to copy all the .DT5 files to backup
- floppy disks before running this routine, just in case there is any
- problem. This date change routine must read and write each record and
- tends to run slowly, so allow yourself plenty of time. After you change
- date formats, remember also to change date format on Option screen 1.
-
- There is also a routine to create a Tiny Tafel file. This is a relatively
- new type of report. The Tiny Tafel file is a summary of all your
- ancestors. The file can be used to find other people who are researching
- the same family lines that you are. There are computer systems set up to
- help people match their research with other genealogists by matching the
- Tiny Tafel files of each. This is a new idea and has only been in
- operation for a few years. If you have a modem, you may call one of these
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 31
-
-
- "computer bulletin boards" that has the Tafel Matching System, and obtain
- further information. This routine in the utility program only creates the
- Tiny Tafel file. It is recommended that you also obtain a program such as
- TTGEN12 that will allow you to edit the file and insert and delete lines.
- Currently, the matching system requires all lines in the tafel file to have
- locations.
-
- The utility program has the ability to calculate the relationship between
- any two people. The relationship will only be displayed with this routine.
- The descendant report (D in the BK5 program) also can calculate
- relationships, however, by using this routine, you will not have to print
- or display an entire report when you are only interested in one or two
- relationship.
-
- There are routines that will allow you to print all locations or sources,
- or delete all unused locations or sources, or to do a global change of a
- location or source. If several people use the same location or source,
- only one entry is made to the file, and several people will "point" to the
- same entry. When you make a change using the normal modify screen, you are
- only changing the location or source for the one person you are modifying.
- If you want to change a location or source for everyone that currently uses
- that location or source, then use the routine in the utility program.
-
- For example, if you have entered the wrong location for a person, you may
- fix it using the modify routine (M from the main BK5 menu). However, if
- you discover that you have misspelled the name of a town, then you should
- use the utility program to correct it for everyone that "points" to that
- misspelled town. Also, if you do a printout of all locations, you may find
- that you have the same cities entered two or three different ways. You may
- use the utility program to change all people that "point" to any of those
- different versions so that they will all "point" to one version. Then the
- no longer used locations may be deleted and the disk space will be made
- available for new locations.
-
- STOP
-
- * If you have your data on a floppy diskette, NEVER remove the DATA
- diskette unless instructed to change disks or until after typing S to stop.
- Some of the files are not fully updated until you type S and stop. It is
- recommended that you put the data files on a hard disk so that the program
- will run faster.
-
- * NEVER turn your computer off while in the BK program. Always use S at
- the menu to stop the program first. If a power failure causes the program
- to be interrupted, run the utility program (U from the main menu) and then
- pick item Q to fix any link errors before adding more information to the
- data files.
-
- * If you have 2 data diskettes, you must STOP the program, then change
- data diskettes, and then restart. The program will not link people between
- 2 diskettes. If you have data in 2 or more sub-directories of your hard
- disk, you may change sub-directories by using Options to change the path.
-
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 32
-
-
- APPENDIX A. HOW TO MAKE CORRECTIONS
-
- If you are correcting spelling or dates, use the MODIFY routine and TAB (or
- DOWN arrow) and Shift TAB (or UP arrow) to move to the field to change.
- Then use the left or right arrow keys to move within a field, use Esc if
- you want to erase a field, and use Ins and Del to insert or delete
- characters.
-
- NOTE: If, when you are on the add or modify screens, you do not see
- directions on the bottom line, change your colors on option screen 1.
-
- IF YOU ENTERED SOMEONE'S CHILDREN IN THE WRONG ORDER, do the following.
- First, go to the modify routine and type the parent's code number or name
- and the parent's information will appear on the screen (use either the
- husband or the wife). The children's code numbers will show along with
- their names. The first child you entered will be the first code number
- showing, the second child you entered will be listed second, etc. You may
- correct the order on the screen by typing the letter R and then retyping
- the code numbers in the correct order. Make sure the code number shown for
- first child is the actual first child, etc. The names shown on the screen
- will remain the same until you press F1. Then the names will change to
- match the new order you have entered.
-
- IF YOU ENTERED SOMEONE WITH THE WRONG PARENTS, you may correct it by doing
- the following. First, modify the record of the person you said was the
- parent, but was not (use either the husband or the wife). When the wrong
- parent's record is showing on the screen, type D and delete the child who
- should not be there. (This will delete the link between the parents and
- the child, however the child still exists in the database.) Then you may
- go to the add screen and bring up the correct parents and then add the
- child by typing the child's code number or the name and F8. The child
- added to the family will then be the last child. If the children of the
- family are now out of order, you may correct that as described above in the
- children order section.
-
- IF A MARRIAGE IS IN ERROR, use the modify routine to show the person with
- the wrong marriage. Type X to delete a marriage. You will then be shown
- all the marriages for this person and be allowed to delete one. (It will
- show the marriage number, not the person's code number.) When a marriage
- is deleted, the husband and wife stay in the file as people, but the
- connection that shows their marriage is deleted. If the marriage also had
- children records related to it, the children will have their parent
- connection deleted, but the children will stay in the file as people.
- These children may then be added as children of some other marriage by
- using the Add routine.
-
- IF A MARRIAGE IS OUT OF ORDER, use the modify routine to show either the
- husband or the wife. Type W to correct the spouse order. You will be
- shown all the marriages for this person and be allowed to change the order.
-
- IF YOU HAVE A PERSON DUPLICATED (the person has been assigned two code
- numbers by the program) then you will need to delete one person in order
- for the printouts to print correctly. Each person must be entered only
- once and then linked to the father, mother, spouse, and children. Let's
- assume that you have entered yourself twice into the computer and that you
- have two code numbers, 5 and 21. Use modify and call up number 5. Suppose
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 33
-
-
- it shows you with a father and mother, but no spouse and no children. Then
- call up number 21. Suppose it shows you with no father and no mother, but
- it does show your spouse and children. In this case, you should delete
- person number 5 who has no spouse and no children. Here is the procedure:
- Using modify, call up number 5. Type / to totally delete the person. Then
- go to the add routine and call up your father and mother. In the children
- section, type 21 for a child (this is the non-deleted you). Then, if you
- are not in the correct birth order, go to modify and call up your father
- and use R to rearrange the child order.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 34
-
-
- APPENDIX B. PRINTER PROBLEMS.
-
- (There are also suggestions in Appendix M)
-
- Many of the questions or problems I have received have related to printer
- problems. The printer options can be set in the Options routine. Also,
- some common printers can be set up in the utility program.
-
- Some printers cannot backspace. If your printer cannot backspace you
- should set that option to 0 (zero) or names will double print on some
- printouts and the ancestor chart may not print correctly.
-
- Some printers cannot do a carriage return (CR) without also doing a line
- feed (LF). If your printer is one of those, set that option to 0 (zero) or
- names will double print on some printouts and the ancestor chart may not
- print correctly.
-
- You may test your printer's features by typing a T at the lower right
- corner of option screen 2.
-
- Most printers want a carriage return and line feed at the end of each line.
- If your printer wants only a carriage return, set that option or everything
- will double space.
-
- The program will try to print some reports in compressed format. That lets
- you print 132 characters per line on most printers. You may enter the
- decimal values of the codes that must be sent to your printer to do
- compressed and regular print.
-
- You may set up the codes that start bold print and turn off bold print for
- your printer. Check your printer manual and see what the decimal values
- are for the codes that do that. If your printer cannot bold print, set the
- values to zero. Bold could actually be enhanced or emphasized or italic or
- whatever you want the names to appear as. The program also needs to know
- if your printer can bold print when printing compressed. Many printers
- cannot do that, so if yours cannot, the program will try to backspace (if
- possible) to make names bold print when printing compressed (on the
- descendant printout). The program will only try to bold print names on the
- descendant printout and the family group sheet printout.
-
- There are up to 7 codes to turn on and off compressed print and bold print.
- Many printers only require 1, 2 or 3 codes to control those features. If
- the first code of the 7 is zero, none of the 7 codes are sent. If the
- first code is not zero, all 7 codes are sent. Normally, codes of 0 (zero)
- at the end will not affect the printer output. If you do not want the
- extra 0's to be sent to the printer, change the extra codes to 999 and
- those codes are not sent.
-
- The descendant printout will print generation numbers at the top and bottom
- of each page. You may turn this feature off in Options.
-
- I have tested the programs on several computers and with several printers.
- However, I do not have access to all combinations of equipment so it is
- quite possible that some program changes may still have to be made. Let me
- know if your printer is not cooperating and I will try to help. Tell me
- what version you are using. (5.0)
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 35
-
-
- APPENDIX C. EXPLANATION ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS:
-
- Your uncle is the brother of your father or mother.
-
- Your aunt is the sister of your father or mother.
-
- Your great uncle (or grand uncle) is the brother of your grandfather or
- grandmother.
-
- Your great aunt is the sister of your grandfather or grandmother.
-
- Your great-great uncle is the brother of your great-grandfather or great-
- grandmother.
-
- Your great-great aunt is the sister of your great-grandfather or great-
- grandmother.
-
- Your first cousin is the child of your aunt or uncle.
-
- Your second cousin is the grandchild of your great aunt or great uncle. (If
- two people are first cousins, the children of each of the people will be
- second cousins.)
-
- Your third cousin is the great-grandchild of your great-great uncle or
- great-great aunt. (Children of 2nd cousins, are 3rd cousins to each other.)
-
- Your first cousin, once removed, is the child of your first cousin or is
- the child of your great uncle or great aunt. (See also REMOVED COUSINS)
-
- If someone is your first cousin, then his or her child is your first cousin
- once removed. (Once removed means one generation level different from you.)
- All your regular cousins (first, second, etc.) are at the same generation
- level as yourself. Those at different levels are "removed." If someone is
- YOUR first cousin once removed, then you are HIS or HER first cousin once
- removed also. Your second cousin once removed is the child of your second
- cousin. Your first cousin twice removed is the child of your first cousin
- once removed (i.e. the grandchild of your first cousin). Your second
- cousin twice removed is the child of your second cousin once removed (i.e.
- the grandchild of your second cousin).
-
- REMOVED COUSINS: If two people are some type of cousins, but they are at
- different generation levels, then here is the way to compute their
- relationship. (The program does this automatically when printing, but you
- may want to know what it is doing.)
-
- 1. Count how many generation levels they are apart. This is the number
- they are "removed."
-
- 2. Start with the one at the highest generation level (the older level)
- and count how many generations up you must go to find the brothers or
- sisters that are the ancestors of these cousins. This is the "FIRST" or
- "SECOND" or "THIRD" part of the cousin relationship.
-
- GREAT-GRANDFATHER
- / \
- GRANDFATHER GREAT-UNCLE
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 36
-
-
- / \ \
- FATHER UNCLE 1st COUSIN ONCE REMOVED
- / \ \ \
- >YOU< BROTHER 1st COUSIN 2nd COUSIN
- / \ \ \
- SON NEPHEW 1st COUSIN ONCE REMOVED 2nd COUSIN ONCE REMOVED
- / / \ \
- GRANDSON GRAND-NEPHEW 1st COUSIN TWICE REMOVED 2nd COUSIN TWICE REMOVED
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 37
-
-
- APPENDIX D. SAMPLE PRINTOUTS.
-
- Below is an example of a descendant printout. Note that each new
- generation is indented. All relationships such as UNCLE, COUSIN, etc. are
- computed by the program.
-
- * JOSEPH P. JONES (12/20/1895) - (03/05/1949) m. SUSAN SMITH (01/05/1902-
- (GRANDFATHER)
-
- . * JOHN JONES (05/19/1920 - m. (12/07/1940) MARY GREEN (08/05/1921 -
- (UNCLE)
-
- . . * BILL JONES (03/23/1942 -
- (FIRST COUSIN)
-
- . . * MARY JONES (02/04/1944 - m. (03/04/1964) PETER WHITE
- (FIRST COUSIN)
-
- . . . * FRANK WHITE (05/04/1971 -
- (FIRST COUSIN ONCE REMOVED)
-
- . * MARTHA JONES (09/19/1923 - 11/17/1981)
- (AUNT)
-
- . * GEORGE JONES (12/13/1926 - m. (01/05/1949) LOIS WILSON (03/18/1927-
- (FATHER)
-
- . . * CAROL JONES (05/18/1953 -
- (SISTER)
-
- . . * JACK JONES (05/03/1955 - m. (08/23/1977) MICHELE MOE (07/22/1955-
- (MYSELF)
-
- . . . * MARTHA JONES (04/03/1981 -
- (DAUGHTER)
-
-
- If your printer does not print the IBM extended character set, and you
- change the printer options, a tree chart will print as:
-
-
- Joseph P. Jones ----- John Jones ------ Bill Jones
- | |-- Mary Jones ---- Frank White
- |
- |-- Martha Jones
- |-- George Jones ---- Carol Jones
- | |-- Jack Jones ---- Martha Jones
- |
- |-- Peter K. Jones
-
-
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 38
-
-
- APPENDIX E. CHANGES FROM PRIOR VERSIONS.
-
- To read more about the changes between version 4.5 and version 5.0,
- read the file CHANGES.DOC.
-
- Version 5.0 contains many changes. Some of them are:
-
- 1. Can handle up to 1 million names.
- 2. A person may have two sets of parents
- 3. Mailing address and phone number field (press F4)
- 4. Sources may be entered for footnotes (press F6)
- 5. All programs accessed from one menu.
- 6. Parent type may be designated (adopted, step, etc.)
- 7. Edit text files up to 120 lines within BK.
- 8. Designate unmarried couples and divorced couples.
- 9. Compressed group sheet with all info for 10 children.
- 10. Add a single person to the database.
- 11. Easy delete routine.
- 12. Find people using your own numbering system.
- 13. Browse when displaying ancestor chart.
- 14. Unusual last names can still sort correctly.
- 15. Search for existing location name.
- 16. Custom report can display all spouses/marriages.
- 17. The program may be run in several foreign languages.
- (French, Danish, German, Norwegian, others.)
-
- If you used the "check" fields in version 4.5 and had the data moved to the
- "page" fields in version 5.0 and if you still want to print the "check"
- fields on the group sheets, then on the line that says "print source
- footnotes" on group sheets, answer with the number "4" and it will print
- the group sheets the way they were printed in version 4.
-
- I have dozens of ideas from users for new features. However, many features
- tend to make the programs larger. I tend to work on the ideas that will
- benefit the most people and that do not require major changes to the
- existing program structure. I plan to continue to upgrade the program
- since many ideas are good, but just require more time to implement. Please
- continue to send me your ideas for improving the program.
-
- All registered users are notified about major new versions. I also will
- send registered users at least one new version at no additional charge. I
- may need to charge a small fee for updates after the one free update. If
- you have used this program and find it to be of value to you, you are
- encouraged to send in the $45 registration fee to the author (see Appendix
- J for why to register). I have no way of informing you about improvements
- to the program unless you write to me. When you write, enclose the
- registration form found at the end of the documentation file or in the
- REGISTER.DOC file. If the program does not have a feature you would like,
- mention it on the form. I try to add new features that registered users
- suggest whenever possible. This program has come a long way since version
- 1.0 - thanks to the suggestions from registered users. There is usually a
- new version of the program available (with minor changes) every couple
- months or so. Lately, there have been significant improvements to the
- program about every 6 to 12 months. My budget and time do not allow me to
- mail information about minor changes to thousands of users every few weeks,
- so one way for you to know about minor changes is to buy a high speed modem
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 39
-
-
- and call my BBS at (616) 364-1127 to read about the changes or to download
- the programs. There are also hundreds of BBS's around the world that have
- Brother's Keeper available for downloading. If one is near you (and if
- they keep up to date) then you can keep current at no cost. When there are
- major changes to the program, I will do a mailing to all users.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 40
-
-
- APPENDIX F. CONVERTING FILES
-
-
- If you have been using BROTHER'S KEEPER version 4.0 through 4.5, you will
- need to run the CONVERT5 program one time. If you have an older version of
- the FAMILY3 program, you will need the CONVERT4 program also.
-
- If you have used PAF (Personal Ancestral File) you may use the gedcom
- program to transfer the data (see the GEDCOM section above.) If you have
- ROOTS III or FAMILY ROOTS, you can purchase a gedcom program from the
- publisher of that program and then use gedcom to transfer the data.
-
- If you have data in Genealogy on Display, Family History System, or
- Linkages, see information on the registration form (last page of
- documentation file or in file REGISTER.DOC).
-
-
-
- APPENDIX G. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS and MAY I HELP YOU?
-
- I have received many fine suggestions from users of the program. The
- program would not be what it is without this help. Please send any
- suggestions you have. I may not make all the changes you suggest, but I
- have been able to make many changes over the years.
-
- If you have a problem, read Appendix M. If you still need help, send me a
- description of the problem and information about your computer (see
- registration form at end of documentation file). For reference, Version
- 5.0 was released November 1991.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 41
-
-
- APPENDIX H. TECHNICAL STUFF
-
- You do not need to know any of this to run the program, but some people may
- want to know what is going on.
-
- Most information is stored in 10 disk files:
-
- BKPERSON.DT5 - information about people.
- BKMARR.DT5 - information about marriages.
- BKLOCATE.DT5 - all locations.
- BKSOURCE.DT5 - source information
- BKMAIL.DT5 - mailing address
- BKOPTION.DT5 - option parameters (colors, printer, etc.)
- ALTKEYS.DT5 - Alt key names/places (see Appendix I)
- REPORTS.DT5 - specifications for custom reports.
- BOTTMESS.DTA - 4 line personal message for Group sheets.
- PARAMETR.DTA - default parameters for Group sheets.
-
- There are also 6 temporary files: ALPHA1.DTA, and ALPHA2.DTA, which are
- used for printing alphabetical lists, BIRTH1.DTA, and BIRTH2.DTA, which are
- used for printing birthday lists, and BKINDEX1.DTA, and BKINDEX2.DTA which
- are used for alphabetical indexes.
-
- When first starting out these files will be created. Do NOT use a word
- processor or editor to modify any of the .DT5 files since if any record is
- changed, it will mess up everything.
-
- If you want to read the data into your own database program, you may create
- a Custom report and send the output to a disk file (press F9 twice at the
- main menu) and then read that file as a fixed record length ASCII file into
- a database program.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 42
-
-
- APPENDIX I. ALT KEYS (user defined)
-
- If you find yourself repeatedly typing the same name or city, you may use a
- simple procedure to save time and reduce errors. You may define any of the
- alphabet keys (A-Z) or numbers (0 to 9) to be any name, city and state, or
- word. After you define what the key will be, you just push and hold the
- Alt key and then press the alpha key and the name or word will appear on
- the screen.
-
- Use the following procedure to define an Alt key. Type the name or city or
- word in any field on the add or modify screen. Then hold the Alt key and
- press F10 (function 10). The words you have typed will start to blink.
- When they are blinking, hold the Alt key and press any alpha key (A-Z) or a
- number (0-9). The words will stop blinking and that key sequence (Alt-key)
- is now programmed. The next time you want to type that name or city or
- word in any field, just hold Alt and press the same key. You may program
- all of the alpha keys to be a different name or word. These programmed
- keys will be remembered each time you restart the program. You may change
- what a key is defined to be by simply re-defining using the above
- procedure.
-
- Example: Suppose you are going to add several people who were all born in
- Rockford, Kent County, Michigan. When you type the first person, type
- Rockford, Kent County, Michigan in the "born where" field. Then before you
- push enter, hold the Alt key and press F10 (function 10). The entire field
- will start blinking. Then hold the Alt key and press R. The field will
- stop blinking and you may continue with adding the person. The next time
- you want to type Rockford, Kent County Michigan in any field, just hold the
- Alt key and press R and it will appear.
-
- Example: Suppose you are going to add several people who all have the last
- name of Winchester. When you type in one of them, type just Winchester in
- the name field (do not type the first name). Hold the Alt key and press
- F10 and the word Winchester will blink. Then hold the Alt key and press W
- and the word will stop blinking. Then press Esc to erase the name, and
- type the first name and middle name. Then hold Alt and push W and
- Winchester will appear. For each person that you add, just type the first
- and middle names and then push Alt-W.
-
- If you press Alt-F10 and then decide you do not want to have what is
- blinking saved as an Alt-key, then just press any key without holding Alt
- and it will not be saved.
-
- Also see the Add section at the beginning of the manual describing
- shortcuts for duplicating locations that were recently entered and for
- using F8 to search for existing locations.
-
- You may print the strings you have saved for each Alt key with a routine
- that is available in the Utility program.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 43
-
-
- APPENDIX J. SHAREWARE
-
- BROTHER'S KEEPER is a Shareware product protected by Copyright. It is NOT
- public domain or free software. Shareware is a method of distributing
- software, whereby copies may be passed around and each user may determine
- whether or not the program is suitable for him or her. After you have
- tested this program for yourself, and if you find it to be useful for you,
- you are requested to send the registration fee to the author of the
- program, John Steed. The author of the program is not paid any fee when
- you buy a disk from a user group or company selling Shareware. The only
- way the author gets paid is when you register. If you want to encourage
- programs of this type, please register by sending $45 and the REGISTER.DOC
- form.
-
- Registered users will be sent a printed manual and the next new version of
- the program and are entitled to use the program, and all future upgrades.
- Minor upgrades are made frequently to the programs, so you may wish to
- check to see if a new feature you desire has been added. If you have a
- modem, you may call the BK BBS (bulletin board service) at (616) 364-1127.
- This board will have the current version of all programs available for
- downloading.
-
- If you share this program with others, please give them all the programs
- that came with it and any other files you may wish to share.
-
- Please do not include the BKOPTION.DT5 file on the disks you share, since
- that file contains options for your disk drives, printer, and monitor and
- others may have difficulty using your setup. That file will be created the
- first time someone uses the programs.
-
- _______
- ____|__ | (R)
- --| | |-------------------
- | ____|__ | Association of
- | | |_| Shareware
- |__| o | Professionals
- -----| | |---------------------
- |___|___| MEMBER
-
-
-
- This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
- Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle
- works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem
- with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to
- help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an
- ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products.
- Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or
- send a Compuserve message via E-mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 44
-
-
- APPENDIX K. CONFIG.SYS file.
-
- The BK program needs to open several files at the same time. Because of
- this, you may need to add a line to a special file on the disk you "boot"
- from. If you get an error message when starting BK relating to file
- problems, then check the disk that you use when turning on the computer
- each time. (If your computer boots from ROM as the TOSHIBA 1000 and the
- TANDY 1000 systems do, you will need to run your SETUP program to change
- the FILES=28 command as described in your DOS manual.)
-
- Type CD \ <enter> then type DIR CONFIG.SYS <enter> and see if there is a
- file called CONFIG.SYS on your disk.
-
- If the CONFIG.SYS file DOES already exist, look at what is in it as
- follows:
-
- TYPE CONFIG.SYS
-
- That will display on the screen the lines that are in the file. If it
- already has a line in it that says FILES=28 or FILES= (any number 28 or
- more) then leave it alone. If not, you will need to add the FILES=28 line
- to the file. (Any number over 28 is fine, up to about 35.) You do not
- want to change any other lines in the CONFIG.SYS file. You may use a word
- processor to modify the file if the word processor reads and writes in
- ASCII (i.e. not in some special format).
-
- After you add the FILES=28 line to the file, you must restart or reboot the
- computer for it to take effect.
-
- If the CONFIG.SYS file DOES NOT exist, then create it and put a line in the
- file as follows:
-
- FILES=28
-
- If you do not know how to create the file and put that line in it, here is
- a way. When you are at the system prompt ( which is A> or C> ) you would
- type the following, and push enter at the end of each line:
-
- COPY CON CONFIG.SYS
- FILES=28
-
- then push F6 (function 6), and then push enter. It should say "1 file
- copied". You should then have the CONFIG.SYS file with the FILES=28 line
- in it.
-
- After that line is in the CONFIG.SYS file, you must restart or reboot the
- computer. When the computer boots, it reads that file and will allow 28
- files to be open at the same time. The BK program should then work
- properly.
-
- TANDY 1000 users may have to change their systems to boot from a disk
- instead of from ROM. You have a program called SETUP-- that you will need
- to run. Look in your manual for the name of your setup program - or look
- in the index of your manual under CONFIG.SYS. The setup program is usually
- on your DOS diskette and is usually named SETUP and then the letters of
- your computer, for example: SETUPHX or SETUPTL. If the setup program shows
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 45
-
-
- a line such as "maximum open files" then you should change that line to be
- 28 files. Otherwise, pick the option to boot from a disk, and then put the
- disk with CONFIG.SYS in the A: drive (or else create the CONFIG.SYS file on
- your C: drive in the main directory) and reboot the computer to read that
- file.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 46
-
-
- APPENDIX L. CUSTOM REPORTS
-
- BROTHER'S KEEPER gives you the ability to design your own report format.
- You may print custom reports either in number order or alphabetical order
- when using the N routine and also when printing Ahnentafel charts and when
- using Word search. When you pick the custom report option, you will be
- shown the different fields that you may print for each person. For
- example, you may wish to print for each person their number, name, father's
- name and mother's name. So you would choose field numbers 1, 2, 17, and
- 18. As you choose each field number, you will be shown the normal length
- for that field. For example, the name field is 40 characters long. You
- may shorten the normal length for your report if you wish. If you type 25
- for the name length, that will be the length when it prints. For all
- names, a special routine will automatically remove middle names of people
- with names longer than the length you specify. That way, the last name
- will not be cut off. If you shorten the length of a field that is not a
- person's name, the field will be cut off at the end if it is too long. For
- example, date fields are 15 characters long, but most dates fit in 11
- characters, so you may shorten a date field to 11 characters. There is
- also a special routine for birth date and death date so that if you shorten
- the length to 4, it will print only the year (the last 4 characters). If
- you lengthen a field, it will print extra blanks after the field is
- printed. (That may improve readability.)
-
- As you type the fields and lengths, the total length will display at the
- top. The total length is the sum of the field lengths plus 1 space between
- each field. Use this as a guide and try to keep the number under the
- maximum number of characters your printer can print on a line. Most
- printers can print 80 characters in normal print and 132 in compressed
- print. If you attempt to print more than the number of characters your
- printer can handle, your printer might jump to the next line, which will
- cause problems with page headings. If you want multiple lines for each
- person, then pick the field for extra CR/LF at the end of the first line.
-
- You may press the up arrow to back up if you wish to make a correction.
-
- After you define your report, press F1 and print it. When the printout is
- finished, you will be asked if you wish to save that format. If it is a
- report you wish to print again in the future, answer Y (for yes) and give a
- brief description of the report. Then the next time you print a custom
- report, you may recall that format to print again. (Press F5 to recall a
- previously saved report.) You may create and save many different custom
- reports.
-
- If you are printing in alphabetical order, you do NOT need to sort the file
- each time you try a different custom report. You only need to run routine
- 3 when you have added new people to the file, or when you wish to sort a
- different group of people.
-
- You may print the fields in any order. (For example, birth date in first
- column and name in second.) The names will print in number order if you
- choose N - 2 or are doing a word search or else they will print in
- alphabetical order if you choose N - 5.
-
- If you print the spouse name or marriage information, it will normally
- print the first spouse or marriage. If you choose field 98 as one of the
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 47
-
-
- fields, it will instead print the last spouse or marriage. If you choose
- field 99, it will print all spouses or marriages for each person. (You
- also must pick the spouse or marriage fields that you want to print, such
- as spouse name or marriage date.)
-
- The custom report formats are saved in a file called REPORTS.DT5.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 48
-
-
- APPENDIX M. COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
-
-
- Q. I can't get the program to start. What is wrong?
-
- A. Well, it could be one of several things.
-
- First of all, do you have enough RAM memory in your computer? The
- program wants about 500K of available memory. If you have 512K of RAM,
- read the BK5.BAT file for directions on changing the first line in the
- batch file so that BK will use only 450K of RAM. Even though your
- computer may have 640K of RAM memory, other things may be using up some
- of the memory. To see how much memory is available for the program, you
- should run a program called CHKDSK that is located on your DOS disk.
- Just type CHKDSK at the C> prompt and it will give you several lines of
- information. The last two lines are important to the discussion here.
- The next to the last line will show total RAM memory, and the last line
- will show what is available for programs such as Brother's Keeper. If
- the last line shows less than 460,000 you have a problem. It is
- possible to have 640K of RAM memory in your computer, and yet still not
- have 460K available for programs. If, for example, you have a RAM disk
- in use, it will take up memory. Also, pop-up programs such as Sidekick
- will use up some of your memory. Look in your CONFIG.SYS file and in
- your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to see what all you have running. DOS itself
- requires about 50K or more of memory, depending on what version you
- have. The line BUFFERS=num in your CONFIG.SYS file also will use up
- some RAM memory (do not use over BUFFERS=25).
-
- Secondly, assuming you have enough memory, you also need a line in your
- CONFIG.SYS file that says FILES=28 (or some number larger than 28).
- This is explained in Appendix K. If you don't have that line in the
- CONFIG.SYS file, you will see the opening screen of Brother's Keeper and
- then you will get a message telling you that you need that line in the
- file.
-
- Thirdly, you might have a problem of the computer "locking up" when you
- type BK5. This is caused by a dip switch inside older computers set in
- the wrong position as though you had an 8087 co-processor, when in fact
- you do not have an 8087 math co-processor. So, if the computer freezes
- up and you have to turn it off to regain control, check that co-
- processor switch. Also try typing SET NO87="true" before starting BK5.
-
- There is also a known bug with MS-DOS 3.20 if you do have a math co-
- processor. This bug is overcome by typing the following line at your
- DOS prompt before starting BK:
-
- SET NO87="true"
-
- If you still have problems starting the program after checking all the
- above items, try removing all memory resident programs and all device
- drivers. The easiest way is to format a blank diskette with the FORMAT
- /S command. Then create a CONFIG.SYS file on that diskette with only the
- line FILES=28 in it. Then reboot the computer with that diskette in the
- A: drive. Then try to start the program. If it still does not work,
- contact John Steed and describe the problem.
-
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 49
-
-
- Q. I have played around with the program a little and now I want to just
- start over. How do I get rid of the names and information I have
- entered so that I may start from scratch?
-
- A. All the data that you enter is stored in files that have names ending
- with .DT5. If you stop the program and change to the drive or
- subdirectory that contains the data files, you may type DIR *.DT5 and
- you should see about 6 files listed. If you erase those files, you may
- start over. So if you are SURE that you want to start over, you may
- type ERASE *.DT5 and all the data files will be gone.
-
-
- Q. When I look at someone's information in the Modify section, it shows
- "not entered" for the names of the parents. How do I type in the
- parents' names?
-
- A. In order to add the parents of someone, you need to go to the Add
- routine. Type in the Father's name for husband, and the Mother's name
- for wife. Then type the child's name. Then the parents' names will show
- at Modify. If you have entered the wrong parents for someone, see
- Appendix A.
-
-
- Q. How do I enter information for a family if I only have the Mother's name
- but I don't know the Father's name?
-
- A. You may either enter the Father's name as _____ _____ (if you think you
- will collect the information later) or you may type the name as *UNKNOWN
- and it will never print on any report.
-
-
- Q. How do I add a spouse to a single parent?
-
- A. Look at the single parent in the Modify routine, then press F6 while at
- the bottom line. Then use the UP arrow to go up to the husband or wife
- area and enter the person.
-
-
- Q. How do I enter the second husband for a woman?
-
- A. Using the Add routine, type the name of the second husband. Then for
- the wife, type the code number for the wife or search by name. When the
- wife is displayed, the program will know that it is an additional
- marriage for her.
-
-
- Q. When I print the Tree report, why do I get strange characters instead of
- the nice lines I see when I display the report?
-
- A. The program will try to print lines using the extended IBM character set
- that contains graphic characters. Most printers can print IBM graphic
- characters, and most will only do so if you set a certain switch in the
- printer or send a certain code to the printer. If you have an HP
- Laserjet printer, then use the "P" routine then "13" to send the codes
- to change to IBM graphic characters. If your printer cannot print
- graphic characters, then change the numbers at the top of Options screen
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 50
-
-
- 2 as described in Tree section above.
-
- Q. Why doesn't the sideways Tree report print work for me?
-
- A. The sideways report is designed to work on a printer that is compatible
- with IBM or Epson graphic printers. If your printer prints something
- that does not look like sideways characters, then your printer is not
- compatible. Do not worry about it, it is the same report as the regular
- Tree report so you are not missing much. The sideways tree uses the
- SIDEWAYS.DTA file to define the graphic characters. That file should be
- located on the same disk as the program since the program looks for it
- on the default disk or in the default directory (whatever directory you
- were in when you started BK). Note: if you have a laser printer, this
- Sideways report is not the same as Landscape. If you wish to print in
- Landscape mode, set your laser printer for Landscape and then run the
- Tree report as a regular (not sideways) printout.
-
- Q. I got an error message saying "Device fault" or "Device timeout". What
- does that mean?
-
- A. Usually it means that your printer was not turned on or not connected.
- If you do not have a printer attached, be sure to have output set to
- DISPLAY. Even the Word search routine will try to print unless you
- change output. Device timeout can be cured by adding this line to your
- Autoexec.bat file: MODE LPT1:,,P That will use the DOS MODE command
- to stop the timeout error message. Device fault also could mean a
- problem with your disk drive (if it happens when you are adding,
- modifying, or reading data).
-
-
- Q. What does the error message "Bad record number . . ." mean?
-
- A. If you get this error message it could mean you have a problem in your
- data files. Each name in the file has several "pointers" that indicate
- which other people are related to him or her and which message lines and
- which locations are associated. If these pointers get messed up, you
- have a problem. Hopefully, you will have a recent backup of your data
- files that you may use if necessary. In any case, make a couple more
- backup copies of your *.DT5 files before trying to solve this problem.
- This problem is usually caused by exiting the program improperly. Never
- remove the data diskette until you choose S to stop the program. Also,
- never turn off the computer while still in the program. If your data
- files get messed up, run the Q routine from the utility program menu.
- Then if necessary contact John Steed. If you send me a diskette with a
- copy of the *.DT5 files and a description of the problem, I can try to
- correct it for you.
-
-
- Q. If I want to keep 2 or more sets of data files totally separated from
- each other, how do I do it?
-
- A. To create another set of data files that will not interact with your
- existing files, you need to use a new diskette (if you use B: for your
- data drive) or create a new subdirectory (if you have a hard disk). If
- you use floppy disks, be sure to STOP the program before changing
- diskettes. If you have a hard disk, you may go to the Options screen 1
- Brother's Keeper 5.0 Page 51
-
-
- and type a different path and then the program will change to the data
- files located in that subdirectory. (The program will not create the
- subdirectory, you need to create it yourself with the DOS command MD.)
- You do not need to copy the programs to that subdirectory.
-
-
- Q. How may I DISPLAY a report or send it to a disk file so that I may make
- changes to it?
-
- A. When at the main menu, press F9 to change output.
-
-
- Q. Why does the AGE display incorrectly on the modify screen or on the
- Birthday printout?
-
- A. The age is calculated based on the birth date and either the death date
- (if the person is deceased) or the current date (if the person has a
- blank death date). The current date is the date that shows when you
- first turn on your computer or when you type DATE at the A> or C>
- prompt. Assuming your computer knows the correct current date, the
- problem is probably that you have not used a birth date in the style
- that is currently set in the options screen. Look at the date types on
- page 4. Then look at the date format line on options screen 1. Then
- look at the way you have entered dates and be sure it matches whatever
- you choose in the options screen. The program cannot compute age if you
- are using a non-standard date format.
-
-
- Q. I still need help, what do I do next?
-
- A. Well, if you decided to read the documentation you must be desperate!
- And if you have not found a solution to your problem after reading this
- far, you are probably frustrated also. So, here is what you may do.
- You may write to John Steed, 6907 Childsdale Rd., Rockford, MI 49341 and
- describe the problem. Indicate what size disks you use in case the
- solution includes receiving a program in return. Also indicate what
- version you have (5.0) and any other pertinent information. If you give
- me your phone number, I may be able to give you an answer by phone. If
- you wish to contact me through CompuServe, the ID number is 75745,1371.
- I try to check for Electronic Mail every day. If you have a modem, my
- current BBS (bulletin board service) number is (616) 364-1127 at up to
- 9600 baud. This BBS contains the current versions of all programs. If
- you want to call me, call information (area code 616 Rockford, Michigan)
- for my number. I am usually available in the evenings between 8pm and
- 10pm Eastern time. I do programming during that time, but I do not mind
- taking a few minutes to answer some questions.
-
-
-
-
-
- I N D E X
-
- Add a child . . . . . 7 Device timeout . . . . 50
- Add parents . . . . . 49 Display reports . . . 51
- Adding names . . . . . 3 Ditto " key . . . . . 5
- Address fields . . . . 2 Down arrow . . . . . . 2
- Adopted child . . . . 8 Drive for data files . 13
- Age incorrect . . . . 51 Duplications . . . . . 32
- Ahnentafel report . . 18 Edit text file . . . 10, 12
- Alphabetical index . . 24 Equal = key . . . . . 5
- Alphabetical printout 18 Erase a field . . . . 2
- Alt keys (user defined) 42 Esc key . . . . . . . 2
- Alternate name . . . . 9 European dates . . . . 4
- Ancestor chart . . . . 23 Exact search . . . . . 16
- Ancestor reports . . 27 Example - adding names 7
- Backup data files . 9, 21 Family group sheets . 23
- Bad record number . . 50 Father unknown . . . . 49
- Birthday printout . . 18 Field names . . . . . 6
- BKAUDIT file . . . . . 16 Find relative of person 12
- Bold print . . . . . . 14 Find word or date . . 20
- Box chart . . . . . . 26 First person to add . 3
- Browse . . . . . . . . 12 Footnotes - sources . 16
- Change name of fields 6 Foreign characters . . 2
- Change order of child 11 Four family box chart 27
- Change order of spouse 11 Gedcom files . . . . 28
- Change parents . . . . 32 Global changes . . . 31
- Changes file . . . . . 16 Group sheets . . . . . 23
- Changes to program . . 38 HP Laserjet printer . 14
- Colors . . . . . . . . 13 Individual add . . . 12
- Compress print . . . . 14 Insert a character . . 2
- CONFIG.SYS file . . . 44 Install . . . . . . . 1
- Converting data files 40 Landscape printing . . 23
- Correcting problems 2, 32 Laserjet printer . . . 14
- Custom reports . . . . 46 Last names . . . . . 15, 20
- Data files location . 13 Linking people . . . . 3
- Database programs . . 41 Location fields . . . 5
- Date format - change . 30 Location print/change 31
- Date of last change . 16 Location search . . . 5
- Date types . . . . . . 4 Look for person . . . 12
- Delete a character . . 2 Lower case months . . 4
- Delete a person . . . 11 Mailing address . . 2, 15
- Delete as a child . . 11 Maximum number of names 1
- Delete as a spouse . 11, 32 Memory requirements. . 1
- Descendant report . 17, 24 Menu . . . . . . . . . 3
- Descendant tree . . . 22 Merge two databases . 27
- Description of program 1 Message file . . . . . 10
- Device fault . . . . . 50 Message lines . . . . 9
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Modify information . . 10 Single parent-add spouse 49
- Months - lower case . 4 Size of files - maximum 1
- Move forward/backward 2 Sort alphabetically . 19
- Multiple data sets . . 50 Source footnotes . . 16
- Multiple printers . . 30 Source information . . 6
- Names of fields . . . 6 Source print/change . 31
- New features in program 38 Special effects on/off 13
- Numbering systems . . 6 Split one database . . 27
- Numerical printout . . 18 Start over, erase files 49
- Occupation field . . . 6 Step children . . . . 8
- Options . . . . . . . 13 Stop . . . . . . . . . 31
- Order of children . 11, 32 Suggestions . . . . . 40
- Order of spouses . . . 11 Superscript codes . . 16
- Order to add people . 3 Technical information 41
- Output routines . . . 17 Text editor . . . . 10, 12
- Output to disk file . 17 Text file . . . . . 10, 12
- Output to screen . . . 17 Tiny Tafel file . . . 30
- PAF program . . . . . 28 Top of form - printer 17
- Parents . . . . . . . 12 Transfer data from BK 29
- Parents - second set . 8 Tree printout . . . . 22
- Path for data files . 13 Up arrow . . . . . . . 2
- Prepare disks . . . . 1 Updates to program . . 38
- Print routines . . . . 17 Use of ? to find name 8
- Printer options . . . 14 Utility program . . . 30
- Printer problems . . . 34 Word processor . . . . 12
- Printer setup . . . . 30 Word search . . . . . 20
- Printer strings . . 15, 21
- Problems - questions . 48
- Program will not start 48
- Questions & answers . 48
- Quit . . . . . . . . . 31
- Reference field . . . 6
- Register style reports 24
- Relationship calculation 31
- Relationships . . . . 35
- Reuse a code number . 11
- Sample reports . . . . 37
- Search for word or date 20
- Searching by name (add) 7
- Second marriage . . . 7
- Setup disks. . . . . . 1
- Shareware concept . . 43
- Sharing the program . 43
- Short-cuts . . . . . 5, 42
- Sideways printing . 22, 50
-
-
-
-
- To: John Steed Date _______________________
- 6907 Childsdale Rd
- Rockford, MI 49341 U.S.A.
-
- I have version 5.0 of Brother's Keeper. (11/30/91)
- __
- |__| I would like to become a Registered user. Enclosed is a check for
- $45 (U.S. check or Canadian check in U.S. funds) or MasterCard or VISA
- number and expiration date. Please send me the printed manual
- and the current version of the programs. ($45 includes all programs.)
- __
- |__| I have data in Brother's Keeper version ________ Please send the
- CONVERT5 program also.
- __
- |__| Please send information on genealogy computer bulletin boards.
- __
- |__| I have data in ___Genealogy on Display ___FHS ___Linkages and
- would like a program to transfer the data to Brother's Keeper.
- __
- |__| Send the program in __French __German __Danish __Polish __Dutch
- __Swedish __Finnish __Norwegian
- (Translations are available in version 4.5 now and some will not be
- available in version 5.0 until after February 1992.)
- __send the translation program so that I may translate to ____________
-
- I am using the program on the following type of equipment.
-
- Computer brand _________________________ Do you have a modem? _____
-
- Amount of RAM memory 384 512 640 _________
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- Hard disk? Yes No
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- Diskette size preference 3 1/2 5 1/4
-
- Monitor mono color - CGA EGA VGA
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- Printer __________________________
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- Name / Address ______________________________________________
-
- ______________________________________________
-
- ______________________________________________
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- Country ______________________________________
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- Comments and suggestions: _________________________________________________
-
- ____________________________________________________________________________
- use back side also
-
- (Thank you very much for responding. John)
-
-