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Getting started with FTAnalyzer - ideas for guides

Well done, Alexander (and helpers).

A few suggestions:
  • A question mark at the end of the first heading, ie "What does the program do?"
  • Help for people who don't have a family tree program, but instead use an online tree (for example, it's quite difficult to figure out how to export a GEDCOM from Ancestry if you haven't done it before); they'll also need to know what the limitations are of doing things this way
  • It might be worth mentioning (for the cautious) that exporting a GEDCOM file and submitting it to FTA won't change their tree data in any way - in other words, even if it all goes wrong they'll still have what they started with
  • On the other hand, they should be warned that exporting a GEDCOM is not a substitute for saving their tree in their program's native format
  • Should people be encouraged to save their GEDCOM under (My)Documents? The example using Dropbox might confuse some people
  • Is it worth mentioning that setting the root person will need to be done every time - some people might assume that they only need to do it once?
 
peter said:
Well done, Alexander (and helpers).

A few suggestions:
  • Help for people who don't have a family tree program, but instead use an online tree (for example, it's quite difficult to figure out how to export a GEDCOM from Ancestry if you haven't done it before); they'll also need to know what the limitations are of doing things this way
  • Is it worth mentioning that setting the root person will need to be done every time - some people might assume that they only need to do it once?
Click to expand...

This might be worth linking to.

FTA always seems to remember that I'm the "root person" without being set each time (even though I'm not "I1" but "I698"). I lost the I1 reference many years ago after importing a GEDCOM file from another program.
 
If the root person is set in your program or online tree then FTAnalyzer will get it right. Basically the problem with root (or home) person is that its set wrongly in the person's tree. Sometimes this is "wrong" for historic reasons sometimes its "wrong" because the user set it as their child to include both themselves and their spouses family but for analysis purposes wants to analyse relationships based on themselves. In that case it isn't wrong its just they want to analyse from a different perspective.

Thanks for the link Norman, I've added that to the file.
 
Part 1, the Microsoft .Net site is underlined and looks like a link, but there is no link.
The "issues section of the website" is underlined and looks like a link, but there is no link.
The "documentation" is underlined and looks like a link, but there is no link.
The "FTAnalyzer support site" is underlined and looks like a link, but there is no link.
The "here" is underlined and looks like a link, but there is no link.

Part 2, I've added some changes to the doc, marked up in Blue this time.

But they're looking really good now, I think the approach is good. Once they're finished maybe Peter would reference them in a Newsletter, that would give them some real testing from a non user perspective.
 

Attachments

Hmm the PDF creator must have stripped the links they are present in the Word version. I'll investigate your suggestions for part 2.
 
The first link was an http:// link so acrobat reader understands it's a link. Whereas the rest were actual links. The problem was down to a useless PDF creator. I've used a better one and links are now preserved as well as bookmarks added.

I've also now uploaded this guide to the documentation and downloads pages of the project.
 
Just read Parts 1 and 2 FTAnalyzer Guide.... Excellent! The series of guides will enable users to make full use of the multi layered features.
 
I've now updated part 2 and filled out the missing sections, I also split it into two parts the introduction and basic tabs in part 2 and the errors and specialist tabs in part 3. Some feedback on these guides would be appreciated. Since the files with the screenshots are rather too large to be uploaded to the forum I've put them up on the FTAnalyzer website here.
 
Alexander Bisset said:
I've now updated part 2 and filled out the missing sections, I also split it into two parts the introduction and basic tabs in part 2 and the errors and specialist tabs in part 3. Some feedback on these guides would be appreciated. Since the files with the screenshots are rather too large to be uploaded to the forum I've put them up on the FTAnalyzer website here.
Click to expand...

Hi Alexander, Just read part 2.
  • FTA might be the first time that the user has encountered Facts, is it worth explaining what a Fact is?
  • Options Menu – General Settings, some of the tick boxes are self evident as to what they do and effect, but other might need an explanation?
  • Towards the top of page 10 you say "Guide to Mapping in FTAnalyzer – not yet available", I don't think you need to have the "not yet available" because you will probably not remember to update this note when it is available.
  • Do you need to give examples of why you might use each report? You've shown the how, but not the why for some of them?
 
Thanks Tim,

I've added a facts explanation and am adding what the options each do. I'm going to leave in the not yet available to avoid questions as to where it is. I'll just have to remember to remove that later, I'm sure someone will point it out.

Are you able to list which ones you believe are missing a why. I thought I'd done them all, so clearly am suffering from proof reading blindness.

New version of Part II uploaded.
 
I am going to make a massive confession here :oops: I downloaded FTAnalyzer ages ago, kept seeing all the posts about using it, kept adding it to my 'family history research things to do when I have time' list, and still did nothing. Finally (you will be relieved to hear) I downloaded your most recent version last week, having been unable to find the original version. No doubt it has been wiped by my son in one of his 'cleaning up mum's netbook' sessions? So bit by bit I am very slowly working my way through it, although I am busy at the moment. Why did I not do this before? Even a quick glance showed me how useful it will be (I could slap myself). Thank you. That's all I need to say, and now I know what everyone is on about.
 
Your feed back on the guides would be of immense value. As a new user being able to say if the information is sufficient to shed light on the various sections of the program or if some of the guide just leaves you confused.

Unfortunately those of us that have used the program for a while are used to doing things with it so we lose sight of the basics. I've tried to explain the basics and it would be great to find out from a new user if I succeeded in my goal, it would be even better to find out some areas of the guides need tidied up or made clearer, as this will benefit future users too.

You can find the guides here
 
I am working my way through them slowly as I come to grips with it all so will be happy to let you know what I think. Certainly the instructions on how to install it, adding your gedcom and setting the root person have been clear and easy to understand. I am going to move on to the instructions on using the tabs this weekend, although I have obviously checked them out as I got excited :D
 
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