Lineascope.com Fans

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Comment by Ben Sayer on April 6, 2010 at 2:13am

Thanks for giving Lineascope a try.

I agree 100% Bonnie; don't enter old searches. I don't envision Lineascope being used to document past, unsuccessful search efforts.

Lineascope's purpose is to help genealogists build solid proofs by pragmatically applying the genealogical proof standard (GPS). Just like the GPS, there are situations that call for its use and those that don't. Documenting past, unsuccessful search efforts doesn't help build a proof. If it's past research, you know whether or not you need the GPS and Lineascope to make your case.

To be sure, Linescope, like an ordinary research log, can help prevent rework and guide research while you're researching, but if a proof project is in the citation, analysis, conflict resolution, or proof writing steps—let alone complete—all possible benefits of capturing unsuccessful search attempts is too costly in terms of time.

I recommend using Lineascope in two cases:

1. When planning and conducting research—before the need for the GPS is established—use Lineascope as a research planning and logging tool. If it turns out that you have sufficient direct evidence, primary information, and original sources and none of it conflicts, do the genealogy happy dance! Capture your conclusion and sources in whatever genealogy database you're using, store a PDF of the event sheet (or characteristic or relationship sheets when they're implemented) then move on to researching the answer to the next genealogical question.

2. When you've done research, using Lineascope or not, and found conflicts or a lack of high-quality sources, information, and evidence, use the analysis sheets in Lineascope and the GPS to help you build a solid case. You do that by methodically citing sources, extracting information and evidence, analyzing the quality of it all, resolving conflicts, reaching a sound conclusion that answers the research question, then writing the proof statement. Finally, enjoy the fact that you've got a concise, solidly documented case that any good genealogist would be envious of.

I think that if you use the tool in those cases and respective ways, you'll be amazed by the power and relative simplicity.

Comment by Bonnie Elsten on April 6, 2010 at 12:10am

Just started experimenting with this tonight. Hard to say when a search for a particular record might happen or. it some cases, when it did happen as I didn't do a really good job of documenting the where & when back when I first started 20+ years ago. I have kept a research log for quite a while now, but entering all that info on what I searched unsuccessfully into lineasope seems burdensome. I can see the value, don't know if I have the time to enter old searches.

Comment by Gena Philibert Ortega on April 5, 2010 at 3:36pm

I'm playing around with Lineascope. I appreciate all the work you are doing on it. It looks like it gives us a different type of Research Log but with more information and taking into consideration sources, evidence, etc..

Comment by Ben Sayer on April 5, 2010 at 2:50pm

I haven't designed the relationship portion of the system, but documenting parentage will be part of Lineascope. My current thinking is that lineage relationships will be input and reported in a way that's consistent with events and characteristics.

How would you like to document parentage? We probably should have a discussion forum topic for this one; feel free to start one.

Comment by Ben Sayer on April 5, 2010 at 2:43pm

The date in the source details is the date sourced. Shall I change the field label to make it clear (e.g. Date Sourced)?

The event date is entered when the proof is entered.

Comment by Nolichucky Roots on April 5, 2010 at 1:17pm

Could you add an event that would document parentage? Proving that a person is the child of specific parents is so key, and not easy to document in existing online databases and software.

Comment by Nolichucky Roots on April 5, 2010 at 12:05pm

My test run was slow, but I think I've managed it. I would like you to clarify the date field when one enters or edits source detail. Is that the event date or the date the source detail is entered?

Comment by Ben Sayer on April 4, 2010 at 5:47pm

I added the following counts to the "Your Stats" table on the home page: information, searches, and sources. The table is now sorted alphabetically.

Comment by Sue McCormick on April 4, 2010 at 3:46pm

I have been trying to set up a good research log for the past 6 months. I understand WHY I need one, but I cannot figure out how to create one. It appears that Lineascope will be a help to me in this. BUT because I really don't know what I'm supposed to be doing, I'm having problems. The tips feature you mentioned was a help, but I still need more instructions.
I know that you are considering instruction materials and I will patiently wait for them; and EAGERLY wait for them also.
Sue

Comment by Jean DeLany Myers Sebesta on April 4, 2010 at 12:58pm

Simple enough, Jean

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