Scratch

Back in 2002 when I first started doing research I made a lot of mistakes.

• I took the research of others as truth.  I didn't double check or confirm any details before incorporating that information into my file.  I wound up with A LOT of incorrect information that was impossible to separate from research I had dome myself.
• I did not keep detailed notes.  I have no idea where most of my information came from.
• I had several versions of my file in several different formats.
• I printed off anything that seemed like it might matter one day.  This might not sound so bad, but it means I have BOXES of paper and no idea who they match up with and therefore it's not useful information at all.

In 2010 when I got my new computer I made a brave decision. I started my GEDCOM from scratch.  Eek!

• Now I am confirming - with original documents when possible - all information before entering it.
• I am keeping detailed notes on people I correspond with, any information I find, the places I look (even when I don't find what I'm looking for) and the items I am still missing.
• I have separated the working version of my trees from the final version.
• I keep a working version on ancestry.ca, not all this information is confirmed but allows me to be flagged for leads, documents and other researchers in their system.
• I keep the real version (Family Tree maker 2010) offline with only information that I have verified myself linked to soft copies of all original documents.
• I have created an organized filing system for keeping all Ancestral Charts, Family Group Sheets and hard copies of original documents.  But that's another post...