Creating the Related By Flag
(Note: This was written for TMG v4x and earlier
although the principles also apply to TMG v5x & v6.x.
For a similar article for TMG v5x/6x, that uses the
Book Manager feature and
one that runs each component report separately. )
A number of users have created a custom Flag similar to the RELATED_BY Flag example in the TMG v2 and v4x Reference Manuals (v2x, page 188; v4.x, page 171) and asked how to make the settings using the List of People (LOP) Report Secondary Output capability. I have tried this process, and it seems to work. When I tried the process, my main dataset had the following results:
| Setting Definition | Setting | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Unset (default) | ? | 0 |
| Self | S | 1 |
| Ancestors, Direct | A | 486 |
| Descendants | D | 0 |
| Collateral | C | 9416 |
| Marriage | M | 4453 |
| Unrelated | U | 13993 |
| Total | 28349 | |
The following steps delineate the process. As noted above, I have created the Report Definitions needed to do this and you may download and import them into your system. After you download the file of Report Definitions, you will need to unZip it into the TMGW directory/folder. Then read the included READMERB.TXT file for instructions on how to import them into your system. The reports below have indicators "(RelBy001)" showing the corresponding name for the imported reports.
1. Of course, you first need to create the custom RELATED_BY Flag as given in the TMG Reference Manual if you have not already done this. Creation will set the Flag to the default setting of "?" for all persons.
2. Also, create a second custom Flag that you will use during the process. This is a temporary Flag and may be deleted after finishing the process, if desired. If you already have such a Flag then just substitute it for the one I give here (don't forget to adjust the downloaded reports for this). I named mine the INTERIM Flag with possible settings of N(o) and Y(es) with N(o) as the default.
3. Create a LOP report (RelBy001) to initialize the RELATED_BY Flag for all persons in your dataset to "U." The rest of the process will change the Flag from "U" to one of the other settings and no one will be assigned a setting of "?" when you finish. Then newly added persons will be set to the default of "?" so you can know which are the new persons so you can set them as needed.
On this and any of the following LOP reports, you may set the output destination to Screen, Printer, or File as you wish. If you set the output to Screen, you may also wish to set the Suppress For Secondary Output option (after you set the Secondary Output tab). You may wish to review the LOP output unless you are very sure that all your Report Definition settings are correct or so you can see how the process works. Once you are satisfied your settings are correct or after you are comfortable with the process, then you may wish to suppress the output which will speed up the process.
4. Create a LOP report (RelBy002) to initialize the temporary INTERIM Flag to "N". This report will be generated often in this process. The Focus tab for this report should be set to All Persons. In the Secondary Output tab, set the INTERIM Flag to N. This resets the flag to its initial setting and allows it to be reused in the various steps. If you wish, you can do the same by deleting and re-creating the INTERIM Flag although that is a bit more work.
5. Create a LOP report (RelBy003)
to set the RELATED_BY Flag for the focus or target person of the process
(usually yourself). The Focus tab filter would be:
ID
Number
Equals
[?]
END
In the Secondary Output tab, set the RELATED_BY Flag to
S.
You may also manually set the RELATED_BY Flag for this step as it will only be one person. If you are not the focus or target person of the process, then substitute that person for yourself in all the following instructions.
6. Set the RELATED_BY Flag for your Ancestors.
a. Reset the INTERIM Flag to N. (RelBy002)
b. Create a LOP report (RelBy004A) with a Focus tab filter
of:
RELATED_BY Flag Equals
S
END.
And select [X] Ancestors
for 250 Generations option at the bottom of the screen. In the Secondary Output tab, set the
INTERIM Flag to Y.
c. Create a LOP report (RelBy004B)
with a Focus tab filter of:
INTERIM
Flag
Equals
Y
AND
RELATED_BY Flag Equals
U
END.
In the Secondary Output tab, set the RELATED_BY Flag to A.
7. Set the RELATED_BY Flag for your Descendants.
a. Reset the INTERIM Flag to N. (RelBy002)
b. Create a LOP report (RelBy005A)
with a Focus tab filter
of:
RELATED_BY Flag Equals
S
END.
And select [X] Descendants
for 250 Generations at the bottom of the screen. In the Secondary Output tab, set the
INTERIM Flag to Y.
c. Create a LOP report (RelBy005B)
with a Focus tab filter of:
INTERIM
Flag
Equals
Y
AND
RELATED_BY Flag Equals
U
END.
In the Secondary Output tab, set the
RELATED_BY Flag to D.
8. Set the RELATED_BY Flag for the Collateral persons.
a. Reset the INTERIM Flag to N. (RelBy002)
b. Create a LOP report (RelBy006A) with a Focus tab filter of:
RELATED_BY Flag Equals
A
END.
And select the [X] Descendents for 250 generations option at the bottom
of the screen. In the Secondary Output tab, set the INTERIM Flag to
Y.
c. Create a LOP report (RelBy006B) with a Focus tab filter of:
RELATED_BY Flag
Equals
U
AND
INTERIM Flag
Equals
Y
END.
In the Secondary
Output tab, set the RELATED_BY Flag option to C.
9. Set the RELATED_BY Flag for those persons related by marriage.
a. Reset the INTERIM Flag to N. (RelBy002)
b. Create a LOP report (RelBy007A)
with a Focus tab filter of:
RELATED_BY
Equals
C
END
and select the [X] Spouses option at the bottom of the screen. In the Secondary
Output tab, set the INTERIM Flag to Y.
c. Create a LOP report (RelBy007B) with a Focus tab filter of:
RELATED_BY Flag
Equals
U
AND
INTERIM Flag
Equals
Y
END
In the Secondary
Output tab, set the RELATED_BY Flag option to M.
This process will not set flags for your siblings. Since they are related in the same way that you are to all others in the dataset, you should manually set the RELATED_BY Flag for each of your siblings to S. Also this process will not set the RELATED_BY Flag for your wife or the spouses of your siblings unless one of them is related to you otherwise. So if you wish you could manually set the Flag for them. I chose to leave them unset or as the process set them. You may wish to create additional LOP reports for this or other purposes.
This concludes the process, and you may now use the RELATED_BY Flag with the Accent feature or in whatever way you wish. You may wish to refer to the tutorial by Kathryn Rhinehart Bassett located on another page of this website for another way to use the Accent feature. Also Richard V. Wilson has written a tutorial for Creating a Branch Flag which may also be useful.
Comments to: Lee Hoffman
Return to theTMG Tips Tutorial Page