* DNA Matching reports -- Clustering Spreadsheet and Generational Alignment Worksheet

[HanniganResearch]

Literally, I am over my head in this discussion. I am currently pursuing a DNA course to get a better understanding on how to use the four genealogical DNA tests I have taken. I have THOUSANDS of potential matches - ranging for a sibling (YEAH) to who know what. Fortunately, maybe, these are all considered 'recent ancestor matches' but when there are enough to fill a football arena - there is trouble.
Completing this course should set me up to take the Introductory course at Boston University and then the certification course next year.
As far as I know, there is not a software program available today for recording matches in the manner for using the DNA results to complete a tree.
There are two -- maybe three -- reports that appear to be useful from this learning. The Leeds Clustering Spreadsheet where bring together matches to determine which grandparents the matches align with. The Generation Alignment Worksheet is used to look at matches (2nd & 3rd cousins) to align their tree with your tree for similarities that otherwise are not obvious. The third is the Personal Genetic genealogy worksheet that is create for each match that has a public tree for six generations. It is helpful when you complete your tree for six generations and you can use the same tool for matches to fill in gaps on their tree to identify the grandparents they align with.
Here is my question - having provided the background. I am using FH7 to input individual matches based on the company that produces the test. But some analysis tools would be help for generating reports based on the data that has been input.
Has anyone developed 'add-on' reports to assist with DNA matching? Has anyone developed guidelines for logging DNA matching results to help fill-in holes in the tree?
I can provide copies of the templates we are using if someone is interested in working towards simplifying the process.
Thank you, John

[ColeValleyGirl]

I tend to take the approach of 'horses for courses'; I'd rather not clutter up my FH project(s) with matches until I've assessed them and know how they fit into my tree(s).

I also don't like reinventing wheels

There are a lot of specialist tools out there for dealing with DNA data; I prefer to use those. Personal favourites (all for different reasons):

• GDAT (or storing -- and if necessary -- combining details of all matches from various sites [6 profiles on 6 sites generates a lot of duplicate matches]
• DNAgedcom for gathering data to populate GDAT, and also for Leeds clustering;
• the tools at DNAPainter, and GeneticAffairs

[E Wilcock]

Helen,
It might be useful to adapt this for your average and amateur fh user.
I dont understand what you are doing nor what you are advising. The names of these programs and the cost are not known to me.

My own gedmatch (ancestry) entry into fh is done using Jane's suggestions but my entry of data is incomplete and inconsistent.
I may even create new lines for a surname using the surname with a postfix DNA, telling me that this branch is DNA linked but the true link is not yet known, or may never be, if the link turned out to be via a female line. The names of mothers often remain unknown.

For Jewish lines from eastern Europe, DNA matches may suggest a particular village of origin and the link maybe confirmed as more or less likely by using the surname searches for that place and surname on the Yad va Shem Names list of holocaust victims. I have tended to list these possible places of origin in a Word document but I may add a note with the place name to fh, although the place cannot be added in fh unless it is in a place field for an event. I have added extra Birth events simply to add a place.

I have started adding places to a GEDmatch tag with the name entered as Unknown. But I dont really know what I am doing nor how to use fh for DNA research.

It was said that my non Jewish Sadler family came from Warwickshire and were connected to Ralph Sadler. There is no sign of that but I do have many DNA links with non Sadler surnames (i.e. possible female descent) to one of the Warwickshire manors owned by Thomas Cromwell as well as surname matches for Cromwell.

My conclusion is that DNA testing has confirmed the descents already known but has clarified nothing more. And entry in fh has been a chore with no particular benefit.

I think it would be very helpful if you could explain how fh has helped in your own DNA match research.

[ColeValleyGirl]

Evelyn,

Very simply: I don't use FH until I have reached a conclusion using the specialist tools I have mentioned (plus correspondence with matches to work things out). At which point I can use FH to record the conclusion.

Helen

P.S. YOu can use the search engine of your choice to find the programs/services I mention, and their costs. Anything I posted here would likely go out of date quite quickly.

[HanniganResearch]

Helen - thank you for your response. Each of us uses FH in different fashions.
As mentioned previously, I am not including them in my active tree, I am preparing a MATCH tree for AncestryDNA, MyHeritageDNA, FTDNA and 23&me. Each company a separate tree so that I do not clutter my research tree.
With that being said, I am at a point in my life that I want to simplify things. Life is much to complicated and you cannot do a good job cutting corners. We can either work the programs the death or allow the programs to execute themselves to their capabilities.
Not only do I us FH, but I also have used Legacy, RootsMagic, FamilyTree Maker, Ancestry Family tree, PAF and I am probably forgetting some. Each had their own flash in the pan at a specific time in my research and now I am left giga-bytes of 1s and 0s that are not compatible with each other.