* Importing Place data from one proect to another

[Gowermick]

Just started a new project for someone, and quickly realised that I have to re-input and geo-code all places from scratch.
Does anyone know of a method of exporting places from one project, and importing them to another?

If this is possible, would it not be a great idea to have a default set of UK or even US places for people to download and import into their project? How much time do we all waste re-inventing this particular wheel?

[AdrianBruce]

Isn't it possible to export the Place Records (and only them) into a GEDCOM file?

I know that the Export GEDCOM File plug-in has a parameter for Place Record, with one option being "Keep Custom Record". Presumably, you have to delete all the other record types so ensure you do it on a copy - as per usual advice.

Long time since I exported anything so I'm very hazy on the details...

As for a default set of places - believe me, if you've ever had to deal with FamilySearch's standard placenames, you'd probably go off that idea very quickly. E.g. I like to put "co." as part of the name for American counties - e.g. "Orange co.". IIRC FS decides no, the structuring is adequate - the county is always the items before the state so "Orange" suffices. Well, if the county is always before the state, what about independent cities which "report" directly to the state? How to tell those from counties?

Basically, the wheel that is being reinvented is because some people want a bicycle wheel, some a Formula One racing car wheel, and some want a caterpillar track... And the guy that has a hovercraft can't understand what's going on...

[tatewise]

Yes, it is possible to export just all the Place records into a GEDCOM file.
Use the File > Import/Export > Export > GEDCOM File... command with the following settings.
Note that everything is excluded except Place records and importantly Unconnected records.
Click OK and ignore the warning about not selecting Individual records and continue anyway.
The resulting GEDCOM can be used to start a New Project or File Merge into an existing Project.

image.png (40.47 KiB) Viewed 546 times

I'm not sure default sets of Place records would work as we all have different areas of interest and use different ways of forming our place records as outlined by Adrian. For example, I would have no interest in Scottish or Irish places nor many parts of North Wales, Northeast England, etc.

[Gowermick]

Adrian and Mike,
Thanks for the pointers and suggestions, I’ll give them a try tomorrow.