* Request advice on using research notes in FH7

[Gary_G]

First; I've never used any programs internal "Research Notes/Log feature.
Most of them, to date, have not been well designed.
I'm hoping the one in FH7 may be of some use to me.

In the course of researching how something like a census fits into my tree, I often search various databases.
As a result, I come across references to associated records that I just want to note and investigate when I get down to a Family History Library.
When I am ready to make a trip to use the FHL to get copies of the actual images, I need to print out a "hit-list" that I contains the notes.
I'm not exactly sure if this is the purpose for which the FH7 research notes feature was designed.
I'm open to suggestions on this.

[ColeValleyGirl]

Have you reviewed Planning and Tracking Your Research and its linked articles? Research Notes will work well for that use case.

The standard Research Note report is adequate but https://pluginstore.family-historian.co ... es-variant is a little moew flexible

[Gary_G]

Thanks, Helen.
I've read that reference and have the report generator on my system.
I created a "research task" by cutting and pasting the relevant ScotlandsPeople index data into the auto text template.
The report plugin works for my purposes.

I do have a couple of questions.

• How does one populate the "Key Individuals" column in the Research Notes Record display? It sounds useful.

• Is it more typical to maintain the list only from the main FH7 menu or attach it in the list of notes for a person/persons?

[ColeValleyGirl]

Personally, I link Research Notes to the individual(s) unless they're not associated with specific individuals (which would be things like: Locate the Manorial Records covering parish P). However, there are two ways of doing this: via embedded individual links within the note, or via linking the research note record to the individual record(s). Which works best for you depends on your workflow, so it's worth experimenting. There have been a few discussions about it elsewhere on the board.

If you link between the records, you can use View > Record Links... (ALT-V-L) to see the linked records from the Research Note record window (but in the Individual record window, the Research Notes can't be accessed that way - you have to use the notes tab of the Property Box).

Getting an embedded individual link into the records window or a query is something I haven't achieved yet -- Mike T might know the special sauce.

I use record-to-record links and put embedded individuals within the Research Note so that I can get to their record quickly from within the note, but others may think that's too much work

The Key Individuals column is a bit of a red herring -- it displays membership of the Key Individuals named list (Yes/No).

[tatewise]

I don't think you can get an actual record link into a Records Window or Query column.
The best that can be achieved is the name of the linked record in plain text.
To get that you must prefix each link with unique text all within one paragraph.
e.g.
Link1: Fred Smith
Link2: Jane Jones

Then =GetLabelledText( %_RNOT.TEXT%, "Link1:" ) will list the name Fred Smith
and =GetLabelledText( %_RNOT.TEXT%, "Link2:" ) will list the name Jane Jones

[ColeValleyGirl]

Thanks, Mike. I suppose it would be possible to get a record link into a query/record window if the embedded link included the record id in say [] but the necessary expression is above my pay grade.

[tatewise]

Yes, it would be a complex convoluted expression reliant on the user entering the RecId format correctly.

[ColeValleyGirl]

Yes, it would be a complex convoluted expression reliant on the user entering the RecId format correctly.

I can automate entering the record ID in the new version of the Research Planner which I hope to release later this year.

[Gary_G]

Thanks, Helen.
Oddly; I stumbled upon the ability to create a Research Note and then add it to the list of notes a person/couple.
I think that was the option that you said you use and it seems to work for me.
With it, I can use the plug-in you mentioned and get a list of my off-site research I need to do in the form of a word document.
Then I can update the research note when I get home.

You mentioned "hot-keys" for accessing the research notes.
I can get to the research notes by selecting the virus menu options.
However; I wonder if somewhere there is a list of FH7 key combinations when running under Parallels on a Mac.
Must look into that now that I am actually getting some data-entry done.
Knowing the shortcuts would be useful.

[Gary_G]

Yes, it would be a complex convoluted expression reliant on the user entering the RecId format correctly.

I can automate entering the record ID in the new version of the Research Planner which I hope to release later this year.

Helen;
I noticed the old research planner while look for info on research notes.
I'm looking forward to your new version and seeing whether it will work for my purposes.

[ColeValleyGirl]

You mentioned "hot-keys" for accessing the research notes.
I can get to the research notes by selecting the virus menu options.
However; I wonder if somewhere there is a list of FH7 key combinations when running under Parallels on a Mac.
Must look into that now that I am actually getting some data-entry done.
Knowing the shortcuts would be useful.

I'm not aware if Parallelsd does anything different in this regard from standard windows.

https://www.family-historian.co.uk/help ... tcuts.html covers mos of the common shortcuts. You can also use the Alt key to navigate through the ƒh menus: press the Alt key and a letter will be underlined on each menu item. Press that key and a letter will be underlined on each sub-menu item. Hit return when you’ve found the item you want.

[Gary_G]

Thanks, Helen.

[laz_gen]

I don't think you can get an actual record link into a Records Window or Query column.
The best that can be achieved is the name of the linked record in plain text.
To get that you must prefix each link with unique text all within one paragraph.
e.g.
Link1: Fred Smith
Link2: Jane Jones

Then =GetLabelledText( %_RNOT.TEXT%, "Link1:" ) will list the name Fred Smith
and =GetLabelledText( %_RNOT.TEXT%, "Link2:" ) will list the name Jane Jones

If you store the Individuals Record ID in the Research Note as Link1: 123 then this expression will give you a record link to the individual in a query result set column but unfortunately it just produces the Individuals name in plain text if configured as a column in the Records window.

=Record(TextToNumber(GetLabelledText( %_RNOT.TEXT%, "Link1:" )),"I")

[laz_gen]

I use record-to-record links and put embedded individuals within the Research Note so that I can get to their record quickly from within the note, but others may think that's too much work

The quickest way to embed Individual links into a Research Note is to drag the Individuals name from the Record window and drop it into the Research Note at the chosen point.

This will not only copy the name but will also create a record link automatically.

This method will work with all record types: Individuals, Families, Notes, Sources, Media, Places and even other Research Notes