RootsMagic Source Templates

Making Them Work for Me

Do you use RootsMagic's source templates when creating citations? Or do you prefer the free-form method?

While it would be easy to use the free-form option, I've always preferred using source templates. In fact, I frequently take that process one step further by copying a built-in template and modifying it to meet my needs.

With the release of RootsMagic 12, the number of built-in source templates was significantly reduced. That change has encouraged me to take another look at the templates that are available and how I can customize them.

Citing an Ancestry Family Tree

Recently, I needed to cite an Ancestry family tree as the source for a death date in my RootsMagic database. Looking through the available templates, I selected Family Trees, Documented.

As I started entering the information, however, I encountered two fields that caused me to stop and think:

• Database Title

• Tree Title

What was the difference between these two fields? Wasn't the title of the family tree also the title of the database?

Rather than guessing, I turned to Elizabeth Shown Mills' Evidence Explained website for guidance.

In her discussion of citing an Ancestry member tree, she suggests using Public Member Trees as the database title when citing trees on Ancestry.

That helped clarify the distinction. The database title identifies Ancestry's collection of public member trees, while the tree title identifies the particular family tree being cited.

Creating My Own Template

Once I understood the distinction, I realized that I could simplify the citation process.

Instead of entering the same information every time I cite an Ancestry tree, why not create a template that already contains that information?

I copied the RootsMagic 12 Family Trees, Documented template and modified my copy to create a generic template specifically for Ancestry Public Member Trees.

By incorporating the information that remains the same from one Ancestry tree to another, I eliminated some repetitive typing.

Now, when I need to cite an Ancestry Public Member Tree, I can select my customized template and enter the information specific to that tree and the particular information I consulted.

Not only does this save time, but it also helps me maintain consistency in my citations.

Why I Prefer Source Templates

One of the reasons I prefer RootsMagic's source templates is that they encourage me to think about the information needed to identify a source.

A free-form citation gives me the flexibility to type whatever I want. However, that flexibility also means I must remember which details to include and how to format them.

Templates provide a structure. They remind me to identify the source, its creator, where it can be found, and other relevant information.

By customizing those templates, I can make that structure fit the sources I use most frequently.

For example, when working with records from Ancestry, FamilySearch, newspapers, or county courthouses, much of the citation information may be repeated. A customized template can reduce that repetition while helping me create more consistent citations.

Of course, using a template doesn't guarantee that a citation is correct. I still need to understand the source and make sure I've entered enough information for someone else to locate it.

A Word About Ancestry Trees

Although I was using an Ancestry tree to document a death date, I recognize that another researcher's family tree is generally a clue rather than the best evidence for an event.

Whenever possible, I prefer to locate and cite the original record or another reliable source supporting the information.

However, when I use information from someone else's tree, I want my citation to accurately identify where I found it. A well-constructed citation also allows me to return to that tree to review its sources or investigate the information further.

Conclusion

This little experiment reminded me why I like RootsMagic's source templates.

I could have simply entered the citation using the existing template and moved on. Instead, I took a few minutes to understand the fields, consulted Evidence Explained, and created a customized template that I can use again and again.

That is one of the advantages of using genealogy software that allows us to customize our tools. We don't have to accept every built-in template exactly as it was designed. We can adapt those templates to fit our research practices.

And while creating a customized template takes a little extra time initially, that investment can pay off whenever I cite another source of the same type.

For me, the goal isn't just to create citations more quickly. It is to create citations that are consistent, informative, and useful when I return to my research months—or even years—later.

What about you? Do you use RootsMagic's built-in source templates, create your own, or prefer free-form citations? Have you found ways to customize RootsMagic to make your research more efficient?