Adding Individuals -Filling out the New Individual Editor screen.

How do I add a new Individual?

When you add individuals, you often already know their relationship to a family member in your database.  Linking people together at the same time you enter personal information is useful and saves steps.  If you don't have any known relationships, then use the New Individual  option from the Add menu.  

There are many ways to get to the Edit New Individual Information form to add individuals to your database.  You can access this form the following ways:
  • New Individual will add a new individual without family links to others in the database.
  • Spouse will add a new individual linked as a spouse, or allow you to search existing individual and link them.
  • Child will give you the option to search for an existing individual to link as a child, or add a new individual.
  • Parents will give you the option to search for existing parents or add new individuals.
    •  NOTE: Fathers are always added before mothers with this option.   
Step 1. Gender:   Select from menu:  Unknown, Male or Female.

If you are adding parents or a spouse, the Gender field is already filled in for you.  Check to make sure you are adding the parent with that gender. 
NOTE: If the Gender is left as Unknown you will be unable to add a spouse or other family information for this individual.  Once an individual is married, their Gender is locked and can not be edited.

Step 2. Title: Is an Optional  field to enter Titles such as Mr., Mrs.,  Dr., etc.

Step 3. Given name(s): Enter the First and Middle name(s) for this individual if known.

This field will be Spell Checked against the information already in your database. If you are adding a name which has never been used in your database, click Add on the Spell Check prompt, which will pop up.

TIP: Alternate names should be entered after entering the rest of the information on this form. 
NOTE: To enter multiple names, such as nicknames or alternate spellings you can click  Add More Information button located at the bottom of the form and then input into the second line in Name field.  Generally, alternate names are considered of secondary importantance and only show up on the Individual Information Viewer. 

Step 4. Surname: Enter or edit the Surname, last name, or family name of this individual if known.

    This field will be Spell Checked against the information already in your database. If you are adding a name which has never been used in your database, click Add on the Spell Check prompt which will pop up.

      See TIP in Step 3. Given Names for Alternate Names

Step 5. Suffix: Add a name suffix such as Jr., Sr., III if appropriate.

Step 6. Birth Information:   Select Birth or Christianing

NOTE: Although we support unlimited Birth Events, you can only enter one birth event on this screen.  If you have multiple sets of birth or christening information, add them in the Individual Information Viewer-- Event Field by clicking  Add More Information  after entering the rest of the information on this form. 

Date:  Dates can be entered as 10 Apr 1973 or April 10, 1973 or 4/10/1973.
TIP: There are several words that are accepted in the Date such as about, between, before or after.  For more information on dates see Dates.

Place: Enter comma separated place name in City, County or Parish, State or Providence, Country format.  

NOTE: Some countries call their municipal communities by different names.  Always record Place information from smallest locality up through country name.
See Note for Birth Information.

Source: Select a source or click New Source for the birth information you have entered. 

TIP: Typing the source name will trigger an automatic search for that source. If the source is not listed in the drop down list, click the New Source button to add a source.

Page: Add the page number or URL for the Source you are referencing.

NOTE: This entry area is grayed out until a Source is selected. 

Quality: How reliable is your source for this data?

NOTE: This entry area is grayed out until a Source is selected. For more information on which choice to select see Quality.

Step 7.  Death Information   Select Death or Burial

TIP: Although we support unlimited Death Events, you can only enter one Death event on this screen.  If you have multiple sets of Death or burial information, add them in the Individual Editor-- Event Field by clicking  Add More Information  after entering the rest of the information on this form. 

Fill out the information fields in the same format as Birth Information field.  See Above for more info.

Step 8. Click OK to save and close,  Add More Information to add other Events, or Cancel to Not Save Info.

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