WEBSITE BEING UPDATED

5th August 2007
The website update is going well.

On the 'visual side' - its all going a rich burgandy colour (depends on your computer graphics card I suppose). We still have a few pages to change over and link in properly - but the vast majority is done now.

There are many NEW features available that are built into the database program - but we need to add a bit more content yet (documents / photos / histories etc) before we can demonstrate its full potential. It all takes time but like Xmas - its coming soon.

It will take a few weeks to get there - as our main priority at the moment is getting the database fully loaded with all the family trees again.

THE DATABASE

The database is now 95% loaded again.

The main time constraint was taking the one old HUGE gedcom and splitting it up into individual family trees. You will now be more easily able who is actually in YOUR family tree if/when you find it.

On the new update - we have seperated all the families into their own specific tree, so you will notice that each family now has its own Tree Number. It actually makes identifying people in that family a lot easier.

To date, there are about 300 distinct family trees in the database.

The next step - is to upload all the extra trees (mainly american ones) that are from the website www.jamesflack.com. Denise and I agree there is little point having 2 major searchable databases that are 70% the same (but 30% different). Much better for YOU to have one common point for all Flack Genealogy researching, and much better for us (once its done) to avoid all the duplication of our own effort.

So just keep watching (and visiting).

The MESSAGE BOARD

During the site revamp the message board got updated again. WE intend to use it a lot more than we previously have (yes Even More).

After the initial database upload we will use the messageboard to 'announce' new trees we add - or any major updates. If your a registered user (with a valid email address) then maybe every 2 months we will send a newsletter out just to give a quick update of whats been added in case you haven't looked recently (tut tut).

So please keep using the website, the database and the messageboard and I'm sure we will ALL benefit in our research.

Jim Flack
5th August 2007

GETTING THE BEST FROM THE DATABASE

This fully searchable dynamic database is the powerhouse of this website. Some of you may be thinking that for a genealogy site this one is a bit lacking in Family Trees. That is because the software used here (The Next Generation) dynamically generates all the trees and reports you could wish for, automatically updating the pages as the information in the underlying database changes. You always see the most up to date information!

You can jump right in with a simple name search, but be warned that searching for a common name such as Mary or John Flack will bring up over 400 entries! Simply following the link on any of the names in the list that is generated will take you to that individual's details. This simple search works on a "contains" basis so, for example, searching for the forename "John" will bring up John as a first or middle name; "Ann" will also give you "Anne", "Annabel", "Mary Ann" etc.

For a more specific query there is the Advanced Search that allows to you search by dates, date ranges, place names, use Soundex matching, include the spouse's name in the list generated and more - great fun and very powerful.

Once you have selected an individual you can display their information as part of an Individual fact sheet or switch to a Pedigree or Descendancy view whichever suits you. Clicking on a Group Sheet ID Number will give you the Family Group report. In any of these views you can follow the links through earlier and later generations: the pages are all dynamic so feel free to roam.

There is also a Surname search. It comes as no surprise that FLACK heads the "25 most popular surname" list, but we have quite a bit of information on related families that hopefully will be of use to you.

While the information in this database comes directly from our personal Flack databases, it is in reality YOUR database as it incorporates not only our own research findings but also information from the many people Jim and I have been in correspondence with over the years, as well as information published on the internet and elsewhere. We have endeavoured to acknowledge your contributions wherever possible but our apologies where we have failed to do so. We are always very grateful for your input.

Where no country is given in place names this may be assumed to be England, UK, for no other reason than that this was where our research started and at the time we did not envision it extending beyond the shores of this soggy island. Places in the rest of the world should be given in full and in time we will try to "globalise" all place names. We have also tried to avoid abbreviations in place names wherever possible, as people outside of the local area may not be familiar with these, but please point out any that persist!

We have done our best to ensure that the information has been entered accurately and have cross-checked it wherever possible, but as always if you spot any errors or omissions please let us know and we will correct them. Our database is by no means complete: there is still a lot of tidying up to do, particularly on the sources and notes side, and more information about existing and new individuals is being added daily. This site's database will be regularly updated with these modifications. If you have any further information or queries about your Flack ancestors, or indeed on any Flacks anywhere, then we will be pleased to hear from you.

Denise Carr

If you have any questions or comments about the information on this site, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.