tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post7913078252867508370..comments2023-05-27T16:19:09.069-04:00Comments on Reflections From the Fence: To MNU or NOT To MNU, That is the QuestionCarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11754623831815018924noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-73922684360569971962011-03-18T10:59:46.240-04:002011-03-18T10:59:46.240-04:00The surname Mnu runs root deep in my family tree. ...The surname Mnu runs root deep in my family tree. I love each and every one, and have been known to adopt orphan Mnus just for the heck of it. ツColoring Outside the Lineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15289093479063221765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-16161383455816765672011-03-14T20:21:07.484-04:002011-03-14T20:21:07.484-04:00Nolichucky, sounds like you are Barbara use a simi...Nolichucky, sounds like you are Barbara use a similar system, by the way, how many people in that Ancestor family?? (wink wink)<br /><br />Jo, that is lucky, I have surname envy! :-)<br /><br />hummer, thank you for the compliment, let us hear how your experimentation works out for you.<br /><br />Karen, yes, it works for me, but, I am learning stuff from this exchange. Tis a good thing.<br /><br />Apple, let's not start on FNU, GROAN.<br /><br />Becky and Linda, AHHH HAAA, you both have similar methods and both use Legacy. I use RM. And, an older version at that. Someday I will upgrade that, course, I have been saying that for a couple of years too. SIGHHH. Anywho, that sounds like a neato little trick Legacy is doing. See I did learn something today.<br /><br />And, to all, thanks for the comments. Great stuff here - - and, I am not talking about my stuff - - YOURS is great!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11754623831815018924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-31499899114850656352011-03-14T19:22:16.056-04:002011-03-14T19:22:16.056-04:00I'm a believer of using tools (including genea...I'm a believer of using tools (including genealogy programs) to make things work better/easier for me. If something works for you, I say go with it. <br /><br />I actually just leave the last name field blank when I don't know a maiden name. These ladies do all show up at the beginning of the index list but I have Legacy set to also display women in the index under their married name(s). There is an indicator on the index list so you can tell it's a married name and not a maiden name. It doesn't tell you that the maiden name is unknown like your setup does but I can create a list of all women with maiden name blank and married name equal to a specific name through Legacy's search feature in a matter of seconds.Linda McCauleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08402203453403304529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-49485033152351178562011-03-14T18:31:32.811-04:002011-03-14T18:31:32.811-04:00Carol - I don't use MNU, LNU, or underscores. ...Carol - I don't use MNU, LNU, or underscores. I just leave the last name blank! They all show up together in the index listing of Legacy. However, I do use the alternate name field in Legacy and use their married name there. That way they show up in the list under their husband's surname when the "show alternate names" option is selected.Becky Wisemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08074730861618500334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-48603692733034013862011-03-14T17:23:16.229-04:002011-03-14T17:23:16.229-04:00My file is full of LNU's and more than a few F...My file is full of LNU's and more than a few FNU's too. Wish I'd thought to put their married name in too! A list with 15 Mary LNU's is not helpful.Charley "Apple" Grabowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07193646109965731249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-25507852634743675422011-03-14T16:18:02.780-04:002011-03-14T16:18:02.780-04:00Carol, I say if it works for you that is what matt...Carol, I say if it works for you that is what matters. Judge not and all that stuff...Karen Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12624286643791601297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-80836835125585167132011-03-14T15:40:09.300-04:002011-03-14T15:40:09.300-04:00Love the blog and the comments. Will be trying so...Love the blog and the comments. Will be trying some of the suggestions.FranEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00727917499152200255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-90764244587396712872011-03-14T15:26:54.450-04:002011-03-14T15:26:54.450-04:00MNU - why didn't I think of that? Thanks Caro...MNU - why didn't I think of that? Thanks Carol :-) We're lucky in Scotland that most documents provide maiden names, though not always. Those Unknowns fairly add up though.... JoJohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04360272405643318813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-11416681984720065252011-03-14T14:06:10.233-04:002011-03-14T14:06:10.233-04:00I use something similar, though not MNU, so that I...I use something similar, though not MNU, so that I can easily identify which Elizabeth I'm looking for in my database. "Elizabeth /wife of John ANCESTOR/" sorts as Ancestor/ and is immediately linked to a specific spouse. Not pretty, and not something I like in published information but very helpful in day to day work. <br /><br />I do see real value in Russ's blanks for information other than names. Something to try going forward.Susan Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009218875010743399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-69336671759973410052011-03-14T13:11:39.810-04:002011-03-14T13:11:39.810-04:00Michelle, will be happy to have you join me down i...Michelle, will be happy to have you join me down in the dirt! LOL (By the way, is that Arizona dirt?? If so, watch out for rattlers and those chollas, eh?)<br /><br />I like Russ's idea a lot too, especially for printouts, and have been thinking of ways to incorporate his _____ into my work, have some ideas. Will be playing with them, yes I will!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11754623831815018924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-5768924322748444832011-03-14T12:58:24.907-04:002011-03-14T12:58:24.907-04:00I may have to lower myself to the dirt. One of the...I may have to lower myself to the dirt. One of the things that drives me crazy about my data base is the ? and blank last names that are sorted at the top. If only I had known way back when.<br /><br />I'm going to get down and dirty and try MNU. <br /><br />I see some real benefit's Russ's methodology too.Michelle Goodrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427355155193196767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-11740743282762446452011-03-14T11:27:04.236-04:002011-03-14T11:27:04.236-04:00MMM, make that clever Russ, pass the coffee please...MMM, make that clever Russ, pass the coffee please, sans cleaver - -Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11754623831815018924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-7591323404316424862011-03-14T11:22:11.502-04:002011-03-14T11:22:11.502-04:00Russ, thank you for reading and sharing your way o...Russ, thank you for reading and sharing your way of dealing with this problem. I can see the value of the _____ in a printed version. Cleaver - - <br /><br />Jennifer, it published earlier?? No surprise, I had a rash of fat fingered publications lately, cannot blame Blogger for my errors. SIGH. We shall have to compare lineages of our Knots gang, I'll just bet it is an example of one brother of three changing the spelling of his name so he is no longer confused with his uncle, eh??<br /><br />Lisa, You are welcome. Your gazillion Marys and Elizabeths are welcome too. I refuse to count my MNU's, hopefully it is not a gazillion, btw, how many IS that??<br /><br />Barbara, you have a Reflection family too?? Really, how cool is that?? (wink wink)Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11754623831815018924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-30729774415040920622011-03-14T10:26:35.215-04:002011-03-14T10:26:35.215-04:00I hate seeing a lot of "Unknowns" in the...I hate seeing a lot of "Unknowns" in the data base. It was interesting reading your method of dealing with them. My way is different, of course. I put Mary w/o John Reflection. That way, she says in the Reflection family and I know instantly her husband's name. Anything is better than just Unknown.Barbara Poolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07440544740334032378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-52993220346571443562011-03-14T09:52:27.772-04:002011-03-14T09:52:27.772-04:00Holy cow...or..err..SHEEP! Wish I'd thought of...Holy cow...or..err..SHEEP! Wish I'd thought of this 16 or so years ago Carol! I think it's brilliant! I have, at last count, over a gazillion Mary UNKNOWNs in my database and well over a gazillion with 'other' first names, half of them being Elizabeth. I may have to adopt this "frowned upon" practice and be hanged right along with you!Lisa Wallen Logsdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13003873811444854964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-52433875165526633652011-03-14T09:18:23.406-04:002011-03-14T09:18:23.406-04:00Dear Carol,
How interesting that you should repos...Dear Carol,<br /><br />How interesting that you should repost this today, when I just read your original of this post the other day. I don't currently use MNU, but may become a convert, because I definitely see the value in it when it comes to sorting. Above all, as you've said, it's your database, so you should work it as it works for you. <br /><br />By the way, looking forward to hearing about the history of Mr. Gotyourselfinknots. Wonder if he's related to my Mr. Knickersinaknot? <br /><br />Cheers :-) JenniferÉire Historianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588116386284997687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369519054620493278.post-67860661894257775632011-03-14T07:52:11.585-04:002011-03-14T07:52:11.585-04:00Carol,
I enjoy reading your Blog, and the graphic...Carol,<br /><br />I enjoy reading your Blog, and the graphics you use.<br /><br />I have a standard way that I handle Unknown Names, both Forenames and Surnames. After looking are Charts and Reports in my database and trying most of your examples, I have decided on using 5 Underscores. " _____ ".<br /><br />Reason: if readers see that in a Chart or Report and they know the answer, they will help me "fill in the blanks".<br /><br />Yup, I have a bunch of them, and I have a bunch of _____ _____ in my file. Usually, it is information from a Census Record where the Birth place is listed for a parent. I want to capture that bit of information.<br /><br />I did find your use of MNU quite helpful and will have to try that out. <br /><br />Thank you for your suggestion.<br /><br />RussCousin Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00326890362591254874noreply@blogger.com