Set Birth Order

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On this page: Description, Step by Step, How It Works

Description

Set Birth Order sets the Birth Order field using the sort dates from the primary birth-group event.

Many experienced TMG users advise against setting the birth order field because it overrides the sort order determined by the sort date set in the primary birth-group event. The downside of that approach is that Family Group Sheets show a "?" rather than the birth order number.

This function sets the birth order for full-siblings only; both parents must be the same, except in the case where one parent is not specified.

If any sibling does not have a primary birth-group event, or if the sort-date field is not set for any sibling, the program will skip the entire set.

Step by Step

  1. Choose Set Birth Order from the function tree.
  2. Set the Flag Filter, if desired. The filter is applied to the parent with the lower TMG ID; if that parent passes the filter, the program will attempt to set the birth order value for all of his or her children.
  3. Click the [Set Birth Order] button.

How It Works

The program inspects each person in TMG ID order. If a filter has been set, the program evaluates the filter before proceeding. For each person, the program finds all the co-parents (people with whom the person had children).

For each co-parent, the program loads the primary birth-group event sort date for each of their children. If any sibling does not have a primary birth-group event, or if the sort date is not set for such an event, the set of siblings is ignored.

For each complete set, the program sorts the children by the sort date. If the birth order field does not agree with the child's position in the sequence, the program updates the birth order field.

Then the program takes a well-deserved rest in the Caribbean, but computers do everything fairly quickly, even vacations, so you probably won't notice.