Genealogy Chat

Because I am one of those people who can't resist following a trail my tree has grown to over 14000 people. I am not a name collector - although many of the connections are by marriage I pretty well know who and where they are. I have my tree on here with the intention that it can be used to help others, although I seldom open it to viewers, preferring to send files by email. I would average about 8 to 10 enquiries a day and with the advent of hot matches the number is increasing. I try to respond within 24 hours. My problem is that I am going to be away from my computer for several weeks and it is going to get out of hand when I return. I have thought of removing my tree for a petriod, but that means that people may not find someone they desperately need! The alternative would be to not reply to anny messages (as well as having to delete pages of contacts!!) Is there any other way?? Peter

Hi I would export your tree while you are away, just leave yourself in the tree, then when you get back import it again Sue

Would the hotmatches start at the beginning of the alphabet again if the tree was deleted then imported? Heather

I deleted my tree a couple of weeks ago but people are still contacting me through Hot matches, Hot matches don't delete when your tree does, you have to delete them one by one by one by one.... a very Tedius job. Oh and a lot of them come up as 'Errors' so I can't delete them? and GR are not doing anything about it to help me. Carrie

If its any help I noticed under tree owners name (while I was doing a name search ) that someone had put 'John away until 29th March'(or words to that efect!) (I think this must be added to first name as its first names under tree owners name.) I'm never too sure if you change your name it changes it for things already in the system or if theres a time delay. Might be worth having a play and seeing what happens.

I was just going to suggest changing your name to something like 'not available' when I saw Teresa had already suggested it! Kate.

Oh, and you can change your settings on GR so that they do not notify you by email when you get a message on here, so then if people don't get the idea from your change of name, and send you a message anyway, at least you will only have to go through messages in your GR inbox when you return rather than having loads of GR emails clogging up your actual email box. Kate.

Hi Just a suggestion here. My hubby travels a lot on business and whilst he is away, he sets up an 'auto reply' on his PC so that anyone that E-mails him gets an E-mail in reply to say he is away and his contact details for wherever he is. Could you do something similar saying when you are away, explain that things will get out of hand and ask them to pls E-mail again when you get back and then you can keep on top of things and noone gets ignored?? Hope that helps.

Thanks for suggestions. Unfortunately auto reply won't work, but have changed my name. Going grave hunting in England!! Peter

Happy hunting Peter......I love grave hunting but for me its too easy as the cemetries are all within 5-10min drive!! Clare