Reuse existing information when it describes the material you actually consulted. RootsMagic separates sources, citations, and citation links so you can document several facts without creating unnecessary duplicates.
Decide what to reuse
Same source, same item: reuse the citation. If one household entry supports the names and ages of several family members, link that citation to the relevant facts for each person.
Same source, different item: create another citation under the source. Another page in a book needs its own details. Do not edit the first page's citation to stand for both pages.
Similar citation, different details: copy the citation, then correct the copy's details and filing name. This saves retyping while keeping the references separate.
Different source: create a new source, or copy a similar source and edit the copy. Check that you have the correct edition or collection before reusing an existing source.
Reuse through Cite existing
1.In Edit Person, open Sources for the person, family, or fact that needs the citation.
2.Choose Cite existing and select the source.
3.Select the saved citation that identifies the same item. Review its preview before confirming.
4.Check that the citation appears in that person's or fact's Sources list.
To cite another item from the source, select <<CREATE NEW CITATION>> instead and enter the new details. SourceWizard also offers reuse suggestions when the text you enter matches existing information.
Memorize and paste
1.Open a list containing the citation you want to use and select it.
2.Use the Memorize control to copy the citation for pasting.
3.Open Sources for the person, family, or fact that needs the citation and choose Paste.
4.Read the displayed citation to ensure that the correct one is memorized.
5.Choose Reuse citation to use the same citation again, or Paste copy to make a separate citation that you can change without changing the original.
6.If you pasted a copy, change its page or record details and name as needed. Check that the citation appears for the right person or fact.
Reuse citation means later changes to that citation affect all its uses. Paste copy means later changes to the copy's Citation Details do not change the original citation. Both still use the same Master Source, so correcting the book title or other source information changes it in both.
Copy from the Sources page
Select a source and choose Tools > Copy selected source to create a separate source to edit. To copy a citation, open its source's citation list, select the citation, and choose Tools > Copy selected citation. RootsMagic adds (copy) to the new record's name.
Select the copy, rename it, and correct the fields that differ before using it. A copy made on the Sources page must still be attached to the intended person or fact. Inspect its Used list rather than assuming the copy documents the same records as the original.
Add a citation to several people
On the Sources page, open the source's citations and select the citation. Choose Tools > Add this citation to multiple people. Mark the people who should receive it and complete the selection.
This adds a general citation to each selected person. It does not assign the citation to a particular Birth, Death, or other fact for each person. For fact-specific evidence, attach it to the appropriate facts individually.
Check links and quality
The citation's Used list shows everyone using it. Adding it to another fact does not make a new copy. Removing it from one fact is different from deleting the citation itself. Read the confirmation before deleting so you know which action you are taking.
Assess quality from the particular use in Edit Person. The same record may provide firsthand information for one fact and secondhand information for another. See Citation quality.
See Adding a citation for entering a reference, Editing a citation for correcting it or adding pictures and notes, and Merging Sources and Citations for combining duplicates.
