Sources document where your information came from. In RootsMagic 12, SourceWizard helps you identify an appropriate source type, enter a source and citation, or reuse information already in your tree.

Start documenting a fact

Open the person in Edit Person, select the fact, and open its Sources list. Choose Add with SourceWizard for guided entry, Add new to choose a source type manually, or Cite existing to use a saved source and citation. After completing the entry, check that the citation appears for the intended fact.

See SourceWizard for help choosing and entering a source, or Adding a citation to add evidence to a person or fact.

Understand the three parts

A source describes the material as a whole, such as a book. A citation identifies a particular part, such as a page or entry. A citation link connects that citation to a person, family, or fact. One source can have many citations, and one citation can support several facts.

For example, one book might have separate citations for pages 24 and 91. If page 24 supplies both a birth date and the parents' names, reuse that citation for the relevant facts. Create a different citation for page 91. See Using Sources and Citations for examples of reuse and copying.

Choose your task

Add a source — create the source and its initial citation with SourceWizard or manual entry.

Add or attach a citation — document a person, family, or fact, or create another citation under an existing source.

Edit a source — correct information such as a book title in every citation of that source.

Edit a citation — change a specific reference, notes, attachments, or names, and understand which uses will change.

Assess citation quality — evaluate the evidence for a particular use.

Manage the Sources page — browse sources, citations, and their uses throughout the database.

Work with source templates, convert a source, or merge duplicates — manage existing source information.