Best way to save research?

What is the best method to save research looking ahead.
I am hoping the research I am carrying out into relatives WW2 histories will pass down the years but how to save it?
The best way I imagine would be in book form but I do not have the time or cash to print the amount of copies I would need .
DVD, Memory Stick, Cloud?
All I imagine will become obsolete in time, but do the dvd's /memory sticks deteriorate with time .
Are there any storage rules to protect them?

 

Do not rely on either DVD or memory sticks for long-term storage.

Ideally keep multiple copies on different media, in different locations and renew periodically. The same with the file format it is saved in also.

DVDs can oxidise in a couple of years, memory cards can start losing data in a few months if not powered, same with SSDs. Hard drives if they last the first year tend to hang on for four or five years.

Even with cloud storage you're at the business whims of the company offering the storage (see recent Photobucket debacle).

Magnetic tape is used in industry for long-term storage but not so practical for home users.

Stick it online is a good option.

Lee

 

Gosh! One of the great imponderables. Obviously my personal view, but I would save all archive files as PDF unless it's a spreadsheet and even then a PDF version could come in handy. Why PDF?.....because it seems, to me at least, to be universal and long lasting. No point storing a file if it can't be opened!

You could also save in multiple formats - hard drive, memory stick, DVD or the Cloud. The latter, while costing money for an 'assured' service, should always be there barring a nuclear war and, in that case, I think 'where did I put Uncle Jim's diary' would not exactly be at the top of the to-do list!

I would definitely say 'no' to a paper version for the reasons you have already stated plus the fact that archive quality paper and inks are not generally available: typical inkjet ink fades anyway and it's too inflexible as a medium. Looking to the future, I guess self-publishing could become more competitive if you prefer a hard copy real book.

Adding to my comments about PDF, it's a sad reflection that lots of things have already been lost....if only I could open those old Lotus Symphony Amipro word processing documents and As Easy As 123 spreadsheets that I've only stored on 5.25 inch floppy disks (bit of a porky pie that one but I'm sure you get my message). At least I still have my old MSDOS computer.........just need to sort the corroded battery connections that I discovered a few weeks ago (that one is true!).

 

Suggest that some family tree sites may help:
The Scary Truth About The Future of Your Genealogy Data and How You Can Preserve and Protect It
How to Organize Your Family History Archive - Family Tree

 

Have look on line there is a pcworld article on it

At the moment i would suggest keep at least 3 copies on either hdd ,ssd or mem stick
Also burn data on disk
Just make sure you backup regularly
Dependant on the volume of data you could always print it out stick it in a black sack to keep the light out
Find a younger member of the family to get involved as a future guardian
Storage media like the above is so cheap so if you are worried about integrity of data change each year

I really would not worry about it to much if you have multiple copies and backup regulary it will all be fine

Regards
Clive

 

Just to add, if you do make hard copies, it is recommended to use acid free paper and folders:-
My History - Family Tree Software & Genealogy Supplies Specialist
Select 'Archive Storage and Preservation', top left.

 

I like this component Clive. I'm currently speaking with my eldest daughter to take on this role going forward.

 

Redtop

You are right to be concerned and now is the time to formulate whatever plans you need to make.
Many years ago i decided to give my army album and a copy of my memoirs to the Imperial War Museum in London and, in addition, I constantly update the info I have given to my daughters.
At the risk of stating the obvious the columns of this forum are also a means of storing info, particularly the photo galleries.

Good luck with your plans.

Lest we forget

Ron

 

Di

Didn't know about "People of WW2", it would have been an excellent resource if used properly.

Best regards

Ron

 

I know just what you mean about the long term saving of important collections of information. Many years ago, when computing first became a hobby, I used a commercial program for family history research, inputting merrily away for some years. I was using my first computer, which was a laptop. Then after a few years, I bought a new laptop. I could not transfer the old family history program over. I thought I would buy an updated version of the old program but lo and behold, the company no longer produced them.
Luckily. I kept a printed copy of everything I had put onto the computer. All I had lost was my time.
I never bought another program, deciding that old methods were the best.
So we all learn lessons, but even paper copies have their weaknesses - fire and other disasters can wipe them out too.

 

Good morning and happy new year.

how do you record/document or save your work?
Just did a quick search but can't seem to find the right words/tags so if I ask a question already asked, please redirect me to where I can find it.

So, how do you save work, electronically that is; just folders with photos, pdfs, word documents and spreadsheets et al on a hard drive (backed up of course), or do you use any specific software. Been pondering this for some time as I have now a lot of scattered e docs on my pc - whilst I do my best to reference tables in my word doc, sometimes finding them id difficult.

It was suggested to me that, as I have Family Historian genealogy software to use that; have either my serving relative/s in a separate Gedcom file/s as this type of software is designed to handle evidence, sourcing, media, citations etc. very well. I intend to try that - one person at a time (I think FH will link people from different files).

Then there's the suspect evidence, or that one has saved to test later - any ideas or just a 'Research Folder'

Grateful for any suggestions.

Paul

 

Paul just shove it on a SSD usb drive cheap as chips
Use a couple and keep backups

Name your folders to suit your needs

 

Out of interest. What is the lifespan of information recorded on a USB before it should be re-recorded?

Tim

 

With the change of technology, I buy new drives every couple of years. As Clive said, they are cheep as chips and getting smaller, more capacity.

 

Post it on WW2Talk

 

Should last you 10 years but as they are so cheap buy new as you see fit

 

A bit simplistic I'm sorry to say. Firstly regardless of the media used one should keep an eye open for changes in format - for example some early versions of MS Word, Excel and Power Point are no longer readable by the latest versions. No USB stick is 100% reliable but the better quality (usually more expensive) are closer but don't rely on a single copy on a single stick. One day USB sticks will be obsolete - I have all sorts of storage media for which readers are no longer available - but who knows if this will be next year or in five years (let alone ten) time? The safest thing is to make many copies on different media and recopy at regular intervals - and when you make a back up - check that it is readable!

 

Life is never simple but we manage

 

" Enter a simple search string and then click 'search'."

In other words, think of a name for a computer program

If you enter "Sinclair", as in "Spectrum", you get "TAP", but not if you enter ZX81.

"Description: TAP is a tape image format supported by emulators of ZX spectrum computers. It is distinct from the Commodore 64 Tap file."

Enter Betamax or VHS and nothing. Enter "Word", "Photo Shop", "Word Perfect" and lots of histories of formats.

"Cave painting" ?

Try it here, it's on the Kew National Archives website:

PRONOM | Simple Search