Save As\u2026<\/strong> and give the new file a different name<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThis is especially useful if you work on several big projects at once. Each project then has its own planner file, with its own Dashboard, Research Log, Sources and To-Do list, instead of everything being mixed together.<\/p>\n
Once it\u2019s open (in either program), you\u2019ll see several tabs at the bottom:
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ScreenShot084.jpg?resize=756%2C62&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
\nThe Dashboard: your front page<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ScreenShot083.jpg?resize=596%2C299&ssl=1\")
When you open the file, you land on the Dashboard<\/strong> sheet. Think of it as the cover and table of contents of a paper research notebook.<\/p>\nThe Dashboard gives you:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
A title and subtitle<\/strong> for the planner<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
A \u201cStart here\u201d<\/strong> panel explaining the first steps<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
A \u201cCurrent focus\u201d<\/strong> panel suggesting how to filter and prioritize your work<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
A \u201cQuick links\u201d<\/strong> area with clickable links to:<\/p>\n\n- \n
Research Log<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
People<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Repositories<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Sources<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
To-Do<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
You can always click back to the Dashboard to re-orient yourself, especially if you duplicate the file for different projects. It\u2019s a simple way to keep the planner feeling like one coherent tool, not just a collection of sheets.<\/p>\n
\nThe Instructions tab: start here<\/h3>\n
The Instructions<\/strong> tab is a short \u201chow to use this file\u201d guide built right into the planner. It explains:<\/p>\n\n- \n
Where to start (the Research Log<\/strong> tab)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
A suggested workflow<\/strong> (from question \u2192 search \u2192 source \u2192 next steps)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
What each tab is for<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
How to work with the file in Google Sheets or Excel<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you ever forget how something was meant to be used, this tab is your built-in reminder.<\/p>\n
\nThe heart of the planner: the Research Log<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ScreenShot075.jpg?resize=731%2C231&ssl=1\")
The Research Log<\/strong> is the main tab you will use.
Here, each row<\/strong> is one focused research question.<\/p>\nTypical columns include:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
ID<\/strong> \u2013 a simple code like RL-001<\/code> to keep things organized<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Research question \/ objective<\/strong> \u2013 what you are trying to find<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Person(s) \/ family<\/strong> \u2013 who the question is about<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Location<\/strong> \u2013 farm, parish, county, country<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Record type<\/strong> \u2013 census, church book, probate, bygdebok, etc.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Repository \/ website<\/strong> \u2013 where you will search (e.g. Digitalarkivet)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Planned search<\/strong> \u2013 how you plan to search before you start<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Result summary<\/strong> \u2013 what you actually found<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Conclusion \/ next steps<\/strong> \u2013 what this means and what to do next<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Status<\/strong> \u2013 planned<\/code>, in progress<\/code>, done<\/code>, or on hold<\/code> (with a drop-down list)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe top row is frozen and formatted, and filters are already turned on, so you can:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Filter by Status<\/strong> to see only unfinished work<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Filter by Person<\/strong> or Location<\/strong> when you\u2019re revisiting a branch of the family<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Sort by Date worked<\/strong> to see what you\u2019ve done recently<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nExample: researching a baptism<\/h4>\n
A typical row might look like this:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Research question:<\/strong> Find baptism for Ole Olsen, born c. 1823 in Ve\u00f8y.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Person(s) \/ family:<\/strong> Ole Olsen, Bergsvik farm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Location:<\/strong> Bergsvik, Ve\u00f8y, Romsdal, Norway<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Record type:<\/strong> Parish register \u2013 baptisms<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Time period:<\/strong> 1820\u20131825<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Repository \/ website:<\/strong> Digitalarkivet<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Planned search:<\/strong> Check Ve\u00f8y parish baptisms for all children named Ole around 1823.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Result summary:<\/strong> Found baptism 10 Aug 1822, parents Ole Larsen and Marit Olsdatter, Bergsvik.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Conclusion \/ next steps:<\/strong> Attach source, check siblings 1818\u20131830, verify farm in later census.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Status:<\/strong> done<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIn the template, I\u2019ve included a worked example like this, which you can overwrite or copy when you start.<\/p>\n
\nThe People tab: keeping track of individuals<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ScreenShot079.jpg?resize=800%2C201&ssl=1\")
The People<\/strong> tab is a simple index of individuals tied to your research.<\/p>\nEach row is one person, with columns such as:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Person ID<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Full name<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Alternative spellings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Key life events (birth, baptism, marriage, death, burial)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Main farm(s) or residences<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Notes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Related Research Log ID(s)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Source ID(s)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This tab does not<\/strong> replace your family tree program. Instead, it serves as a bridge between:<\/p>\n\n- \n
The questions you log in the Research Log<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
The records you index in the Sources<\/strong> tab<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nOver time, this becomes a quick reference for \u201cwho have I already worked on in depth, and what sources support my conclusions?\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe Repositories tab: where you actually search<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ScreenShot080.jpg?resize=800%2C307&ssl=1\")
The Repositories<\/strong> tab is a small but useful list of places you search regularly:<\/p>\n\n- \n
Archives<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Libraries<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Websites (Digitalarkivet, ArkivDigital, Ancestry, MyHeritage, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Typical columns:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Repo ID<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Name<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Type (archive, library, website\u2026)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Country \/ region<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
URL<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Notes (for example \u201cparish registers for Ve\u00f8y, censuses, probate\u2026\u201d)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When filling in your Research Log<\/strong>, you can refer to these repository names or IDs. This helps you see at a glance which archives and sites you\u2019re using most, and where you might still have unexplored collections.<\/p>\n
\nThe Sources tab: your source index<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ScreenShot081.jpg?resize=800%2C276&ssl=1\")
The Sources<\/strong> tab is your central source index<\/strong>. Here you record each source you actually consult.<\/p>\nColumns include:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Source ID (e.g. S-045<\/code>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Type (church book, census, probate, bygdebok, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Title \/ description<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Jurisdiction (parish, county, country)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Year(s)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Call number or archive reference<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
URL<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Repository ID<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Persons \/ families mentioned<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Citation (how you would cite this)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Notes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When you complete a search in the Research Log<\/strong>, you can:<\/p>\n\n- \n
Add a new line in the Sources<\/strong> tab with a new Source ID<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Copy that Source ID back into the Source ID(s)<\/strong> column of your Research Log row<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nStep by step, you\u2019re building exactly what genealogical standards have always recommended:
a research log and a proper source list to support your conclusions.<\/p>\n
\nThe To-Do tab: your ongoing task list<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ScreenShot082.jpg?resize=800%2C291&ssl=1\")
The To-Do<\/strong> tab is a simple task manager for your genealogy projects.<\/p>\nEach row is a task, with columns such as:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Task ID<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Task description<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Person \/ family<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Priority (High \/ Medium \/ Low \u2013 with a drop-down)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Category (lookup, analysis, writing, organizing, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Repository \/ website<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Due date<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Date completed<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Related Research Log ID<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Notes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Some typical tasks:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
\u201cCheck probate for Bergsvik farms 1820\u20131850\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
\u201cCompare 1865 and 1875 census entries for the same family\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
\u201cTranscribe and translate a difficult burial entry\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Before you visit an archive or log into a subscription site, filter your To-Do<\/strong> list by:<\/p>\n\n- \n
Repository \/ website<\/strong> \u2013 to see everything you planned to do there<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Priority<\/strong> \u2013 to tackle the most important work first<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nA suggested workflow<\/h3>\n
You can of course adapt the planner to your own habits, but here is a simple, traditional workflow:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Start with a question<\/strong>
Go to the Research Log<\/strong> and write a clear research question.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Plan before you click<\/strong>
Still in the Research Log, fill in the repository<\/strong> and record type<\/strong>, and write a short Planned search<\/strong>. This forces you to think before you dive into the records.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n