How can I quickly source 'events' in Mac Family Tree?

Question

I am using Mac Family Tree currently as my primary 'tree' database and my biggest issue with it is the ease of 'sourcing' events.

As of this post I am running version 7.3.2.(and as of 7.5 still exists)

My understanding of the way to 'source' something is:

1. Create the event under the person.

2. Go to the far right gear and click "Edit Event" (which takes you to another screen)

3. Scroll down to the Sources section of the event.

4. Click "Add New Source" or "Add Existing Source"
5. If you click "Add Existing Source" brings up a dialog where you can selective your repetitive sources like Census Years.
6. Then once added, you can enter the further details like page, etc..
7. If you are adding a new source it is another 2 screens deep you have to proceed, then return to step 5 and 6.
8. Once step 5 and 6 are complete you have to hit back to return to the person.
9. Repeat for each new event. So if adding occupation in year and place of residence for example for a person from a single census you have to repeat this twice.

I have read the manual, broke down and watched the YouTube video for an older verison, and even filed feature requests with the software. Per this generic review, adding sources is "easy", so I just want to make sure I am not missing something or if there is an easier way. My personal expectation is that I would be able to right click and add a source from the event in the person screen, just like add an existing location.

Adding a source from to the 'person' is a somewhat similar process, but it does not tie to the event just generically to the person. I am a previous user of Family Tree Maker it was SO much easier on it so I hope I am just missing something.

Is there a way to source an event within a person Mac Family Tree from the person screen?

Answer 1

My posting summarizes improvements from version 7.6 to 8.0 on this issue:

Version 7.6. brings the following improvements:

• The window listing sources is broader.
• Sources for an event are indicated in a new column with a book symbol in the person view. Clicking this symbol shows a list of attached sources. However, you can’t add new or existing sources this way.
• You can copy source citations and also paste them. Copying is possible from the source section of an event, after clicking the gear wheel symbol on the right. Pasting is possible from the same menu in the source section and the event listing in the person view.

Limitations include missing keyboard shortcuts and adding sources directly from the person screen.

Their release notes for MacFamilyTree 7.6: Managing your sources becomes even more versatile and functional in MacFamilyTree 7.6. Add notes to source citations, rate the quality and evidence of a source, or browse your sources by using the much-improved source overview. See all sources attached to family or person events at a glance. You can also copy and paste source citations if you want to use them for multiple entries.

With version 8.0 you can add sources from the interactive tree. You can also click on the source column introduced earlier to see a list of attached sources and add existing sources from there. The window listing sources gained several features: sorting functionality, better display of source information like dates, thumbnails for attached images, displays tags, works with smart searches now (e.g. "all sources containing census").

There is still no way to use keyboard shortcuts to speed things up.