Hosts Nicole and Diana discuss using Claude’s Custom Skills to automate genealogical report writing. Nicole begins by sharing her previous, challenging attempt to transform a Baldy Dyer research log spreadsheet into a research report using earlier Claude models. Diana provides an overview of Claude, noting its models (Haiku, Sonnet, Opus) and new features like Custom Skills, which are similar to Custom GPTs. Nicole explains that she set up a Custom Skill to convert spreadsheet files into research reports. The prompt instructs Claude to create a paragraph from each log row, describing the search and findings, and using the source citation as a markdown footnote.
Claude successfully generates a report based on Nicole’s Baldy Dyer research log. Nicole offers feedback to refine the skill. She asks Claude to synthesize the research results and comments into natural prose without making inferences, include direct quotes as block quotes, and handle negative search results more naturally. The hosts then review the report, noting its efficiency but also discussing a factual inconsistency the AI did not correlate—the conflict between the pre-existing objective’s death date for Baldy Dyer (20 Nov 1814) and the new finding (February 1815). Nicole questions how much analysis and correlation she can entrust to the AI. Listeners learn how to use Claude’s Custom Skills to generate genealogical research reports from a research log.
This summary was generated by Google Gemini.
Links
From Spreadsheet to Research Report: Using Claude’s Custom Skills for Genealogy – https://familylocket.com/from-spreadsheet-to-research-report-using-claudes-custom-skills-for-genealogy/
How to create custom Skills – https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12512198-how-to-create-custom-skills
Sponsor – Newspapers.com
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Research Like a Pro Resources
Airtable Universe – Nicole’s Airtable Templates – https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer
Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference – by Nicole Dyer – https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/
Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com – https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d
Research Like a Pro with AI Workbook – Second Edition (eBook) – https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-ai-workbook-second-edition-ebook/
14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook – digital – https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound – https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/
Research Like a Pro Webinar Series – monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence – https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/
Research Like a Pro eCourse – independent study course – https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/
RLP Study Group – upcoming group and email notification list – https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/
Research Like a Pro Institute Courses – https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/
Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources
Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin – https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx
Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse – independent study course – https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/
RLP with DNA Study Group – upcoming group and email notification list – https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/
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