We'll explore new DNA tools, including (1) Ancestry Pro Tools, (2) What are the Odds Plus from DNAPainter, and (3) my Excel spreadsheet (or paper) family tree.
Together, these three tools make it easier to find unknown ancestors.
Ancestry Pro Tools predicts how your Shared Matches are Related to Each Other. If you're looking for an unknown ancestor, this can be tremendously helpful. You'll be able to create a tree linking together the unknown Shared Matches that might lead to your unknown ancestor.
DNAPainter's What are the Odds Plus is a tool that works with that tree created from the unknown Shared Matches. This tool will predict where you fit into the tree. Advantages of the Plus version include being able to use the age of mate of your unknown ancestor.
My Excel spreadsheet (or paper) family tree is a tool I use to assemble the family tree of the unknown Shared Matches.