Keith, I can give you a few replies if you don't mind my chipping in.

The reason we asked for your immediate ancestry was because recent information (later than the 1901 census) is very difficult to obtain freely, and is needed to link you in to the earlier families. People usually only need details of the earliest ancestor you are certain about, and whose birth, marriage, and death certs you have - so long as that takes you back to 1900. - No particular protocol.

You could always write gt gt g'father (or 6-gt) etc., but I don't think there is any set abbrev.

The refs (District, Vol. Page) which Philip gave you for civil regt certs are from the old St Cath's House indexes (old General Register Office) which are available at the current GRO, or on film at genealogical or large public libraries, or online through Ancestry.co.uk or Ancestry.com, or with luck from http://www.freebmd.org.uk/
I suggest you also join your local Family History Society, especially if they have a library. They will also help with genealogical questions.

I personally don't like family trees on software programmes which force you to follow their terminology (birth when it is a bapt., etc.) and often don't record full sources. I find it eye-glazing trying to follow the lists of names and dates, and wonder where the proof is, and how much is just a guess. Even the best ones seem to impose limitations.
- But there will be many people who can give you this info. There is a free one (Personal Ancestral File) through FamilySearch.org.
Alternatively you could write out the information on Word or WordPerfect etc. showing where records have come from, and recording how you proved each generation as you go, and using any arrangement you like. I use this method. See: http://www.isle-of-man.com/cgi-bin/interests/genealogy/bulletin/index.pl?noframes;read=519378
It takes time but at least it shows you where the holes are.

Sue