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Archiver > ABERDEEN > 2001-05 > 0988964870


From: Gavin Bell <>
Subject: Re:[ABERDEEN]GEDCOM files
Date: Fri, 04 May 2001 09:27:50 +0100


Glen wrote:

> The purpose of the GEDCOM file format is to make it irrelevant which
> program you use. It is used to exchange information in a manner
> which is read and write-able by all kinds of programs.

That's the theory, Glen, but many of us have found that it breaks down
in practice. The reason is that the GEDCOM format is actually not very
precise - there are often multiple ways in which the same data can be
encoded. I have found serious inconsistencies in GEDCOMs written by
different generations of the same Family History program. If you
restrict GEDCOM export to the basic "who married whom and who were their
children" that will probably transfer with least disruption, but Notes,
Source info, Aliases, Residences, Occupations and such like are, in my
experience, likely to go missing in transit.


Gavin Bell

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