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Archiver > ROOTSMAGIC-USERS > 2005-02 > 1107906823


From: Tom Cloud <>
Subject: genealogy databases in html / SML -- [was [RMagic] RM and FTM
Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2005 17:53:43 -0600
References: <00a701c50b98$b8e001f0$6601a8c0@jimsbbb><NFBBJHDJKDCMKDNEMMCAAEHLHOAA.enorton@twcny.rr.com>
In-Reply-To: <NFBBJHDJKDCMKDNEMMCAAEHLHOAA.enorton@twcny.rr.com>


sorry, not following the thread, but couldn't help notice this
messagee ... I regularly massage my data in VFP and I detest gedcom.
It is encouraging to me to see that the next gedcom standard is
(I think) XML.

For those of us placing our data on the web, having it maintained
in an html or xml format 'could' alleviate some problems (like not
having links be rendered properly, etc). Not being able to put
leading spaces on paragraphs, or non-breaking spaces ( &nbsp; )
is annoying at the least.

A server-side subset of RM would make me ecstatic! (also, some
means of referencing DNA data, which is rapidly becoming the new rage.)


At 05:30 PM 2/8/2005, you wrote:
>Jim,
>I understand your problem with data transfer between programs when acting as
>a repository for multiple-users. But as you can see, GEDCOM isn't a solution
>to your problem. It's just a readily available option. Data availability is
>one of the issues I have with some genealogy programs as opposed to RM.
>Using proprietary data structures(as FTM does) makes the GEDCOM interaction
>almost mandatory for data transfer. However, I can go from Legacy to RM and
>back again with no problem and no GEDCOM. Legacy uses Access DB and RM is
>FoxPro. I eliminate the middle man by mapping a field to field conversion.
>Using GEDCOM as a middleman for import/export is just like opening a word
>document and saving as ascii text to bring it into another app. Word has a
>few more options than that.
>It would be akin to having an option under RM File|Import that allowed you
>to select from various programs. Unfortunately, that would require a working
>knowledge of their structures. The Master Genealogist website has an SDK
>that allows for import from FTM I don't know if it can write to one. I used
>to work writing code for data conversions and performing conversions with
>off the shelf tools. Often times having to convert from one to another with
>multiple intermediate formats along the way. Like wanting to go from FTM to
>RM but having to make a Generations file in between.
>Individual users shouldn't need to use GEDCOM files for their own work. (I
>recall a list discussion on backups made by exporting to GEDCOM files
>instead of using the built in Backup function.) And multi-users would be
>better off sticking to a non-proprietary data structure. Hence, my push to
>get everyone I know using RM. The next step for central repositiories would
>be to find a tool that does Genealogical Database Conversions. That too,
>could be RM. But it is quite a bit of research/work for the amount of use it
>would see and other features would definitely take precedence. Should we ask
>Bruce to supply a hook into the RM program and a tiny SDK info package and
>see if some of the coders on the list would like to create an Import/Export
>filter add-on, in effect removing the need for GEDCOM and its inherent
>instability?
>
>My original statement ---
>> (any Genealogy program) should be used with as little interaction
>> with GEDCOM files as possible.
>--- still stands, unfortunately for you, as a Central Site, 'little...as
>possible' means persistantly. Your ideal situation would be as few formats
>used as possible by your users, preferably non-proprietary, and a central
>program that can import and export directly to and from those formats
>avoiding the middle step of a GEDCOM.
>
>I'll do some investigation into various conversion tools (like DataJunction)
>to see if there is hope in the third party realm. If I find something, I'll
>pass it along.
>
>Eric
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jim Winfrey [mailto:]
>Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 10:38 AM
>To:
>Subject: Re: [RMagic] RM and FTM
>
>
>Eric,
>
>I wish it was as simple as what you stated. Some of us act as repositories
>for groups of researchers and have to be able to import and export gedcoms
>to/from several genealogy programs. I use Rootsmagic for all this work
>because Bruce understands gedcom and has created the cleanest interface I've
>seen. Like Elizabeth said in an earlier post, gedcom is not a static tool.
>We, who use it, are forced to learn about and to figure out how to make it
>do what we want. The problem I've had with FTM is that RM can handle a FTM
>gedcom but FTM can't adequately handle gedcoms from any program I'm aware
>of. Evidence of this is that when you export media links via gedcom to FTM,
>they are always lost because FTM doesn't recognize links to external data
>period.
>
>Jim
>
>
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