Topic: ~ Genealogy Data Communication -- GEDCOM ~
Q. ---> I am interested in learning more about GECOM and its use in genealogy research. Where do I start?
A. ---> What is GEDCOM? by: James Bryan "Beau" Sharbrough President, GENTECH
"This material was originally published in the Exchange, March, 2000 Issue. It is the monthly newsletter of the Genealogy Exchange & Surname Registry (http://www.genexchange.org); and is republished here with permission of either the Exchange, or the author."
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Some Background Information on the author --
Beau Sharbrough is a programming consultant, lecturer, Founder of the FGS
web site, the GENTECH web site, and the Lexicon Working Group. He is currently the President of GENTECH, and lives near Dallas, Texas.
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What is GEDCOM?
1. A Specification.
2. A Type of File.
THE SPEC
GEDCOM is an acronym for Genealogy Data Communication. Devised and
copyrighted by the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ
of
Latter Day Saints, it is a specification for sixty or so forms, one of which
is for genealogical data. It consists of rules for encoding information
about individuals, relations, and events into a structured list. The
sequence
of entries, like old fashioned computer punch cards, related the items being
read to the items before them. The current version is 5.5, but that's
subject to change. Almost every Genealogical Computer Program (GCP)
available at present allows the export and import of information in forms
referred to as "GEDCOM files." Not all GCPs export files that conform to
the current version of the spec.
WHY DO WE USE IT? Data Exchange
Most GCPs store information in their own proprietary data structures. As a
result, very few GCPs can read the data files made by other GCPs. The
development of GEDCOM addressed this situation. It allowed different GCPs
to translate their information from their own data structures into GEDCOM
format, which could be read in turn by the receiving GCP, and converted into
the "target" GCP's own format.
The primary purpose of GEDCOM use is to exchange information with other
genealogists. It is possible to receive a disk from a friend or relative
that contains their research, and to print it
out and compare it with your own information.
HOW CAN WE USE IT?
Beyond simple data exchange, it is also possible to document your sources in
the GEDCOM structures. Be warned that there is more than one version of the
spec in use. Despite that warning, most programs will import names, births,
marriages, deaths, burials, and relationships without problems. Sources do
not always make it through exchanges.
As we said last year, no program at present offers a good merge for two data
sets. You should plan to keep them separate for the time being. There is a
problem recognizing individuals, sources, dates and places. When a
reasonable method of exchange is adopted, the amount and quality of data
that can be exchanged will grow very quickly.
WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
Basically, there are none. Many people are converting various forms of
family history information into HTML for display on the World Wide Web
(WWW), but there is nothing that resembles a
standard out there this year. The GENTECH Lexicon Working Group is currently
working on an Extensible Markup Language (XML) version of marking up web
pages that would facilitate exchange.
THE FILE
A file containing family history data that claims to conform to some version
of GEDCOM. Click here for an example.
FILE NOTES
Note that each line consists of a LEVEL, a TAG, and a value.
Also note that some lines contain "pointers" that are marked up
with @ symbols. Each Level 1 line refers to the Level 0 line
before it. Level 2 lines refer to previous Level 1 lines, and so
on. TAGS come from lists in the spec, and some of the more
obvious ones are:
INDI Individual
NAME Name
PLAC Place
HUSB Husband
BIRT Birth
FAMS Spouse in family @Fx@
FAMC Child in family @Fx@
The file basically consists of 6 sections: Header, Submitter, Individuals,
Families, Sources, and a Trailer. They are the "LEVEL 0 TAGS." References
to pointers are used with individuals, families, and sources.
ONLINE SOURCES FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION:
GEDCOM Spec (was at ftp.gedcom.org/pub/genealogy/gedcom/, now can't be
found) GENTECH GEDCOM TestBook Project
GEDCOM Mailing List send mail to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU and include SUBSCRIBE GEDCOM-L in the body of the message. Note: this list is not for the timid.
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