[Genealib] Re: GEDCOM in the Library

[Jane]

I think maybe my original question was misunderstood.
We have a cd in a Library manuscript collection (possibly more than one,
potentially more coming someday, although we do strongly discourage them,
they just show up and we try to cope!).  It is not something we are going to
post online.  We don't want to get other stuff from online.  We are just
trying to determine what would be a suitable program to use to access the
file here in the Library.  Also, would we be better off storing it as a PAF
file or FTM file or whatever, or storing it as a GEDCOM.  We are concerned
about our need for long-term migration to ensure access.

I appreciate the information about the changes that have been made to GEDCOM
format over time.
Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks,
Jane






On 6/10/08, Sharon Centanne <centans at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> Any computer with internet and a browser has access to millions of GEDCOMs
> at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com.
> Ancestry bought up Rootsweb years ago. The World Connect project allows
> uploads of GEDCOMs, plus the ability
> to print out all kinds of information from them. Each family goes on one
> screen and links to family members on other screens
> with hyperlinks.
>
> I have found hundreds of relatives this way. I copy and paste the screen
> info to the Notes section of my
> Family Tree Maker software. I still use the old Version 7.0 and this works
> fine.
>
> Rootsweb.com offers email addresses too, so you can contact the submitter.
> The submitter can update their gedcoms and family trees at anytime, and the
> date is recorded on each page, along with the number of entries in the
> submitter's database. I particularly
> like to find trees submitted by known cousins of reputable research. But I
> learn things from other cousins who have inadequate
> information - like who did they copy! Some cousins may have dates and the
> others have notes. So comparison of databases
> for similar families is fun too.
>
> I haven't uploaded my gedcoms yet, but I understand there is a feature that
> allows you to exclude all names before a certain
> date, perhaps 1920. Those names are changed to LIVING unless a death date
> is also present.
>
> I did try a new site this weekend at http://www.geni.com. I uploaded only
> a small portion of my data, as their limit is 5000
> and my database in FTW is approaching 5700. I found it slow and cumbersome
> to upload pictures and their description tho,
> as the pictures in my FTW database did not go into the gedcom...which is
> just as well, as my total database is almost 73 meg
> with pictures and copious notes<g>. Geni.com seems like a nice program, but
> it is slow, and seems geared more to social networking among family members.
> I did like the "Forest" feature that puts families related by marriage into
> differnet trees.
> My data certainly is starting to look like a forest<g>.
>
> I have not yet learned how to see data from other cousins with this site. I
> think you have to have the submitters permission,
> which is not the case on Rootsweb.com.
>
> Sharon Centanne
> Genealogical Resarch Instructor
> Celebrating 29 years as a genealogist 1979-2008!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Libby Feil wrote:
>
> Hi, Jane and all--
>     Because of our limited funding and space, we don't accept CD donations
> such as family histories on CD either.  Some of the smaller problems we've
> had with CDs include theft, scratches, and warping (and this is a
> noncirculating collection!).  But the biggest issues are the problems with
> accessing the files.  Most of the time, CDs produced by "amateurs" are
> created on non-standard or outdated software that we do not have.
>     If you are going to accept these types of materials, though, GEDCOM is
> a good file type.  It is to genealogy programs as .TXT files are to
> word-processing programs:  they can be opened by most software of that
> genre.  I don't know if GEDCOM has gone through different versions, like
> Microsoft Word etc. has, but GEDCOM files are the closest thing the
> genealogy world has to a universally compatible file type.
>     We purchased FamilyTreeMaker for our patrons to use on our computers,
> and it will open GEDCOM files and save things in this format if asked.
> FamilyTreeMaker is now put out by Ancestry, and it has generally been well
> supported and liked.  It's the program I've been using at home for more than
> 10 years (every couple of years I buy a newer edition), and I've found it to
> be an excellent program. There are others out there, though.  Do keep your
> computer operating system in mind, too--FTM won't work on Macs, e.g.
> Best wishes,
> Libby Feil
>
> Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:53:42 -0400
> From: Jane <jdouma at gmail.com> <jdouma at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Genealib] GEDCOM in the Library
>
> We recently received a manuscript collection (handed over across the
> reference desk) including a cd with a GEDCOM file. Does anyone have similar
>
> disks and how do you handle reading and maintaining them?  As it stands, we
>
> do not have any genealogy programs on the Library computers.  If we add a
> program somewhere and transfer the file, which would be best (easiest to
> use
> and update as time goes by)?
> On a related note -- has the GEDCOM file type changed over the years?  Or
> are we ok keeping the data as a gedcom??
>
> Thanks for any ideas.
>
> Jane Pearson
>
>
>
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