[Genealib] Re: GEDCOM in the Library

Tue Jun 10 18:48:14 EDT 2008

I actually think you have received most of your answer. Several have 
mentioned that your library could install one of the many software 
programs for viewing the gedcom; I personally suggest PAF because of 
the cost (or lack, thereof).

It was also pointed out that gedcoms are a standard formatting. A 
gedcom would be usable in more programs in the future than if you 
saved it to a proprietary format like PAF or FTM, etc. would have. I 
would, however, save into the most current gedcom format.

Kathy

At 02:32 PM 6/10/2008, you wrote:

>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
>
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>On 6/10/08, Sharon Centanne 
><<mailto:centans at tampabay.rr.com>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/>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/>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!
>
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>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 <mailto: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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Kathy Rippel
Dept. Head/Consultant--Resource Sharing and Access ;
Pathfinder Central (Manager)
Central Kansas Library System
1409 Williams
Great Bend, KS 67530

(620-792-4865) phone
(800-362-2642) toll-free, KS
(620-792-5495) fax

kdr at ckls.org
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