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Gedcom help please

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Glen In Tinsel Knickers

Glen In Tinsel Knickers Report 24 Jul 2008 11:43

Notes etc will transfer but the GR system uses a very old version of GEDCOM.

Each field of info is given a "tag"

For example

Surname
Forename
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Occupation
Notes...........etc, etc.

Tags can either be long tags (as above) or abbreviated

eg
DOB
POB
OCCU

The GR system can only record a limited number of fields whereas the latest generation of GED files can have as many as 250+ fields.

These extra fields cover such things as
Baptism
Christening
Probate
Religion


The GR GED files can cause some problems when uploaded to certain sites because the older system uses a different character set. Info may not transfer at all or may have information missing or incorrectly transfer.

Glen

Dave the Tyke

Dave the Tyke Report 23 Jul 2008 10:23

Legacy has facilities for notes and allows different Gedcom or PAF files to be shown separately. Uploading to GR or elsewhere is also very easy.
There is a free version.

MaryfromItaly

MaryfromItaly Report 23 Jul 2008 02:00

All family tree programs import notes as far as I know. PAF and FTM certainly do.

Jacqui

Jacqui Report 22 Jul 2008 23:52

Yes PAF will import notes.

Yuli

Yuli Report 22 Jul 2008 23:38

Good point robertpp, I don't know. Is RootsWeb expensive?

robertpplane

robertpplane Report 22 Jul 2008 23:26

But does PAF, Integrity or any of the others of that ilk keep or display the 'Notes' box found on GR? As far as I know only RootWeb does - this is very important for tracking and recording numerous of my family.

Yuli

Yuli Report 22 Jul 2008 21:20

If you want to keep it separate, download the familysearch free PAF software. It is easy to install and use.

Glen In Tinsel Knickers

Glen In Tinsel Knickers Report 22 Jul 2008 20:26

If you have opened it with word or notepad then it will be a nightmare to try and understand.

You really need to use either a software programme that can read GEDCOM files or upload the file to a site (eg Genes, Ancestry, Tribal Pages etc).

If you upload to GR then you really want a 2nd membership or the new file will overwrite your existing tree.

The software or site option will let you see the file as a tree.

Your best bet is to use a software programme, it will allow you to create a backup of your existing tree and easily add/edit etc.

Don't just rely on GR as the only way to keep your tree, use some software and then if you lose internet access or the pc goes bang you will have a backup copy you can go back to.

Glen

GlitterBaby

GlitterBaby Report 22 Jul 2008 19:17

Can you not start a new tree on whatever program you are using and then load the GEDCOM to that

Or is that too easy an answer

Researching:
PLEASE DO NOT: send me information concerning your thread on the board as it should be posted on your request where all members can see it. PLEASE DO NOT: ask me for help with lookups as they should be placed on the boards to get the best possible result. PLEASE DO NOT: open your tree just because I have posted information on your thread as I will not be related. THANK YOU. Researching Carter, Cass and Walker in England. Researching Caven, McKill, Sutherland and Will in Scotland.

Big

Big Report 22 Jul 2008 19:10

A family member has very kindly just sent me a gedcom file too look at - and scanning through I see that it is a simple data file, complicated to read in it arrival format. Does anyone know how I can see this in a easier way?. I do not want to inportt it to my tree in case of confusions and mistakes.
Thanks.