Genealogical Data Files, GEDCOM, XML, etc.
So, I’ve been thinking about how we store our genealogical data recently. Every genealogy program has its own format and some programs can’t read every format out there. It can be a real pain to exchange data. Every program seems to have its own flavor of GEDCOM and the format is somewhat limited anyway.
I think XML is a perfect solution as it is portable and extensible. There are sever proposals for XML-based formats, but they don’t seem to be getting anywhere. GEDCOM 6.0, for example, uses XML, but it appears to be dormant at the moment. GRAMPS apparently has its own version of XML and I will be trying out GRAMPS (again) soon and posting a review (I spend most of my time in Linux anyway).
Anyway, I know I’m not the only one who gets frustrated when I need to share data among several different programs. It’s about time we come up with a modern, flexible, portable format for sharing complete genealogical data.
MStransky:
I have been in the same boat. from 2001-2002 all the talk came out and went flat. As you talk about software having its own standard for each. I became so mad entering all my data into like FTM then thought let me see how it would look on other softwares templates and reports. Well you know all the photo and scapebook images don’t even get exported just about 80% of the information.
Then if you use a GEDCOM to XML convert online (with out sayiing any names) they put it into a format you have to go back and rename the some nodes.
I am a web guy and made a large XML database for http://wartimepress.com and figured well why am I always useing other people software to generate HTMLpages call page1.htm page2.htm and a cluster of surnames all over the pages.
so two days before Christmas I set out to make my own asp/xml/xsl code to edit add delete genealogy people and keep records of images and documents.
On my home page I explain this is just a function test, then I will make the administration screens and then pretty templates.
If all goes well I am willing to post an opensource code for those who wish to run it on a site.
Being that you metion the “naming of the nodes” say to export it from my site I see no problem if ones choose to hav PID, you could enter INDI or PersonID or ever ID. One should be able to lable each node name output before the xml is converted out to another format.
The bottom line is that if every software out there used the same XML standard, people would oonly use the best software, templates and functions. The other softwares would die out over night.
But that brings me back to being a web guy, I like to have control over my data, and not what some other software says is good to import or not import.
Q. have you seen any GEDCOM to XML via ASP? not ASP.net!
That would speed things up in getting an open configurable download which each person can modify the config files which control where documents, images and xml data is hidden in a web from prying eyes.
30 December 2008, 8:11 pm