GEDCOM to XLS conversion

[mrigger]

Good morning

Thinking laterally . . . RootsMagic comes with RootsMagic-to-go, which allows you to generate a free-standing CD of your family tree.

Probably other genealogy programs also do something similar?

Very true, and another valid point. I'm not trying to replace any of the functionality of other FH software, just give anyone who needs it a free alternative. Also, the plan for the application is also to allow you to compare two GEDCOM files for duplicates, etc., as well as allowing search & filter functions.

Regards

Mark

[danuslave]

plus I wanted to improve my programming skills

Don't forget this bit guys!  As a retired analyst/programmer, I know how Mark feels.  Getting the thing to work is at least as important as what it does.   

Linda

[[Ray]]

Hi Mark

I think that you have a great idea.

There is only one current standard definition for GEDCOM fiiles
Version 5.5 is where it last stopped.
[ http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pmcbride/gedcom/55gctoc.htm ]
Version 6 doesn't look like it will be around anytime soon, and looks like it may be totally different (closer to XML style)

Some [most?] genealogy programs cater for a strict v5.5 then one of their own.

I would have thought that you start by getting the standard v5.5 working first
[ coz then you have a benchmark to work to ]

Ray

[ Another Retd AnalProg, although also keeping hand in ]

[Berlin-Bob]

plus I wanted to improve my programming skills

Don't forget this bit guys!  As a retired analyst/programmer, I know how Mark feels.  Getting the thing to work is at least as important as what it does.   

Linda

As a still-working analyst/programmer I can endorse that wholeheartedly. I am currently working on a new database project for RootsChat and, as with all my other RootsChat projects, on the one hand it is good to make something that others will find useful, and on the other hand, there is a big thrill in trying out different possibilities and watching them enfold, as the work progresses.

Mark, keep at it: it's a good idea, it keeps the grey cells active, and ... it gives you pleasure - ideal !!

As Ray suggests, concentrate on the the official 5.5 Standard first, before you start adding genealogy-program specific GEDCOM tags. That is just a bonus.

regards,
Bob

[seahall]

Hi All.

Not sure if I would get the same information that Mark needs in a .xls file.

I use GEDxlate which makes the gedcom into a xls file which I can then
see at a glance where folk were christened, married, buried etc which 
I can not on FTM.

It is a aid to help work out where I need to look next. 

Sandy

[[Ray]]

Hi Sandy

2 things . . . . . .

"Not sure if I would get the same information that Mark needs in a .xls file"
What exactly does that mean?

GedxLate was last updated Apr/2009 according to the website.
The owner acknowledged outstanding fault(s).
If Mark only provides a more recent, uptodate, version, isn't that also a step forward?


Regards

Ray

[seahall]

Hi Ray.

In answer to your question.

Once I have the data, I will process it and send the results back to you in an Excel tabbed spreadsheet (if you don't use Excel, don't worry - the data should be visible in most Spreadsheet applications, or you can use the free MS Excel viewer application). This initial data will consist of a breakdown of all the data in the file. After some bug fixing, I intend to modify the application to allow you to compare two GEDCOM files, but more of this later.

Mark maybe looking at more than I view in my excel sheet as he will breakdown
all the data not just what is accessible to me by Gedxlate.

As to when Gedxlate was updated is not a problem for me as I previously
said I just use the data to see where the families move to between
being hatched, matched and dispatched.

Not sure what your last comment means as I was not making any comparison
with what Mark is trying to achieve.

All the best Mark in achieving your goal.

Sandy

[jc26red]

I've not tried GEDxlate. I usually rely on the lists and custom reports with RM which work well for me.

Thanks Sandy...   

that was a quick test, it wouldn't install on Windows 7, missing file giving a runtime error.  Will try on an older pc tomorrow

Good luck with your project Mark..

[[Ray]]

Mark

"Spreadsheet" to Gedcom ?
I can see a number of "uses"

Ray