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Archiver > TMG > 2002-02 > 1012736580


From: "Astrid Kranzbuhler" <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Long discourse on GEDCOM and witness data
Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2002 22:43:00 +1100
References: <3C5C47B0.1830.B27A9C@localhost> <5.1.0.14.2.20020202071024.0d30fdb0@mail.hwrd1.md.home.com> <5.1.0.14.0.20020202022259.00a0d590@pop.sprynet.com> <5.1.0.14.0.20020202205107.00a10900@pop.sprynet.com>


Hi Darrell and All,

You wrote:
> If data is exported as text in a GEDCOM NOTE tag, the issue of "understood correctly by
> another program" is irrelevant. The other program never
> attempts to understand the data, it simply attaches it to the record of the
> person in question.
[snip]

I'm afraid I disagree that 'the issue of "understood correctly by another program" is irrelevant' with any GEDCOM. And it's also not true that all programs will attach Note tags to the records of a person on import.

Example:
I have several freebie programs installed for just the purpose of checking GEDCOMs.
One, in particular, is an absolute DISASTER! (I won't name it, but most won't know it anyway, since it's strictly German)
It will *not* import Notes or Sources for that matter, except that CD's turn up in the program's notes - 'very helpful' :-( . It also won't import events other than BMDB and Occupation (for some reason and there only the [M1] text, no dates, places etc), despite the fact that this program does have capability for numerous event types. The exported TMG events are just lost.

Women with Married name tags seem to show up under their first married name, which this program seems to assume to be the 'current' name if it finds multiple names in the GEDCOM, not the TMG primary name or at least last found Married name, which would more likely be the 'current' name. All other names, including TMG primary, are lost completely. So married women in my data set don't show their birth name at all after import, again, despite the fact that there is provision for a birth name AND the 'current' name!
I could go on with similarly severe misinterpretations...
THAT I call data corruption!

I believe, it was Cheri who asked what exactly is meant by 'data integrity' (Sorry Cheri, I can't find your post again after I read it, so I can't respond directly to it).

My humble answer would have to be: To try everything possible to prevent severe misinterpretations by other programs on import like those I mentioned.

Thank Heavens I did try the import to that program BEFORE I sent the GEDCOM to a German contact who uses it!!! It's narratives only for that person.

I really wouldn't want to know what other programs, for example this one, would make of e.g. witnesses, multiple principals or GEDCOM Note tags etc!
IMHO, The 'best' scenario would be, that it doesn't import them at all.
The worst scenario would be, that e.g. a minister performing the wedding is imported as the groom, the adopting parent as a child, the widow as the deceased and so on.
- NO COMMENT!

Just because TMG would export data the way we'd like doesn't mean it would arrive that way. The issue of data corruption during import by various programs *must* be considered in export.

Just my 2 cents worth
Astrid


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