I have much sympathy for John Steed here. I am sure that the only solution would be variable item lengths, which is possible, but would involve a great deal of work. And even then I suspect that John would find that there was something else wanted (and I could suggest several!). Personally, I take the approach of minimizing information, including location, e. g., for burial I would just put in town, county, state and country. (When this approach is consistent then words like "county" aren't needed.) Then I use the "Notes" for refining details. This is particularly advisable when there are name changes. In addition I am a firm believer in abbreviations, e. g., RootsWeb designated abbreviations: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rigenweb/abbrev.html . I realize that not everyone who might look at my data is American or even familiar with these abbreviations, but everyone has access to RootsWeb. Although I seldom use tree-formats for genealogy the use of abbreviations and minimal location designations help keep those things clean and compact.

In message <4fbff657.27ddb60a.6992.76ec@mx.google.com>, Jim Mayor <jasmayor@gmail.com> writes: >I have much sympathy for John Steed here. I am sure that the only >solution would be variable item lengths, which is possible, but would >involve a great deal of work. And even then I suspect that John >would find that there was something else wanted (and I could suggest several!). I suspect we all could! > >Personally, I take the approach of minimizing information, including >location, e. g., for burial I would just put in town, county, state >and country. (When this approach is consistent then words like >"county" aren't needed.) Then I use the "Notes" for refining >details. This is particularly advisable when there are name changes. As I do. Not just name changes - some places "move" into another county (especially if new counties are created, and then disappear again), or even (e. g. a lot of Poland) country. It is always a vexed question whether to use the name as it is now (which makes it easy to match places) or as it was (which is historically more accurate), and you'll find people who will defend each approach vigorously (-:. > >In addition I am a firm believer in abbreviations, e. g., RootsWeb >designated >abbreviations: >http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rigenweb/abbrev.html . I realize >that not everyone who might look at my data is American or even >familiar with these abbreviations, but everyone has access to >RootsWeb. Although I seldom use tree-formats for genealogy the use >of abbreviations and minimal location designations help keep those >things clean and compact. If there are indeed acknowledged lists, then I suppose something the long-suffering John could implement would be drop-downs, which could be expanded when printed (or whatever): these would have to allow for the addition of names not in the list, though. People in the various countries could contribute the lists, as (I think) they do with the translation files. [] -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf "... four Oscars, and two further nominations ... On these criteria, he's Britain's most successful film director." Powell or Pressburger? no; Richard Attenborough? no; Nick Park!

On Fri, 25 May 2012 23:22:27 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)" <G6JPG@soft255.demon.co.uk> wrote: Do not forget that BK is used in many countries and what is OK in US is not necessary ok in Europe -- Otto Jørgensen http://www.bkwin.info/ All email is checked by NORTON

On Fri, 25 May 2012 17:14:42 -0400, Jim Mayor <jasmayor@gmail.com> wrote: >In addition I am a firm believer in abbreviations, e. g., RootsWeb >designated >abbreviations: >http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rigenweb/abbrev.html . I realize >that not everyone who might look at my data is American or even >familiar with these abbreviations, but everyone has access to >RootsWeb. Although I seldom use tree-formats for genealogy the use >of abbreviations and minimal location designations help keep those >things clean and compact. > Remember - Use the Archives at http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/search do not forget that that list is based on English speaking People. It will be quicte different in all other alanguage And this is mostly outside the question of handling location in BK, both present an version in the closer future -- Otto Jørgensen http://www.bkwin.info/ All email is checked by NORTON