Jan, Unfortunately I am unable to reach the individual who gave me the original file and it does have things I am interested in. I will try the GENViewer Lite utility that sounds really good. Ali > From: thomasw208@comcast.net> To: gen-comp-tips@rootsweb.com> Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:18:13 -0400> Subject: Re: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] Looking for a way to repair gedcom files> > http://www.mudcreeksoftware.com/> > If you can get another copy of the gedcom from your original source, the > above website has a wonderful utility for> viewing gedcoms. That way, you don't have to use PAF to open it. It is a > standalone utility.> > There is a paid version, GENViewer 1.23; there is also a free version, > GENViewer Lite 1.15, which can be found> under "Totally Free Software" at the left of the page.> > I have used GENViewer for years and am VERY pleased with it.> > Jan> > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Alison Archer" <alisonarcher@hotmail.com>> To: <gen-comp-tips@rootsweb.com>> Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 7:04 AM> Subject: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] Looking for a way to repair gedcom files> > > > Does anyone know if there is a GED file clearup or repair utility. I have > been given a very large (30 Mbytes) GED file and I would like to load this > into a new PAF file and extract the relatively small information that > interests me. Unfortunately the when I try to load it up it takes ages under > Windows XP and then PAF crashes. It takes ages from reporting the initial > errors until it actually crashes and the PC is very slow.> > When I try to load up on my work Vista laptop there are some security errors > and warns about various security things - but it does not crash. I have > opened the GED file using Microsoft Word 2007 and it looks there is a > massive amount of unprintable characters. Does anyone know of a utlity that > can get rid of the invalid things. (I am hoping that what I am interested in > is still in the rest).> > Ali> > -------------------------------------- > Having trouble with your subscription? Contact the List Admin at gen-comp-tips-admin@rootsweb.com> -------------------------------> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GEN-COMP-TIPS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ It's simple! Sell your car for just $30 at CarPoint.com.au http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fsecure%2Dau%2Eimrworldwide%2Ecom%2Fcgi%2Dbin%2Fa%2Fci%5F450304%2Fet%5F2%2Fcg%5F801459%2Fpi%5F1004813%2Fai%5F859641&_t=762955845&_r=tig_OCT07&_m=EXT

Bob, Thanks for your help. The RAM on my home PC is 2Gb just as it came and the work PC says it has 3Gb RAM. They are both fairly recent ages - about 1 year old. Someone suggested that I opted for the XP version for home but I regret that now. I have grown to really like Vista and will bite the bullet and pay for an upgrade. (Just don't have the time at the moment). They both run the newer version 2007 of office. Is there something I should do to fix the problems to do with disk and RAM? It is a huge GED file... my own data extracts to just 5Mbytes and I thought that was big. Ali > Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:38:52 -0400> From: robertgillis@verizon.net> To: gen-comp-tips@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] Looking for a way to repair gedcom files> > > > Alison Archer wrote:> > > > Does anyone know if there is a GED file clearup or repair utility. I> > have been given a very large (30 Mbytes) GED file and I would like to> > load this into a new PAF file and extract the relatively small> > information that interests me. Unfortunately the when I try to load> > it up it takes ages under Windows XP and then PAF crashes. It takes> > ages from reporting the initial errors until it actually crashes and> > the PC is very slow.> > From this message you are using two computers, one much newer than the > other. How RAM does the older machine with WIN XP have and how much > does the Vista machine have?> > bob gillis> > > > When I try to load up on my work Vista laptop there are some security> > errors and warns about various security things - but it does not> > crash. I have opened the GED file using Microsoft Word 2007 and it> > looks there is a massive amount of unprintable characters. Does> > anyone know of a utlity that can get rid of the invalid things. (I am> > hoping that what I am interested in is still in the rest).> -------------------------------------- > Having trouble with your subscription? Contact the List Admin at gen-comp-tips-admin@rootsweb.com> -------------------------------> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GEN-COMP-TIPS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ Search for local singles online @ Lavalife http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Flavalife9%2Eninemsn%2Ecom%2Eau%2Fclickthru%2Fclickthru%2Eact%3Fid%3Dninemsn%26context%3Dan99%26locale%3Den%5FAU%26a%3D30290&_t=764581033&_r=email_taglines_Search_OCT07&_m=EXT

A file with the extension ".ged" is a Plain Text file. As such it is not a vehicle for transmitting any viruses, trojans, etc. The problem with the received file is one associated with Family Tree Maker 8 (now revealed as the source). Earlier versions of FTM were very "unfriendly" to most other genealogical applications. GEDCOM files created in those early versions of FTM were often unreadable by any of the more popular applications. Perhaps the FTM8 user may be advised to switch to using the free version of Legacy to avoid future problems? ____________________________________________________________ Receive Notifications of Incoming Messages Easily monitor multiple email accounts & access them with a click. Visit http://www.inbox.com/notifier and check it out!

A GEDCOM file usually starts out with a few lines of source information, which should tell you what program created the GEDCOM file. Then there is a GEDC version number and a CHAR type. I understand you have the data extracted now, but I am curious as to what program created this kind of a problem. I wonder if the unreadable/unprintable section could be some sort of an embedded graphic. (I don't know if anyone tries to put graphics in GEDCOM files though.) Alfred D. Eller http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~adelr/index.htm ======================================= Alison Archer wrote: > Thank you to all of those who helped. In the end I have exactly what I need. > > All I did was to edit the file on Vista with Microsoft Word 2007 on Vista and deleted out the big unprintable section and then loaded that into PAF. There were a few errors but nor that many from PAF - and as it happened I got everything that I was interested in. One happy girl here! LOL > > AliPS: When I tried to edit on Windows XP it took too long so I killed it. For some reason Microsoft have made Word work better on Vista (I think or there is some other reason). > > > > >

http://www.mudcreeksoftware.com/ If you can get another copy of the gedcom from your original source, the above website has a wonderful utility for viewing gedcoms. That way, you don't have to use PAF to open it. It is a standalone utility. There is a paid version, GENViewer 1.23; there is also a free version, GENViewer Lite 1.15, which can be found under "Totally Free Software" at the left of the page. I have used GENViewer for years and am VERY pleased with it. Jan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alison Archer" <alisonarcher@hotmail.com> To: <gen-comp-tips@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 7:04 AM Subject: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] Looking for a way to repair gedcom files Does anyone know if there is a GED file clearup or repair utility. I have been given a very large (30 Mbytes) GED file and I would like to load this into a new PAF file and extract the relatively small information that interests me. Unfortunately the when I try to load it up it takes ages under Windows XP and then PAF crashes. It takes ages from reporting the initial errors until it actually crashes and the PC is very slow. When I try to load up on my work Vista laptop there are some security errors and warns about various security things - but it does not crash. I have opened the GED file using Microsoft Word 2007 and it looks there is a massive amount of unprintable characters. Does anyone know of a utlity that can get rid of the invalid things. (I am hoping that what I am interested in is still in the rest). Ali

The posting on possible corrupt or malformed GED files raises an important security issue. It is likely that some Genealogy programs may not be secure (at least on Linux, XP and MAC) as the applications (and especially the o/s) are insecure & potentially vulnerable. Many genealogists would be wise to take the security of their systems seriously. Just because there are few reported security issues for a particular application or operating system - does not imply that that system is actually secure. Some vendors are less diligent in reporting issues they discover and sneak in security fixes. Furthermore the hacker world tend to focus their attentions on the most popular applications and systems first; as these popular systems improve the hacking world will (and already has started) to migrates towards less popular systems. Unless you use a secure (least privilege) operating system (such as Vista) you might be better advised NOT TRUST OR DOWNLOAD GEDcom files. The attack surface for some popular applications (PAF, FTM, endless list...) is much larger than is reasonable and they are not developed (at present) with security in mind. As an aside an article independently looking at Vista security model applauding it and Microsofts approach the last 5 years towards security. Steve - - - - - - - Podcast: Microsoft security? Experts applaud it http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/25984 Podcast: Microsoft security? Experts applaud it Submitted by Micronet on Thu, 03/13/2008 - 6:53pm. It seems to be the trend for highly regarded security experts to applaud Microsoft's security efforts. In blogger Mitchell Ashley's Converging on Network podcast, author and security analyst Michael Rothman said he thought other huge software companies should watch Microsoft and take notes, particularly when it comes to Patch Tuesday. "Relative to Apple or Oracle or SAP or any of these other huge software companies. Microsoft is really a model citizen in terms of how structured their program is, how aggressive their program is. The amount of their investment in their security program is bigger than most of the security companies out there - that's just their investment. ... Microsoft is really a model that a lot of other software companies should be looking to emulate," he said. While he was careful to point out that nothing is perfect, he also applauded Microsoft Vista - saying it was light years better than XP when it comes to security.... --- --- --- --- http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2008/tc20080317_287032.htm Apple's Icarus Effect Pride goes before destruction, and with hackers targeting Macs and iPhones, Roger L. Kay says Apple's haughty spirit portends a fall by Roger L. Kay Just as those living in shiny houses of self-righteous glass often end up surrounded by shards of their former sanctimony, so Apple Inc. now finds itself the increasingly appealing target of software hackers. For years, Apple's marketing has consisted of accentuating the positive and ignoring everything else. As hackers pillaged Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows operating system, Apple (AAPL) stressed that its computer platform was relatively virus-free, most notably in that snarky ad campaign, "I'm a PC. I'm a Mac." There was Windows, groaning under the weight of its security apparatus, like some knight of yesteryear packed in heavy armor who, once he fell off his horse, couldn't get up again. And on the other side, there was Apple strutting about, smacking its gloves together and posing for the crowd. -----Original Message----- From: gen-comp-tips-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:gen-comp-tips-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Alfred Eller Sent: Friday, 21 March 2008 9:33 AM To: gen-comp-tips@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] Looking for a way to repair gedcom files If it has massive amounts of unprintable characters in it then it is not a GEDCOM file. It may have the GED extension, but it sure doesn't sound like it is a GEDCOM file. A GEDCOM file is plain ASCII text, readable with wordPad or any text editor. Alfred D. Eller http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~adelr/index.htm ======================================= Alison Archer wrote: > > Does anyone know if there is a GED file clearup or repair utility. I have been given a very large (30 Mbytes) GED file and I would like to load this into a new PAF file and extract the relatively small information that interests me. Unfortunately the when I try to load it up it takes ages under Windows XP and then PAF crashes. It takes ages from reporting the initial errors until it actually crashes and the PC is very slow. > > When I try to load up on my work Vista laptop there are some security errors and warns about various security things - but it does not crash. I have opened the GED file using Microsoft Word 2007 and it looks there is a massive amount of unprintable characters. Does anyone know of a utlity that can get rid of the invalid things. (I am hoping that what I am interested in is still in the rest). > > Ali -------------------------------------- Having trouble with your subscription? Contact the List Admin at gen-comp-tips-admin@rootsweb.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GEN-COMP-TIPS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Alfred, When I look at the file it does load about 1599 individuals correctly ... and it crashes leaving the PAF in an OK ish state but not the tree I want to get to.... So I assumed it was GED. but thanks for your help anyway.Ali > Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:32:41 -0500> From: adeller@santel.net> To: gen-comp-tips@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] Looking for a way to repair gedcom files> > If it has massive amounts of unprintable characters in it then it is not > a GEDCOM file.> It may have the GED extension, but it sure doesn't sound like it is a > GEDCOM file.> > A GEDCOM file is plain ASCII text, readable with wordPad or any text editor.> > Alfred D. Eller> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~adelr/index.htm> =======================================> > > Alison Archer wrote:> > > > Does anyone know if there is a GED file clearup or repair utility. I have been given a very large (30 Mbytes) GED file and I would like to load this into a new PAF file and extract the relatively small information that interests me. Unfortunately the when I try to load it up it takes ages under Windows XP and then PAF crashes. It takes ages from reporting the initial errors until it actually crashes and the PC is very slow.> > > > When I try to load up on my work Vista laptop there are some security errors and warns about various security things - but it does not crash. I have opened the GED file using Microsoft Word 2007 and it looks there is a massive amount of unprintable characters. Does anyone know of a utlity that can get rid of the invalid things. (I am hoping that what I am interested in is still in the rest).> > > > Ali> -------------------------------------- > Having trouble with your subscription? Contact the List Admin at gen-comp-tips-admin@rootsweb.com> -------------------------------> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GEN-COMP-TIPS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ It's simple! Sell your car for just $30 at CarPoint.com.au http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fsecure%2Dau%2Eimrworldwide%2Ecom%2Fcgi%2Dbin%2Fa%2Fci%5F450304%2Fet%5F2%2Fcg%5F801459%2Fpi%5F1004813%2Fai%5F859641&_t=762955845&_r=tig_OCT07&_m=EXT

Hello Listers Could SKS please tell me what dpi I should scan b&w photos and colour photos at? Also what should I save them as? I used to scan photos at 300 dps and save them as jpegs but was told I shouldn't save them as jpegs but as tif's. Then I started scanning my photos at 600dpi and saved them as tif's, however when I want to send the tif's to a friend I find the files are too big to go through my server. Can I save a photo as a tif and then resave it as a jpeg? Once it's saved as a 600dpi tif file can I then reduce the dpi to say 300 and save it as a jpeg? Hope someone can help me. Happy Easter to all Kerrie

Alison Archer wrote: > > Does anyone know if there is a GED file clearup or repair utility. I > have been given a very large (30 Mbytes) GED file and I would like to > load this into a new PAF file and extract the relatively small > information that interests me. Unfortunately the when I try to load > it up it takes ages under Windows XP and then PAF crashes. It takes > ages from reporting the initial errors until it actually crashes and > the PC is very slow. From this message you are using two computers, one much newer than the other. How RAM does the older machine with WIN XP have and how much does the Vista machine have? bob gillis > > When I try to load up on my work Vista laptop there are some security > errors and warns about various security things - but it does not > crash. I have opened the GED file using Microsoft Word 2007 and it > looks there is a massive amount of unprintable characters. Does > anyone know of a utlity that can get rid of the invalid things. (I am > hoping that what I am interested in is still in the rest).

I do not know of a salvage utility, HOWEVER: Interested posting. A well structured GED file appears to work the same on XP and Vista. I observed some possible issues here (prompted by Vista warnings) worthy of note. To fix your issues you could get rid of the corrupted area ... just using Microsoft Word. Try it on a copy of the file. I know that PAF is vulnerable to long custom event names for one. Steve -----Original Message----- From: gen-comp-tips-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:gen-comp-tips-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Alison Archer Sent: Thursday, 20 March 2008 9:04 PM To: gen-comp-tips@rootsweb.com Subject: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] Looking for a way to repair gedcom files Does anyone know if there is a GED file clearup or repair utility. I have been given a very large (30 Mbytes) GED file and I would like to load this into a new PAF file and extract the relatively small information that interests me. Unfortunately the when I try to load it up it takes ages under Windows XP and then PAF crashes. It takes ages from reporting the initial errors until it actually crashes and the PC is very slow. When I try to load up on my work Vista laptop there are some security errors and warns about various security things - but it does not crash. I have opened the GED file using Microsoft Word 2007 and it looks there is a massive amount of unprintable characters. Does anyone know of a utlity that can get rid of the invalid things. (I am hoping that what I am interested in is still in the rest). Ali _________________________________________________________________ Get MOTORAZR MAXX V6 now $249 on Next GT Pre-Paid http://clk.atdmt.com/OAT/go/nnmsntel0690000034oat/direct/01/ -------------------------------------- Having trouble with your subscription? Contact the List Admin at gen-comp-tips-admin@rootsweb.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GEN-COMP-TIPS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I am too lazy to tell you everything so I will send you the URL of a site that should answer most of your questions. http://www.scantips.com/ Alfred D. Eller http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~adelr/index.htm ======================================= Kerrie wrote: > Hello Listers > > Could SKS please tell me what dpi I should scan b&w photos and colour photos at? Also what should I save them as? > > I used to scan photos at 300 dps and save them as jpegs but was told I shouldn't save them as jpegs but as tif's. Then I started scanning my photos at 600dpi and saved them as tif's, however when I want to send the tif's to a friend I find the files are too big to go through my server. > > Can I save a photo as a tif and then resave it as a jpeg? Once it's saved as a 600dpi tif file can I then reduce the dpi to say 300 and save it as a jpeg? > > Hope someone can help me. > > Happy Easter to all > > Kerrie

Does anyone know if there is a GED file clearup or repair utility. I have been given a very large (30 Mbytes) GED file and I would like to load this into a new PAF file and extract the relatively small information that interests me. Unfortunately the when I try to load it up it takes ages under Windows XP and then PAF crashes. It takes ages from reporting the initial errors until it actually crashes and the PC is very slow. When I try to load up on my work Vista laptop there are some security errors and warns about various security things - but it does not crash. I have opened the GED file using Microsoft Word 2007 and it looks there is a massive amount of unprintable characters. Does anyone know of a utlity that can get rid of the invalid things. (I am hoping that what I am interested in is still in the rest). Ali _________________________________________________________________ Get MOTORAZR MAXX V6 now $249 on Next G™ Pre-Paid http://clk.atdmt.com/OAT/go/nnmsntel0690000034oat/direct/01/

Thanks Sheri, What a relief! Heather ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sheri Lemon" <sherilemon@comcast.net> To: <gen-comp-tips@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:23 PM Subject: Re: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] ALPHA FOR FAVOURITES >I just click on Favorites, then right-click on the list of links I want to > sort and select Sort by name. > Sheri > > -----Original Message----- > From: gen-comp-tips-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:gen-comp-tips-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of heather smith > Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:13 AM > To: gen-comp-tips@rootsweb.com > Subject: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] ALPHA FOR FAVOURITES > > I

If it has massive amounts of unprintable characters in it then it is not a GEDCOM file. It may have the GED extension, but it sure doesn't sound like it is a GEDCOM file. A GEDCOM file is plain ASCII text, readable with wordPad or any text editor. Alfred D. Eller http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~adelr/index.htm ======================================= Alison Archer wrote: > > Does anyone know if there is a GED file clearup or repair utility. I have been given a very large (30 Mbytes) GED file and I would like to load this into a new PAF file and extract the relatively small information that interests me. Unfortunately the when I try to load it up it takes ages under Windows XP and then PAF crashes. It takes ages from reporting the initial errors until it actually crashes and the PC is very slow. > > When I try to load up on my work Vista laptop there are some security errors and warns about various security things - but it does not crash. I have opened the GED file using Microsoft Word 2007 and it looks there is a massive amount of unprintable characters. Does anyone know of a utlity that can get rid of the invalid things. (I am hoping that what I am interested in is still in the rest). > > Ali

I would appreciate help in organizing Favourites into Alpha order. I browsed the list but the help seems to show different options to what I find here on my computer. I have XPSP2 and IE7. Many thanks, Heather

I just click on Favorites, then right-click on the list of links I want to sort and select Sort by name. Sheri -----Original Message----- From: gen-comp-tips-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:gen-comp-tips-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of heather smith Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:13 AM To: gen-comp-tips@rootsweb.com Subject: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] ALPHA FOR FAVOURITES I would appreciate help in organizing Favourites into Alpha order. I browsed the list but the help seems to show different options to what I find here on my computer. I have XPSP2 and IE7. Many thanks, Heather -------------------------------------- Having trouble with your subscription? Contact the List Admin at gen-comp-tips-admin@rootsweb.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GEN-COMP-TIPS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

At 06:10 AM 18/03/2008 -0700, you wrote: >He'll probably have to delete any of the BSD *partitions* that he wants >to use, then create new partitions for Windows. Thanks for the info. Gary in Sunny Queensland, Australia. Genealogy Page <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~liddellfamily/>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~liddellfamily/ -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1333 - Release Date: 18/03/2008 8:10 AM

My son says he can't format a HDD with Free BSD on it but I'm thinking that if he put a boot disk in the Floppy or USB & set it up to boot from that, in the bios, he should be able to format the HDD & install Windows on it; am I right in this assumption? Gary in Sunny Queensland, Australia. Genealogy Page <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~liddellfamily/>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~liddellfamily/ -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1331 - Release Date: 16/03/2008 10:34 AM

At 05:34 PM 17/03/2008 -0400, you wrote: >Surely you meant to say that it is freeware - shareware has to be paid for, >and is initially free as it is supplied on a "try before you buy" basis. Sorry that is right; wrong term but I got the Free bit right.:) Gary in Sunny Queensland, Australia. Genealogy Page <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~liddellfamily/>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~liddellfamily/ -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1331 - Release Date: 16/03/2008 10:34 AM

My thanks to everyone who advised me on this problem - regretably not one of the suggested solutions works in my situation. I suppose I will just have to:- Open each .wps file with MS Works Select All Copy Open new Word Pad file (.rtf) Paste Save, name and close RTF file Close .wps file SIGH! There's a lot of them. Bob