On 14 Nov 2007 in soc.genealogy.computing, Nigel Bufton wrote: > How could it be possible to record the marriage data of two INDIs > without a FAM record? Even if your proposed FAM-less model > included a SPOU tag for each INDI and the marriage information was > held in subtags to the SPOU tag, there would be huge data integrity > issues because each INDI/SPOU tag of a partnership would need to > maintain subtags recording identically duplicated information. Instead of maintaining separate SPOU tags for each individual, you can maintain one 'relationship' record for two individuals involved in a marriage-like relationship, much as the GEDCOM FAM record does. You can then attach to it any added information you want - start date, end date, location(s); even what to call the relationship - marriage, bidie-in, POSSLQ, ... The problem with the GEDCOM FAM record is that it also records the children. You should be able to derive that information from the child's parent links. -- Joe Makowiec http://makowiec.org/ Email: http://makowiec.org/contact/?Joe