Steve Hayes wrote: > In an earlier message I suggested using AWK to manipulate a GEDCOM file to > solve a particular problem. > > That point tended to get lost in discussion of other points like using other > ways to solve the problem, or discussion of flaws in the GEDCOM data model > itself and proposals for its replacement, which I see as a separate question. > > What I would like to see is the development of a kind of library of AWK > routines to manipulate GEDCOM files. Lots of genealogists have GEDCOM files, > and some would like to make changes to them, or extract information from them > in ways that might not be possible with other genealogy programs. As matters stand, as languages go AWK is somewhat, ummm, ante-diluvian. And, in fact, what you want to do can be done in just about any scripting language that's universally available - say PERL, python, TK/TCL or even, heaven help us, PHP. I know there is a package of genealogy tools available for PERL and there no doubt is something similar for python (which is what Gramps is written in). And both PERL and python have the advantage of being available on just about every platform, including (shudder) Gates Universal Computer Virus (better known as windows). So, rather than spend your time futzing around with AWK, which I like, I'd suggest you look at the more modern languages as a way of doing what you want. Bob Melson -- Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande Microsolutions | El Paso, Texas ----- Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him, better take a closer look at the American Indian. -- Henry Ford