On Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:42:28 -0500, Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> wrote: >On Wed, 20 Feb 2013 06:50:38 +0200, Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> >declaimed the following in soc.genealogy.computing: > >> >> XML files are also data files, and some have suggested that GEDCOM be replaced >> by XML files, and perhaps they may happen one day. >> > Which won't help at all unless one can enforce one XML schema upon >all users. > > But if one could enforce one schema, one could also enforce one >truly standard GEDCOM too. > > But you know some genealogy program will want to extend the XML to >handle their special features. For all practical purposes, NO >hierarchical tree schema could fully handle the data from programs like >the defunct UFT, and still-produced TMG. > > GEDCOM is based on two basic "01" level entries: INDIviduals, and >FAMilies. Event based programs, instead, are based on life events which >are linked to individuals in particular roles. Any XML schema that also >focuses on individual and family records would have the same problem. [subject line changed and follow-ups set] I still use FHS, which I think is the only program to use the GEDCOM 1.x format to export ALL its data. It Supports PAF Gedcom, which I think was GEDCOM 2.x, but that only exports a subset of data -- it excludes events. But I think it is misleading to speak of programs like TMG as "event-based". I've tried TMG, and found it impossible to enter an event without first entering an individual, so it too is individual-based. One of the things I would really like to have is an event-based program, but TMG isn't it. See here: http://hayesgreene.blogspot.com/2011/05/event-based-history-and-genealogy.html -- Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk