Lori-Ann, First of all don't call me "dear" Matt on here or else tongues will wag. <grin> And please trust me that the following is meant to be constructive and not necessarily critical, even though we may disagree on some points. Second of all, to explain to those folks on here who don't use genealogy software, GEDCOMs are files that allow people with different programs (or different versions of the same program) to read each others' file using their own program.e.g. I use Family Tree Maker (FTM) and I can send a file to a person using, let's say Personal Ancestry File (PAF) and he/she can save and read my information with PAF as if they typed it in themselves. They can also use their software to MERGE my data with their's (without retyping it) to add my data to their file and thus then have a file containing their data PLUS my data. Now that the teckie lesion is over, I'll respond to Larc's comments one by one. Lori-Ann wrote: > Hi all, > I sit here with two minds on this issue. > My thoughts? I have spent many hours searching and recording information, > Let's face it, if we are here and dedicated, we are all gene junkies and love every minute of it. > :o) Well maybe not EVERY minute but most.<grin> > Someone sends a Gedcom and wants you to send yours. They merge it and they have all your hard >work and dedication in a simple package without working for it so to speak. > (sorry Matt, I know that you rely on such reciprocation as you always send gedcoms for help my >friend) And you also have all their hard work and dedication in a simple package without working for it so to speak. Lori-Ann, so far you have described a win-win situation. > My theory is this: If I had to enter the info and give up my daughter's time with me and hours of >sleep, then sharing and someone else taking all that I have to offer and them ENTERING it on THEIR >time should be ..hmmmm....logical? Hold it for a moment Lori-Ann. How do you think the data got into THEIR program? In my case, most of it got in there because I TYPED it in on MY time - one character at a time. > If I have records etc to substantiate information, cross referencing and people's names of sources... >why should anyone NOT look at that and see that it took hours???? I have lots of those too.In most cases they will be part of my GEDCOM file. > With the exception of the "few" that we have on the list that have been at this for some time, (yes my >dear Matt, you are included) , I would recommend sending an RTF formatted word doc report listed by >generations. I don't see the point of FORCING anyone to retype a bunch of data that someone else has already typed into a program. Surely, someone receiving another person's data via a GEDCOM will realize that the tooth fairy didn't type it in. > I do not give out a GEDCOM so please don't ask.... > If i worked for it... well . you must do so also with time and dedication to entering the info from >scratch. OK, I won't - as long as you appreciate that, unfortunately, that approach works both ways. > Sorry , just had to voice this opinion big time.... > Lori-Ann OK dear Larc (whooooops) , you've had your say and me mine re GEDCOMS. Now it's my turn - not necessarily big time.... What peeves me are people who provide minimal information and expect to receive all the data that I have. And those people who, on receiving a pile of data from me decide they have enough and use privacy and/or the old living people routine as an excuse not to send their additional data to me. Those people are on a par with the ones who, after many e-mails containing much of the data of interest to them, seem to disappear off the map. But Larc, life goes on. And we'll keep doing genealogy anyway, won't we? Matt

Well, of all of my messages, of course you know Matt, that I am gonna answer YOURS first o:) I do agree with your comments and opinions. The door swings both ways, that I know also. Your opinion, yes, I also do not like if someone gives "snippets" and expects much more in return as you are always so willing to oblige. (likely why I just HAD to make mention of you in my email) You always have a way of making me grin when I see your replies and this FRIEND (notice no dear eh? hehe) is no exception. I also agree with your explanation informing those of how to convert files to PAF and then perusing them. Have a great day, Lori-Ann ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matt Mullaly" <2matt@rogers.com> To: <larc1963@rogers.com>; <NFLD-LAB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 25, 2003 9:11 PM Subject: Re: [NFLD-LAB] Off topic???? Gedcoms vs word docs and opinions ... > Lori-Ann, > > First of all don't call me "dear" Matt on here or else tongues will wag. > <grin> And please trust me that the following is meant to be constructive > and not necessarily critical, even though we may disagree on some points. > > > Second of all, to explain to those folks on here who don't use genealogy > software, GEDCOMs are files that allow people with different programs (or > different versions of the same program) to read each others' file using > their own program.e.g. I use Family Tree Maker (FTM) and I can send a file > to a person using, let's say Personal Ancestry File (PAF) and he/she can > save and read my information with PAF as if they typed it in themselves. > They can also use their software to MERGE my data with their's (without > retyping it) to add my data to their file and thus then have a file > containing their data PLUS my data. > > > Now that the teckie lesion is over, I'll respond to Larc's comments one by > one. > > Lori-Ann wrote: > > > Hi all, > > I sit here with two minds on this issue. > > My thoughts? I have spent many hours searching and recording information, > > Let's face it, if we are here and dedicated, we are all gene junkies and > love every minute of it. > > :o) > > Well maybe not EVERY minute but most.<grin> > > > > Someone sends a Gedcom and wants you to send yours. They merge it and > they have all your hard >work and dedication in a simple package without > working for it so to speak. > > (sorry Matt, I know that you rely on such reciprocation as you always send > gedcoms for help my >friend) > > > And you also have all their hard work and dedication in a simple package > without working for it so to speak. > > Lori-Ann, so far you have described a win-win situation. > > > > > > My theory is this: If I had to enter the info and give up my daughter's > time with me and hours of >sleep, then sharing and someone else taking all > that I have to offer and them ENTERING it on THEIR >time should be > ..hmmmm....logical? > > Hold it for a moment Lori-Ann. How do you think the data got into THEIR > program? In my case, most of it got in there because I TYPED it in on MY > time - one character at a time. > > > > > If I have records etc to substantiate information, cross referencing and > people's names of sources... >why should anyone NOT look at that and see > that it took hours???? > > I have lots of those too.In most cases they will be part of my GEDCOM file. > > > > With the exception of the "few" that we have on the list that have been at > this for some time, (yes my >dear Matt, you are included) , I would > recommend sending an RTF formatted word doc report listed by >generations. > > I don't see the point of FORCING anyone to retype a bunch of data that > someone else has already typed into a program. Surely, someone receiving > another person's data via a GEDCOM will realize that the tooth fairy didn't > type it in. > > > I do not give out a GEDCOM so please don't ask.... > > If i worked for it... well . you must do so also with time and dedication > to entering the info from >scratch. > > OK, I won't - as long as you appreciate that, unfortunately, that approach > works both ways. > > > > Sorry , just had to voice this opinion big time.... > > Lori-Ann > > OK dear Larc (whooooops) , you've had your say and me mine re GEDCOMS. > > Now it's my turn - not necessarily big time.... > > What peeves me are people who provide minimal information and expect to > receive all the data that I have. And those people who, on receiving a pile > of data from me decide they have enough and use privacy and/or the old > living people routine as an excuse not to send their additional data to me. > > Those people are on a par with the ones who, after many e-mails containing > much of the data of interest to them, seem to disappear off the map. > > But Larc, life goes on. And we'll keep doing genealogy anyway, won't we? > > Matt > >

Larc, And another thing........................ Just kidding Lori-Ann. Matt > Well, of all of my messages, of course you know Matt, that I am gonna answer > YOURS first o:) > I do agree with your comments and opinions. The door swings both ways, that > I know also. > Your opinion, yes, I also do not like if someone gives "snippets" and > expects much more in return as you are always so willing to oblige. (likely > why I just HAD to make mention of you in my email) > You always have a way of making me grin when I see your replies and this > FRIEND (notice no dear eh? hehe) is no exception. > I also agree with your explanation informing those of how to convert files > to PAF and then perusing them. > Have a great day, > Lori-Ann

I was hoping you would reply, Matt. Thank you. Exchanging GEDCOMS is the spaceage way of doing genealogy. It saves time and minimizes the chance of an input error. I know I make mistakes and I'm sure everyone else does too. Most people who are seriously looking for their roots are very anxious to share their information. After all, that is where the joy comes from - sharing. Only we, ourselves, know how much sacrifice and hard work has gone into it, so everytime we think of what we have shared, we get a good feeling. It lasts and lasts. We also feel good when we receive a gift, be it a GEDCOM or whatever. But that warm, fuzzy feeling is fleeting, because we don't know what it cost the giftgiver to create it and then share it. Giving and sharing isn't about recognition for doing so. It's about who we are. I want to thank everyone on the NFLD Lists and all the other Lists that have been so wonderful to share with me and help me. I've been able to share very little, but what I have, is available. I'm proud to say my family's roots came from Newfoundland. Marnie Oliver Ingvaldson