Marty, I read that exact argument in Family Tree Magazine that they are developing a new form that will be able to be read now and far into the future, but it said it would still be a while before the average person could afford it. I have mine on FTM, but I also have them done in report form, which is one way that the FTM will produce it. It comes out in pdf. I know this isn't an answer but I think for right now it is all I can think of to do so that I can share with someone who does not have FTM. I think the new format though will be awesome just like I thought being able to work this contrapation called a computer was awesome. Cheryl Martin Cassidy <cassidym@earthlink.net> wrote:Note that I have changed the subject of this topic so that those that are not interested can skip these messages. Mary Lee Davis Marchi wrote: > Linda, > We would love to have a copy of your hard work. Several people have > donated their family CD files, so we have started a collection of these > CD's. > I applaud your efforts here, but I hope you are aware of the many. many pitfalls in storing genealogy data in this manner. I think if you knew the facts and took your role seriously in the preservation of these records, you would have a different approach. CD as physical medium to store data seems to have a fairly long life, though we don't know how long yet. DVD now is now pretty much the standard, and there is a new format coming out Real Soon Now. If history talks, the new formats will replace the old and we won't be able to read the old. Does eight-track tape bring back any memories? How about wire recorders? Edison cylinders? Piano rolls? Each of those technologies was invented and died completely within about 2 generations or so. Genealogy data that is readable for only two generations is pretty useless. Then there is the format of the data itself. It's great you've got a backup copy of a genealogy database done in FTM Version 8 or whatever. But I use Legacy Version 5, and the next researcher might use Reunion Version 3 or whatever. So we can't use that data. And in one hundred years FTM Version 113.5 might not be able to read that data either. Genealogy data in any proprietary format is useless other than as a backup. OK, so it should be in a non-propietary format, like GEDCOM. Gedcom isn't bad, but it's very limited. And, quite flawed. It does have the advantage of being "open" and well documented so it will probably [does an honest historical society rely on "probably"?] be readable for a few years. GEDCOM is not the answer, though I admit LDS has been scraping by for a long time on it. But I doubt they'll be able to go another generation. The answer? Print everything you get, and put it in file cabinets. Use archival-quality paper, and archival-quality ink or toner. But you already know that. Just my thoughts. -- Marty Cassidy Seattle, WA USA ==== OHGALLIA Mailing List ==== Check the address you are replying to before sending your message. Be Well, Do Good Work , Keep In Touch --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site!

cheryl enyart wrote: > Marty, > I read that exact argument in Family Tree Magazine that they are developing a new form that will be able to be read now and far into the future, but it said it would still be a while before the average person could afford it. > Is this acceptable to your gen society? Your records will be kept when FTM deems it appropriate? Have you considered that you have needs and wants that FTM might not know about? Have you considered that us genealogists have needs and wants that FTM doesn't address? Have you considered the fact that some of us don't give a dime about FTM? Genealogy and history have nothing to do with technology. Technology helps, but it's not the answer. > I have mine on FTM, but I also have them done in report form, which is one way that the FTM will produce it. It comes out in pdf. > > I know this isn't an answer but I think for right now it is all I can think of to do so that I can share with someone who does not have FTM. > > I think the new format though will be awesome just like I thought being able to work this contrapation called a computer was awesome. > > Cheryl > > Martin Cassidy <cassidym@earthlink.net> wrote:Note that I have changed the subject of this topic so that those that > are not interested can skip these messages. > > Mary Lee Davis Marchi wrote: > >>Linda, >>We would love to have a copy of your hard work. Several people have >>donated their family CD files, so we have started a collection of these >>CD's. >> > > > I applaud your efforts here, but I hope you are aware of the many. many > pitfalls in storing genealogy data in this manner. I think if you knew > the facts and took your role seriously in the preservation of these > records, you would have a different approach. > > CD as physical medium to store data seems to have a fairly long life, > though we don't know how long yet. > > DVD now is now pretty much the standard, and there is a new format > coming out Real Soon Now. If history talks, the new formats will > replace the old and we won't be able to read the old. Does eight-track > tape bring back any memories? How about wire recorders? Edison > cylinders? Piano rolls? Each of those technologies was invented and > died completely within about 2 generations or so. > > Genealogy data that is readable for only two generations is pretty useless. > > Then there is the format of the data itself. It's great you've got a > backup copy of a genealogy database done in FTM Version 8 or whatever. > But I use Legacy Version 5, and the next researcher might use Reunion > Version 3 or whatever. So we can't use that data. And in one hundred > years FTM Version 113.5 might not be able to read that data either. > > Genealogy data in any proprietary format is useless other than as a backup. > > OK, so it should be in a non-propietary format, like GEDCOM. Gedcom > isn't bad, but it's very limited. And, quite flawed. It does have the > advantage of being "open" and well documented so it will probably [does > an honest historical society rely on "probably"?] be readable for a few > years. > > GEDCOM is not the answer, though I admit LDS has been scraping by for a > long time on it. But I doubt they'll be able to go another generation. > > The answer? Print everything you get, and put it in file cabinets. Use > archival-quality paper, and archival-quality ink or toner. But you > already know that. > > Just my thoughts. > -- Marty Cassidy Seattle, WA USA