What genealogy program do the Swiss & Germans use? We tried just converting a descendant list, using a German translator, but that did not work out so well, it converted surnames, and names of towns, and everywhere that we had abbreviated the state of Pennsylvania with PA., the translator put in the German word for Loud speaker. We got a laugh out of it all, but it won't do to post on Ken's website, for Swiss people to view. Dianne & Ken

> Von: Dianne [mailto:[email protected]] > Gesendet: Samstag, 17. August 2002 19:27 > > What genealogy program do the Swiss & Germans use? What sort of "genealogy program" do you mean - the sort of program with a database for vital data and short biographies, images, ... to connect all your family - like PAF? Well - there are dozens - some more popular than others. The next issue of the journal "Computergenealogie" will have tests of such programs as main topic (no use for people without a fair knowledge of German). I guess the most popular programs (for Windows) in the German speaking part of Switzerland are http://www.ontec.ch/ahnenforscher/ and http://www.genealogienetz.de/misc/software/programme/ahnenwin.htm > We tried just converting a descendant list, using a German > translator, but that did not work out so well, it converted > surnames, and names of towns, and everywhere that we > had abbreviated the state of Pennsylvania with PA., > the translator put in the German word for Loud speaker. > We got a laugh out of it all, That can really be the **ONLY** purpose of such programs ;-) ! My recent favourite is civil-clothes-stand-velvet for Zivilstandsamt = Civil Registry Office I also remember the village name Grossbusseneck translated as A large bus hits a corner Just imagine the poor postman confronted with that address plus a zip code. And how about duchy foam castle lip for Herzogtum Schaumburg-Lippe As I said - always good for a laugh - but **NOTHING** else. So whenever you send a mail or forward a text to someone, just forward it in the original language: if the recipient doesn't speak that language, (s)he can have such a translation done her/himself - and in funny cases like the above, there is at least some chance to guess from the original what is going on; if you send only the translated rubbish - no chance. > but it won't do to post on > Ken's website, for Swiss people to view. > > Dianne & Ken > > ==== SWITZERLAND Mailing List ==== > Swiss Resource Site > http://swiss.genealogy.net