Re: [LDS] Indexing a book with lots of names and locations

[Joe Louks]

Everett,

I think that Ellen explained it quite well.

What I was saying was in reference to using a program to store all of
your Genealogy files. I use PAF. Others use FTM, Legacy, BK, TMG and
others. Gedcom allows the sharing of information between programs. I
convert what I want to send to a Gedcom file, send it, and the
recipients Program coverts it into their programs format. It does not
work with spreadsheets, leaving one with the option of making a hard
copy, sending it, and the recipient typing the information into their
program. Where I have encountered this as a problem was with someone who
had been doing genealogy long before computers were available. When they
stated using the computer to store their Data, Genealogy programs had
not yet been developed. So they made their own. 

I understand that Excel is an excellent spreadsheet program. I don't
have a need for that much power so I don't have it on my machine. 
It appears that you have used it extensively and prefer to use it for
all of your needs. As I said previously, to each his own.

Joe

Everett MARSHALL wrote:
> 
> Hi Joe,
> 
> Thanks for your letter.
> Excel is possibly the most popular 'spreadsheet program' used as a database.
> It is so user friendly and excellent for single or multiple sorts.
> 
> Gedcom is a mystery to me.  I have opened a gedcom file in a text editor and seen 
>the 'format' of headings duplicated
> many, many times for every 'entry'.  The purpose seems to be for exchange of info 
>from one genealogical program to
> another.   It certainly is NOT as popular as Excel.
> 
> What do you like about GEDCOM?  Do you feel it is better than Excel because you can 
>export it to another user?
> Would you use GEDCOM to ' Index a book with lots of names and locations?'
> 
> I cannot compare Gedcom - as I do not know it.
> I have seen recently that LDS -  may  have released a NEW version of Gedcom.  I do 
>consider looking closer at this.
> Are you aware of the recent GEDCOM version?
> I do not see printed books about Gedcom.  Have I not looked in the right places?
> Please comment.
> everett
> 
> ~~
>


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