1. What is the purpose of GEDCOM-L?

GEDCOM-L GEnealogical Data Communications Specs Mailing List

This list is for the discussion of most any info pertaining to the enhancement of the GEnealogical Data COMmunications (GEDCOM) data format.

It is an unmoderated list for the discussion of ideas concerning how Genealogical Data is now stored in GEDCOM data files, and how GEDCOM may be changed or enhanced to help programmers take advantage of the many new ways to interface their paper files with a computer program which will handle all their information, and store it in a useful way.

GEDCOM-L has been created to provide a forum for discussion between anyone who is interested. It provides a method for their comments to be seen, read, and stored for others to see in the future.

Please note that this list is NOT sponsored or otherwise recognized by LDS, although the members of LDS or anyone are certainly welcome to subscribe and participate in this list.

*** Warning: This list is not for the storage of GEDCOM files, so please do not send such to this list as a medium for that purpose.

Please do not send single messages which are longer than 10,000 bytes. Please do not cross-post messages to ROOTS-L or LINES-L which you are posting to the GEDCOM-L List.

Topics such as standardization in the future will be a main concern, and any reasonable suggestions are welcome. This list is open to anyone wishing to SUBSCRIBE and especially those who are developers of Genealogical Software. Discussion of topics specific to the problems of the current specifications, and why there are so many different 'so-called' standards at present, are encouraged. Topics on this list may include any aspects of the GEDCOM Data format and it's development for future users of Genealogical software.

Such as: - Comments on GEDCOM standards - Rumors about GEDCOM specs - Research tool development - Tips on using GEDCOM file transfer - Design techniques - Techniques for processing GEDCOM - Development practices - Reviews of systems that use GEDCOM - Authoring techniques - General info on genealogical data - GEDCOM data format - General comments about GEDCOM - Suggested additions to GEDCOM - Software questions concerning GEDCOM