1. What is the purpose of LINES-L?

This information is from Dr. Thomas Wetmore, author of LifeLines.

I'm sure you have several questons:

The LifeLines genealogy program ONLY runs on UNIX or Xenix systems which are using the 486/386 based processor or UNIX on the Sun 3/4 machines. It maintains genealogical (person and family) records in a database, and generates reports from those records. There are no current plans for this program to run on a MSDOS based operating system.

There are no practical limits on the number of persons and families that can be stored in a LifeLines database, nor are there any restrictions on the amount or kinds of data that can be stored in the database.

LifeLines does not contain built-in reports. Instead, it provides a report generation subsystem that allows you to program your own reports and charts. LifeLines uses the terminal independent features of UNIX to provide a panels and menu based user interface that is simple and intuitive.

( Here is a copy of the first message which was posted by Dr. Thomas Wetmore, about his LifeLines Program)

I am making my UNIX genealogical system, LifeLines, available for beta testers. LifeLines is an experimental, second-generation system that will probably not be commercialized. This is not an advertisement. I have no vested interest in your interest or disinterest. Hit "n" now if this type of post offends you.

Features of LifeLines include:

• unlimited (for all practical purposes) database size
• unlimited (for all practical purposes) database record sizes
• any number of events of any type per person or family
• any number of attributes of any type per person or family
• any number of general notes or file references per person or family
• no restrictions on the type or quantity of data stored about persons or families
• no restrictions on family sizes or numbers of spouses
• no restrictions on date or place formats or lengths
• no restrictions on number of names per person, components per name, or lengths of name components
• database records kept in GEDCOM format
• GEDCOM import, export and extraction
• name access to persons (more important than you may think)
• full complement of browse, add, delete, modify, link operations
• four common sense browsing modes
• all important operations available from browsing modes
• most powerful genealogical report generator in existence
• quick reference guide available

Things you should know and/or agree to before asking me for a copy:

• only available for 386, sun3 and sun4 (sparc) UNIX (includes XENIX)
• uses curses/ETI terminal independent user interface
• power user system -- editing done via screen editors (eg, vi, emacs)
• power user system -- you must structure your data in GEDCOM format
• power user system -- you must learn to program your reports
• beta testing implies you will use the system and provide feedback -- not put it in a corner and let it collect dust
• that being said, you still use it at your own risk -- LifeLines has not crashed a database in many months, but there are no guarentees
• LifeLines is owned and copyrighted by me, and I retain its rights
• my support of LifeLines is strictly informal -- this is my avocation, not my vocation
• a number of substantial features are primitive or missing

My reasons for making LifeLines available are:

• the more and the larger the genealogical databases, the more chances there are that someone is researching my ancestors
• promote the development of second generation features in the genealogical software industry (their dearth in current systems forced me to write LifeLines in the first place)
• influence the GEDCOM standards development in directions other than its current course
• it's a good system; I'll feel good knowing others are using it

Email to me at ttw@shore.net if you are interested, or want to ask questions. (end of first message, posted by Dr. Wetmore)