* MacOS or Browser program to import/ export Gedcom with FH

[jimlad68]

A family member wants to start keying up genealogy data but only has a MacOS 10.9 and does not not want to run a Windows emulator. I am fairly sure FH will not run on it but I want to advise her to run something that is good for sharing data with FH, ideally via Gedcom files.

I have very little knowledge of things Mac and would be interested to know of programs for the Mac that are reasonably compatible with FH/ Gedcom, at least to the point where I can export a Gedcom file and they can import it without much fuss. They will not be doing a lot of deep genealogy, so it does not have to support anything fancy, indeed, they would be more likely to share things via the internet (either pdf files or browser style).

A browser based program/ website style might be good enough.

The main criteria being good Gedcom import/export, that would also allow future transfer to another program (so that leaves out FTM and Ancestry.com trees!).

GEDitCOM II "sounds" like it should fit the bill and does not seem too expensive.

[Valkrider]

I think it is worth getting FH running under Crossover / Wine but if your family member will not do it this way then take a look at Heredis.

[mjashby]

Jim,

I have a copy of GEDitCOM II (updated) 2 days ago, and yes, it's the nearest equivalent on Mac OS X to Family Historian, and unlike all other Mac programs it saves to a fully compliant Gedcom 'database':

It has:
- the same Gedcom export features as Family Historian for exchanging data.
- Similar scripting facilities for extensions/plugins but using Applescript/Python rather than Lua.
- Some interesting features not available to Family Historian users (up to Version 5), e.g. It's possible to put tables into notes using HTML scripting.
- User Group on Google Groups - much less active than FHUG but the program author(s) is/are very responsive.
- The only major feature missing seems to be the Source-based input feature that Ancestral Sources offers to Family Historian users, but without Nick Walker's efforts FH users would be in the same position.

Worth exploring if running Family Historian is not an option, especially if you want to be able to exchange/share Gedcom files. A trial version is available from the Website http://www.geditcom.com and a quick skim through some of the Tutorials might give you an idea of whether or not it would be suitable.

Hope that helps.

Mervyn

[tatewise]

Jim, from our discussions on the related threads Standard v Custom GEDCOM (11361) and GEDCOM Between Various Programs (11326) you will be aware that genealogy programs have difficulties exchanging GEDCOM with each other, because most (including FH) use customised tags.

Even though GEDitCOM and FH have GEDCOM compliant data does NOT ensure reliable data exchange.

As has been discussed, the main problem areas are custom _ATTRibutes with values, and Multimedia Record linked FILE tags.
However, since both programs have scripting Plugins any incompatibilities should be solvable.

[mjashby]

I agree with everything Mike says: The only way of knowing would be to test both applications ability to exchange data with sample files.

The only thing I can add to previous comments is that you can check out the current list of GEDitCOM extensions at - http://www.geditcom.com/extensions/index.html

They include Extensions for export and for Testing/'Repairing' imported Gedcom files. The Repair Gedcom Extension description simply says: "This extension can fix known issues in GEDCOM files obtained from other sources. The current options fix known errors from GEDCOM files created by Reunion, Family Roots, or FamilySearch.org. The options in this extension are based on sample files and fix the issues in those files. Other issues may be found and can be added to these scripts as needed. You should always run a "Validate GEDCOM Data..." report on new GEDCOM file to detect issues or see if they have been repaired by this extension." Seems like an honest approach and doesn't claim that everything will be O.K.

I've run a few tests on output from FH, TMG and RootsMagic and haven't experienced any significant problems, but that could have been pure luck that offending features weren't used/present in my files.

To follow up Valkrider's suggested alternative, the Mac version of Heredis is only available through Mac App Store (£39.99), although a trial version is available from the Heredis website. They seem to have joined the FTM bandwagon of annual paid updates, and sell solely through the App Store means you pay full price for every upgrade unless Heredis reduces their price for everyone during an introductory period, which I believe they have done previously.

Mervyn

[jimlad68]

Many thanks for those excellent responses, they all seem very viable, and, as with most things Mac they seem more expensive (I'll not repeat the discussions I have with my son!). For the moment it will not be "expert" genealogy, hence my desire for the data to be "portable" in the future.

I was hoping as a starter there might be a free/low cost "browser" style tree builder that could be accessed from both Windows and Mac. Ancestry.com trees are out of the question due to their none Gedcom notes, I might give findmypast trees a check out.

[mjashby]

Jim,

Cross platform and free:

You could have a look at Ancestris. It's an open source beta product and a Java app that works on Windows, Mac and Linux: en.ancestris.org. It has an interface that you might be very familiar with! The database is gedcom, so no export and can be read by any text processor

And, of course there's also Gramps but that does take a fair bit of getting used to and you might have issues with gedcom transfer as Mike has said.

Mervyn