* GEDCOM comparison tool

[arthurk]

My planned migration from RootsMagic (v.6) to FH was delayed by a whole variety of things, but I'm now beginning to think about it again. As part of that I need to consider which of RM's GEDCOM output formats to use.

The options allow you to either include or exclude RM-specific details, and how_to:import_from_roots_magic|Import from RootsMagic (RM) suggests excluding them. However, from my initial experiments last year I think some of the RM-specific details may be important: the main one I have found so far is Notes attached to PLACe records, but there might also be an issue with some user-defined facts, though I need to look into this more.

To help me work out what's going on, I'm hoping to find a simple program (ideally free!) which would do a line-by-line comparison of the GEDCOM files so I could see more easily what I'd be likely to lose if I did use the non-RM-specific export. Does anyone have any suggestions, please?

(Once I've done some analysis and worked out the best way forward, I'm thinking it would make sense to post something about it on the Importing and Exporting board, but for now I reckoned that General Usage would be more appropriate. If the Mods disagree, feel free to move this.)

Arthur

[tatewise]

I have moved this to the Importing and Exporting Forum as you expected might happen.

There was a discussion recently on RM migration to FH in Gedcom import errors (13254) with examples of RM-specific Gedcom structures.

Most (if not all) were templates and fact definitions of no use to FH.

In any case virtually everything is preserved in FH, albeit as UDF, which could be post-processed with a custom Plugin. So any comparison of pre-imported Gedcom and post-imported Gedcom would find little difference except the possible adjustment of some tags with an underscore prefix.

Also the FH Exception Report says exactly what is converted on import and if any tags are excluded.

[DonF]

To do a comparison of the 2 files, import each of them into Word (they're just text files basically) and do a Word Compare - you'll find Compare in the Review section of the ribbon.

[DavidNewton]

If you don't have access to Word then Winmerge Portable

http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/ ... e_portable

is a good alternative.

David

[arthurk]

Thanks for the replies:

There was a discussion recently on RM migration to FH in Gedcom import errors (13254) with examples of RM-specific Gedcom structures.

I found that interesting, but it didn't answer my current question.

So any comparison of pre-imported Gedcom and post-imported Gedcom would find little difference except the possible adjustment of some tags with an underscore prefix.

I was actually wanting to compare 2 versions of the pre-import file to see which one was better. DonF seems to have realised this:

To do a comparison of the 2 files, import each of them into Word (they're just text files basically) and do a Word Compare - you'll find Compare in the Review section of the ribbon.

Thanks - I didn't know about that.

Arthur

[arthurk]

If you don't have access to Word then Winmerge Portable

http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/ ... e_portable

is a good alternative.

David

Thanks for that too.

[tatewise]

Sorry, I misunderstood.
I suggest creating a small test Project, that exploits the RM features, to avoid a large repetitive Gedcom, so you can focus on what differs with different export settings.

[arthurk]

Sorry, I misunderstood.
I suggest creating a small test Project, that exploits the RM features, to avoid a large repetitive Gedcom, so you can focus on what differs with different export settings.

Yes, that would be the initial plan, though there's always a chance that the test doesn't include every possible problem. What it's about really is working out what to change in RM and what can wait for the Exception Report.

[tatewise]

Perhaps when you have analysed the options, we could work together to update how_to:import_from_roots_magic|> Import from RootsMagic (RM).

[davidm_uk]

To do a comparison of the 2 files, import each of them into Word (they're just text files basically) and do a Word Compare - you'll find Compare in the Review section of the ribbon.

However don't save those gedcoms from Word and expect them still to work as gedcoms! Word has a nasty habit of wrapping all sorts "junk" around it's files that isn't visible in the Word screen. Just try opening a Word document with Notepad and you'll see what I mean.

Best to use copies of your gedcoms for this comparison and chuck em away afterwards.

[arthurk]

Perhaps when you have analysed the options, we could work together to update how_to:import_from_roots_magic|> Import from RootsMagic (RM).

I'd certainly be happy to help with this, family circumstances and crises permitting, and with a couple of caveats:

1. I'm using RM v.6, and it's now on v.7; I don't think this will affect the GEDCOM options and output much, if at all, but it needs to be noted.
2. There are some things that RM can do and include that I haven't incorporated in my file, so I may not be the best person to comment on these.

However don't save those gedcoms from Word and expect them still to work as gedcoms! Word has a nasty habit of wrapping all sorts "junk" around it's files that isn't visible in the Word screen. Just try opening a Word document with Notepad and you'll see what I mean.

Best to use copies of your gedcoms for this comparison and chuck em away afterwards.

I don't think I would have fallen into this trap, but it's a useful reminder, thank you, and it might help others reading this later.

Arthur