* Lost sentences using Export Gedcom plugin

[TennGen1900]

I'm trying to export from FH7 to RM8 using the Export Gedcom plugin. I use the preset settings for RM provided within the plugin, but when I am in RM8 after the import, the majority of my sentences (for both principles and witnesses) do not transfer. Message within RM8 where the sentence would normally appear is that there is no sentence defined. However, FH7 has sentences and they all seem OK there.
I did not see any specific boxes on the various Options tabs within the plugin that directly related to Sentences. I did try an export using the "Export Fact Definitions" on the Extra Options tab. Did not appear to make any difference in RM8 whether I had Export Fact Definitions checked or not.
Note that my FH7 file was originally imported from TMG. I've been doing lots of cleanup within FH7 but overall sentences seem mostly fine in FH7, so I don't know why they seem to disappear during export to RM8. I'm also not very good with gedcom and the tech side of things, so even if it is something obvious, or one little box that I missed checking, I might not know about it. Thank you.

[tatewise]

Firstly, you are doing nothing wrong, so I will try to explain what is happening.

When you imported from TMG to FH that process does not use GEDCOM but FH reads the TMG database directly.
That allows FH to transfer and to some extent convert the TMG Sentences to match FH Sentence Templates.
The conversion is not 100% perfect but is mostly quite accurate.

When exporting from FH and importing to RM8 using a GEDCOM file we are constrained by what is explicitly defined in the GEDCOM specification. Sentence Templates do not form part of that specification.
As you found, there is an Export Fact Definitions option but that only works if the Destination product understands the format of those custom definitions. The GedSite product does understand many of them but RM8 does not.

It is theoretically possible to write a Plugin that transfers FH data directly to the RM8 database including Sentence Templates.
The snag is that users would want a similar Plugin written for many other products such as Heredis, Legacy, TNG, etc, and each one would be significantly different to suit each product's database structure.
Whereas, using the GEDCOM format as an interface means that the bulk of the conversions are the same for all products.

[TennGen1900]

Thank you for the explanation. Glad to know I'm "doing nothing wrong."

[TennGen1900]

So here's what I'm wondering, though. Although I've been working more within FH7 now than TMG, I've still be on the fence about wholeheartedly jumping in to FH7. If all of my sentences are going to "disappear" because FH7 is so based upon Gedcom - that is a LOT of data I would have to recreate entirely if I ever migrate to another future program (such as RM8 or any others that might be developed in the future.). "Future migratability" - esp. of all of my old TMG data (including notes, sentences, roles, witnesses, events, etc. -- all of the customizations that I had there) is still a key feature to me. And I'm still looking for the best match for that. So if those sentences won't "convert" in future exports since Gedcom does not recognize them - gee, that is a lot of information lost. Therefore wondering if converting TMG to FH7 is worth it after all. I know that is not a plugin issue - but the fact that this info does not transfer certainly gives me pause when considering continuing w/FH7. Again, appreciate the help and explanation. Thank you.

[tatewise]

I've moved this to the Importing and Exporting forum which seems more appropriate as the scope of this thread has widened to more general product migration.

I think there are few options for migrating all that data from TMG to another product.
TMG is no longer supported so its features and bugs are frozen in time.
FH V7 is actively supported and regularly gains new features. It appears near or at the top of many reviews.
Moving to FH V7 allows a very large proportion of your data to migrate so you are no worse off in that respect.
There are possible ways forward with FH V7 because it is actively supported not just by CP but also by this user group.
There is unlikely to be any way forward with TMG because development has ceased.
I believe FH V7 has a much richer set of features than TMG and most other products.

GEDCOM is evolving, FH V6 used GEDCOM 5.5, and FH V7 adopted V5.5.1 and now supports GEDCOM V7.
There are also several defacto GEDCOM standards for Shared Fact Witnesses, Sort Dates, etc.
Most other products are also governed by GEDCOM for importing and exporting unless they have produced a specific conversion for specific products.

Of the migration items you listed, namely notes, sentences, roles, witnesses & events, only sentences are likely to be a problem and there is essentially only one defined per fact/event/attribute, so not really a LOT of data. Whereas there could be thousands of those other items that are not a problem. So keep things in proportion.

See https://www.gedcomassessment.com/ for an independent and objective assessment of GEDCOM V5.5.1 features supported by various products. Note that FH V6 is assessed and FH V7 does rather better.