Gedcom 5.5.1

[Bob White]

Just saw an article regarding that FamilySearch has just released version 5.5.1 -- the first update in many years. Just wondering what effect, if any, this has on the Reunion application.

[Reiner L. Sauer]

Just saw an article regarding that FamilySearch has just released version 5.5.1 -- the first update in many years. Just wondering what effect, if any, this has on the Reunion application.

Finally, this announcement by the GEDCOM-creators is long overdue! The unauthorized and ill-fated GEDCOM 5.5.5 release of Tamura Jones probably was the trigger for the LDS/FamilySearch to revive their copyright. Since 5.5.1 is no longer a draft-release but is now an official release by the copyright holder, let's hope that all developers will follow suit and update their software. Many developers are already doing this. Reunion 12 should finally produce GEDCOM 5.5.1-compatible files so that loss-less data exchange between Reunion 12 and other programs can take place without requiring support by the good folks of the Reunion-team.

The reasons, that the GEDCOM Standard 5.5. is too ambiguous and merely contains rough suggestions, or that 5.5.1 is not official and allows too many interpretations, are no longer valid; this times are gone. Because, all interested parties should be aware, that during the last ten years a lot of work has been done (and is ongoing) on the interpretation and fine-tuning of GEDCOM 5.5.1. GEDCOM-L, a GEDCOM-user group, consisting of some 25 genealogy-software developers has been working on improving the now (new) standard 5.5.1. The results of the GEDCOM-L, worked out, agreed upon and stabilized during the last ten years are posted on:
https://genealogy.net/GEDCOM
https://gitlab.genealogy.net/docpa/g...-master.tar.gz

Hope this is helpful in getting things done.
Happy New Year
Reiner

[B Jansen]

I'm not sure the release of 5.5.5 by Tamura Jones counts as ill-fated if it already got the official GEDCOM to standard updated after it was very long in the tooth. And yes to your point, no more excuses!

[eric.vanbeest]

I think the legal ambiguity surrounding 5.5.5 makes it ill-fated. Ms. Jones did not seek or receive permission from the LDS to re-use text lock stock and barrel, so any derivative works available in the US (e.g. software) may yet receive DCMA take-down notices. No commercial party is going to invest in implementing a legality-encumbered standards proposal - not even the software designers that put their name to the document are doing so...

[Reiner L. Sauer]

…… Ms. Jones ...

Dear Eric, I fully agree, except for the "Ms.", Tamura is a "Mr."