Can some convert a FTM GEDCOM for me please

I wanted to work on some stuff at work tonight. Made the GEDCOM but
saved it in FTM format. My office computer doesn't have it.
Chris

Charlie Hoffpauir...

Chris,

There is virtually no difference between a GEDCOM created by FTM and
any other GEDCOM, except for information that is "specific" to FTM.
What you have probably done is to save the data as a native FTM file
(*.FTW) or a FTM backup file (*.FTB) instead of as a GEDCOM. You
simply need to load it back into FTM and be more careful when
generating the GEDCOM (ie, read the options carefully.... the prompts
are there in FTM, you just have to follow the steps). Fopr someone
else to make the GEDCOM for you, they would have to know what version
of FTM you are using to be certain to make the file correctly.

Sherry...

When you create a gedcom in FTM, make sure that you select to use
abbreviated tags - other programs don't recognize the full names for
the tags.

Joe Roberts...

... Which raises at least three points of curiosity ...

(1) Does anyone know which programs do, and which do not, recognize the
full names of tags?

... Not intending to open up a can of worms. If anyone knows for sure
which programs, in their current versions, do not recognize full tagnames,
that would be a good caveat to pass on to prospective users.

(2) If some programs do recognize them, and others don't, then what's the
reason for even having full tagnames?

... How can GEDCOM become a universal data format if it has a variable
that's optional to the user, but not universally supported?

(3) Is there an LDS recommendation for either full or abbreviated tagnames?

Sherry...

Why FTM even *allows* long (formal) tags is beyond me:

Hugh Watkins...

good morning !!

windows and mac OS do

Hugh W

"If you are using Family Tree Maker, please select PAF as the
destination and be sure that abbreviated tags is checked if it is not
grayed out. Noteven Family Tree Maker can read the GEDCOM files
exported using long tags(tags not abbreviated)."

And at the FTM website, "Abbreviate Tags: Most programs use abbreviated
tags instead of long tags, so it is best to select this check box."

The Gedcom standards Appendix A, which introduces the tags, states:

"Lineage-Linked GEDCOM Tag Definitions
This section provides the definitions of the standardized GEDCOM tags
and shows their formal name inside of the {braces}. The formal names
are not used in place of the tag. Full understanding must come from the
context in which the tag is used."

Charlie Hoffpauir
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