Gendatam   
Frequently Asked Questions

This section provides answers to some questions you might want to ask.

Questions and Answers

• What is Gendatam?

  Gendatam is a genealogical data model, developed to support the computer use of genealogical data.

• What is genealogy?

  Genealogy is, strictly speaking, concerned with defining a person's line of descent.  In other words, with defining someone's family tree.  Some people interpret the term in the broader sense of "family history" where the aim is also to record as much information as possible about the people identified in a family tree.  Genealogy can be pursued at various levels of formality.  Most people find that as more and more information is accumulated, it pays to be well organised.  Genealogical computer programs can be a great help in this.

• How many Genealogical programs are there?

  A large number exist.  These vary considerably in their capabilities.  News on recent versions is published regularly in family history magazines.  Also, various web sites exist which list and compare genealogical programs.

• What is 'genealogical data'?

  Genealogical data may be thought of as information about people, particularly that which describes their ancestory and family history.

• What is a Data Model?

  In general terms, a data model is a description of how data is organised. For instance, one group of data may refer to an individual person and another group of data may refer to an event in that persons life. A computer file containing information on several people will contain many groups of data covering these and other subject areas.  In more technical terms, a data model will describe in some detail the groupings involved, what they contain and how they relate to one another, and may also define ranges of values that can be accommodated. A data model does not need to define any syntax in which the data may be expressed but it may do so.

• What does 'Gendatam' mean?

  'Gendatam' is just a name, it does not have to have a meaning.  However, it is obviously influenced by the term 'a genealogical data model'.

• What is the point of Gendatam?

  Gendatam was developed as a better structured solution to the problem of storing genealogical data compared with other well-known solutions.  Over the years, as personal computing has become more popular, various genealogical data models have been developed.  Gendatam aims to be different from many of these by being published and available for scrutiny and use.

• Is Gendatam different from the usual GEDCOM?

  Gendatam is completely independent of GEDCOM.  We intend to develop and publish a mapping betwen the two in due course.  This would be based on GEDCOM version 5.5 but attempt to take account of all versions of GEDCOM.

• How old is Gendatam?

  Gendatam was first published in September 2002 by Peter J. Seymour as 'A Data Model for Genealogical Programs'.

• What uses Gendatam?

  Gendatam is used by the Gendatam Suite.

• May Gendatam be used by other software?

  Developers are free to use Gendatam in their genealogical software.

• Where can I find more information about genealogy?
  • Try looking at links in our Links to Other Sites section.
  • Try using an internet search engine, searching on a value such as 'genealogy' or 'family history'.  Such a search will return a large number of results, so you may want to use more specific search values.
  • Visit your local Library which will probably have a local and/or family history section.  It may also be worthwhile to find a local Family History Society or other local genealogical group.
  • Read one of the family history magazines available in newsagents.

But What About...?

To find out more, try exploring the other sections of this website or look at the links in our Links to Other Sites section.

Alternatively, If you think another question and answer could usefully be included here, let us know and we will try and oblige.

Email us at  qa@gendatam.com