tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post4301568686694485417..comments2024-03-26T11:22:41.940-07:00Comments on Genea-Musings: Task 3 - Upload GEDCOM File to Legacy Family Tree 7.5Randy Seaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17477703429102065294noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-27218937915842112382012-09-07T14:10:56.265-07:002012-09-07T14:10:56.265-07:00Randy,
Could this 255 or 256 truncation issue be ...Randy,<br /><br />Could this 255 or 256 truncation issue be a GEDCOM 5.5 or GEDCOM 5.5.1 limitation?<br /><br />I went to the GEDCOM website <br /><br />http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pmcbride/gedcom/55gcch2.htm#SOURCE_DESCRIPTION<br /><br />and found this:<br /><br /><br />SOURCE_DESCRIPTION: = {Size=1:248}<br />A free form text block used to describe the source from which information was obtained. This text block is used by those systems which cannot use a pointer to a source record. It must contain a descriptive title, who created the work, where and when it was created, and where is source data stored. The developer should encourage users to use an appropriate style for forming this free form bibliographic reference. Developers are encouraged to support the SOURCE_RECORD method of reporting bibliographic reference descriptions. <br /><br /><br />At the top of that listing, talks about 248, but what does that mean. Earlier, on that website, that number would indicate the "minimum" field length.<br /><br />Here is that quote:<br /><br />The field sizes show the minimum recommended field length within a database that is constrained to fixed length fields. The field sizes are in addition to the GEDCOM level and tag overhead. GEDCOM lines are limited to 255 characters. However, the CONCatenation or CONTinuation tags can be used to expand a field beyond this limit. CONT line implies that a new line should appear to preserve formatting. CONC implies concatenation to the previous line without a new line. This is used so that a text note or description can be processed (word wrapped) in a text window without fixed carriage returns. The CONT and CONC tags are being used to extend specified textual values.<br /><br /><br />Please understand and am NOT a GEDCOM expert, but IF I have read this correctly, this truncation issue is in the implementation of the (very old) GEDCOM "standards".<br /><br />Perhaps a GEDCOM expert or software developer can help clarify this for us.<br /><br />RussCousin Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00326890362591254874noreply@blogger.com