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Error updating names

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Anonymous
2004-04-29
2004-05-02
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous - 2004-04-29

    First off: great package!

    I've recently installed the latest version under PostNuke, and have been having fun playing with it. I've imported my gedcom file (created with FTree for Linux, v1.8) and have been able to do updates and modify data.

    However, when I try to modify the name of a pre-existing user, I get the following error:

    The $pid variable was empty. Unable to perform update.

    ...followed by a 'powered by' logo, followed by:

    Notice: Undefined variable: gedrec in /var/www/phpGedView/gdbi_interface.php on line 635
    ERROR 4: Could not find gedcom record with xref:

    ...followed by the 'close window' link and another 'powered by' logo.

    Names are showing up as "Firstname Middlename (unknown)" for people who are descendants. So, for instance, my name shows up properly as "Jason Wayne Neiss", but my son's name shows up as "Jacob Carl (unknown)". I assume it's because of a linkage within the gedcom file; the NAME record for my entry is complete, while that for my son is not, but refers to my record via a FAMC tag. Of course, I just pretend I know what I'm talking about... :-)

    If it matters, it's running on my own Linux box, so I've got full geek rights.

    Any ideas?
    Thanks!
    Jason

     
    • John Finlay

      John Finlay - 2004-04-30

      Hi Jason,

      Can you post a sample from your GEDCOM that is causing the errors?

      Thanks,
      --John

       
      • Anonymous

        Anonymous - 2004-04-30

        You bet. Starting at the top, with two complete records:

        0 HEAD
        1 SOUR ftree
        2 VERS 1.8
        2 NAME Ftree for Linux
        1 DATE 08 Jul 2002
        2 TIME 15:20
        1 CHAR ANSI
        1 FILE /home/jneiss/Genealogy/neiss-family.ged
        1 GEDC
        2 VERS 5.5
        2 FORM LINEAGE-LINKED
        0 @I0001@ INDI
        1 NAME Jason Wayne /Neiss/
        1 SEX M
        1 BIRT
        2 DATE 26 Feb 1963
        2 PLAC Berkeley, CA
        2 SOUR
        3 QUAY 3
        1 OCCU Unix Systems Administrator
        1 FAMC @F0003@
        1 FAMS @F0006@
        1 CHAN
        2 DATE  6 Jul 2002

        <next record starts here>
        <snip a bunch in between>

        0 @I0012@ INDI
        1 NAME Jacob Carl Joseph
        1 SEX M
        1 BIRT
        2 DATE  2 May 1988
        1 FAMC @F0006@
        1 CHAN
        2 DATE  6 Jul 2002

        <next record>

        I've got the next release of Ftree, though I haven't used it yet. If there's problems in the way the app produces gedcom files, well, I'll just have to find something else, I suppose...

        Thanks!
        Jason

         
        • Daniel Kionka

          Daniel Kionka - 2004-04-30

          Are you sure you entered a last name for your son?  The line is:

          1 NAME Jacob Carl Joseph

          It should be:

          1 NAME Jacob Carl Joseph /Neiss/

          Genealogy programs are not supposed to deduce the last name by finding someone's father.  It has to be entered explicitly.  Some programs have a short-cut key, like ^F8, to append the father's last name after typing the first name.  Or is your program stripping them out when you export the GEDCOM?

           
          • Anonymous

            Anonymous - 2004-04-30

            Just as I suspected.

            I'm not exporting anything from FTree; I'm merely copying the underlying .ged file that I created with the program. That means one of two things: either I'm a dork and need to add a step between FTree and phpGedView (ie, export to file or something), or FTree isn't following the GEDCOM standard the way it's supposed to.

            Thanks for your help! I can take it from here.

            Jason

             
            • Anonymous

              Anonymous - 2004-05-02

              Update:

              Turns out there's a 'force' button in Ftree that gives the option of either explicitly writing the surname to each person record, or calculating it from the father's name. By selecting this 'force' option, each record now has the correct child surname.

              Sure helps if I read the documentation. I told you I was a dork :-)

              So, if you're running Linux, I can now fully recommend Ftree for Linux as a genealogy program.

              However, the problem in my initial post still exists when attempting to update a name.

              Jason

               

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