[XDB-users] Usefulness of Xbase/Dbase file format with varying records

[Michael C. <coo...@ma...>]

I am in the planning/early code stages of creating a genealogy program for Linux.  I was already considering using the Dbase file format for my program for the last couple of months and I just saw your library today.  I was, however, planning to change the file format to suit my needs a bit better.

Perhaps someone can help me a bit.  The main problem I am facing is that for each "record" (person in the database),  there will be a large variation in the data stored.  There will be a varying number of events/dates stored for each person.  Ideally, I will copy the good commercial Windows programs by having virtually unlimited number of dates stored for each person.  Second, for each date, there will have to be support for a large number (ideally virtually unlimited) number of source records.  There will also have to be support for a varying number of children for each family with support for large numbers of sets of parents (natural, adopted, step parent, etc) and multiple spouses for
each person.

I hope someone understands what I am trying to say.  Perhaps someone can give me an idea if the Xbase/Dbase/XDB file format and library is capable of being this versitile   If not, could someone give me any idea of how I might be able to go about laying out the file format for this type of database, or any other free/freeware database toolkit/library I could use to create the database format needed in my creation?  I do have an idea how to do it, just not the fine details, especially the index system.  Thanks.

---
Michael Cooper
coo...@ma...
Newfoundland Grand Banks
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/NGB/index.html

Newfoundland Genealogy Surname Interests: Banton/Branton,
Belbin,Cooper,Day,Drover,Green,Hillier,Mercer,Newhook,
Peddle,Piercey,Rodway,Smith,Temple,Thorn,White

England Surname Interests:Hillier,Newhook,Rodway,Temple



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