Handle multiple names safely in software
Nov 29, 2010 16:44:55 GMT -5
Post by Doug 周 on Nov 29, 2010 16:44:55 GMT -5
A thread and private email from Wingtang<=click questioned how to handle the multiple Chinese names. I wanted to share my answer and thoughts for those with similar questions on the handling of multiple names on a genealogy computer program. I have always emphasized the importance of having multiple name fields in a program configured for Chinese heritage. Yet on a different thread I wrote the importance of being able to download your data into a GEDCOM file, and being able to retrieve it back out from another program. As a reminder, the GEDCOM file is the DNA or chromosome of your living genealogy information. The GEDCOM contains the code of family relationships, birth order, date & location of birth and/or death, sources, etc. These two requirements can cause enough conflict that makes it so hard to recommend one genealogy software program.
Multiple names:
Our Chinese ancestors have multiple names. Even contemporary overseas people of Chinese heritage have their their host country names, Chinese names, and romanized names. In the USA there were paper names. After emigration, names may have been changed in the new homelands to foster better assimilation.
Handling multiple names is not a standard feature in many genealogy programs. In modern times, names given at birth become the legal name which afford certain valuable rights. Prior to 1950, with Chinese governmental changes and social turmoil, names were frequently not recorded until you became of marriageable age. Frequently these were the Zi names. In fact, my 90 year old father in-law asked me to make sure his Hao name (a name he chose for himself) is inserted into his clan’s published jiapu (if and when I eventually find it) rather than his given name.
The only program which will handle multiple names natively are the sister programs PhpGedView and Webtrees. See screen shot below of Webtrees.
However, if you are most comfortable with using another software program, and assuming that your program can handle Chinese characters (see unicode<=click), an easy way to add Chinese characters is to append them at the end of the first or last name field. This will not display as well as PhpGedView or Webtrees, but is a good work-around.
Below are the given characters appended to the given romanized name, and the surname characters appended to the romanized surname. Notice I am using the current Chinese method of the surname displayed as all CAPS.
You can also use the nickname field, the prefix (eg. Mr., Dr.,), or the suffix field (eg. Jr., III). This data will be stored in your GEDCOM. Below the full 3 character are appended in the prefix field
However, most display name fields such as in Geni will NOT be stored within GEDCOM. You should always check your GEDCOM see GEDCOM Veracity<=click. PhpGedView and WebTrees will store the displayed name into GEDCOM, thanks to Kerry's work<click. BTW the latter two programs also have modules which you can within 1 click view what the GEDCOM will look like for that particular profile. Very convenient.
Finally, make use of the notes field to add your additional names. Here is a Geni profile where I simply pasted the multiple name data directly from GEDCOM into the ‘About’ or miscellaneous note field (the numbers and capitalized field names are GEDCOM terminology and are not a necessity);
Finally, if your program cannot handle unicode, then you can add an image of the Chinese character. If your program cannot handle images, then you really should upgrade to a more modern software. The downside of these work-arounds is the inability to do handle both internal and external searches (necessary if you have over 500 profiles) see Getting your family tree to a Chinese audience.
GEDCOM dilemma
The GEDCOM file format is version 5.51 and is an ancient 11 years old. Software evolves much quicker than the standards for GEDCOM. Look at how mapping and GPS coordinates and face tagging are now integral parts of modern genealogy software.
However, it is still the only standard with which to ‘safely’ transfer data back and forth between two programs. Quoted from the 1999 Gedcom manual, multiple names are a GEDCOM standard:
I said ‘safely’ transfer data, but not necessarily accurately. Taking the GEDCOM-is-DNA analogy further, consider each software genealogy program as an individual species. We all know of the example where transferring the DNA (cross species breeding) of a horse with a donkey results in a mule. The transfer is not perfect, since the mule is sterile and cannot breed. Similarly, transfers of GEDCOM data from one program to a different program may result in unforeseen problems. You not only need to take into account the program generating the GEDCOM, but the program receiving the GEDCOM. See Kerry's experience: First look at RootsMagic.
The safest way to insure your multiple Chinese names are transferred is to list the multiple names into the miscellaneous note sections, like the Geni example above. You will at least have the data archived in your new genealogy program with which to manipulate it later (you never want to lose data!).
In summary:
I usually recommend the free Geni.com service for newbies wanting to get started with a software program. Once you are comfortable with the terminology, navigating the program, and the features of Geni (which represents most of the advances in genealogy software), and after accumulating 500 profiles, export your GEDCOM and use the freeware Webtrees or PhpGedView<click (sister open sourced programs written by the same group of programmers). The latter two programs are technically harder to install, but provide many more features. Both can be installed onto your computer as local programs but require you configuring your local computer as a web server. PhpGedView has matured and probably will not change anymore, whereas the same programmers have moved to Webtrees and have streamlined the computer code and are constantly upgrading. If you have further questions, please private email me by clicking on my name link above my photo on the left.
Doug
Multiple names:
Our Chinese ancestors have multiple names. Even contemporary overseas people of Chinese heritage have their their host country names, Chinese names, and romanized names. In the USA there were paper names. After emigration, names may have been changed in the new homelands to foster better assimilation.
Handling multiple names is not a standard feature in many genealogy programs. In modern times, names given at birth become the legal name which afford certain valuable rights. Prior to 1950, with Chinese governmental changes and social turmoil, names were frequently not recorded until you became of marriageable age. Frequently these were the Zi names. In fact, my 90 year old father in-law asked me to make sure his Hao name (a name he chose for himself) is inserted into his clan’s published jiapu (if and when I eventually find it) rather than his given name.
The only program which will handle multiple names natively are the sister programs PhpGedView and Webtrees. See screen shot below of Webtrees.
However, if you are most comfortable with using another software program, and assuming that your program can handle Chinese characters (see unicode<=click), an easy way to add Chinese characters is to append them at the end of the first or last name field. This will not display as well as PhpGedView or Webtrees, but is a good work-around.
Below are the given characters appended to the given romanized name, and the surname characters appended to the romanized surname. Notice I am using the current Chinese method of the surname displayed as all CAPS.
You can also use the nickname field, the prefix (eg. Mr., Dr.,), or the suffix field (eg. Jr., III). This data will be stored in your GEDCOM. Below the full 3 character are appended in the prefix field
However, most display name fields such as in Geni will NOT be stored within GEDCOM. You should always check your GEDCOM see GEDCOM Veracity<=click. PhpGedView and WebTrees will store the displayed name into GEDCOM, thanks to Kerry's work<click. BTW the latter two programs also have modules which you can within 1 click view what the GEDCOM will look like for that particular profile. Very convenient.
Finally, make use of the notes field to add your additional names. Here is a Geni profile where I simply pasted the multiple name data directly from GEDCOM into the ‘About’ or miscellaneous note field (the numbers and capitalized field names are GEDCOM terminology and are not a necessity);
Finally, if your program cannot handle unicode, then you can add an image of the Chinese character. If your program cannot handle images, then you really should upgrade to a more modern software. The downside of these work-arounds is the inability to do handle both internal and external searches (necessary if you have over 500 profiles) see Getting your family tree to a Chinese audience.
GEDCOM dilemma
The GEDCOM file format is version 5.51 and is an ancient 11 years old. Software evolves much quicker than the standards for GEDCOM. Look at how mapping and GPS coordinates and face tagging are now integral parts of modern genealogy software.
However, it is still the only standard with which to ‘safely’ transfer data back and forth between two programs. Quoted from the 1999 Gedcom manual, multiple names are a GEDCOM standard:
Multiple Names:
GEDCOM 5.x requires listing different names in different NAME structures, with the preferred instance first, followed by less preferred names. However, Personal Ancestral File and other products that only handle one name may use only the last instance of a name from a GEDCOM transmission. This causes the preferred name to be dropped when more than one name is present. The same thing often happens with other multiple-instance tags when only one instance was expected by the receiving system.
GEDCOM 5.x requires listing different names in different NAME structures, with the preferred instance first, followed by less preferred names. However, Personal Ancestral File and other products that only handle one name may use only the last instance of a name from a GEDCOM transmission. This causes the preferred name to be dropped when more than one name is present. The same thing often happens with other multiple-instance tags when only one instance was expected by the receiving system.
I said ‘safely’ transfer data, but not necessarily accurately. Taking the GEDCOM-is-DNA analogy further, consider each software genealogy program as an individual species. We all know of the example where transferring the DNA (cross species breeding) of a horse with a donkey results in a mule. The transfer is not perfect, since the mule is sterile and cannot breed. Similarly, transfers of GEDCOM data from one program to a different program may result in unforeseen problems. You not only need to take into account the program generating the GEDCOM, but the program receiving the GEDCOM. See Kerry's experience: First look at RootsMagic.
The safest way to insure your multiple Chinese names are transferred is to list the multiple names into the miscellaneous note sections, like the Geni example above. You will at least have the data archived in your new genealogy program with which to manipulate it later (you never want to lose data!).
In summary:
- Append Chinese characters to a romanized name
- Use the prefix field, suffix, and nickname fields
- Use an image of the Chinese characters.
- List extra names into a miscellaneous note section to insure backup
- Check your GEDCOM for accuracy.
- Display names are NOT saved
I usually recommend the free Geni.com service for newbies wanting to get started with a software program. Once you are comfortable with the terminology, navigating the program, and the features of Geni (which represents most of the advances in genealogy software), and after accumulating 500 profiles, export your GEDCOM and use the freeware Webtrees or PhpGedView<click (sister open sourced programs written by the same group of programmers). The latter two programs are technically harder to install, but provide many more features. Both can be installed onto your computer as local programs but require you configuring your local computer as a web server. PhpGedView has matured and probably will not change anymore, whereas the same programmers have moved to Webtrees and have streamlined the computer code and are constantly upgrading. If you have further questions, please private email me by clicking on my name link above my photo on the left.
Doug