converting Access Database to Gedcom

[Andy B]

Has anyone converted an MS Access database to a gedcom format. If so could you help me convert mine please. I watched a YouTube by Fredric Lapeyre from Ancestris streamed in May of 2021 in which he said he had done it, so it is possible.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=728poLdQZCM ..    I have 15 years work in the database and really don't want to start from scratch    Many thanks

[Zurga]

It's always possible to convert from one format to another.
But, Access is a generic database. Converting it needs some programming and data-mining to check the current definition of the database scheme to create the correct translation program.

How this base has been created ?

Zurga

[Andy B]

As i built the database from scratch it's inner workings are all known to me, so mining it should not be a problem, have already done that for a mapping program and graphical data display software. Just never built a gedcom before

[Zurga]

GEDCOM file is basically a hierarchical file.
Each line is composed by a hierarchical level then a tag then a value

You can find the complete description of the 5.5.1 GEDCOM File here : https://gedcom.io/specifications/ged551.pdf

You can see it as an XML or JSON file where the delimiters are replaced by increasing level number.

For example, this type of thing :
 "indi" : {
                "id" : I001,
                "Name" : {
                                "SURN" : Durand,
                                "GIVN" : John
                               }
                 "Birt" : {
                             "Date" : 16 Nov 1800,
                             "Plac" : London, United Kingdom
                            }
                 }

This can be translated in GEDCOM as :
0 @I001@ INDI
1 NAME John /Durand/
2 SURN Durand
2 GIVN John
1 BIRT
2 DATE 16 NOV 1800
2 PLAC London, United Kingdom

The GEDCOM file has a header to describe what is in and how it is done and a trailer to close the file (0 TRLR )

Zurga

[Andy B]

Thank you. I'll have a look at the link you sent and see what i can do with it.

[Zurga]

The specifications are not very clear on each point.
Don't hesitate to ask questions on it.
Ancestris uses the GEDCOM format as native persistency model, so we have faced almost all difficulties of the specifications.

Zurga