GRAMPS Manual V2.0
This manual describes version 0.9.1 of GRAMPS. +Copyright © 2003 Alex Roitman
Copyright © 2001 Donald N. Allingham
| Revision History | ||
|---|---|---|
| Revision GRAMPS Manual V2.0 | March 2003 | |
| Revision GRAMPS User Manual V1.1 | 2001 | |
| Revision gramps User Manual V1.0 | 2001 | |
- Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1. Why GRAMPS?
- 2. Getting Started
- 3. Main Window
- 3.1. Views
- 3.1.1. Viewing Modes: Sidebar versus Tabs
- 3.1.2. People View
- 3.1.3. Family View
- 3.1.4. Pedigree View
- 3.1.5. Sources View
- 3.1.6. Places View
- 3.1.7. Media View
- 4. Usage
- 4.1. Opening Database
- 4.2. Starting New Database
- 4.3. Saving Database
- 4.4. Importing GEDCOM Data
- 4.5. Exporting GEDCOM Data
- 4.6. Importing and Exporting GRAMPS Packages
- 4.7. Editing
- 4.7.1. Edit Personal Data
- 4.7.2. Edit Relationship Data
- 4.7.3. Edit Children Data
- 4.7.4. Edit Parental Data
- 4.7.5. Edit Sources
- 4.7.6. Edit Places
- 4.7.7. Edit Media Objects
- 4.8. Nevigation
- 4.8.1. Setting Default Person
- 4.8.2. Bookmarking People
- 4.8.3. Using Family View
- 4.8.4. Using Pedigree View
- 4.9. Generating Reports
- 4.10. Running Tools
- 5. Settings
- 5.1. Usage
- 5.1.1. Find
- 5.1.2. Report Preferences
- 5.1.3. Researcher Information
- 5.1.4. Data Guessing
- 5.2. Display
- 5.2.1. General
- 5.2.2. Dates and Calendar
- 5.2.3. Tool and Status Bars
- 5.3. Database
- 5.3.1. General
- 5.3.2. Media Objects
- 5.3.3. GRAMPS internal IDs
- 5.3.4. Revision Control
- 6. About GRAMPS
1. Introduction
The GRAMPS is a genealogical + application. GRAMPS is an acronym for the + Genealogical Research and Analysis Management Programming System. To put + it shortly, it allows you to store, edit, and research genealogical data + using your computer. Its functionality is somewhat common to other + genealogical programs. However, GRAMPS offers + some unique features.
1.1. Why GRAMPS?
GRAMPS was conceived under the concept + that most genealogy programs were designed to provide the researcher the + capability to input information related to a particular family tree. + Most of these programs have allowed for the arranging and storing of + information consistent with the GEDCOM standards. They usually provide + means for displaying descendant or ancestral relationships by means of + graphical displays, charts, or reports. These may be augmented with + pictures or other media to enhance the data. Most provide for inputting + data on unconnected individuals/families that may or may not have a + relationship to the primary surname being researched. Various other + enhancements may also be provided in the genealogical program that + allows for different degrees of importing and exporting data from other + programs and printing the data contained in the various reports.
GRAMPS, on the other hand, attempts to + provide all of the common capabilities of these programs, but, more + importantly, to provide an additional capability of integration not common + to these programs. This is the ability to input any bits and pieces of + information directly into GRAMPS and + rearrange/manipulate any/all data events in the entire data base (in any + order or sequence) to assist the user in doing research, analysis and + correlation with the potential of filling relationship gaps. In short, a + tool that provides a way to input all your research into one place and do + your analysis and correlation using the speed, power, and accuracy of your + computer instead of pencils and unmanageable reams of paper.
2. Getting Started
2.1. To Start GRAMPS
You can start GRAMPS in the + following ways:
- Applications menu
Choose Other->Gramps.
- Command line
To start GRAMPS + from a command line, type gramps, then + press Return.
If you would like GRAMPS to open + a specific database or to import a specific file on startup, you can + supply the filename as a command line argument:
gramps filename.ged +
where filename.ged is the name + of the file you want to open/import.
2.2. Running GRAMPS for the first time
+ + The first time you run the program, GRAMPS will display its + Getting Started screens.
2.2.1. Choosing a database on startup
If GRAMPS is started without any + database to open, the following window will appear prompting you to + choose what database to open.
If you would like to open an existing database, check the top radio + button and click OK. You will then be asked to + specify the name of your existing database. If you would like to start + creating your brand new database from scratch right away, choose new XML + database.
2.2.2. Optional ZODB support
If either StandaloneZODB or Zope is installed on your system, + GRAMPS will give you the third option of + creating a new ZODB database. You can choose to start your new database + in either XML or ZODB format. Both formats have their strong and weak + points.
XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language, and is a human readable + sctructured description of data. It could be easily parsed by other + programs should the need occur. It stores only the data itself. Its weak + point is the relatively low speed of processing large data files.
ZODB stands for Zope Object Database and provides the full-fledged + database support. ZODB files are not human readable. They contain a + certain overhead to assist working with large data structures. However, + ZODB provides a significant speed-up when the database size is large (over + few thousand people).
Its is hard to tell which format is better, since this is a typical + tradeoff situation. If you are starting your research then you are likely + to be fine with the regular XML database. If you have tons of data to + import describing thousands upon thousands of people, then you are + probably better of with ZODB.
3. Main Window
When you open a database (either existing or brand new), + the following window is displayed.
The GRAMPS window contains the following elements:
- Menubar.
The menubar provides access to all features of + GRAMPS through its menus.
- Toolbar.
The toolbar provides access to the most frequently + used functions of GRAMPS. The appearance of + the toolbar can be adjusted in Preferences + dialog.
- Progress bar.
The progress bar is located in the lower left corner + of the GRAMPS window. It displays the + progress of time consuming operations, such as opening and saving + large data bases, importing and exporting to other formats, generating + web-sites, etc.
- Statusbar.
The statusbar is located to the right of the progress + bar, on the very bottom of the GRAMPS window. + It displays information about current GRAMPS + activity and contextual information about the menu items. + The behavior of the Status line can be adjusted in + Preferences dialog.
- Display area.
The largest are in the center of the + GRAMPS window is the display area. + It shows certain aspects of genealogical information, depending on the + currently selected View. There are six Views available + in GRAMPS: Section 3.1.2, + Section 3.1.3, Section 3.1.4, + Section 3.1.5, Section 3.1.6, + and Section 3.1.7.
3.1. Views
Views are the various ways to display different aspects of + genealogical information, as described below. Since the relevant + information is very broad and non-uniform in both context and modality, + it is best to split it's display into smaller categories, uniform in + context and modality. Each View represents such a split and displays a + certain portion of overall available information. Before the detailed + description of available Views, let us guide you through the ways of + switching between the Views.
3.1.1. Viewing Modes: Sidebar versus Tabs
Depending on the state of the View->Sidebar menu item, the View could be switched either in the + sidebar or in the notebook tabs in the top part of the window. + To switch the View, click on the desired sidebar icon or the notebook + tab. To switch between sidebar and notebook viewing modes, + choose View->Sidebar from the GRAMPS menu.
3.1.2. People View
When GRAMPS opens a database, + the View is set to the People View. People View lists individuals + whose data is stored in the database. People View displays people's + Names, GRAMPS + ID numbers, Gender, and + their Birth and Death dates. + The list can be ordered by any field.
Example: to order list by the Birth date, click on the + Birth date column heading. To order list in + reverse (descending) order, click one more time on the desired column + heading.
3.1.2.1. Filters
Genealogical databases may contain huge numbers of people. + Since the long lists are hard for humans to handle, + GRAMPS provides a convenient way to limit + the scope of browsing by using the Filter. To save screen space, + Filter controls may be hidden, depending on the state of + View->Filter menu item.
When GRAMPS opens a database, the + Filter is set to the trivial filter called All + people, i.e. no filtering is in effect. To choose a + filter, use a pop-up Filter menu above the + people's list. Once the Filter is chosen, click + Apply in the upper right corner of the + window. The filtering will take effect upon clicking + Apply. To invert the filtering rule, check + the Invert box on the left + of Apply button.
Example: To show people without children, choose + People with children filter, then check + Invert box, and then click + Apply. To cancel any filtering, set + the filter to All people + and then click Apply.
Note: even if the Filter controls are not displayed + (View->Filter menu item is + unchecked), the filtering might still be in place. In other words, + the visibility of the Filter controls is not related to the actual + filtering imposed on the list. This may be a cause of confusion, when + you enable the filtering and then remove the controls from the + display. If in doubt, enable the display of Filter controls by + checking View->Filter menu item and check + what kind of filtering is currently set.
3.1.2.2. Alphabetical Tabs
GRAMPS offers another way of + managing long lists of people -- alphabetical tabs. Upon loading a + database, GRAMPS checks for the stored + Family names and breaks the people list into sublists based on the + first letter of their name. The alphabetical tabs are displayed in + the bottom part of the GRAMPS window. + The last tab, "Other," stands for unidentified characters -- all + the entries not assigned to any other tab end up in "Others."
3.1.3. Family View
Family View displays the Family information of a currently + selected (or Active) person. Specifically, this view shows the + relationships (e.g marriages, partnerships, etc.) of the active + person, his/her parents (or step parents, or guardians, etc), and + his/her children (could be step children, adopted children, etc.). +
The Active person's data is in the list-box in the upper left + corner of the window. Directly below it, another box lists the Spouse's + data, for each relationship of Active person (can be more than one). + The double-arrow button to the right of the Active person list-box + allows to exchange the currently selected spouse (Current spouse) + with the Active person. Double-clicking on the Active person allows + to edit Active person's data. Double-clicking on the Current spouse + allows to edit their relationship information. To add a spouse, + click + to the right of the spouse box. + To remove Current spouse, click - to the + right of the spouse box.
The parents of both the Active person and the Current spouse + are listed in the corresponding list-boxes in the right-hand part of + the window (Active person's parents on top, Current spouse parents + on the bottom). Both list-boxes have a set of three buttons on their + right side. The + and - + buttons allow to add and remove parents of the Active person and the + Current spouse, respectively. Clicking -> + makes the family in the corresponding list-box and active family. + That is, it makes the selected Father the Active person, and the + selected Mother the Current spouse.
The bottom list-box displays children of the Active person and + the Current Spouse. Children's list can be order by the Birth date, + by usual way of clicking on the Birth date column + header. In addition to the Name, + ID, Gender, and + Birth date columns, the list includes + Status column. The pair of status words reflect the + relationship between the child and his Father/Mother (such as Birth, Adoption, + etc.) The three buttons are available on the right side of the + children list-box. The + + and + buttons allow to add and remove + children, respectively. Pressing <- makes + the selected child the Active person.
3.1.4. Pedigree View
Pedigree View helps to visualize the place of the Active + person in the tree of its ancestors. Pedigree View shows four + generations, going back in time from the Active person + 1 to his/her parents 1, + to grandparents 1, to great-grandparents + 1. + Each person is denoted by a white box bearing the person's name. + The two lines that converge on the box represent ties with the + person's Father (top line) and mother (bottom line). Solid lines + represent birth relations, while dashed lines represent non-birth + relations (such as adoption, step-parentship, guardianship, etc.). + When the mouse moves over the white box, it expands to display the + corresponding person's dates of birth and death. When the mouse is + placed over the family line, the line changes color to indicate an + active link: double-clicking on the line makes the corresponding + ancestor the Active person. The display in that case is re-adjusted + to show four generations, starting from a newly selected Active + person.
The left-hand side of the window shows the left arrow button. + Upon clicking, the button expands to the menu listing the children + of the Active person. Selecting the menu item makes the corresponding + child the Active person.
The right-hand side of the window shows two right arrow buttons. + When the top button is clicked, the Father of the Active person + becomes Active person. Clicking the bottom button makes the Mother of + the Active person the Active person. Again, the display is re-adjusted + to show four generations, starting from a newly selected Active + person.
3.1.5. Sources View
Sources View lists the sources of information stored in the + database. This can include various documents (birth, death, and + marriage certificates, etc.), books, films, journals, private diaries, + i.e. virtually anything that can be classified as a source of + information. The sources can be used as the reference for any event + stored in the database. The Source View lists the + Title, ID, and the + Author of the source. All the columns can be + used for sorting the list. The usual rules apply: one click for + ascending order, another click for descending order.
3.1.6. Places View
Places View lists the geographical places in which the events + of the database took place. These could be places of birth, death, + marriages of people, as well as their home, employment, education + addresses, or any other conceivable reference to the geographical + location. The Places View lists places' Name, + ID, Church Parish, + City, County, + State, and Country. All of + these can be used for sorting by the usual sorting rules.
3.1.7. Media View
Media View is a list of Media Objects used in the database. + Media Objects are any files that relate somehow to the stored + genealogical data. Technically, any file can be stored as a Media + Object. Most frequently, these are images, audio files, animation + files, etc. The list-box on the bottom lists the Name, ID, Type, and + Path to the Media Object. The top part of the GRAMPS window shows + the preview (if available) and the information about the Media + Object.
4. Usage
As commonly encountered in everyday life, in + GRAMPS there is usually more than one way to + accomplish something. The alternatives to some actions will therefore + be listed as appropriate.
4.1. Opening Database
To open a database, either choose File->Open + or click Open button on the Toolbar. + The Open Database dialog will appear. + Either type the full path into the Database text + entry field, or press Browse... to get the + Open File dialog in which you can select the file + that you want to open. After you have selected the file, click + OK to open it.
If you have previously opened files with + GRAMPS you can retreive your past selections + from the drop-down menu by clicking the down arrow button. Finally, if + the Revision Control System (RCS) is enabled in the + Preferences dialog, the check-box + Revert to an older version from RCS + will be available. Check it to revert your database to an older RCS + version.
Note: the name you type or select should be the directory + (folder) which has your data (data.gramps or data.zodb files) as well as + any possible copies of Media Objects.
4.2. Starting New Database
To start a new database, choose File->New. You will then be + prompted with the Save Database dialog asking + to specify the name under which the new database will be stored. + Choose an empty directory for your new database (create one if + necessary).
4.3. Saving Database
To save changes made to your database, choose File->Save or click + Save on the Toolbar. The Status line will then + display Saving filename... + message, and the progress bar will advance as the saving progresses.
4.4. Importing GEDCOM Data
Importing GEDCOM data allows you to incorporate the data created in + other genealogical programs into your currently + open GRAMPS database. + GRAMPS can import GEDCOM data files from a + number of software packages, as long as they comply with GEDCOM + standards. To import GEDCOM file, choose File->Import->Import from + GEDCOM. You will then be prompted with the + Open File dialog asking to specify the GEDCOM file + name.
Upon starting the import, GRAMPS will + display the following GEDCOM import dialog with the summary of the + information about the data. The information is updated as the import + progresses.
4.5. Exporting GEDCOM Data
Exporting GEDCOM data allows you to share any portion of you + GRAMPS database with other researchers + by way of standard GEDCOM files. To export into GEDCOM file, + choose File->Export->Export to GEDCOM. The following + Export GEDCOM file dialog will appear.
Type the desired GEDCOM filename into the text entry box or + click Browse... to evoke + Save File dialog. Use Filter + popup menu to limit the scope of export according to the stated rule. + Choose the desired Encoding of the exported file. + Use Target to select the desired GEDCOM + dialect. Select you copyright statement from the + Copyright menu. Check Do not include + records marked private to disable the output of private + records. Check Restrict data on living people + to limit living people's data to family ties. With this option, + information concerning birth, death, addresses, various events, + etc. will be omitted in the exported GEDCOM file. +
Upon starting the export, GRAMPS will + display the following GEDCOM export progress window with the progress + bars reflecting the current state of exporting.
4.6. Importing and Exporting GRAMPS Packages
GRAMPS provides a way to make your + GRAMPS database completely portable. This might + prove useful, for instance, when you need to move your database to + another machine or to share it with somebody, while retaining all the + features provided by GRAMPS. To accomplish + this, choose File->Export->Export to GRAMPS Package. The + GRAMPS Package Export window will appear. Type + the desired package name into the text entry area or click + Browse... to select the file using the + Save File dialog. The resulting package is + gzip-compressed tar archive (also known as tarball) which contains + gramps database, all local media objects, and copies of all external + media objects.
To import data from such a package into your + GRAMPS database, choose + File->Import->Import from GRAMPS, then select + a package to be imported from the Import from GRAMPS + dialog.
4.7. Editing
Editing of any portion of data allows you to amend and + modify information stored in the database. The available editing + options include editing personal data, relationship data, data about + children and parents, information about sources, places, and media + objects used in the database. In short, any data stored in the + database can be edited! Adding new pieces of information is in fact + creating an appropriate empty data structure and subsequent + editing of that empty structure.
4.7.1. Edit Personal Data
Editing of personal data can be performed in the + following ways.
- From People View:
+ Double-click the name of the person whose data you would like + to edit, or select the name by single click and then click + Edit on the toolbar. +
- From Family View:
Move the mouse into the Active person box, + then double-click. +
With either method, the following Edit + Person dialog will appear:
The top of the window shows the name of the person whose + data is being edited. The main part of the window displays nine + notebook tabs containing different categories of available + information. You can bring any tab to the top for viewing + or editing by clicking on the appropriate tab heading. + The bottom part has OK and + Cance buttons. Clicking OK + at any time will apply all the changes made in all tabs and close the + dialog window. Clicking Cancel at any time will + close the window without applying any changes. If any of the data + in any tab was modified, the alert window will appear with the + choices of closing the dialog without saving changes, cancelling the + initial cancel request, or saving the changes. +
The tabs provide the following information categories of + personal data: +
- General
+ General tab allows editing of + the most general information about the person. This includes text + entry fields of Given name, + Family name, Family prefix + (such as de or van), Suffix (e.g. Jr. or III), + Title (e.g. Dr. or Rev.), + Nickname (Bob for Robert), + Type of the name (birth name, married name, etc.) + and Date and Place of birth + and death. Some of these (Family name, + Type, and both Place fileds), + in addition to typing the data in, allow to choose the corresponding + contents from the drop-down menus by clicking on a down-arrow button + located immediately to the right of the text entry field. The + available menu choices are formed from the information already stored + in the database. Also, when you start to type within these fields, + GRAMPS will try to guess the remainder of + the text by using the same choices that are available from the + corresponding menu. To accept the highlighted guess and move to + the next field, press Tab.
The Gender radio buttons offers + the choice of person's gender between male, + female, and unknown. + The buttons Source... and + Note... allow to add or modify the data about + the sources of the name information and any notes relevant to it. + Similarly, clicking Edit.. buttons located by the + birth and death Date fields allows to edit the + corresponding events of birth and death. + The field ID displays internal + GRAMPS ID number which identifies user in the + databse. Finally, the Image area shows the first + image available in the Gallery of this person. +
- Names
Names tab displays information concerning + alternate names of the person and the controls allowing its + modification. The bottom part displays the list of all alternate names + of the person stored in the database. The top part shows the details + of the currently selected name in the list (if any). The buttons + Add..., Edit..., + and Delete allow to correspondingly add, + modify, and remove an alternate name record from the database. + Note that Edit... and + Delete buttons become available only when + an alternate name is selected from the list. +
- Events
Events tab displays information about + the events relevant to the person and the controls allowing its + modification. The bottom part displays the list of all such events + stored in the database. The top part shows the details + of the currently selected event in the list (if any). The buttons + Add..., Edit..., + and Delete allow to correspondingly add, + modify, and remove an event record from the database. + Note that Edit... and + Delete buttons become available only when + an event is selected from the list. +
- Attributes
Attributes tab displays information about + the attributes of the person and the controls allowing its + modification. These could be any personal attributes of a person whose + description naturally fits into Parameter-Value pairs (e.g. enormous + generousity can be stored as the parameter "Generousity" with the + value "Enormous", etc.). The bottom part displays the list of all + attributes stored in the database. The top part shows the details + of the currently selected attribute in the list (if any). The buttons + Add..., Edit..., + and Delete allow to correspondingly add, + modify, and remove an attribute record from the database. + Note that Edit... and + Delete buttons become available only when + an attribute is selected from the list. +
- Addresses
Addresses tab displays information about + the addresses of the person and the controls allowing its + modification. The bottom part displays the list of all + addresses stored in the database. The top part shows the details + of the currently selected address in the list (if any). The buttons + Add..., Edit..., + and Delete allow to correspondingly add, + modify, and remove an address record from the database. + Note that Edit... and + Delete buttons become available only when + an address is selected from the list. +
- Notes
Notes tab displays information about + the notes conerning the person. These could be any notes which do not + naturally fit into the Parameter-Value pairs available to Attributes. + To add a note or modify existing notes simply edit the text in the + text entry field. +
- Gallery
Gallery tab displays information about + media objects associated with the person and the controls allowing its + modification. The central part shows the list of all such meda objects. + For media object which are valid image files previews of images are + displayed. For other objects such as audio files, movie files, etc. + generic GRAMPS icon is displayed instead. Note that the first available + image in the gallery will be also displayed in the + Image area in the General + tab. The buttons Add..., + Edit..., and Remove allow + to correspondingly add, modify, and remove a media object record from + the database. Note that Edit... and + Remove buttons become available only when + a media object is selected from the list. +
- Internet
Internet tab displays information about + Internet addresses relevant of the person and the controls + allowing its modification. The bottom part displays the list of all + such Internet addresses stored in the database. The top part shows the + details of the currently selected addresses in the list (if any). + The buttons Add..., + Edit..., and Delete + allow to correspondingly add, modify, and remove an Internet address + record from the database. The button Go allows + to open a web-page with the corresponding address with your default + browser. Note that Edit..., + Delete, and Go buttons + become available only when an address is selected from the list. +
- LDS
Finally, LDS tab displays information + about LDS ordinances of the person and the controls allowing its + modification. These are LDS baptims, + Endowment, and Sealed to + parents ordinances, as labeled inside the tab. + Each ordinance is described by its date, LDS temple, and Place where + it happened. An additional pop-up menu Parents is + available for the Sealed to parents ordinance. + Each ordinance can further be described by its status through the + selections available in the Status pop-up menu + menu and can also be referenced by sources and notes via corresponding + Sources... and Note + buttons. +
5. Settings
To configure GRAMPS, choose + Settings->Preferences. + The Preferences dialog contains the + following sections seen as the corresponding tree elements:
6. About GRAMPS
GRAMPS was written by Donald N. Allingham + (<dallingham@users.sourceforge.net>). + To find more information about GRAMPS, please visit the + GRAMPS Project + Web page.
To report a bug or make a suggestion regarding this application or + this manual, follow the directions in this + document. +
This program is distributed under the terms of the GNU + General Public license as published by the Free Software + Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) + any later version. A copy of this license can be found at this + link, or in the file + COPYING included with the source code of this program.