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Eyre History - F.A.Q.

Some web browsers don't implement all of the web standards as they should so not all styles or layouts used on this site will render properly in all browsers all of the time. For example some browsers and in particular old versions of Internet Explorer make a hash of things such as the code used for the multi level navigation system. Houses and Surnames menu items should show submenus when the mouse is placed over the menu item. If this does not work you can either choose an alternate style from the layout selector at the bottom of the navigation column on the Layout page or download a more more up-to-date and standards compliant browser.

What is a Gedcom?

Gedcoms are a means of transferring genealogical data stored in family history programs. All modern family history programs store data that the user has inputted in some format. If two researchers researching the same line use the same program then they may use the programs normal backup format to exchange info. If however they are using different family history programs they may exchange info in Gedcom format. Whilst using Gedcoms is far easier than having to enter all the info again in another program it may lose some of the info that would have been transfrerred had both users used the same program and used its own file exchange format. The main details such as who, where, when and relationships should all be exchanged properly by Gedcom the problem appears more in the exchange of source info, references notes etc that are more program specific.

There have been plans in the pipeline for quite a few years now for a different method of storing and exchanging Genealogical Data called XML but I wouldn't worry about it for a while yet as progress seems to be fairly slow and when it is finally adopted I expect that Gedcoms and XML will run side ny side for quite a few years.

The pages of EyreHistory that contain genealogical content of branches have been created from programs that create web pages from Gedcoms that have been submitted by fellow researchers.

Why does the site have varying styles for different branches?

The site can be broken down into two types of page

  • The main entry level pages of the site (giving background info etc)
  • Pages displaying details on individuals within branches

The pages containing info on individuals within the branches are generated automatically by running a Gedcom file through a program. Dan started using one program, when I took over I started using another. As I don't have Gedcoms for all the branches I can't create pages that look the same for all branches. I'm currently working on creating my own Gedcom parsing program to create pages for the site to increase the proportion of the site that is controlled by style sheets.

Why does a printed page look different to the screen version?

Different sylesheets are used for printing and browsing. Whilst it is important to have certain items such as a navigation menu for you to browse the site they tend to waste paper and ink if printed out so separate stylesheets have been created to limit wasteage.

I clicked on a search link and cannot find the individual/place I was searching for

The search bar on many pages of this site mimics a Google search and by default limits the search to within the Eyre History website. Every so often Google reindexes web sites to make sure that it returns useful pages to the searcher. The site is a work in progress and as such quite regularly gets updates to certain branches. There will naturally be a delay between any update and Google (and other search engines) reindexing the site, during which a link may not lead you to what you had hoped. A suggested work around is to make a note of the branch and look within that branches index of individuals.