PediTree can use any database that was previously created or used in Pedigree. So, if you wish to start using PediTree, you can use your existing database(s) without change.
However, to gain full advantage from PediTree, you will need to have additional elements in the database definition. These are present in any database derived from the Elton55 design.
If your Pedigree database was derived from the Families or Census design, then you can easily move to one derived from Elton55. Export a GEDCOM 4 file from your existing database (see Export from Pedigree or Export from PediTree). Then open the Elton55 database and make a new (empty) database from it. Finally, import the GEDCOM file (see Import into PediTree or Pedigree).
How can I type the | character (for new line in Picture Scripts)
Depending upon your machine setup, there are two different key combinations that may be needed to obtain this character. It may also appear as either a solid vertical bar or a broken one.
The one certain way is as follows: hold down the Alt key, type 124 on the numeric keypad, release the Alt key.
The most common key-combination is Shift+\ (left-most key of the bottom row). The other is AltGr (right-hand Alt key)+` (top-left key).
What is the maximum size of a Pedigree database?
There are two limits, which apply individually to each record-type in a Pedigree Database (Person, Marriage, Source...). Firstly, the maximum number of records is 32767, including any deleted records.
Secondly, the maximum size of the data file (Person.dat, Marriage.dat....) is 1Mb in a standard Pedigree database. Where this size is approached, then for PediTree, or Pedigree versions 2.6d or later, there are other options: a large database can be up to 3Mb; a huge database up to 4Mb (Pedigree version 2.6j or later). PediTree only has even larger options: jumbo up to 6Mb; massive up to 9Mb.
These options allocate file-space in larger chunks: the standard database allocates in 16-byte chunks; large in 48-byte chunks; huge in 64-byte chunks. The consequence is that on average each record takes more space, so that changing to larger versions will usually increase the size of an existing file, before any new information is added. An article in the PUG Newsletter Vol.7 No.3 p.14 gives further details.
Before deciding to move to a larger version, it may be worth compacting the existing database to eliminate spare space, including that taken by any deleted records. If you are close to the size limit, but are no longer making substantial additions to your database, this may be sufficient.
How do I eliminate unused space in a Pedigree database?
Create a new database containing the same information. There are three steps:
1) Export your existing database as a GEDCOM file.
2) Create a new empty database from your existing database.
3) Import the GEDCOM file and create the indexes.
See Export from Pedigree & Import into PediTree or Pedigree for further details of steps 1 and 3.
For step 2, in Pedigree with your existing database open, choose Alt+F File, New, type a name for the new database and press Enter. In PediTree, choose File>NewDB, click OK to close the existing database, type a new name, choose the database type and click OK.
How do I transfer from a standard database to a larger version?
In Pedigree, there are five steps:-
In PediTree there are three steps only (step-numbers as before):-
Steps 1, 2 & 5 are of use for other purposes. See Export from Pedigree & Import into PediTree or Pedigree for further details for steps 1 & 5. See Compacting a Pedigree Database for details of step 2.
Step 3 (Pedigree only) involves renaming the new empty database. Standard Pedigree databases are named e.g. foo.ped - the filetype PED denotes the standard version. Large databases have filetype PDG, e.g. foo.pdg; huge databases have filetype PDH, e.g. foo.pdh.
| After creating the new empty database, exit Pedigree. Using Windows Explorer (Start>Programs>Windows Explorer), navigate to the folder containing the new empty database and click on the folder (e.g. foo.ped) to select it. Pause, then click again to select the name of the folder (or press key F2), edit the filetype to pdg or pdh as required and press the Enter key to finish. | |
| For step 4, create a new shortcut to Pedigree (see Setting up Icons/Shortcuts), called e.g. Pedigree (large). Right-click, choose Properties, choose the Program tab and edit the command line to add /large for a large database, /huge for a huge database. Click OK. | |
How do I create a GEDCOM file from all or part of my database?
You can export either the whole database or the contents of a list. To export the whole database, make sure that the red highlight is in the family display, not in the list box. Then choose Alt+F File, Export GEDCOM, type a suitable filename and press F10.
To export a chosen list, make sure that the red highlight is in the list box, not in the family display. Then choose Alt+F File, Export List GEDCOM, type a suitable filename and press key F10.
A list export includes only the records in the list, without any linked records. For example, from a Person list you export only Person records, no linked Marriage or Source records. An export from a Plan list contains Person and Marriage records only. To export a complete section of a database, you can use one or more List exports in conjunction with the GedUtils Extract Tree process. The GedUtils on-line help has full details, as does an article in the PUG Newsletter Vol.6 No.4 p.12.
To export the whole database for import to a Pedigree Software program, choose File>SaveAs GEDCOM>GEDCOM 4 Pedigree, type a suitable filename and/or choose a destination folder and click OK.
To export the contents of a list, display the list, then right-click on an entry and choose Save list text,GED>GEDCOM 4. Type a suitable filename and/or choose a destination folder and click OK. You will be asked if you want to 'Export all directly linked records'. Choose 'Yes' if you want related Source records, etc. However, if you are going to use the GedUtils Extract Tree process, then choose 'No'.
To export GEDCOM files from Pedigree to other family history systems, it is usually necessary to convert to an appropriate GEDCOM standard. In most cases, the program Ped-FHS.exe will perform the conversion.
When exporting GEDCOM files from PediTree, choose GEDCOM 5 to provide a file likely to be acceptable to other family history programs. (This option will only be available if you use an appropriate database design, such as one derived from Elton55.) In this case, there is no need to use Ped-FHS on the resulting file.
For submission to the LDS Church Ancestral File database, the conversion program PedGed.exe should be used, as this is approved for such submissions. This requires a GEDCOM 4 Pedigree export from PediTree.
How do I import a GEDCOM file into a Pedigree database?
Importing a GEDCOM file from PediTree or Pedigree is straightforward if the database design of the originating program is the same as that into which the file is being imported.
Unless importing into an empty database, make a back-up first!
In Pedigree, open the database, then choose Alt+F File, Import GEDCOM, select the file to be imported and press F10. A progress display will appear. On conclusion, any import errors will be reported with the name of the log file that contains details.
In PediTree, first make sure that you are in update mode (choose Edit and see a tick next to Update mode). Then choose File>Import>GEDCOM, select the file and click OK. You will then be asked to confirm that you have a back-up before proceeding.
If it was a new database, then you will need to create indexes before you can display any records. In Pedigree, use Alt+L Lists, Create index. In PediTree, use List>Index create. In both cases, choose each record type in turn and set up an index for it. The standard indexes for the various database designs are (all keys ascending):-
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There is no foolproof method of importing GEDCOM from one Family History System to another. Each has its own special features and different (or incorrect) interpretation of the various GEDCOM standards.
The easiest answer for importing into PediTree or Pedigree from other systems is to use the latest GedUtils v7 to convert the GEDCOM for import to a database called FAM55.ped, which is distributed with GedUtils. GedUtils tries to make sense of dates (for example, FTW is non-standard with ranges like BET. 1881-1888), converts CONC to CONT and deals with various other differing implementations of the GEDCOM standards. There is more information in the on-line help that accompanies GedUtils.
When I try to open a database, Pedigree reports "DOS Error 5" ; PediTree reports "Runtime error 105"
This means that the database files have the read-only attribute. The usual reason is that the database has been copied from a CD-ROM, perhaps to recover a back-up copy. You can use Windows Explorer or MS-DOS commands to correct this.
How can I send Trees and other charts produced from PediTree by E-mail?
The best way to send PediTree output in electronic form whilst preserving the layout is to make a Portable Document Format (PDF) file from it and send that. A PDF file can be displayed by using Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is readily available at no cost on many magazine-cover CD-ROMs, with some purchased applications, or by download from www.adobe.com; click on the Get Acrobat Reader button.
There are several different ways to produce a PDF file from PediTree output without spending much money. They all involve installing a Windows Printer-driver that either produces a PDF file as output or an intermediate file that can be converted to the PDF form.
The writer uses PDF Creator, available from http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator. Once downloaded and installed, this appears as a Windows printer called PDF Creator. If you select this printer to 'print' a Tree or other chart in the usual way, then you are prompted for a filename for the PDF output. Here is a small two-page example.
Other software suggested by contributors to the PUG-L mailing-list is:
How can I add Pedigree to my Start Menu or have a shortcut to it on my Desktop?
To put shortcuts to Pedigree and Utils onto your Desktop, first start Windows Explorer, find the Pedigree folder and click on it to open it.
Look in the right-hand pane for Pedigree.exe. If the .exe doesn't show, then there will be several entries called Pedigree; look for the one of type 'Application'. Click on this icon, hold down the left mouse button and drag it onto the desktop visible behind the Explorer window. Release the mouse button, thus creating a shortcut titled Shortcut to Pedigree. Press F2 and edit this title to Pedigree, press Enter to finish.
Now right-click on the new shortcut and choose Properties to display a tabbed Property Sheet. Click on the Program tab and make sure the Close on Exit box is checked; click on the Screen tab and choose Full Screen. Finally click on OK.
Similarly locate Utils.exe, drag it onto the desktop, edit its title and check its Properties. Then close Explorer. Now drag each new shortcut in turn to a suitable location on the Desktop, right-click on the desktop and select Line up Icons to make all tidy.
To move these icons to your start menu, right-click on the
Start button, click on Open then double-click on Programs. If
there is no Pedigree folder, then choose FileNewFolder to create
a new folder, edit its title to Pedigree and
double-click on it to open it. Drag the two shortcuts created
above from the Desktop into this Pedigree folder. Finally close
the Pedigree, Programs and Start Menu folders by clicking on the
close button 
or otherwise.
Typing " gives @; £ gives # and other oddities. How to correct this?
Your setup assumes a US keyboard layout; you need to alter it to assume the UK layout, which you have.
There are several ways of doing this. As a quick fix while running Pedigree, press Alt+F File, DOS Commands to get an MS-DOS prompt. Try typing " and see @. Erase this, type the command keyb uk and press the Enter key. Now type " and see ". Erase this, type exit and press Enter to return to Pedigree. All should now be correct until you exit Pedigree.
| For a more permanent cure, locate the
shortcut used to start Pedigree (see Setting up Icons/Shortcuts).
Right-click on this shortcut and choose Properties.
Select the Program tab, type keyb uk in
the Batch File box, then click OK.
Now double-click the shortcut to launch Pedigree, open a database, try editing a record and verify that the keyboard operates correctly. If you use other MS-DOS programs, then the best solution is to alter your machine set-up. Open Windows Explorer and see if there is a file called autoexec.bat in the root folder (c:\). If so, right-click on it and choose Edit to open NotePad on this file. Add the line keyb uk at the end of the file, choose File>Save and then close NotePad. This change will only take effect next time you start your machine. |
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Go to Control Panel>Regional and Language Options and make sure you have English (United Kingdom) selected.
How can I alter Pedigree between running in a window and full screen?
Simply press Alt+Enter to toggle between operating full screen and in a window.
To make a permanent change to the way Pedigree starts, then locate the shortcut used to start Pedigree (see Setting up Icons/Shortcuts). Right-click on this shortcut and choose Properties. Click on the Screen tab and select Full Screen or Window as desired. If you choose Window, then you may find it useful to click on the Font tab and adjust the Font size (on a 800x600 screen, I use 8 x 16 for a well-proportioned display).
How can I copy text from another application into Pedigree?
| You need to have Pedigree running in a
window (see Full screen vs operating
in a window). In the other application, select
the text and copy it to the Windows Clipboard (usually
Edit>Copy, or press Ctrl+C). In Pedigree, position the
cursor where the text is to be inserted. Use the mouse to
click on the Paste symbol in the window taskbar.
Alternatively, pull down the system menu (click on the
small icon top left or press Alt+Space) and choose Edit>Paste.
Windows XP doesn't have the toolbar as shown; you have to use the system menu, or right-click on the title-bar of the window. |
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How can I copy text from Pedigree into another application?
Again, you need to have Pedigree running in a window (see Full screen vs operating in a window). Pull down the system menu (click on the small icon top left or press Alt+Space) and choose Edit>Mark. Move the cursor to the start of the text to be copied. Hold down a Shift key and move the cursor to the end of the text to be copied, then press the Enter key. The text is now on the Windows clipboard. Go the the other application and paste the text into the required position, using Edit>Paste or pressing Ctrl+V.What can I do to get reliable printing from Pedigree?
There is no certain answer to this question. It seems to depend upon the exact system configuration as to whether it is fault-free or problematic. One often-useful step is to click on Start>Settings>Printers, right-click on the printer and choose Properties, select the Details Tab, click on Spool Settings, check the box Print directly to the printer, click OK.
If you have a printer on a USB port, this won't work at all.The slightly less-convenient solution is to use the "Pedigree Printing" utility. This may be the only solution for certain modern printers that will not work from MS-DOS.
What utility programs are available for use with PediTree or Pedigree?
Supplied by Pedigree Software, when needed, to remove corrupt records from a database. Now obsolete, replaced by DButils.
Checks Pedigree Software databases for corrupt records, which it may then be used to remove. Includes a compaction facility for use on databases with no corrupt records. Made available on request to Pedigree Software or Colin Liebenrood.
Miscellaneous processing of GEDCOM files, especially for importing from other programs. Supplied with PediTree and Pedigree on CD-ROM, or download it from PUGweb. Now includes Convert UTF-8 for handling GEDCOM file in Unicode subset UTF-8, as can be produced by some other programs.
File compression utility. Supplied with PediTree.
A utility to copy Groups, Records, Picture scripts, Reports and Tables from one Pedigree Software database to another. Version 2.0 now available on this site.
Prepare GEDCOM files for submission to the LDS Church Ancestral File database. Available from Colin Liebenrood.
Convert GEDCOM files from Pedigree for export to other programs. Supplied with PediTree.
A utility to analyse Pedigree database definitions, including records and Picture Scripts. Supplied with PediTree and Pedigree on CD-ROM, also available for download from PUGweb. Now a Windows program; the previous DOS program, with its companions PrintPed.exe and PrintPed.hlp, is obsolete.
A utility to assist printing from Pedigree for DOS under Windows 95 or later. Supplied with Pedigree on CD-ROM, also available for download from PUGweb.
A general-purpose sorting program. Supplied with PediTree.
A utility for copying and deleting Pedigree databases. When copying to floppy disks, will permit a database to span several disks if necessary. Supplied with Pedigree. Not recommended for use with PediTree.
Links to those mentioned in this document:-
These questions and answers come from the PUG-L mailing list, with extra material from Murray Kennedy and previous articles in the PUG Newsletter, with thanks to the various contributors.
Colin Liebenrood 8 September 2006