GRAMPS - A Genealogical Database

Save for a few paid-commercial softwares, I have been working mostly with either open-source or shareware programs.  As I was browsing for updates to my installed programs, I chanced upon a reference to an open-source genealogical database program - GRAMPS.  While appropriately named in reference to one's grandfather or ancestor, it is actually an acronym for Genealogical Research and Analysis Management Programming System.

I have had a small collection of information on our family history but I have never found proper place in which to place them.  I have thought of a scrapbook but in the meantime, I have to keep them in a properly categorized database.  Partly, miscellaneous notes are kept in my wiki notepad- WikidPad.  But informationation on people, that is our relatives are best kept in a genealogical database.  And after several trial days on the GRAMPS Software, I feel I have found just what I needed.

It was developed by genealogists for genealogists but it is relatively easy to use even for lay people wanting to keep just a record of their family's history.  You can create several trees for different unrelated families (useful for professional researchers) or just create one tree with unlimited branches into related families which is basically useful for those just interested in their own family ancestry and descendancy.

Other free database alternatives area available online but they often require  web-hosting with a free account & lots of ads.  Some have free software with limited functionality that can only be maximized with a subscription account.  Since I didn't want to make our family database public on the internet, a web-host or subscription account didn't appeal to me.

GRAMPS: Genealogical Research Software

Old Narra Residence Hall

Former Dormitory, University of the Philippines, Diliman

This old building sign was exposed as the current sign was being dismantled for safekeeping.

Blogger Test 2

This is a test of Windows Live Writer.

Blogger Test

Blogger Test

This is a test of Journal5s upload to Blog capability.

 

 

The Journal

Today, I purchased a digital journalling software called DavidRM's The Journal version 5.

Over the past few months, I have been comparing some commercial, freeware & open-source journalling software: KeynoteNF, The Diary 5, wikidpad, LifeJournal3, RedNoteBook & this The Journal 5.  Among the first three, I have been using wikidpad for some time now.  Wikidpad is an open source program arranged in a wiki format where key words or titles can be cross-linked or referred to on several levels.  The interface is simple and based on plain text on an HTML structure.  It is not secure but for long term filing where the future is uncertain, the software saves in simple text or HTML format.  Although the wiki structure is quite confusing (owing to the star or multi-level linkage), it can be structured using nodes or keywords in a tree format.  However, it simple interface is its downside.  Its lack of a complete GUI in formatting and importing other files makes it cumbersome to use and structure.

Still I have managed to develop my journal extensively within wikidpad.  And seeing that the dbase structure essentially saves the entries in simple text files, I feel comfortable that I can still view and edit the information in the future even when the program ceases to be developed.

Coming across the three latter journalling softwares presented an opportunity to upgrade to a more structured and easier to use platform that can perform what essentially I have been relying on wikidpad to do.  RedNoteBook is an improvement of wikidpad due to its easier to use interface.  LifeJournal was geared more for writers and though it can be customized, its interface and graphics lent it inappropriate for professional work use.

DavidRM's The Journal presented a more complicated structure but it is that feature that precisely offered a lot of opportunities for customization.  It can be used for personal and professional work alike with a sleek interface that appeals to my personal taste.

And so begins my digital journey through another phase of my journalling endeavor.

Amusing Store Name

Amusing Store Name
Originally uploaded by ral_m

I was going through my old photos and came across this amusing or funny one.

"It was a rainy winter night in Seville. We had to dodge into this shoe store during a downpour. I found out the store's name was quite appropriate after we got out."

Narra tree in December

Narra tree in December
Originally uploaded by ral_m

Amusing how this turned out to be my most viewed picture in Flickr