GDBI - Gedcom DataBase Interface

What is GDBI?

• For PhpGedView users...
  GDBI is a family tree editor that runs on your local PC. It is more convenient and powerful than the web interface.

• For Java developers...
  GDBI is an API for using GEDCOM, so you can write editors and reports that work with several databases.

General Information

• Most of the information is on the SourceForge.net project pages:
  • Summary
  • Download
  • Forums
  • Bug Tracking
  • Wiki (documentation)
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• See some program screen shots -->
• Browse the documentation
• This project started off as a part of jLifelines.

BKEdit Demo

You can see how BKEdit works by running this applet demo.

GDBI Contains:

• BKEdit, an editor based on Brother's Keeper.
• The LifeLines report language (.ll files). This originally comes from LifeLines, and was then ported to Java in jLifelines.
• Taurus FamilyTree, a java application for browsing and plotting genealogical information.
• A new match/merge system that is under development.
• Integration layers to databases in 3 other applications:
  • GenealogyJ
  • jLifelines
  • PhpGedView

Download and Installation

• Which file to download?
  Each release consists of 4 download files, 3 binaries and the source code. There are separate binaries for each of the databases that GDBI integrates with. The instructions for each database is different -- see the appropriate link:
  • using GenealogyJ
  • jLifelines (integrated in download file)
  • using PhpGedView
• Java required
  What is common for the 3 binary downloads is that you must install Java to use them. You can download it (for free) from java.com.

The core of GDBI

The real value of GDBI (for Java programmers) is not the current set of features; it is the Java code at its core. It has a set of Java interfaces that make it easy to add editors and reports above it and access various databases below it. The restriction is that everything must be very GEDCOM oriented. The core is just a Gedcom DataBase Interface.

BKEdit	LifeLines reports	merge	Taurus FamilyTree	(more editors and reports)
GDBI core
GenealogyJ	jLifelines	PhpGedView	text file	(more databases)

The PGV/GDBI Paradigm Shift

The most popular use of GDBI is as the editor for PhpGedView. This is a whole new way of maintaining your family tree and sharing it with your family. The traditional approach is to occasionally put a snapshot on the web. That required generating a GEDCOM file from your favorite genealogy program and converting the GEDCOM to HTML.

favorite genealogy program

GEDCOM

Web Server HTML

Browser

Now with PhpGedView, the GEDCOM file is not a snapshot, it is your main data. You probably generate it originally from another genealogy program, but once you set up PhpGedView, the GEDCOM file takes on a life of its own, and you throw your old genealogy program away. You do basic editing on the web page, and use GDBI for more serious editing.

Web Server GEDCOM - PhpGedView - HTML		Browser
		GDBI

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