           !CheckGed
           ========
        v0.09  10.01.2002

This program is designed to ensure that GEDCOM files
generated by PC programs will load into !Family, and 
to convert files from different source into a common 
format.

Run the program as usual, and drag such a file
onto the icon. A window will open, which is divided
into four sections: Output, Surnames, Notes and Dates.

Output
======

  Drag the icon to set the save location and click on 
  Proceed to check the file only, or Save to check 
  and save the amended version.

  Ticking the PCline endings button should make the file 
  readable by yor PC-owning relatives.

Surnames
========

  Optionally, surnames may be changed to your choice of
  SMITH, /Smith/, /SMITH/ or Smith.  Click on the Menu 
  button in the Surnames section of the window to select 
  your preferred form, or choose AsNow to leave them unchanged.

  Surnames are regarded as being the characters after the last 
  space in the name, unless that is numerical, when the preceding 
  word is used. That is 'Rosemary Miskin', 'Rosemary Miskin II' 
  and 'Rosemary Miskin (2)' are all treated as having surname Miskin.

  Some additional strings are treated as part of the surname if 
  they precede it. The default set are
  
  de,le,la,van,von,van der,de la.
  
  More can be added in the writeable icon, and will be saved with 
  the other Options. 

  If you let me know of any prefixes you use, I'll add them to the
  default set. The limit at present is 250 characters for all the
  prefixes and separating commas. If anyone /really/ needs more, 
  I could relax this limit.
  
  Each name is checked to ensure it is unique: identical
  names are made distinct by appending (nn) to them if you 
  select the XXXn button. 
  
Notes
=====

  Each line length in NOTE fields is checked against 
  the Maximum value set in the window, and split 
  (between words) if it exceeds this value. Short lines 
  will be joined if the Concatenate option is ticked.
  
  Versions from 0.08 onwards can handle notes separated
  from their Individual, using the @Nxx@ format, and will
  generate a list of any missing notes.


Dates
=====

  Dates can be converted into a standard format. This is specified in 
  a writeable icon, using similar conventions to the RiscOS !Alarm 
  format. 
   
  The special fields in this string are %dy for the day in the month, 
  %mn for the month number, %m3 for the month name and %yr for the year.
   
  Any other text will be copied exactly. 
   
  So the date 6 Feb 1952 could be converted like this:
     
     %yr %m3 %dy   -> 1952 Feb 6
     %yr/%mn/%dy   -> 1952/2/6
     %dy of %m3 in %yr -> 6 of Feb in 1952
     
  If you find any date formats which are not converted correctly
  please let me have examples.
     
     
Numbering
=========    
Individual and family numbers can be forced into either of the forms @nn@ 
or @Inn@ or left unchanged.


A system variable is set in the !Run file:

  CheckGed$Indi  is the maximum number of individuals
               CheckGed can handle.
                
   There will not be an error if more names are read in,
   but the duplicates of later ones will not be identified.  
   
 The menu (either on the window or from the icon-bar menu)
 allows viewing of:
 
   all the names in the file
   duplicated names
   unconnected names
   unknown names marked as Xxxn
   id number of missing individuals, families or notes. 
  
  
 The current settings of all the options may be saved 
 from the icon-bar menu.


  Mrs A. R. Miskin        miskin@argonet.co.uk
  23 Hardwick Drive       http://argonet.co.uk/users/miskin
  Loughborough
  Leics
  LE11 4TJ
 