Godparent Coding

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There are six methods for coding godparents: User-defined baptism tag with names of godparents, user-defined tag with reference to godparents or names of godparents, user-defined ASSO tag with reference to godparents, user-defined ASSO-tag with reference to godchild, user-defined attribute with names of godparents and user-defined baptism attribute with reference to godparents. The dialog shows sample lines of an individual record in a Gedcom file for each method.

Warning: Coding using a user-defined ASSO tag with reference to godchild is not located in the individual record of the godchild, but rather in the individual record of the godparents.

Note for importing: For the name coding methods user-defined baptism tag with names of godparents, user-defined tag with ... names of godparents and user-defined attribute with names of godparents, several (max. 9) names must be separated with a comma or a semicolon. The separator is selected in the Program Options, Miscellaneous tab.

Note for exporting: Godparent names entered in FamilyTreeFactory are only exported to the Gedcom format if one of the three name coding methods is used: User-defined baptism tag with names of godparents, user-defined tag with ... names of godparents or user-defined attribute with names of godparents.

Finally, specify the use for exporting. When importing, all six methods are always used.

Additional details about godparent coding and conversion can be found in the Appendix in the section Details for the Gedcom Conversion.

Hint: To set the Gedcom converter to use the coding method of a specific genealogy program, start by determining whether the genealogy program is capable of managing godparents and, if so, how they are coded. Export a test Gedcom file with the genealogy program that contains a test person with defined godparents. This file will be opened in FamilyTreeFactory. Look at the display list of the individual record to determine which method is used for coding. Based on the known godparents of the test person, you can easily determine which of the six methods shown in the dialog is correct. You can then specify the tag, the RELA description, the attribute type and name tag or the baptism attribute tag and baptism attribute type. The tag, the RELA description, the attribute type and name tag or the baptism attribute tag and baptism attribute type are then entered in the corresponding data fields.

The sections Preferred Given Name Coding, Married Name Coding and Marriage Data Coding include detailed configuration examples. Configuration of godparent coding is performed in the same way.

Note for users of Brother's Keeper (1): Brother's Keeper uses a coding for godparents that does not conform to the Gedcom standard. However, FamilyTreeFactory can read the files if you use the following settings: User-defined ASSO tag with reference to godchild (bottom left), RELA description: 2 RELA [ Witness* ]. The asterisk serves as a wildcard for the variable part of the RELA tag content in Brother's Keeper.

(1) Brother's Keeper, 6907 Childsdale Ave, Rockford, MI 49341 USA