Thomas O Meservy and Dr. Rayman D. Meservy, School of Accountancy and Information Systems
The objective of my research is to determine how to effectively organize and distribute family histories and genealogies over the Internet. I am interfacing the genealogical files using the PAF standard, which was produced by the LDS church, onto the Internet. The information and standards which are available on the Internet are being combined with the most effective method of producing a user-friendly front end to provide an ideal system for genealogical exchange, distribution, and collaboration.
The implementation of this project consists of arranging data in an aesthetically-pleasing, easy-to-use format which is available over the Internet. The completed program allows users to share pedigree charts, family group sheets, and family histories that are all interconnected in a manner that is easy to use. A user on the Internet is given a variety of options on start-up. This information is sent to a program on the WWW server that decodes the information and queries the database. When the data is received back from the query, it is organized in Hyper-Text Markup Language according to the preferences that the user entered.
The four generation pedigree chart is the default screen. The underlined surname appears first; the given name follows. This allows quick identification and little confusion. Beneath the names are four graphical boxes. The pedigree icon, if clicked on, will bring that individual to the front of the pedigree chart; his or her four generation pedigree chart will be shown.
The icon that shows two people will put that individual as the father or the mother in a family group sheet. The icon with a single person will show the individual as a child in a family group sheet. Family group sheets provide a grouping of individuals in a family. Each family group sheet gives information on a husband, wife, and children. Places and dates of birth, death, burial, and marriage are located on family groups sheets.
The book icon will show a personal, hard-coded history that may include pictures, sounds, or plain text.
Family Histories, obituaries, or other pages that contains pictures, sound, or even film clips can be included. Any WWW format is acceptable. Family stories may also be included in this portion of the program.
A searching/indexing procedure is being added to quickly find and display any individual in the database. Future plans also include the ability to download segments of the genealogy database onto home computers. A working model of PAFWeb vO.37, this program, is online at http://msm.byu.edu/complab/emp/tomm/gen/genealogy.htm
