GEDCOM Tab View Format

This format displays all the GEDCOM data in the GEDCOM format. In other words, each line has a level number, the GEDCOM tag, and a place (when appropriate) to edit the contents of the GEDCOM line. For clarity, the GEDCOM structures are indented by level number to customizable tab stops (hence the name "Tab View").

This format is not ideal for serious editing. It is better used to observe GEDCOM data, to learn about GEDCOM data structures, and for some minor editing.

Features of GEDCOM Tab View Format

• Level number, tags, editable text, and static text are color coded. The colors can be changed using the Editing preferences.
• GEDCOM lines that have links to other records are displayed as a clickable link to the other record (they cannot be edited).
• Certain special tags that can only have a few values have check boxes or pop-up menus for editing.
• Hover the mouse over GEDCOM tag words to see a tool tip explaining the GEDCOM meaning of that tag. The meaning will be translated if using a non-English language.
• Hover the mouse over editing cells to see what type of data should be entered (also the meaning of the GEDCOM tag, which is translated if using a non-English language).
• This format recognizes GEDitCOM II custom tags and explains their meaning too.
• You can use the preferences to customize the fonts:
  • Record Title Text: Text for the first line of GEDCOM records (it cannot be edited)
  • Level Number Text: Text for level numbers on each GEDCOM line
  • Label Text: Text for GEDCOM tag on each line
  • Static Text: Text for GEDCOM values that cannot be edited
  • Editing Text: Text for GEDCOM values that can be edited (click to to start editing).
  • Check Box Text: Text for check boxes
  • Popup Menu Text: Text for pop-up pop-up menus
  • Button Text: Text for buttons.
  • Hyperlink Text: The text used for clickable links between records.
• You change the format's colors using the GEDitCOM II preferences. The color wells have two regions. Use the left region to set a color for light mode and the right region to set a color for dark mode. The available colors are:
  • Window Background: background for the browser window.
  • Printing Background: background when printing can be changed to an alternate color (white is usually best).
  • Editing Background: background color for text-editing fields.
  • Font Colors: Each font described above can have it's own color and is set when editing the font.
• The "GEDCOM Tab View Settings" in the preferences set some spacing values. The offsets might need to be changed if you change fonts for the format:
  • Tab Spacing: Indent per level for GEDCOM line levels
  • Edit Line Offset: Offset for single-line text editing fields to align them with the tag
  • Edit Field Offset: Offset for multi-line text editing fields to align them with the tag
  • Popup Menu Offset: Offset for pop-up menus to align them with the tag
  • Check Box Offset: Offset for check box items to align them with the tag
  • Link Offset: Offset for hyperlink items to align them with the tag

Languages

To choose the language for this user interface, open the "Editing" tab of theGEDitCOM II preferences and select language from the pop-up menu. The options are:

• English
• French
• Spanish

These settings change the langauge in the record browsing windows, but do not change other elements of GEDitCOM II such as menus, sheets, and documentation. Note that custom "Book Style" records in GEDitCOM II are for creating books and they only support English books. Most contents of "Book Style" records therefore remain in English for all languages.