GEDitCOM Editor Introduction

GEDitCOM Editor is a utility program provided with GEDitCOM II. Its functions are to create and edit Browser Styles that let you customize the way GEDitCOM II displays the data and to create and edit extensions that package scripts for adding features to GEDitCOM II..

With the addition of GEDitCOM to the Mac App Store, GEDitCOM Editor can also create and edit Browser Styles and extensions for that application. This documentation was written to support using GEDitCOM Editor with GEDitCOM II. If you are using it with GEDitCOM instead of GEDitCOM II, you should refer to the guidelines on writing extensions for GEDitCOM

Previous GEDitCOM Editor users can check out What's New to view release notes on changes in this version from previous versions.

Learning to Use GEDitCOM Editor

• A Browser Style is a collection of templates, subroutines, properties, images, and documentation. Writing a Browser Style involves writing a series of templates using the built-in scripting language called GENerel. GENerel stands for GENealogy editing, reporting, and exporting language. The following three sections describe GENerel:
  • The GENerel Introduction explains how GEDitCOM II interprets templates and thus explains how they function. This section should be the starting point for learning to write templates.
  • The GENerel Commands section lists the commands for formatting genealogy data, grouped by their function.
  • The GENerel Reference section defines the syntax of language elements such as command lines, variables, expressions, GEDCOM expressions, conditionals, loops, and subroutines.
  • See information on GEDitCOM if you want your Browser Styles to work in GEDitCOM as well.
• The Extensions section explains the parts of an extension. An extension is a package of GEDitCOM II scripts.
  • The Writing Extensions section gives details on scripting GEDitCOM II and defines all the available scripting commands.
  • See information on GEDitCOM if you want your extensions to work in GEDitCOM as well.
• The Using the Editor section gives you many application use details for creating, opening, and saving browser styles and extensions.
• The Menu Commands section has brief help on each GEDitCOM Editor menu command.