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APPENDIX B GLOSSARY
This glossary identifies terms which are used in this
documentation, and which are used within the GIM program,
which may be unfamiliar.
The emphasis here is on terms that are unique to GIM, although
some general-purpose genealogical and computer terms are
included as well. Whenever a term is listed here which is not
specific to GIM -- for example, "GEDCOM" -- it will be clearly
identified as such.
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GLOSSARY
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AFN
The abbreviation for "Ancestral File number".
Ahnentafel
German for "pedigree chart" or "genealogy tree" -- literally
"ancestral table". Also a term that describes a method of
organizing one's genealogy.
Ancestral File
A computerized collection of linked lineages -- a database of
family trees submitted by genealogical researchers, at last
report including over 13 million names. Ancestral File is
part of FamilySearch, which is the copyrighted property of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ancestral File
data is available to any researcher with access to an LDS
Family History Center.
Ancestral File number
A unique identifier assigned to each person represented in
Ancestral File, abbreviated "AFN". Currently, this identifier
takes the form of four letters or numbers, a hyphen, and two
or three more letters or numbers. Brian's AFN, for example,
is HRVP-BD.
Area
A GIM-specific term. A separate visual environment in which a
particular kind of genealogical activity is performed. For
example, form printing is done in the Forms Area, and editing
a person's genealogical information is done in the Person
Area.
Examples include:
Family Area -- see chapter 8
Folder Area -- see chapter 3
Forms Area -- see chapter 10
GFE Area -- see chapter 14
GIM LISTS Area -- see chapter 11
Graft Area -- see chapter 13
Help Area -- see chapter 5
Multi Area -- see chapter 4
Notes Area -- see chapter 9
Person Area -- see chapter 7
Prune Area -- see chapter 12
Setup Area -- see chapter 6
Utilities Area -- see chapter 15
Code
A GIM-specific term. A 20-character catch-all field, part of
the Person Area, that you can use for whatever purpose you
choose.
Extended GIN number
A GIM-specific term. A way of assigning GIN-like identifiers
to persons who are not direct ancestors, which take the form
of "c:44,45" or "s:c:4,5". These are used by the GIM LISTS
Area and by the Preprinted Family Group Record. They are
described in more detail in chapter 11, part G.
Family edit screen
The edit screen used to view or modify family relationships in
the Family Area. See chapter 8 for details.
Family group record, family group sheet
A printed form used to record genealogical data. See chapter
10, parts B and C, for details.
Family history center
A library, open to the public, run by The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Abbreviated "FHC". Family
History Centers provide a wealth of genealogical resources,
including the International Genealogical Index, Ancestral
File, and FamilySearch, as well as access to hundreds of
thousands of microfilms of genealogical source records. There
is undoubtedly one near you, especially in the United States
and Canada.
FIN number
A GIM-specific term. An identifier assigned to each family in
your folder. Typically, you will not need to know the FIN
numbers for your families, but if you do know them, you can
use them to navigate around your folder with them. See
chapter 4 for details.
Folder
A GIM-specific term. A collection of related genealogical
information, consisting of persons, families, and notes.
GEDCOM
An acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunication. A standard
"common second language" used by many prominent genealogical
software packages to enable them to share data between one
another. See chapter 14 for details.
Genealogical Folder Exchange
A GIM-specific term. GIM's implementation of the GEDCOM
standard.
Genealogical Information Manager
The longer name for the GIM software product.
GFE
The abbreviation for "Genealogical Folder Exchange".
GIM
The abbreviation for the "Genealogical Information Manager".
GIM Authors
A couple of first-rate computer engineers, who can be
contacted at the following addresses:
David "Blaine" Wasden
3374 Aztec Rd #38B
Doraville, GA 30340
Brian C. Madsen
5948 Madison Drive
The Colony, TX 75056-4487
If, heaven forbid, you should be unable to contact them at
either of these addresses, write to:
David "Blaine" Wasden
160 E. Utopia Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84115-2714
GIM LISTS
A GIM-specific term. A powerful tool for searching your
folder for lists of items of specific information. For
example, GIM LISTS can be used to find a list of all persons
born in California between 1849 and 1879, or a list of all
notes which contain the word "microfilm". This description
only scratches the surface of what GIM LISTS can do. See
chapter 11 -- yes, the whole thing -- for more details.
GIN number
A GIM-specific term. A unique identifier assigned to each
direct ancestor in a folder. Roughly equivalent to Ahnentafel
numbers. GIN numbers are assigned with the Reset-GIN function
of the Utilities area; see chapter 15 for details. GIN
numbers, like FIN numbers, can also be used for folder
navigation; see chapter 4 for details.
Pedigree chart
A printed form used to record genealogical data. See chapter
10, part A, for details.
Person edit screen
The edit screen used to view or modify genealogical data for
persons in the Person Area. See chapter 7 for details.
PIN number
A GIM-specific term. Like FIN numbers, PIN numbers are unique
numbers assigned to all the persons in a folder. Like FIN
numbers, you will rarely need to know what the PIN numbers for
the persons in your folders are, but they can be used for
folder navigation; see chapter 4 for details.
Print device
A computer-specific term. A file or device name that DOS uses
to identify the destination of a print request. Examples are
PRN, LPT1, and LPT2. See your DOS manual for details.
Progenitor
A GIM-specific term. Well, not exactly. Outside of GIM, it
is "a direct ancestor; an originator of a line of descent".
Within GIM, it refers to one of the children in a family, if
any, who is your direct ancestor. You can select a progenitor
for each family from the Family Area. See chapter 8 for
details.
RAM disk or RAM drive
A computer-specific term. An area of memory which functions
in many ways like a hard disk, but which only retains its data
for as long as the computer is turned on. This is generally
accomplished by placing a DEVICE line in your CONFIG.SYS file
which includes the device driver VDISK.SYS or RAMDRIVE.SYS.
There are other device drivers which accomplish this purpose.
See your DOS manual for details.
REFN
An abbreviation for "reference number". Like the Code field,
you can use this for anything you want. Other genealogical
software (notably PAF) uses the "reference number" when it
generates GEDCOM files. If GFE sees a reference number in a
GEDCOM file, it places the value of that number in the REFN
field on the Person Area edit screen. Otherwise, you may use
this field for anything you like. (Brian, for example, uses
it to record U.S. Social Security Numbers.)
Screen mode
A computer-specific term. Computers can be run in one of
several "graphics" or "text" screen modes. One of these is
the standard 25-lines-by-80-columns text screen mode. Others
include 43-line-by-80-column mode and 50-line-by-80-column
mode. You can instruct GIM to operate in any of these modes;
see chapter 6 for details. GIM uses graphics screen mode only
to print forms. For some important notes about this mode, see
chapter 17.
Selected spouse
A GIM-specific term. If a person has more than one spouse,
one of these can be "selected". The person's selected spouse
and their children are then displayed in the Multi Area
screen. To select from among several spouses, use the Home
and End keys on the Multi Area screen. For more details, see
chapter 4.
Soundex
A method of numerically encoding names. The soundex encoding
scheme is widely used in genealogy. Among other things, it
blurs the distinction between names with similar spellings.
"Smith" and "Schmidt", for example, have the same soundex
code. GIM uses soundex codes extensively. This has the
effect of enabling GIM to search for names that sound like the
name you're searching for, without requiring you to spell the
name exactly right.
Submission info
A GIM-specific term, and probably a confusing one. It refers
to your name, address, and phone. To enter this information,
press F7 from the Forms Area. See chapter 10 for details.
Swap path
A GIM-specific term, and certainly another confusing one.
This is a directory, preferably on your RAM disk if you have
one, which GIM uses to store data temporarily while it does
its work. See chapter 6 for details.
Traversal screen
The screen used to navigate ("traverse") around your folder.
This screen is seen primarily in the Multi Area, and also in
other places, such as the Forms Area.