GEDCOM X

Sounds interesting, but I don't think they're changing the fundamentals that are currently being used by FTAnalyzer.

 

The point is that the vast majority of family tree programs use the old GEDCOM 5.5 format. This works for the exchange of data but even then a whole lot of family tree programs don't even adhere to that format. As Tim found our with GenoPro and CENS records.

The release of the first full stable release of a new XML standard (XML being a common language used to exchange data between programs) is welcome and its been a long time coming. The project started in 2010 and has taken 3 years to date to get to an initial release. The key question is how many family history programs will bother adopting it.

I suspect various websites will be the first adopters as XML makes exchanging data dramatically simpler for websites given it's essentially the same sort of markup that a website is written in. However the beauty of GEDCOM 5.5 is its wide adoption so you can be fairly sure that exporting from one program or website will load in another.

With a new format you have a LONG lead in time. First you need companies to adopt it and provide an import/export option. Then you need people to upgrade to the new software!!! This latter bit is the stumbling block as people do tend to persist with what they know even though its out of date and needs a radical overhaul

So GEDCOM X release is welcome but it will be probably at least another 3 years if not 10 before its widely used.