Gramps XML

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GRAMPS XML is the XML format designed for storing GRAMPS data. The goal is to have a fully portable, human- and machine-readable XML format so that the data can be read and written without any loss. In addition, XML format allows for smaller files (if compressed) and for using the version control system for tracking the changes (if uncompressed).

The reason XML is not used by GRAMPS as the working database ("internal") format is performance, specifically memory considerations.

Gramps XML Resources

Starting with XML 1.0, each revision of XML has its own resource page, with references to that version's DTD and RELAX NG schema. The resource pages are listed at http://www.gramps-project.org/xml/.

Commencing with Gramps 3.1.2 all official versions of Gramps XML files can be imported. However, a warning will be given on import of 1.0.0 xml.[1]

For versions of Gramps earlier than 3.1.1 refer to the table to decide which version to use to import a specific version of the xml, consult the table below.

Gramps release XML version Imports XML version Example Changes/Note
3.4.x 1.5.0 >= 1.0.0 - best 1.4.0 [2] Citations support

Gramps XML is now idempotent[3].4365
Exporter does not change records order any more, making it easier to look at differences between versions/revisions.

3.3.x 1.4.0 >= 1.0.0 - best 1.3.0 [4] changes?
3.1.x 1.3.0 >= 1.0.0 - best 1.1.0 [5]
3.0.x 1.2.0 >= 1.1.0 [6]
2.2.x 1.1.0-1.1.4 >= 0.0.0 [7]
2.0.x 1.0.0 >= 0.0.0 [8]
1.0.x no official version (0.0.0) - [9]
0.0.x beta software (0.0.0) Unsupported Unsupported

You could use VirtualBox or Vmware and the old lgenealogy images from http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/gramps/ to convert the old XML.

DTD generation

Tool like xml2dtd could help people not familiar with DTD grammar by generating a DTD file from a XML file. New content on Gramps XML could be tested with the tool and be merged on current Gramps DTD.

RELAX NG generation

Tools like trang or NekoDTD could help to convert a Gramps DTD file to a RELAX NG file. Some others tools and up-to-date informations (2010-09-19) are listed on this page.

Validating Gramps XML file

To validate the Gramps XML file against its DTD, use xmllint program (comes with the libxml2-utils package):

xmllint --noout filename.gramps

If the Gramps XML file does not validate, this indicates an error in either the DTD or the XML Writer. Please file the bug report at http://bugs.gramps-project.org in that case.

Parsing Gramps XML file

See also