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You often will want to print more than just a "Register (Descendancy)" or "Ahnentafel (Ancestry)" narrative book, but your program does not have an option to print the entire database in narrative form.  The REPORT program is a very handy, but simple way to print right from your GEDCOM file in HTML or RTF format so that the narrative and index can be printed from either your Internet browser or Word Processor.  It shows all families, parents, children, and marriages with dates and places for birth, death, and marriage all in full sentences and formatted for families.  To keep it simple and to keep the narrative report within a reasonable length, it does not show notes, sources, or other events.

Using the GEDCOM files as input, the REPORT program (release 5 - 1 Oct 2002) can quickly produce two files that can be printed, shared, or posted.  It will trace through all individuals and trace the relationship, even across multiple marriages.  When finished it will place the two files on your desktop and display the Index.  GEDCOM files containing up to 5,000 persons have been tested successfully.  The Narrative HTML file will be approximately 125% of the GEDCOM file and the Index HTML file will be approximately 2/3 of the Narrative.  The RTF files will be about 1/3 the size of the HTML making them far more efficient to share.

Click on report.exe to download a simple 84K ".exe" self contained program file to print this narrative book and index.  This program is an improved version of the narrative program.   See instructions below.

This totally FREE DOS program contains no hidden processes and has been proven virus clean.  The source code is available upon request.

The above program may be saved in any location of your choice.  I recommend placing it in your "C:\Program Files\report" folder.  You will need to search for "C:\Program Files" when the "Save As" dialog box comes up and then make a new folder named "report".   Open that folder and click on "Save".  Once downloaded (12 seconds) make an icon as follows:  Locate the program file "report.exe", right click on it and select "Create Shortcut".  Right click on the "Shortcut to report.exe" icon and rename it to "Report".  Right click on the "Report" shortcut and select "Properties", select the "Program" tab and select "Run:" as "Maximized" and check mark "Close on exit", and then click on "OK".  Copy the shortcut icon and place in a convenient spot such as your desktop or "Programs" menu.   Clicking on the shortcut will start the program.  Initially the program will use "C:\" as the default location for temporary files and for the GEDCOM files.   Once you have entered your preferences, it will use them until you change again.   Two temporary text files and two temporary random access files are created and used by the program to save GEDCOM information and are deleted when the program is finished.  The program results are saved in ".htm" or ".rtf" files on your desktop that are named per your choice.  These file may be opened in your internet browser or by your word processor by clicking on them and deleted by you when you are finished.

Please enjoy this FREE program.  Please let me know if you know of a similar program for windows.

 

Please contact me with your comments, contributions, and/or corrections.

© Copyright 1998-2003 by Jim Pool Saturday, October 18, 2003