Web based family history software

Question Automated Export to Genealogy Databases

  • nwagers
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3 years 8 months ago #1 by nwagers
It would be really awesome to have a module that would automatically export a GEDCOM and upload to selected genealogy search engines/databases. One example is wc.rootsweb.com.

The module could save credentials to the linked databases. On some regular frequency (weekly? monthly?) it can check if updates have been made to the tree. If yes, it would export a GEDCOM with appropriate privacy filters, delete the old GEDCOM from the external site and upload the new one.

An additional nice feature would be to add in links back to the original site in a way that displays on the external site. Rootsweb displays notes, so it could attach a note to each individual with a message similar to "Automatically exported by webtrees 2.0.6. Find more information such as pictures and other media or contact the author at <URL for INDI>".

This would drive traffic back to the author's site and possibly generate interest in webtrees with potential new users.

The complicating factor is that each external site would need it's own export code and backlink display method. At least some are not going to have any API for uploading, making them fragile and possibly requiring frequent updates.

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3 years 8 months ago #2 by eh215
Replied by eh215 on topic Automated Export to Genealogy Databases
This is an interesting idea and given that there is a very small team of volunteers that works on the webtrees code, could you explain a bit more on the benefits that this would offer?

In particular, if a genealogy is saved in webtrees and is available online via your own site or through a hosted site, what is the added value that pushing it to another provider would offer, and would it add a level of confusion by making the same exact genealogy information available in 2 or more places?

Rob / Fisharebest could offer more insight but my understanding is that very few of us run webtrees solely on a local computer, the vast majority of us make some portion of our information available online already.

Eric

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3 years 8 months ago #3 by fisharebest
Replied by fisharebest on topic Automated Export to Genealogy Databases
Do you trust these other sites to apply privacy filtering to your living/private records?

If no, then you should download the GEDCOM file from webtrees with the "apply privacy filter" option.

You can then upload this GEDCOM file to rootsweb, etc.

> delete the old GEDCOM from the external site and upload the new one.

This is hard - and might be impossible.

Many sites have checks against scripted/automated logins.
This would make it impossible for webtrees to log on to the site.

Also, the "terms and conditions" for most sites say that you cannot use scripted/automated logins.

So, unless these sites publish an API for uploading data, then it isn't going to work.

Greg Roach - greg@subaqua.co.uk - @fisharebest@phpc.social - fisharebest.webtrees.net

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