¨Gramps¨ anyone ??

[coenmfam]

Just getting started using ¨Gramps¨ for Linux ( Mandriva 2008 )
was wondering if anyone else is using it
what problems, issues etc


Nev

[MarkJ]

I have been using Gramps for several years and find it very good.
I had problems in the early days when installing it on Mandrake 8.something, but I contacted Don Allingham, the developer and he fixed the problem I was having.
I currently use Gramps on my Kubuntu 7.10 machine as well as my 6.06 systems and find it very reliable.

Mark

[geoff3]

Hi,
I've just discovered GRAMPS, and for the moment I am creating/updating my family tree on GENI which is a web based tool and then I create a GEDCOM and import it into GRAMPS.
I find that GRAMPS has more reporting possibilities and allows adding source reference data . It is a shame that the pedigree charts as displayed on the screen are not so nice once printed, I must get arround to passing on the request to the GRAMPS developers.
Geoff

[MarkJ]

At least they will listen to your comments Geoff! Don is a very approachable guy and the Gramps developers have included a lot of user requests into the Gramps code over the years.
It is a nice project - if I was a python coder, I would have a go at helping them, but I wouldn't have a clue how to start with python. As a user, I do follow the development and, if possible, feedback on any issues which I may come across - although I haven't seen any for some time.
Good to know there are a couple of other Gramps users on the forum!

Mark

[NicoUK]

Good to know there are a couple of other Gramps users on the forum!
Mark

I downloaded it a few days ago and plan to be using it in future, it looks good. Just have to change my operating system to the sensible choice :) which will be happening very soon! Ubuntu 7.10, but seeing you're using Kubuntu MarkJ I might have a look at that before deciding.

NicoUK

[MarkJ]

I understand that Gramps can be run on Windows, although the work is not "official" and thus not supported by the developers as such - but as with all open source projects, the guys who worked on the porting of Gramps to Windows would be happy to help.
I have not tried it in Windows - I don't run a Windows machine - so I cannot comment on how well it works.

On the Linux choice, if you are going for one of the Ubuntu family NicoUK, then Kubuntu is based on the KDE desktop environment which is probably more familiar to Windows users than Ubuntu, which uses Gnome desktop environment. You can, if you so desire, install one, then add the other by downloading the relevant desktop package and it will allow you to choose which you want to start up when you log in.
Most of the big Linux distros are similar in functionality - Mandriva, Fedora, the Ubuntu family, OpenSuSE etc. I use Kubuntu because I prefer the KDE desktop rather than Gnome; and an Ubuntu based distro rather than the others because of the package manager (called apt). Nev uses Mandriva, which is another excellent distro and some of my friends use OpenSuSE, so it is a case of try a couple of different ones and see which you prefer. If you get stuck, I am happy to help - just drop me an email or PM.

Mark

[Alan Welsford]

Mark,

I have to smile.

We wonder why people become technophobes when faced with computers.

I should have a bit of a head-start over most, as I worked for some years on Unix based machines, albeit things rather larger than the average PC, (Sun Solaris, mostly...)

I have to say, my background hardly helps at all. These posts could be in a foreign language, and I'd understand about the same amount. I must admit I've not even heard of most of the Linux flavours you mention.

It's shameful really - I really ought to find myself a spare machine, load it up with something not originating from Bill Gates, and start to educate myself !

Alan

[suedent]

Alan I know how you feel, #1 son is heavily into Linux & is president of his Uni's techy Society. I made the mistake of listening to one of their podcasts - I was lost after less than a minute.

When I visit him I keep tight hold of my laptop - we have one Linux laptop in the house which my daughter uses quite happily, but mine is staying the way it is for now.

I had a word with #1 son about Gramps, he has tried a couple of Linux genealogy programs & of the two he's tried Gramps is far & away the most user friendly.

[MarkJ]

Ah, Linux has moved on quite a lot from the early days when it was quite similar to the Unix systems. It is pretty much all graphical nowadays - rather like Windows.
But for the masochists, the good old command line is only a click away and you can be transported back to the classic joys of dir,ls,grep and all those other fun commands we love so much ;)
One of my chums worked for the big telecom company here in the UK and wrote a fair number of Unix programs for them. He found the Linux commandline very similar.

Python is a programming language by the way. One of the popular ones used in open source projects along with others which are perhaps more common to Windows based programmers - C, C++, java etc.

I don't knock Windows - it is very popular and works well for most people. It just doesn't suit me - I started using Linux originally when it was mostly command line stuff because I am one of those people who likes to tinker with their systems. I found Linux allowed me to delve and change things around if I wanted. Admittedly, at first, I usually ended up having to re-install quite often ;) But the modern Linux is, unless you want to dig into the depths, very easy to use - easier than Vista from what I have seen. But I found XP hard work after Windows 98!

Mark

[Alan Welsford]

Mark,

I'm rather concious of hi-jacking the original thread. :o

If I want to play with Linux of some sort at some stage, am I best trying to find a "spare" PC to put it on, or is it feasible to run it in some kind of dual-booting arrangement on a Windows machine, without causing problems to Windows ?

What software must I pay for, and how much can I get for free ? What kind of spec machine should be considered a minimum ?

(With apologies to those asking original question).

Alan

[NicoUK]

Thank you for the info MarkJ :)

I'm running Ubuntu on a spare machine at the moment and like it very much, though I'll certainly try the KDE desktop as well. I've been very pleasantly surprised to find most Windows created files will open with the applications packaged with Ubuntu and that there are so many of my favourite applications that will run on it too.

Alan Welsford "I really ought to find myself a spare machine, load it up with something not originating from Bill Gates, and start to educate myself !" - Just what I thought :)

NicoUK

[coenmfam]

Thanks for the replies guys.

It´s nice knowing that others are using it, I hope to start inputting stuff over the school holidays.

Itś also nice to know that others are using Linux here. I´ve been dual booting for about 4-5 years but finally ditching windows for Mandriva 2008.

regards
Nev

[coenmfam]

Mark,

I'm rather concious of hi-jacking the original thread. :o

If I want to play with Linux of some sort at some stage, am I best trying to find a "spare" PC to put it on, or is it feasible to run it in some kind of dual-booting arrangement on a Windows machine, without causing problems to Windows ?

What software must I pay for, and how much can I get for free ? What kind of spec machine should be considered a minimum ?

(With apologies to those asking original question).

Alan

Hi Alan

While others are using Ubuntu Linux, I prefer Mandriva Linux
either way - grab a copy of a Magazine cover and go for it
for Mandriva, a step by step guide is here
http://www.howtoforge.com/the_perfect_desktop_mandriva_2008.0
for Ubuntu
http://www.howtoforge.com/the_perfect_desktop_ubuntu_gutsy_gibbon

dual booting ( windows and linux sharing the same computer ) is a little more advanced and if you can find another computer to learn on, that is probably a lot safer ( for your data )

How-to forge is a great site describing with great detail how to set up various things eg servers. desk-tops, multimedia boxes, TV boxes etc

regards
Nev