The Tool-box
Software we are using to build this site
by Jeanne Choquette, Webmaster
For a few years now, to compile our genealogical data, we have been using Generations, the PC version (from SIERRA) of the software called Reunion by LEISTERPRO. Unfortunately, the software is no longer supported by Sierra.
Posting on the Internet a database containing
over 19,470 individuals is no small task. You first have to convert the data
into an international format called GEDCOM. Than you have to import it into a formatting software that will
produce as many family files all interconnected together by hyperlinks.
After a try with Gedpage Version 2.02 ©1997, by Rob
Jacob, we are now back to GED2HTML, by Eugene W. Stark. A very good software, that has the advantage of conserving
intact all of the information (personal notes, for example), but that produces
a somewhat disorganized final presentation.
We use Macromedia.
An extremely useful software when, such as in our site, you have to manipulate over 6,000 files, is Search and Replace by Funduc Software. This very small software gives you the ablility to "search - replace" in every file at the same time, with a lot of flexibility. This is particularly advantageous when you have to replace every french accented characters by the corresponding codes, or when you have to modify a link and you must make corrections to the reference in several files. A MUST for any Webmaster...
I believe that genealogists do not like too many graphics that slow down the display of pages, but prefer facts, data and well indexed sources. My graphics presentation is therefore reduced to a minimum. I digitize my photographs and prepare the graphics using PaintShop Pro 6.
The last step before uploading the files to the server is cross checking all hyperlinks. There is nothing more frustrating for a Web Surfer than to see the message "File not found". To do this, I use Xenu Link Sleuth 1.3.5, which goes through every link of every text, including the external links and the graphics, and produces a list of pages with broken links.
The last step of course, the uploading of the files to the server "choquet-te.org", housed by Trillium Internet Services. To accomplish this, I use the excellent WS_FTP by Ipswitch. A very functional and reliable software. I sometimes use FTP Explorer, whose interface is very similar to that of Firefox.