Family GPS compared to Historic Family Tree Numbering Systems

Objective:

Describe Family Genealogy Postioning System ( Family GPS ) methodology and its influences.

Conclusion:

FamilyGPS is a method to assign predictable identification numbers
- to families and
- to family members
- based on their plotted position on
- a Family Ancestry Chart

FamilyGPS borrows from historic genealogical numbering systems

Ahnentafel for numbering of Ancestors
Henry System for numbering of Descendants

source

Ahnentafel

(German for "ancestor table")

An ahnentafel
is a genealogical numbering system for listing a person's direct ancestors
in a fixed sequence of ascent.
The subject ( root family) of the ahnentafel is listed as No. 1,
the subject's father as No. 2
and the mother as No. 3,
the paternal grandparents as No. 4 and No. 5
and the maternal grandparents as No. 6 and No. 7,
and so on, back through the generations.
In this schema, the number of any person's father is double the person's number,
and a person's mother is double the person's number plus one.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahnentafel

Henry System

The Henry System is a descending system created by Reginald Buchanan Henry
for a genealogy of the families of the presidents of the United States that he wrote in 1935.
It can be organized either by generation or not.
The system begins with 1.
The oldest child becomes 11,
the next child is 12, and so on.
The oldest child of 11 is 111, the next 112, and so on.
The system allows one to derive an ancestor's relationship based on their number.
For example, 621
is the first child of 62,
who is the second child of 6,
who is the sixth child of his parents.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogical_numbering_systems#Henry_System

FamilyGPS System

Ancestor Families are counted back through generations just like Ahnentafel

1 is root subject
2, 3 are parents
4,5,6,7 are grandparent
The distinction is that Ahnentafel is an index of individuals, FamilyGPS uses this index for Family ID.
Under FamilyGPS, Individual ( Fam Member ) IDs are derived from Family IDs

Descendant Families follow Henry System numbering

IDs are assigned in sequential birth order
IDs grow by a digit for each generation
grandchildren Fam ID are 3 digit
great grandchildren are 4 digit,...
Descendant IDs begin with 101 because Fam ID values under 100 are reserved for ancestor families.
FamilyGPS numbering system is described in the Famiy Ancestry Chart, form of Family Tree Diagram, shown below.

Compare and Contrast FamilyGPS with other methods

Method	Similarities	Differences
Ahnentafel	FamilyGPS Family IDs for Ancestors correlate with Ahnentafel rules https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahnentafel Notice how Ancestor families in FamilyGPS chart above correlate with Ahnentafel formula Ahnentafel formula Father's number will be twice that individual's number Mother's will be twice that individual's number plus one	Ahnentafel makes no mention of numbering descendent generations Ahnentafel charts are read left to right; GAF reads ancestors right to left. FamilyGPS reserves Family ID 1 through 63 for ancestors Descendents use Family Numbers greater than 100 to ensure no numbering conflicts.
Henry System	FamilyGPS Family IDs for Descendents has much in common with the Henry System A digit is appended for each generation The Digit value is derived from Birth Order	Where GAF differs from both Ahnentafel and Henry GAF methodolgy provides unique IDs ( FAM ID and IND ID ) applied at the family level and Individual Ahnentafel and Henry systems provide index for individuals only
GEDCOM	GAF and GEDCOM use indexes of Families and Individuals (Family Members) to define family relationships GEDCOM (Genealogical Data Communication) is a proprietary and open specification for exchanging genealogical data between different genealogy software. GEDCOM was developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) as an aid to genealogical research.	GAF is more than GEDCOM GEDCOM IDs are randomly assigned based on Data Entry order GAF Family and Individual IDs are intelligent values that articulate family relationships. The spatial relationship between extended families members can be mapped on a Family Tree Diagram as depicted in chart above. GAF adds further leverages these calcuable IDs into a file naming convention to associate, catalog and report family image files by member or family GAF supports data independence Tables and Image files are logically defined and can be implemeted independent of any proprietary software or web services GAF compliant family tree accounting allows for easy data and image file sharing with other extended family members.

Method

Similarities

Differences

Ahnentafel

FamilyGPS Family IDs for Ancestors correlate with Ahnentafel rules

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahnentafel
Notice how Ancestor families in FamilyGPS chart above correlate with Ahnentafel formula
Ahnentafel formula
Father's number will be twice that individual's number
Mother's will be twice that individual's number plus one

Ahnentafel makes no mention of numbering descendent generations
Ahnentafel charts are read left to right; GAF reads ancestors right to left.
FamilyGPS reserves Family ID 1 through 63 for ancestors
Descendents use Family Numbers greater than 100 to ensure no numbering conflicts.

Henry System

FamilyGPS Family IDs for Descendents has much in common with the Henry System

A digit is appended for each generation
The Digit value is derived from Birth Order

Where GAF differs from both Ahnentafel and Henry

GAF methodolgy provides unique IDs ( FAM ID and IND ID ) applied at the family level and Individual
Ahnentafel and Henry systems provide index for individuals only

GEDCOM

GAF and GEDCOM use indexes of

Families and
Individuals (Family Members)

to define family relationships

GEDCOM (Genealogical Data Communication) is a proprietary and open specification
for exchanging genealogical data between different genealogy software.
GEDCOM was developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) as an aid to genealogical research.

GAF is more than GEDCOM

GEDCOM IDs are randomly assigned based on Data Entry order
GAF Family and Individual IDs are intelligent values that articulate family relationships.

The spatial relationship between extended families members can be mapped on a Family Tree Diagram as depicted in chart above.

GAF adds further leverages these calcuable IDs into a file naming convention to associate, catalog and report family image files by member or family

GAF supports data independence

Tables and Image files are logically defined and can be implemeted independent of any proprietary software or web services
GAF compliant family tree accounting allows for easy data and image file sharing with other extended family members.

WIKI Resources Consulted

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Your_first_article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEDCOM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_tree
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahnentafel
Use the definition that a father's number will be twice that individual's number, or a mother's will be twice plus one,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogical_numbering_systems
Henry System[edit]
- The Henry System is a descending system created by Reginald Buchanan Henry for a genealogy of the families
- of the presidents of the United States that he wrote in 1935.[3]
- It can be organized either by generation or not.
- The system begins with 1.
- The oldest child becomes 11, the next child is 12, and so on.
- The oldest child of 11 is 111, the next 112, and so on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin#Cousin_chart

Family GPS compared to Historic Family Tree Numbering Systems

Ahnentafel

Henry System

FamilyGPS System

Compare and Contrast FamilyGPS with other methods

FamilyGPS Family IDs for Ancestors correlate with Ahnentafel rules

FamilyGPS Family IDs for Descendents has much in common with the Henry System

Where GAF differs from both Ahnentafel and Henry

GAF and GEDCOM use indexes of

GAF is more than GEDCOM

WIKI Resources Consulted