Re: Genealogical evidence and data model

singhals <singhals@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes:
> Haines Brown wrote:
> 
> > A very interesting thread. I hope no one minds if a non-genealogist
> > jumps in with questions.
> > 
> > My sense of the distinction of a relation-based and an event based
> > structure is clear to me only in the abstract, but not in concrete
> > terms. Would someone be willing to offer a simple example of each to
> > help make the distinction clearer?
> 
> Leaping happily to the conclusion that you mean 
> lineage-linked vs event-linked, rather than what you've 
> rather clearly SAID (relation-based vs event based) ...
> 
> Succinctly: lineage-linked concerns itself with WHO; 
> event-linked concerns WHAT.
> 
> In a Lineage-linked database, the im****tant thing is the 
> linkage between a maximum of three persons (two parents and 
> a child).  It confines itself to those persons believed to 
> social and/or biological relations (parent, child, spouse).
> 
> 
> In an event-linked database, the im****tant thing is the 
> EVENT itself, to which may be linked/attached to an 
> unlimited number of persons.  An event-linked database CAN 
> include (but need not include) all persons present at the 
> event.
> 
> --In the case of a marriage, all persons present include the 
> clergy, the altar-boys, the organist, the choir, the 
> janitor, the guests, the bride, the groom, their attendants, 
> any officialdom necessary in your corner of the world, the 
> parents of the bride and groom ...
> 
> --In the Event of a baptism, all persons present again 
> include the baptisee, the parents, the clergy, the organist, 
> congregation, witnesses/sponsors/godparents ...

How do you find the pedigree of an individual in an event-linked
database?  It would seem that you'd have links to all over the
place to a lot of events that many people would consider to be
trivia and no "root" from which to start tracing the lineage
of any individual.

Perhaps I don't grasp the concept of event-linked data, but
it makes it seem that event-linked would be like a stew --
everything's in there but just try to find a particular
item.