This page describes a set of tests included in version 1.05 of the GEDCOM file assess.ged (download - view). Details change between versions.
Area Summary
People with the surname "Date Valid" have birth events with valid GEDCOM dates. GEDCOM dates include full dates, partial dates, approximate dates, calculated dates, date ranges, and date periods.
The keywords that modify a date are short, uppercase values like "ABT" and "FROM", but they may be rendered differently by the target application.
If the target application does not support one of the date formats used in your data, you should (1) adjust the date value before exporting or (2) adjust the value after importing. Use a date value that best approximates the original, unsupported value.
Of the date values tested in this area, the most common problem dates are:
- FROM dates without a "TO" date; see 13-FROM 1851 Date Valid
- TO dates without a "FROM" date; see 19-TO 1871 Date Valid
- INT (interpreted) dates; see 31-INT 1912 (Phrase) Date Valid
- Date phrases; see 34-(Phrase) Date Valid
Some target applications make it difficult to identify unsupported dates because they show the text value of the imported date even when the application was unable to parse the date. One clue is to look somewhere in the user interface where lifespans appear. If there is no birth date for the person, the date was probably not recognized. That is one reason why the tests use Birth events.
Another way to detect unsupported dates is to compare the rendering of the date to other date values. Many programs have options for formatting dates (full months, abbreviated months, zero-filled day numbers, etc.) and an unsupported date will not reflect the formatting options. For example, if the target application usually shows dates using a full month name, but a test shows an abbreviated month name, it's likely that the target application does not support the date value used in the test.
01-1801
Birth date should be "1801".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
1801" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
02-FEB 1802
Birth date should be "FEB 1802".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
FEB 1802" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
03-3 MAR 1803
Birth date should be "3 MAR 1803".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
3 MAR 1803" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
04-BEF 1811
Birth date should be "BEF 1811".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
BEF 1811" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
05-BEF FEB 1812
Birth date should be "BEF FEB 1812".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
BEF FEB 1812" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
06-BEF 3 MAR 1813
Birth date should be "BEF 3 MAR 1813".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
BEF 3 MAR 1813" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
07-AFT 1821
Birth date should be "AFT 1821".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
AFT 1821" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
08-AFT FEB 1822
Birth date should be "AFT FEB 1822".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
AFT FEB 1822" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
09-AFT 3 MAR 1833
Birth date should be "AFT 3 MAR 1833".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
AFT 3 MAR 1833" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
10-BET 1831 AND 1841
Birth date should be "BET 1831 AND 1841".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
BET 1831 AND 1841" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
11-BET FEB 1832 AND FEB 1842
Birth date should be "BET FEB 1832 AND FEB 1842".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
BET FEB 1832 AND FEB 1842" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
12-BET 3 MAR 1833 AND 3 MAR 1843
Birth date should be "BET 3 MAR 1833 AND 3 MAR 1843".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
BET 3 MAR 1833 AND 3 MAR 1843" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
13-FROM 1851
Birth date should be "FROM 1851".
Some target applications support the FROM-TO date period format where two dates are specified but do not support the open-ended FROM date period format where only one date is specified. If a target application does not support the single-date FROM format, you may have to change such dates to use the AFT (after) date format.
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
FROM 1851" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
14-FROM FEB 1852
Birth date should be "FROM FEB 1852".
Some target applications support the FROM-TO date period format where two dates are specified but do not support the open-ended FROM date period format where only one date is specified. If a target application does not support the single-date FROM format, you may have to change such dates to use the AFT (after) date format.
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
FROM FEB 1852" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
15-FROM 3 MAR 1853
Birth date should be "FROM 3 MAR 1853".
Some target applications support the FROM-TO date period format where two dates are specified but do not support the open-ended FROM date period format where only one date is specified. If a target application does not support the single-date FROM format, you may have to change such dates to use the AFT (after) date format.
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
FROM 3 MAR 1853" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
16-FROM 1851 TO 1861
Birth date should be "FROM 1851 TO 1861".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
FROM 1851 TO 1861" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
17-FROM FEB 1852 TO FEB 1862
Birth date should be "FROM FEB 1852 TO FEB 1862".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
FROM FEB 1852 TO FEB 1862" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
18-FROM 3 MAR 1853 TO 3 MAR 1863
Birth date should be "FROM 3 MAR 1853 TO 3 MAR 1863".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
FROM 3 MAR 1853 TO 3 MAR 1863" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
19-TO 1871
Birth date should be "TO 1871".
Some target applications support the FROM-TO date period format where two dates are specified but do not support the open-ended TO date period format where only one date is specified. If a target application does not support the single-date TO format, you may have to change such dates to use the BEF (before) date format.
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
TO 1871" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
20-TO FEB 1872
Birth date should be "TO FEB 1872".
Some target applications support the FROM-TO date period format where two dates are specified but do not support the open-ended TO date period format where only one date is specified. If a target application does not support the single-date TO format, you may have to change such dates to use the BEF (before) date format.
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
TO FEB 1872" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
21-TO 3 MAR 1873
Birth date should be "TO 3 MAR 1873".
Some target applications support the FROM-TO date period format where two dates are specified but do not support the open-ended TO date period format where only one date is specified. If a target application does not support the single-date TO format, you may have to change such dates to use the BEF (before) date format.
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
TO 3 MAR 1873" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
22-ABT 1881
Birth date should be "ABT 1881".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
ABT 1881" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
23-ABT FEB 1882
Birth date should be "ABT FEB 1882".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
ABT FEB 1882" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
24-ABT 3 MAR 1883
Birth date should be "ABT 3 MAR 1883".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
ABT 3 MAR 1883" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
25-CAL 1891
Birth date should be "CAL 1891".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
CAL 1891" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
26-CAL FEB 1892
Birth date should be "CAL FEB 1892".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
CAL FEB 1892" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
27-CAL 3 MAR 1893
Birth date should be "CAL 3 MAR 1893".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
CAL 3 MAR 1893" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
28-EST 1901
Birth date should be "EST 1901".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
EST 1901" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
29-EST FEB 1902
Birth date should be "EST FEB 1902".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
EST FEB 1902" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
30-EST 3 MAR 1903
Birth date should be "EST 3 MAR 1903".
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
EST 3 MAR 1903" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
31-INT 1912 (Phrase)
Birth date should be "INT 1912 (Phrase)", but the target application may render the phrase with or without the parentheses, and possibly in a separate field from the date.
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
INT 1912 (Phrase)" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
32-INT FEB 1913 (Phrase)
Birth date should be "INT FEB 1913 (Phrase)", but the target application may render the phrase with or without the parentheses, and possibly in a separate field from the date.
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
INT FEB 1913 (Phrase)" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
33-INT 3 MAR 1914 (Phrase)
Birth date should be "INT 3 MAR 1914 (Phrase)", but the target application may render the phrase with or without the parentheses, and possibly in a separate field from the date.
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
INT 3 MAR 1914 (Phrase)" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.
34-(Phrase)
Birth date should be "(Phrase)", but the target application may render the phrase with or without the parentheses, and possibly in a separate field from the date.
Test Result Criteria
- If a target application imports "
(Phrase)" and converts it to its chosen internal format, set the test result to "Supported". - For any other outcome, set the test result to "Imported Incorrectly" and describe the outcome in the comment.