GDM: GRanDMA Database Manager project

The Problem

Managing the GRanDMA database has been a challenge for decades. Sure, there are software packages out there for managing genealogical databases, but none that satisfies all of these GRanDMA needs:

• An efficient platform for manually entering or editing genealogical data;
• Capacity to manage over a million and a half records;
• Capability for more than one person to edit at the same time; the available packages were designed for the desktop with one user logging in at a time;
• A tool to merge in a submitted genealogical database.

The GDM Solution

An entirely new platform, the GRanDMA Database Manager, was developed by a professional programmer, Tony Isaac. It rolled out on August 8, 2026 Starting with a multi-user database platform with plenty of capacity, Tony has built and is testing editing tools and a powerful merge capability.
    This has also been an opportunity to make some database improvements. For example, there will be much better logging of "Last Change" data.

How will this work for GMOL, BK, and GEDCOM users?

Actually, the user experience will not change. The GDM is a database manager, not a replacement for GMOL.
    The GDM will regularly generate an updated copy of the GRanDMA database in GEDCOM format (the standard for interchange of genealogical data.) That will be supplied to GMOL where it will be converted to an appropriate database. A BK-compatible file will also be generated for those users.

This has been a huge task, but by making it possible for more volunteers to enter and edit data, the GDM will help build a bigger and more robust GRanDMA.