+extern Gedcom_val_struct val1;
+extern Gedcom_val_struct val2;
+
+#define GEDCOM_MAKE(VAR, VALUE, TYPE, MEMBER) \
+ (VAR.type = TYPE, VAR.value.MEMBER = VALUE, &VAR)
+
+#define GEDCOM_MAKE_NULL(VAR) \
+ GEDCOM_MAKE(VAR, NULL, GV_NULL, string_val)
+
+#define GEDCOM_MAKE_STRING(VAR, STRING) \
+ GEDCOM_MAKE(VAR, STRING, GV_CHAR_PTR, string_val)
+
+#define GEDCOM_MAKE_NULL_OR_STRING(VAR, STRING) \
+ (STRING == NULL ? \
+ GEDCOM_MAKE_NULL(VAR) : \
+ GEDCOM_MAKE_STRING(VAR, STRING))
+