What is a GEDCOM file?
A: GEDCOM is a computer file format that lets genealogists swap information about their ancestors. The format’s compatible with all genealogy software, so no matter what program you use, you can open GEDCOMs created with another program — and other researchers can open your files.
You don’t have to buy a GEDCOM, but you do need a genealogy program to create or open one. You can’t use GEDCOMs in other types of software, such as word processors (Word) or web browsers (Google Chrome). You can get a GEDCOM file several ways:
Answer provided by Allison Dolan, from the December 2004 issue of Family Tree Magazine.
A: GEDCOM is a computer file format that lets genealogists swap information about their ancestors. The format’s compatible with all genealogy software, so no matter what program you use, you can open GEDCOMs created with another program — and other researchers can open your files.
You don’t have to buy a GEDCOM, but you do need a genealogy program to create or open one. You can’t use GEDCOMs in other types of software, such as word processors (Word) or web browsers (Google Chrome). You can get a GEDCOM file several ways:
- Create a GEDCOM file of your family data using genealogy software (this is the only way to get a GEDCOM file from your own family tree information). The process is easy, but varies slightly depending on your software. In general, you’d open up the program and pick Export GEDCOM (or a similar command) from a menu. Then you’d click through a few dialog boxes that ask you questions or give instructions.
- Download someone else’s GEDCOM file from the Internet. Genealogists post their GEDCOMs on websites such as RootsWeb WorldConnect. You can search these sites to find a match for one of your ancestors, and if you do, you can download the GEDCOM — with all the family information in the file; not just on the one matching person — to your computer. Then you’d use your genealogy software to “merge” the data from the GEDCOM into your own family file (after verifying it, of course).
- Share a GEDCOM file the same way you’d share any computer file — for example, by e-mailing it or saving it to a disk.
Answer provided by Allison Dolan, from the December 2004 issue of Family Tree Magazine.
Your online family trees are valuable. Often you’ve invested untold hours of work and plenty of genealogy website subscription dollars to build them. Keeping a backup or master copy of your tree can give you peace of mind—and the opportunity to do other things with the data.
1. Log in
Log in to your Ancestry.com account.
2. Open the Trees tab
Under the Trees tab, select Create and Manage Trees.
3. See a list of your Ancestry.com trees(You know you can create as many trees as you like, right?) Under the Tools column, select Manage Tree for the tree you’d like to download.
4. Go to Manage Your Tree
Scroll down on the page to where it says Manage Your Tree: click the button that says Export Tree, as shown here.
1. Log in
Log in to your Ancestry.com account.
2. Open the Trees tab
Under the Trees tab, select Create and Manage Trees.
3. See a list of your Ancestry.com trees(You know you can create as many trees as you like, right?) Under the Tools column, select Manage Tree for the tree you’d like to download.
4. Go to Manage Your Tree
Scroll down on the page to where it says Manage Your Tree: click the button that says Export Tree, as shown here.
Screenshot for downloading a GEDCOM file: Export Tree.
5. Ancestry.com will generate a GEDCOM file
Be patient while Ancestry.com generates a GEDCOM file from your tree data. GEDCOM files are universal file types that can be read by any family tree software or web platform. (Reunion software requires a little extra work.)
6. Click green button
Once your GEDCOM file is ready, a green button will appear labeled Download Your GEDCOM file. Click to start downloading. (You can also click on the Download Tips text if you need some help.)
7. Find in your computer’s Downloads file
Once the file is downloaded to your computer, right-click on it to see it in your Downloads folder. Rename it with a more useful name (“Johnson family tree from Ancestry”) and move it to your genealogy files on your computer so you can easily find it again.
Sunny Jane Morton, Family Tree Magazine
5. Ancestry.com will generate a GEDCOM file
Be patient while Ancestry.com generates a GEDCOM file from your tree data. GEDCOM files are universal file types that can be read by any family tree software or web platform. (Reunion software requires a little extra work.)
6. Click green button
Once your GEDCOM file is ready, a green button will appear labeled Download Your GEDCOM file. Click to start downloading. (You can also click on the Download Tips text if you need some help.)
7. Find in your computer’s Downloads file
Once the file is downloaded to your computer, right-click on it to see it in your Downloads folder. Rename it with a more useful name (“Johnson family tree from Ancestry”) and move it to your genealogy files on your computer so you can easily find it again.
Sunny Jane Morton, Family Tree Magazine
Source/Acknowledgments - These extracts are from the Family Tree Magazine article by Rick Crume et al GEDCOM Files - Sharing, Merging, Exporting and more available at https://familytreemagazine.com/resources/gedcom-basics/ (accessed 12 June 2023)