| GEDCOM 101 | |
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Do you want to share your family tree file with friends, family, or fellow researchers? Unless they use the same genealogy software program as you they will not be able to open and read your family file unless you send it to them in GEDCOM format.
The same goes for most online pedigree databases which only accept family tree submissions in GEDCOM format. Learning to save your family tree as a GEDCOM file will make it much easier to share your family tree and connect with fellow researchers.How To Save
Your Family Tree as a GEDCOM File
All major family tree
software programs support the creation of GEDCOM files. Creating a GEDCOM file
does not overwrite you existing data or change your existing file in any way.
Instead, a new file is generated by a process known as "exporting." Exporting a
GEDCOM file is easy to do with any family tree software by following the basic
instructions below. You can also find more detailed instructions in your
genealogy software's manual or help system. You should also be sure to remove
private information such as birth dates and social security numbers for
people in your family tree who are still living in order to protect their
privacy.
Generic Instructions for Creating a GEDCOM File:
* This works for most family tree software programs
- Launch your family tree program and open your genealogy file.
- In the top-left hand corner of your screen, click the File menu.
- Select either Export or Save as...
- Change the Save As Type or Destination drop-down box to GEDCOM or .GED.
- Select the location where you'd like to save your file (make sure it's one you can easily remember)
- Enter a filename such as 'powellfamilytree' (the program will automatically add the .ged extension)
- Click Save or Export.
- Some type of confirmation box will appear stating that your export has succeeded.
- Click OK.
- If your genealogy software program does not have the ability to protect the privacy of living individuals, then try one of these GEDCOM privatizing programs to filter the details of living people from your original GEDCOM file.
- Your file is now ready to share with others (see below).
How to Share My GEDCOM File
Once you have created a GEDCOM file you can now easily share it with others via
email, floppy disk/CD, or the Internet.
- To share your GEDCOM file via email you will need to send it as an
attachment to your email. Be sure to include a short note in your email
telling the recipient what to expect in the attachment so that they won't
delete it as a potential virus-laden attachment. You may also want to attach
brief instructions on how to open the file or point them to my instructions on
How to Open a GEDCOM File. If you need help
with how to send attachments via email, then try
How to
Send an Email Attachment.
- To share your GEDCOM file via snail mail you will need to save it
to a floppy disk or
burn it onto a CD.
- You can also share your GEDCOM file with others online by uploading to one of the many pedigree databases which exist on the Web. The best of these promise not to sell your information for profit and allow for easy searching for matches against the names in your family tree.
Next page > Supported GEDCOM Tags
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Kimberly Powell. Licensed to About.com.
