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How to Open a GEDCOM file in Your Genealogy Software

Generic Instructions for Opening a GEDCOM File

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These instructions will work for most family tree software programs. See your program's help file for more specific instructions.
  1. Launch your family tree program and close any open genealogy files.
  2. In the top-left hand corner of your screen, click the File menu.
  3. Select either Open, Import or Import GEDCOM.
  4. If .ged is not already highlighted in the "file type" box, then scroll down and select GEDCOM or .ged.
  5. Browse to the location on your computer where you save your GEDCOM files and select the file that you want to open.
  6. The program will create a new genealogy database containing the information from the GEDCOM. Enter a filename for this new database, making sure that is one that you can distinguish from your own files. Example: 'powellgedcom'
  7. Click Save or Import.
  8. The program may then ask you to make a few choices regarding the import of your GEDCOM file. Just follow the directions. If you're not sure what to select, then just stick with the default options.
  9. Click OK.
  10. A confirmation box may appear stating that your import was successful.
  11. You should now be able to read the GEDCOM file in your genealogy software program as a regular family tree file.

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