A Genealogical Data Communication (GEDCOM) file is a special file format that was developed to provide a standard for encoding genealogical data. It is not used by most family tree software packages but most can import and export to GEDCOM format. Because of this, it is today used by many genealogists to exchange pedigree data files.
Note: This article is about the FamilyTreeDNA Tree Builder. If you have linked your tree to your MyHeritage Account, please see the MyHeritage Help Center.
Exporting & Downloading Your Tree to a GEDCOM
You can export your Family Tree on your Tree Management page. Once you export your tree, you can download a GEDCOM (.ged) file of your tree.
During Export
Once you click export, you will see a GEDCOM message at the top of your Tree Management page noting that the export is being generated.
After Export
After you export your tree, you will receive an email stating that your export is ready for download, and in the top section of your Tree Management page, a GEDCOM message is displayed noting when you performed your last export.
Your export will remain available for download on your Tree Management page until you perform another export. Each time you export your tree, the export will update with your current tree information.
It is important to note that you will not be able to undo an export or access a previously exported version of your tree.
Tip: If you want to save multiple GEDCOM files, e.g., a new file each time you update your tree, after exporting, download your tree to a GEDCOM file, and save each version with a different name.
Exporting Your Tree
You can export your tree from the Tree Management page. You can find the Tree Management icon on the family tree page.
To export your tree:
- Go to your Family Tree.
- In the upper-right corner of the page, click Tree Mgmt. You are directed to your Tree Management page.
- On the top right of the page, click Export Tree. A prompt noting that you are replacing any current export version is displayed.
- Click Export.
- You will receive an email stating that your export is ready for download.
It is important to note that you will not be able to undo an export or access a previously exported version of your tree. For more information, see the above About exporting and downloading your Family Tree to a GEDCOM file section.
Downloading Your Exported Tree to a GEDCOM
Once you have exported your tree, you can download it to a GEDCOM (.ged) file.
To download your tree:
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- Go to your Family Tree.
- In the upper-right corner of the page, click Tree Mgmt. You are directed to your Tree Management page.
- Export your tree.
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On the top right of your Tree Management page, click Download Tree. Your GEDCOM is downloaded to your files.
Uploading a GEDCOM to Your Tree
If you already have a GEDCOM file, you can upload it to your Family Tree. It is important to note that when you upload a GEDCOM file the information in the file will replace any information you currently have on your Family Tree.
Notes:
- Processing times vary and depend on the size of the GEDCOM file.
- Larger files typically take longer to upload and may possibly take a few hours.
- Files larger than 15 MB might not upload.
To upload your GEDCOM file:
- Go to your Family Tree.
- In the upper-right corner of the page, click Tree Mgmt. You are directed to your Tree Management page.
- On the top right of your Tree Management page, click GEDCOM Upload. You are directed to the Upload a GEDCOM page.
- In the Select a GEDCOM section, click the Browse... button to browse to the GEDCOM file you want to upload.
- Select the .ged file you want to upload and click Open. The file is populated in the Select file field.
- In the Tree Name field, enter a name for your tree.
- In the Tree Description field, enter a description of your tree.
- In the lower-right corner of the page, click Upload. The Select the name... prompt is displayed.
- In the prompt field, enter your name or select your name from the drop-down list.
- Click Select. Your GEDCOM is uploaded, and you will receive an email when the upload is complete.