GEDCOM

Create, Import, Export

See Also—

Computer Guide #11a (This guide gives an overall view of GEDCOMs)

Computer Guide #11c (This guide gives more detail about how GEDCOMs may be used for sharing family history with others.)

GEDCOMS may be imported into an empty file or into an existing file.

Caution:  You should always view an imported GEDCOM file by itself before importing it into an existing file! 

Steps to Import into an Empty File:

    1. From the File menu, select New.

    2. Select the drive and folder where you want to save the file, type a name for the new file, and
        then click Save.  

    3. From the File menu, select Import.

    4. Locate the GEDCOM file, select it, and click Import.

    5. Choose the import option you want, and click Ok.   

    6. The program displays import statistics in Notepad.  You an print this report if you like.

Note: If you do not see any parents, or arrows indicating ancestors or descendants, click the Individual tab.  It may be that the GEDCOM file contains a list of individuals who are not connected in a pedigree.

Steps to Import into an Existing File: Caution:  Backup your file before importing!!

    1. With your PAF file open, from the File menu, select Import.

    2. Locate the GEDCOM file, Select it, and click Import.

    3. Choose the options you want, and click OK.

    4. The program displays import statistics in Notepad.  You can print this report if you like.

    5. At the prompt asking if you want to see instructions on how to link (Match/Merge) the data,
        click Yes or No.

Creating and Exporting GEDCOM Files (PAF 5):

(See Computer Guide #11a for information about how GEDCOMS may be used)

Basic Steps:

    1. Click on the Export icon which is found on the Tool Bar, or from the File menu, choose
        Export.

    2. Select the type of export based on whom the file is to go to, PAF 5, PAF3, etc. If the file is
        to be sent to someone who does not have PAF 5, click Under the Export to select Other
        GEDCOM 5.5

            Select the character set –

            ·         UTF-8:  PAF 5.0 currently uses this option

            ·         Unicode:  This is a general option.  Use this only if the receiver asks for it.

            ·         Ansel:  Use this option to send a file to an earlier version of PAF or other genealogy
                      programs that is not Unicode based.

            ·         ANSI:  Use this option only if the receiver asks for it.  Few programs use ANSI.)

    3. Click the Include option that you want.

    4. Select All or Partial; if Partial, click Select, and select the individuals you want to include.

    5. Click Export.

    6. Select the drive and folder where you want to save your GEDCOM, type a name for the file,
        and click Export.

    7. At the prompt telling you how many names were included, click Ok.

If there is Multimedia:

When pictures are “added” to PAF 5, the program keeps only the link or pointer to the pictures.  If pictures are to be sent with a GEDCOM file, they must be sent in a separate file along with the GEDCOM file.  Then, to view the pictures, the receiver must either copy the picture file into the same drive and folder where the sender has been storing them, or, change the drive and folder locations in PAF 5 to match those in which the receiver chooses to store the picture files

To change the drive and folder location in PAF 5:

    1. From the Tools menu, select Global Search and Replace.

    2. From the Search and Replace text box, select Multimedia file names.

    3. In the Search for field, type the drive and folder location where the sender stores his or her
        picture files.

    4. In the Replace with, field, type the drive and folder location where the pictures are to be
        stored.

    5. Click OK.

Remember, when you send pictures along with your GEDCOM file, include the drive and folder(s) where the pictures have been stored on your computer so the receiver will have the option of copying the pictures into the same location/folder(s) in their computer.

For exporting GEDCOM files to Pedigree Resource File or www.rootsweb.com (World Connect), and for additional ideas on Sharing Your Genealogy, see Computer Guide  #11c.

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