What is a Gedcom?

Question

what does it do?

Answer 1

It is a text file in a special format.  Any genealogy program can read it or write one; even if you use FTM and I use Roots Magic, or you use a PC and I use a Mac. You can send one to any numbers of places on the Web, like Genes Reunited, Roots Web World Connect, GeneNet or GenCircles, and they can display your data. You can send one to a chart-making company and get back a "Descendants of" family tree up to three feet tall and 100 feet long. (For a fee, I hasten to add.)

Their most popular use is in exchanging data. If, for instance, you are my second cousin and have some data I don't, you could send me a GEDCOM and I could import your data into my program at 1,000 people a minute, which is faster than I can type.

http://www.tedpack.org/gedcom.html

has more, if you are interested, with some examples.

Answer 2

It's a method of sharing family history files between different programmes.

Answer 3

It is a special type of file that allows you to build and transfer data in the form of a family tree

Answer 4

A Gedcom is a file type used in genealogy. Most family history software allows you to convert your family history data into gedcom files to transfer (export or import) them into another programme.

"GEDCOM, an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunication ...is a method of formatting your family tree data into a text file which can be easily read and converted by any genealogy software program".

So if you have created your family history on an online programme and want to transfer the information into your own program on your computer, you can often download the information from the online site into a gedcom file which you can then import in your own program.

Answer 5

Its what Luke Skywalker uses to talk to Yoda.

Answer 6

A GEDCOM is the file type you use when sending your family tree file to someone via email. So where a Word document will save as .doc, a family tree document will save as .ged or .gedcom.

A gedcom file is far smaller than an .FTW file (standardised file types for a lot of family tree software packages), and it's ideal for sending in emails. All family tree packages will be able to convert your file to gedcom, but you should look for advice on how to do this in the help section.

It is compatible and will open on any computer that has the family tree software installed on it. It means you can share your information with people all over the world, and they can share theirs with you.

It stands for GEnealogical Data COMmunication.

Answer 7

Its a file type for family tree researchers - it stores your information