Export Gedcom File

Menu	Toolbar	Shortcut
File		Ctrl + E

Warning: Never overwrite an important source Gedcom file when saving, if there is no backup copy! FamilyTreeFactory does not use all types of data. Unused data would be lost if the original Gedcom file is overwritten.

In this dialog, the records of the open family file can be saved in a Gedcom file (*.ged) based on the Gedcom standard 5.5 from LDS (1). Details about the program's converter can be found in the Appendix in the section Gedcom Conversion Details. The display lists in this dialog should allow an experienced user of the Gedcom standard to evaluate the results of the conversion. Text that is cut off in the line of the display list due to a lack of space will be shown in an information window when the mouse cursor is placed over the line.

To set conversion options, you can open the dialog Gedcom Options directly by using the button Change Gedcom Options.... To better determine the effects of various Gedcom Options, you can easily navigate in the three display lists. Double-click on record references or Gedcom references ('@XRef@') to show the corresponding lines in all display lists. In addition, you can search for specific words in the display lists.

Click the button Create Gedcom Records to start the conversion process. This will create Gedcom records, which are then displayed in the two display lists on the right side. The Gedcom file is not automatically saved after conversion. Click the button Save Gedcom File to save. This makes it easier to perform repeated conversions with different Gedcom Options before saving to a Gedcom file. The conversion can be canceled at any time with the Cancel button or using the Esc key.

Note: A Gedcom export is only possible if the integrity check does not find any serious structure error in the family file. Structure errors are for example references to missing records.

In case of data errors like chronology errors a warning will be displayed; after confirmation the export will be performed. This is valid also for so called gender errors: If the strict gender check was selected in the Program Options, Integrity Check tab, and if the family file contains partnerships of the same gender. In such a case the moderate gender check should be activated. In addition, you should make sure that the program of the receiver of the Gedcom file is able to import a Gedcom file with partnerships of the same gender. The Gedcom standard knows only one single HUSB tag for a male person and only one single WIFE tag for a female person into family records. With that partnerships of the same gender cannot be saved actually in conformity with the Gedcom standard.

(1) Publisher and copyright: Family History Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (American abbreviation "LDS"), 50 East North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150, USA. Internet: www.familysearch.org.