GEDCOM Analysis & Family Tree Research Guides

Browse our complete library of free, step-by-step genealogy tutorials.

All 51 Guides

How to Analyse a GEDCOM File Online - A step-by-step walkthrough for uploading your GEDCOM file and getting instant insights into your family tree - demographics, errors, migration patterns, and research priorities.
Finding Hidden Cousins in Your Family Tree - Uncover possible family connections hiding in plain sight by analysing shared surnames, birth locations, and overlapping timeframes across disconnected branches.
How to Find and Fix GEDCOM Errors - A practical guide to detecting impossible dates, missing records, duplicate entries, and other data quality issues in your GEDCOM family tree file.
Finding Missing Census Records for Your Ancestors - Discover which census records your ancestors should appear in but haven\'t been found yet, and learn strategies for tracking them down.
Understanding Family Tree Connectivity and Structure - Learn what connected components are, why your tree might have isolated individuals, and how to strengthen the structural integrity of your GEDCOM file.
DNA Testing Strategy for Your Family Tree - Learn how to strategically plan DNA tests to get maximum genealogical value from your family tree research.
How to Search and Browse People in Your Family Tree - Master the People Directory to quickly find any ancestor by name, filter by dates, and explore your tree with powerful search and sorting tools.
Exploring Ancestor Locations on an Interactive Map - Discover where your ancestors lived, spot geographic patterns, and explore place hierarchies with the interactive Location Explorer map.
Analysing Ancestor Occupations and Work History - Explore the working lives of your ancestors - from farmers to factory workers, professionals to tradespeople - and understand the social history of your family.
Using the Kinship Explorer and Relationship Calculator - Master the Kinship Explorer to calculate relationships, find common ancestors, visualise family paths, and estimate expected shared DNA between relatives.
Getting Research Suggestions for Your Family Tree - Discover how GEDminer analyses your tree to suggest the most valuable research opportunities, helping you prioritise where to focus your efforts.
Using the Vital Sharpener to Improve Date Precision - The Vital Sharpener helps you identify estimated, incomplete, or missing vital records and prioritise which ones to research first for maximum impact.
Finding and Merging Duplicate Individuals - Find potential duplicate individuals in your tree using smart matching, compare their records side-by-side, and learn best practices for merging them.
Analysing Family Migration Patterns - Discover where your ancestors came from and where they went. Visualise migration flows, identify patterns, and understand the historical context of family movements.
Finding Gaps in Ancestor Timelines - Discover undocumented periods in your ancestors\' lives where records might exist. The Gap Detector highlights timeline gaps and suggests what to search for.
Creating a Research Plan with the Plan Generator - Let GEDminer analyse your tree and generate a structured research plan. Get prioritised tasks, focused searches, and a clear roadmap for your genealogy work.
Understanding Your Family Tree Dashboard - Master the Overview dashboard to quickly understand your tree\'s scope, completeness, and key patterns with demographic charts and statistics.
Finding Ancestors on Passenger Lists and Ship Records - Identify ancestors who likely arrived by ship, estimate migration windows, and learn proven strategies for finding passenger lists and immigration records.
Setting a Home Person in Your Family Tree - Setting a Home Person unlocks relationship labels, prioritised research suggestions, and personalised analysis across every tool in GEDminer.
Exporting and Sharing Your Research Data - Export analysis results, research plans, and findings as CSV spreadsheets and PDF reports for offline use, archive visits, and sharing with fellow researchers.
Discovering Family Events with On This Day - See which family events - births, marriages, and deaths - happened on today\'s date in history, connecting you to your ancestors in a personal way.
Understanding Your Tree Health and Data Quality Score - Learn how GEDminer evaluates your tree\'s data quality, what the health score means, and practical steps to improve your tree\'s completeness and accuracy.
Finding and Connecting Unlinked Individuals - Discover individuals in your tree who aren\'t connected to any family. Learn why they\'re isolated and strategies for reconnecting them.
Standardising Locations in Your Family Tree - Inconsistent place names cause mapping errors and missed connections. Learn how to identify and fix location formatting issues across your tree.
What Is a GEDCOM File? The Complete Guide - Everything you need to know about the GEDCOM file format - its history, structure, how to create one, and what you can do with it using modern analysis tools.
How to Start Researching Your Family Tree: A Beginner\'s Guide - New to genealogy? This beginner-friendly guide walks you through starting your family tree research, from interviewing relatives to using online databases and free analysis tools.
How to Read and Use Census Records for Genealogy - Census records are essential for genealogy research. Learn how to locate ancestors in census returns, interpret the columns and abbreviations, and use census data to extend your family tree.
Understanding DNA Matches for Genealogy Research - DNA testing has revolutionised genealogy. Learn how to interpret centiMorgan values, understand relationship predictions, and use genetic genealogy to confirm or extend your family tree.
10 Common Genealogy Mistakes and How to Avoid Them - Even experienced researchers make these mistakes. Learn the 10 most common genealogy errors - from unsourced facts to name assumptions - and how GEDminer helps you catch them.
Free Genealogy Tools and Resources: The Complete List - You don\'t need expensive subscriptions to research your family tree. Here are the best free genealogy tools, databases, and resources available in 2026.
Guide to BMD Records: Births, Marriages, and Deaths for Genealogy - Birth, marriage, and death records are the backbone of genealogy research. Learn how to find BMD records, what they contain, and how to use them to build and verify your family tree.
Genealogy Data Privacy and Security: Protecting Your Family Tree - Your family tree contains sensitive personal information. Learn about genealogy data privacy risks, how to protect your research, and why GEDminer\'s local-first approach keeps your data safe.
How to Merge Two GEDCOM Files Without Losing Data - Combining two family trees is one of the most error-prone tasks in genealogy. This guide walks through a safe merge workflow using GEDminer to spot duplicates, conflicting dates, and overlapping branches before you commit.
Fix Garbled Names in GEDCOM Files: Character Encoding Guide - If accented characters, apostrophes, or non-Latin scripts look broken in your family tree, the problem is almost always character encoding. Here is how to diagnose and fix it.
Surname Distribution Analysis and One-Name Studies - A surname is rarely just one name - spellings drift, branches scatter, and patterns emerge only when you map the whole picture. Here is how to use surname distribution analysis to drive deeper research.
How to Recover a Corrupted or Broken GEDCOM File - A GEDCOM that won\u2019t load can feel catastrophic. Most "corrupted" files are actually salvageable with a few targeted fixes. Here is the diagnostic workflow.
How to Break Down Genealogy Brick Walls: A Practical Method - Every genealogist hits a brick wall. The difference between solving one and giving up is method. Here is a repeatable workflow for cracking even the most stubborn ancestor.
Tracing Female Ancestors: Methods for the Hardest Lines - Tracing women in historical records is genealogy on hard mode. Surnames change, legal records ignore them, and parish registers reduce them to "wife of". Here is how to find them anyway.
Irish Ancestor Research: A Practical Guide for GEDCOM Users - Irish genealogy lost much of its civil and parish records in 1922, but more survives than most people think. Here is a practical workflow for Irish family trees.
Using AI and ChatGPT for Genealogy: What Works and What Does Not - AI can transcribe handwriting, translate Latin baptisms, and brainstorm research strategies - but it will also confidently invent ancestors that never existed. Here is how to use it well.
How to Research Scottish Ancestors: A Practical Guide - Scotland has some of the richest genealogical records in the world - if you know where to look. This guide covers the OPRs, statutory records, censuses, and how to plan Scottish research.
Researching German and Central European Ancestors - Researching German ancestors means navigating shifting borders, two main religions, and Gothic handwriting. This guide explains the key records and how to use GEDminer to organise them.
How to Date Old Family Photographs - An undated photograph can be placed within a 5-10 year window using clothing styles, mount type, and photographer details. Here is how to date your family photos systematically.
How to Organise Your Genealogy Research - Genealogy generates hundreds of files, screenshots, and notes. A simple organisation system - plus regular GEDCOM analysis - keeps your research efficient and shareable.
How to Cite Genealogy Sources Properly - Source citations turn a family tree into evidence. Learn the standard format, how to record citations efficiently, and how GEDminer measures your sourcing.
GEDCOM Error Propagation: How Bad Family Tree Data Spreads - One wrong date, duplicate person, or bad merge can spread through a GEDCOM file and corrupt hundreds of downstream facts. Learn how genealogy errors propagate - and how to audit your tree before importing or sharing.
Genealogy Glossary: A-Z of Terms Every Family Historian Should Know - A plain-English glossary of every genealogy term you\'re likely to meet - from Ahnentafel and BMD to Sosa numbers, endogamy, GEDCOM, kinship and Y-DNA. Bookmark and reference as you research.
GEDCOM vs GEDCOM-X: What\'s the Difference and Which Should You Use? - GEDCOM is the universal text-based format for family trees. GEDCOM-X is FamilySearch\'s modern JSON-based successor. Here\'s when to use each, what software supports them, and which one to share.
Genealogy Software Comparison: Desktop Programs and Analysis Tools in 2026 - A neutral overview of the modern genealogy software landscape: desktop tree programs and specialised analysis tools, and how they fit together.
How to Find Living Relatives Through Your Family Tree - A practical, privacy-conscious guide to finding living relatives - through your existing family tree, DNA matches and the Kinship Explorer. Includes how to make first contact respectfully.
The Genealogical Proof Standard: Sourcing Evidence in Family History - The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) is the framework that separates serious research from a collection of names. Here\'s the five-element standard, why each matters, and how to apply it.