What Is a GEDCOM File? The Complete Guide

GEDCOM stands for Genealogical Data Communication. It is a plain-text file format created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1984 to allow different genealogy programs to share family tree data.

Almost every genealogy application - from major online tree platforms to desktop programs - can import and export GEDCOM files. This makes .ged files the closest thing genealogists have to a universal standard.

A GEDCOM file is structured into records, each identified by a tag:

• •INDI (Individual): Names, birth dates, death dates, burial details, occupations
• •FAM (Family): Marriages, divorces, parent-child links
• •SOUR (Source): Citations for records, documents, and evidence
• •NOTE: Free-text annotations and research notes
• •OBJE (Object): References to photos, documents, and media

Each record uses a numbered level system (0, 1, 2…) to nest related information. For example, a birth date sits inside an individual record as a level-2 tag under the level-1 BIRT event.

The most widely used version is GEDCOM 5.5.1, released in 1999. It handles most genealogical data well but has limitations with character encoding, multimedia, and same-sex relationships.

GEDCOM 7.0, released in 2021, modernises the format with UTF-8 encoding, better multimedia support, and extensibility. Adoption is growing but 5.5.1 remains dominant.

GEDminer supports both versions, so you can analyse files from any era of genealogy software.

Every major genealogy program can export a GEDCOM file. The option is usually under File → Export, Tree Settings → Export, or a similar menu. Online tree platforms typically offer the same option in account or tree settings.

The exported .ged file can then be opened in any compatible program - or uploaded to GEDminer for instant analysis.

Once you have a GEDCOM file you can:

• •Analyse it: Upload to GEDminer to get statistics, error reports, migration maps, and research suggestions
• •Share it: Send to relatives or other researchers for collaboration
• •Import it: Move your tree between different genealogy programs
• •Back it up: Keep an offline copy of your entire tree independent of any subscription
• •Compare trees: Check for overlapping ancestors with other researchers

A GEDCOM file is your data - it belongs to you, not to any software company.

GEDCOM files are not always perfect:

• •Character encoding issues: Names with accents or non-Latin characters may appear garbled in older files. Re-export using UTF-8 encoding.
• •Missing sources: Many trees lack source citations. Add them in your genealogy software before exporting.
• •Duplicate individuals: Merging trees often creates duplicates. Use GEDminer's Duplicate Finder to identify them.
• •Broken family links: Parent-child or spousal connections sometimes get lost during transfers. Check the Integrity tab.
• •Large file sizes: Trees with 50,000+ individuals may produce files over 100 MB. GEDminer handles large files efficiently in the browser.