RootsChat.Com
General => Technical Help => Family History Programs, Tree Organisation, Presentation => Topic started by: tracyjgiles on Monday 09 April 07 23:20 BST (UK)
-
Sorry this is probably a very naive question!
I do not use family tree Maker and know nothing of the programme.
Is it possible to open gedcom files in it.
I am in contact with someone who I want to share a vast amount of research with but I use family historian, and I don't know whether they can open my gedcom from family historian in family tree maker.
-
Hello there,
Yes Gedcom files are totally compatable with FTM. I have used both Family Tree Maker and Rootsmagic. I have moved gedcom files between the two programs and have had no difficulties...
Best wishes
Mo
-
Yes Gedcom files are totally compatable with FTM
Not quite. It is often assumed that gedcoms can be passed from one program to another without any data loss, but that is not exactly true. Each program has 'extra features' which can be removed during the gedcom import process.
Usually an exception report will detail any data fields that cannot be imported, but sometimes unrecognized fields are simply omitted.
All the major data fields will be imported but things like facts and aliases may be omitted.
downside
-
well I have had no problems admittedly I have only used the two programs that I mentioned FTM (this was my first software programme) and Rootsmagic.. I may be erroneous in saying that FTM is fully compatable with all Gedcom files... I was just confident with my usage of both. Others have sent me Gedcom files and I have been able to open them with both my software programmes..
Best wishes
Mo
-
A gedcom file created with Family Historian will certainly open up in Family Tree Maker and as far as I can see with no loss of information.
Doing it in reverse creates a few exceptions, but nothing serious
Peter
-
Thanks for the info, I have sent th file and im now just waiting to see!!
It was just when he came back with what is a gedcom file i wondered if family tree maker was compatible
Time will tell!
In historian I have imported loads of gedcoms without trouble.
Tracy
-
The GEDCOM, the GEnealogical Data COMmunication standard proposed by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), and adopted by many developers and users of genealogical software. The purpose of GEDCOM is to simplify the exchange of computerized historical and genealogical information. This collection is provided as a convenient way to share GEDCOM information among interested parties. (taken from http://www.ged4web.com/gedcom.htm)
The GEDCOM file is very specific in what it can contain. So any GEDCOM file taken from one source and inserted into another program will be identical, there will be nothing missing if both programs adhere to the GEDCOM protocol. Information contained in one program may not be transferred to another but that is to do with the construct of the programs not the GEDCOM files.