How do I "save the trees" please?

[lancs-lassie]

Some help required please.
I currently have an account with A******Y where I,ve been building two family trees. My annual subscription is due for renewal and I was thinking of cancelling, hoping for a more attractive offer/discount on the current quoted price!
My problem is that I,ve never saved my trees anywhere else - I dont really know where to start. Can anyone suggest a package or something which would be ok for someone with fairly basic computer skills? I have seen mention of Family Tree maker (via the a***y site) I would like to ask if this is the sort of thing I should go for, or is there a more suitable programme out there for novice like myself. I do have piles of paper with all the family stuff scattered around on it so could start from scratch in the case of complete disaster 
My OH doesn't really take any interest in my family history stuff but is quite good with computers so could probably help me (if I admitted I was having problems!) - I prefer to "have a go" myself with guidance from the knowledgable bunch on RC.
PS. what is a GEDCOM file? Should I have used this at the beginning of my tree making?
Sorry that I sound so ignorant, but i,m sure you kind folk will help me,
Many thanks, lancs-lassie

[Emjaybee]

Go to HELP download GEDCOM on your Ancestry account follow the instructions.

After clicking on  TREE SETTINGS look on the bottom right for the green button  EXPORT TREE then  the button will change to DOWNLOAD right click and SAVE AS .....ged.

Then you will need a GEDCOM viewer - see link below. Its free and works.

http://uncleged.codeplex.com/

Mike

[Wendi]

Hi lancs-lassie !

All questions I was asking myself at one time! and I finally settled for a copy of Family Tree Maker, which I found very good for a first time user, and which other members of my family have got on well with as a 1st program.  (I now use Family Historian but that is only because once I became more experienced I wanted different things from the program)

GEDCOM is an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunication a method of saving and moving your tree or part of it.

Also, be very aware of what you are doing if you ever consider "uploading" your tree onto Ancestry's website.  There are several discussions on RC on that subject.

Good luck!
Wendi 

[downside]

You can either merge two separate trees or keep them as separate files depending on whether they are linked or whether you want keep them as two different projects.  If you trees on Ancestry contain links to photographs or documents then you may lose those links and you will have to download photographs separately and re-link them.

[hiraeth]

Hi lancs-lassie

Your GEDCOM file will contain references to any censuses you have attached to individual people but the census images would need to be saved to your computer separately.     

Downloading the GEDCOM files will not remove them from the ancestry site.  If you wanted to delete them completely from the site you should download the files  to two different locations - the hard drive of your computer plus separate backup storage.     

I would also recommend you open the files in the genie program on your own computer once donloaded, to ensure they work properly, before doing any deletions of trees

Heather

[LizzieW]

Legacy is a good program and can be downloaded free from

www.legacyfamilytree.com/

Lots of people on here use it, so there's always someone to ask for help if needed.  All you need to do is get the GEDCOM file from Ancestry, as per instructions from others and then move it to the Legacy program. 

Lizzie

[LoneyBones]

Hi Lancs Lassie,
My vote would also be for Legacy.
Once you download the free Legacy program you can import your file complete as a GEDCOM.
I don't know if it will import picture files within your current family history files, but I'd be copying any picture files to 'my pictures' in my computer anyway.
Good luck,
Leonie.

[lancs-lassie]

Just had a quick look (before I rush out to work  ) to see if anyone has noticed my post  - WOW you are all brilliant! Thank you so much, i,ve got plenty of information to work with now.
Might have to wait until weekend to have a play with everything but at least I know I can ask for your help if I get stuck.
Thanks again for all your help,
lancs-lassie

[LoneyBones]

That's what RootsChat is all about Lancs Lassie, lots of friendly people helping each other.