Gedcom file Sent by Notepad

[flipflops]

Hello,

Someone kindly sent me a gedcom file via notepad. When I opened the file it was all in one "lump" including all the coding. I'm not very familiar with notepad, and am hoping that someone can tell me how to view/print it without the code, and hopefully looking like the original document.

Any advice would be appreciated.

linda

[jim1]

Ask them to re-send it as a GEDCOM file.

[Jebber]

A gedcom file is a means of transferring files between family history programmes, you will need a family history programme  to open it, it will not work in notepad.


Jebber

[ringarosy]

If the file has an extension of .ged or .gedcom , you can right click on it and Open With ....(your preferred genealogy programme)


It will then display properly in the program.

[mike175]

A GEDCOM is a plain text file which will open in Notepad but, as you say, is hard to understand because it contains coding so that family tree software can convert it into easily readable form.

If you do not have a family tree programme there are various GEDCOM viewers free online.

Mike.

[arthurk]

If the file has an extension of .ged or .gedcom , you can right click on it and Open With ....(your preferred genealogy programme)
It will then display properly in the program.

That depends on the program. Family Historian uses .ged as its normal file format, but most (all?) other major programs have their own proprietary format. With these you have to open the program first, then rather than the Open command, find the one for Import, and go through the menus as necessary to find the option to import a .ged file.

Arthur

[ringarosy]

"That depends on the program. Family Historian uses .ged as its normal file format, but most (all?) other major programs have their own proprietary format. With these you have to open the program first, then rather than the Open command, find the one for Import, and go through the menus as necessary to find the option to import a .ged file."

You are right. There is always more than one way to do something, but some of these programs require you to Import the data. Although I have always opened .ged files this way, it depends on how you have set things up.

Good pick up!

[flipflops]

Thank you so much to everyone who answered. I decided to do the right click thing and, as expected from you great roots chaters it worked a treat!