GEDCOM Data Transfer, moving your family tree

Book by David Hawgood

ISBN 0 948151 17 X, 48 pages, 3rd edition published in 1999 by David Hawgood

If you use a computer for family history, you need to know about GEDCOM. It provides a way of moving family history information between different computer systems, and between different genealogy packages. GEDCOM is built in to most genealogy packages, and is also used for transferring information from databases.

The book explains the basic structure and principles, to help the reader understand the process. It has a detailed description of formats of information using the current GEDCOM standard, version 5.5. It shows how source information as well as family linkages can be included. There are examples from several genealogy packages, and from the Vital Records Index database.

Usually GEDCOM transfers proceed smoothly, particularly for the vital information. Different software suppliers have implemented different parts of the standards. There are descriptions of the various different formats readers might encounter, to help in getting all the information transferred.

How to order, and other books published by David Hawgood

This page prepared by David Hawgood, 30 Jan 1999

email David_Hawgood@compuserve.com,