Genealogy Chat

FTM users don't forget there are two types of file you can save 1 .FTW files 2. GEDCOM files .FTW files are the everday working files, found on your hard drive (look for the blue and red icons in 'my computer'). These files contain everything you have entered in FTM, images, notes, names, dates, photographs, PDF reports and books etc. Saving these files will back up your complete file in one go GEDCOM files are TEXT ONLY. Saving a gedcom will allow you to rerieve names, dates, notes etc but they DO NOT contain any images or photographs. If you wish to save a gedcom but want to keep your images, census returns etc then you MUST save the images separately.Images do not get stored in a GEDCOM. Glen

You live and learn:-) Many thanks to Errol for pointing out the use of control with drag and drop as a method of copying rather than just moving a file. I've used computers at work and at home for years now and not discovered that one. Whenever I talk to other users find that we each have shortcuts that others haven't found.

Still don't know if I will lose all my attachments if I export as a Gedcom file, as suggested will happen by Genes Reunited?

Or, do they just mean that no attachments will be attached to the Gedcom file, BUT will STILL be on the Genes Reunited website, within my tree???

Really confused, as can't ever get a straight answer to my inquiry from their HELP (or non help) section, as the case may be!

Can anyone answer this question please?

All I want to do is give info to my Great Niece, who has joined Ancestry whatever, and has asked me for information. Too much info to give her and even doing a 'LIST' from Genes R., doesn't give all info, just some of it, which is strange.....

It can depend on the receiving website - where the file is to be uploaded to.

I'm not sure how Ancestry reacts to a GR GEDCOM file.

But everything will still be on your own GR tree, even if photos, etc don't transfer across to your great-niece's tree.
You won't lose anything on your own tree.

Have you tried contacting GR support directly?
[email protected]

They usually reply within about 3 working days.

You could also give your great-niece access to your GR tree, so that she can see everything on it. Of course, she'd have to join GR with a paid subscription in order to view it.

Or give her your GR log-in details - so long as you can trust her not to tamper with your tree?

All ArgyllGran has told you is correct. Your tree is not changed by being exported as a GEDCOM.

The GEDCOM file is a text file so cannot hold photos or images of records. It does contain text which indicates how the people relate to each other.

Ancestry will be able to read it and construct a tree which should be correct in structure and content. Where most problems occur is in date representation and interpretation (e.g. days and months being swapped).

Another area for your niece to watch out for is place names. If you don't specify the county and country for places in your GR tree then Ancestry may assume it is a place of the same name in the US or Canada.