Family Trees and GEDCOM software

ERICS_MUM

I've produced our family tree on Ancestry.com but want to save it to my devices by exporting it as a GEDCOM file. This will allow me to keep the details after I cancel my subscription to Ancestry.

I will need to install genealogy software on my devices so I can import the GEDCOM files into it.

My question is can anyone recommend such a piece of software please, preferably one you have used and are happy with.

Thanks

EM

Syman

You will not lose your information if you stop subscribing.

As fro software, i use family tree maker, reasonably cheap to buy, and usually comes with Ancestry sub offers

Undervalued

Syman wrote: »

You will not lose your information if you stop subscribing.

Yes, your user id still works in the restricted free mode. That said, from what I remember, the tree printing options were pretty basic to say the least!

To be honest my impression of Ancestry was that it sold you information that could be obtained for free and was a vehicle for selling other products.

ERICS_MUM

Thanks both. I didn't realise I could still have restricted view after cancelling the sub, so that's useful. I signed up on a special offer so 3 months have cost me a tenner which is why I decided to do it. I only needed to order 3 birth certificates and it was cheaper to order from the gov register office.

I'll check the Family Tree Maker software later.

Thanks again

EM

I agree about Ancestry's printing capability, shocking tbh.

System

Hi

I cannot recommend just downloading stuff, but these might help...
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Others/Miscellaneous/GEDCOM-Viewer-RKS.shtml
https://gedlink-editor.softwareandgames.com/
http://www.tucows.com/preview/311087

Also the GEDCOM file is an open type, that is other software should open it easily.

Wikipedia suggests it is a glorified text file. So if you can download a copy and try a few things out you may be successful.

Worst case scenario is using your browser and going to ancestry and taking screen shots to preserve the data as displayed.

The gedlink software is supposed to create family trees, but beware of spyware, and reconstruct your screen shots with it.

beardiedog

You can import your gedcom file into the free version of RootsMagic 7 and it will also enable you to update and enter new records.

It's restricted as to what you can do but it's great as a basic tool if you don't need all the bells and whistles.

PasturesNew

If on your tree you click to view documents - it's important to download a copy of those because once you have cancelled, although you can log in and still have your tree available, you will find that documents might not be available to you any longer... annoying if/when that happens.

So it's always a good idea to copy any/every document when you add it to your tree, if relevant.

hans_2

Gramps. is free and has useful features.

ERICS_MUM

Thanks again for so much useful info, so glad I started the thread. Sadly I haven't found any rich relatives who died intestate !

Farway

Have a look in http://www.cyndislist.com/

I use brothers Keeper, shareware but allows free access with limited reports but I have never found that a problem

Another one is Legacy, from the Mormans, free again

Ainsley1

If anyone is really interested in diving into the depths of the file structure it seems to be readily available on the web such as at http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pmcbride/gedcom/55gcch2.htm#S1