Software: The GEDCOM file format
by John Cardiff
Last updated: 03 Sep 2008
  
GEDCOM is an acronym -- an abbreviation for GEnealogy Data COMmunications. It is a file format specification, first developed by The Church of Later-Day Saints (the Mormons). All modern genealogy programs support the GEDCOM file format.

Genealogy programs tend to record the data you enter in their own proprietary file format, that other programs cannot read. Before GEDCOM, genealogy program A could not read the data that had been entered into genealogy program B. So switching programs involved re-keyboarding all your data.

Now that all genealogy programs include GEDCOM import and export capability, you can easily export your data file in GEDCOM format and send it to a cousin or friend who uses a different program, and your cousin or friend can easily import that file into his/her genealogy program.

At least that's the theory. Periodically, the GEDCOM specification is extended. Then all genealogy program developers have to revise their GEDCOM features. That takes time. So at any given time, program A is up to the current version of the GEDCOM specification while program B is a version behind.

Importing from a previous version is no problem, but exports to an older version cannot always be read.

Even when both programs are up to the current GEDCOM specification the exchange may not go smoothly. Both programs have to have updated their GEDCOM handling correctly which doesn't always happen.

There is one last additional wrinkle. GEDCOM handles text fine, but is blind when it comes to photos, sound files and video clips, all of which you will have to move to the new program separately.

GEDCOM alone is a great motivator for most users to stay current by buying the annual updates to their preferred genealogy program.

GEDCOM's shortcomings are a great reason to think twice before switching to another genealogy program. Which is one of the reasons so many genealogists are so loyal to their genealogy program of choice. But without it, reviewing these genealogy programs would have been harder.