Requesting a new GEDCOM save type

Although GEDCOM files provide a way to exchange data between different programs, genealogy programs have slightly different GEDCOM formats. Most programs do not fully implement the GEDCOM format, which means you can lose data when you transfer your file between programs. Issue can help with this, since it should never lose data which other programs have placed in GEDCOM files, and it can convert from one program's format to another program's format.

Issue has a set of "save types" corresponding to a number of popular programs, so that you can easily save a GEDCOM file in a format tailored to another genealogy program. This minimizes the amount of data which gets lost. If Issue has no "save type" for some program, you should use "Standard GEDCOM 5.5 format". However, most programs cannot handle the complete standard format, and so some data may be lost.

You may help with this situation by helping us generate a "save type" for another program you have access to. To do this, follow the steps given below:

  1. Get the file http://armidalesoftware.com/issue/ged/master.ged. This file contains most of what is legal in GEDCOM 5.5, as well as some things which aren't legal but either were legal in previous versions of GEDCOM, or which are used by other popular programs.
  2. Import this file into a new database in the other program. It will likely generate a number of errors. If it asks you how to handle specific cases, always choose the default options, or whatever is easiest for you to do if there are no defaults. If a log file is generated, make a note of the filename.
  3. Once the file has been imported, save (or export) it to another GEDCOM file, with a different filename. If you have a choice of types or destinations, choose the one for sending to another person with your program. For example, if you have PAF 5.0, save as a PAF 5.0 GEDCOM file.
  4. Send us the log file generated in step 2, and the GEDCOM file you created in step 3. You may send these in email to thalerk@armidalesoftware.com.

Existing "save types" include:

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