If you have used more than one genealogy program, you have almost certainly met GEDCOM. It is the format that lets a family tree built in one app open in another, and it has been the genealogy world's common language for decades.
What a GEDCOM file actually contains
A GEDCOM file is plain text with a defined structure. It records the building blocks of a family tree: individuals (with names, sexes, and life events), families (links between spouses and their children), events (births, marriages, deaths, with dates and places), and references to sources. Because the structure is standardized, any program that understands GEDCOM can read a tree another program wrote.
The two versions you will see
- GEDCOM 5.5.1 is the older standard and still the most widely supported. Major services like Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Family Tree Maker read it reliably, so it is the safe choice for maximum compatibility.
- GEDCOM 7 is the modern revision. It handles media, notes, and non-English text more cleanly. Choose it when the app on the other end supports it.
When you are not sure what the receiving app accepts, export 5.5.1.
Why GEDCOM matters for your research
GEDCOM is what keeps your work portable. Your tree is not locked inside one company's website - you can move it, back it up, or bring an existing tree into a new tool. That portability is the difference between renting access to your family history and owning it.
GEDCOM and KleioBase
KleioBase treats your data as yours. You can export your tree as a GEDCOM file - GEDCOM 7 or 5.5.1, with or without your record images - on any plan, and import an existing GEDCOM tree from another app on the Researcher plan or above. Where KleioBase goes beyond the file format is what it does with the tree: as you add records, it reads and connects them into one archive, so GEDCOM is the way your work travels in and out, not the limit of what it can become.
Frequently asked questions
- What does GEDCOM stand for?
- GEnealogical Data COMmunication. It is a plain-text file format created to move genealogical data between different programs.
- What is the difference between GEDCOM 5.5.1 and GEDCOM 7?
- GEDCOM 5.5.1 is the older version with the widest support across apps like Ancestry and MyHeritage. GEDCOM 7 is the modern revision with cleaner handling of things like media and notes. If you are unsure what the other app supports, 5.5.1 is the safer choice.
- Does a GEDCOM file include my document images?
- A GEDCOM file describes the tree - people, families, and events. Images can be referenced or bundled depending on the export, but the core file is the structured tree, not the scans.
- Can I import and export GEDCOM with KleioBase?
- Yes. KleioBase exports your tree as GEDCOM 7 or 5.5.1 on every plan, and can import a GEDCOM file from another app on the Researcher plan or above.
Related
Build your connected family archive
Upload your first record and let KleioBase read it, translate it, and connect it to every person in your tree - free to start.
Start free