alphabetical list of extensions

File extension .GED

File description

Genealogical Data Communication (GEDCOM) is a patented and open specification for exchanging genealogical data between distinct genealogy software. GEDCOM was developed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) as a support to genealogical investigation.

GEDCOM file is a plain text file that consists of genealogical information and linkages essential to exchange data between two individuals. The individuals may adapt the same or distinct software application. GEDCOM as a text-based file can be simply delivered as an attachment to e-mails or downloaded from websites.

Description of the problem

If you have on your computer a .GED file that you cannot open, you are in exactly the same situation as thousands of other people who have similar problems with this or any other unknown file.

There may be several reasons why you cannot open the file with .GED extension. Directly on this website you can find a solution of the most common problem with the .GED file – that you do not have on your computer the appropriate program to open the file.

Solution

From the list below, select the appropriate program, install it and double click on the icon of a file that did not want to open - the problem with the .GED file extension should be solved. However, if this does not happen, go back to the website to learn about other possible causes of the error, which have been described at the bottom of the website.

Other possible reasons why your .GED file does not want to open

In addition to the problem described above, i.e. the lack of the appropriate application to support the .GED file, there may be several reasons that cause problems with opening and operation of the data format:

1. Incorrect version of the installed application

A quite common problem is the lack of application in the appropriate version. Even if you have an application, with the help of which you should open the .GED file, you may have a problem with it because of its version. Perhaps in previous versions the application has not yet supported the .GED file, so download the update and check again.

2. Incorrect .GED file association with the program

If you have already installed the appropriate application, and it is the correct version, the file may not open correctly, because the operating system does not have information that this program supports the file. So you need to "show" which program the computer should use. To do this:

Right-click the .GED file
Go to the "Open with" - then "Choose default program ..."
Locate the appropriate application
Click "OK"

3. The file is corrupt

It also happens that the file you want to open is corrupt and therefore there is no such possibility. In this situation, you should find its different version, or ask a person from whom you got, to send it again.