How to export your family tree as a GEDCOM file

GEDCOM (.ged) is the standard file format for genealogy data. The name stands for Genealogical Data Communication, and the format was developed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Almost every family tree program can export and import GEDCOM files, so it is the usual way to move a family tree from one platform to another. The file contains names, dates, relationships and other details about the people in your tree.

GEDCOM preserves the core genealogical data: names, dates, places, relationships and notes. Most platforms do not include photos, DNA matches or record hints in the export. If your file does contain photo references, we show them on the Heritage Oak and Modern Clean templates. Your poster needs names, dates and family relationships, and every standard GEDCOM export has those.

A typical GEDCOM file with a few hundred people is between 100 KB and 1 MB. If your file is very large (over 10 MB), it probably includes embedded media or long notes; try exporting it again without media attachments. If it is very small (under 10 KB) or shows only a few people, check that you exported the right tree and that it includes every branch you want on the poster. Our upload limit is 10 MB.