Extract text from GED files
To convert your GED file to another format, you need Ancestry or other Database software.
To convert other file formats to the "Genealogy Data Exchange" file type, you need software like Ancestry or a similar tool.
The .GED file extension represents the GEDCOM (GEnealogical Data COMmunication) standard, the universal format used to transfer family tree data between different genealogy systems. Developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it functions as a plain text database that links individuals, families, and events in a hierarchical structure.
While .GED files are essential for migration, they present significant challenges for casual viewing. Because the file consists of raw text codes (e.g., 1 BIRT, 2 DATE) rather than visual charts, opening a .GED file in a standard text editor provides no graphical tree context. Furthermore, .GED files do not embed media; they only contain local file paths to photos and documents. This often results in broken links or missing images when the file is moved to a new computer or converted without the accompanying media folder. Proprietary tags created by specific software like Family Tree Maker may also be lost during transfer.
To share your research with family members who lack specialized software, the best solution is to convert .GED files to PDF for printable pedigree charts and fan charts. For publishing data online, convert to HTML. For statistical analysis of ancestors, converting to CSV or XLSX is recommended.
Convert.Guru analyzes your GED file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted GEDCOM, ZIP, TXT, PDF, CSV, GNO, GRAMPS, FAMILYX, FTW, GED 3, CDW, ATDB and JPG files.
If you want to convert GED file to PDF, CSV, JSON, XML, YAML, YML, TOML, INI, CFG, CONF, DAT or DB, you can use Ancestry or similar software from the "Genealogical Data Exchange" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert DBF, XML, SQLITE, XLSX, SQL, TSV, ACCDB, YAML, MDB, CSV, ODS or JSON files to GED, try Ancestry or another comparable tool in the "Genealogical Data Exchange" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our GED converter.