Extract text from Gramps databases (GRDB)
To convert GRDB databases to another format, you need Gramps or other Database software.
To convert other file formats to the "Genealogy Database File" file type, you need software like Gramps or a similar tool.
The .grdb file is a database file created by Gramps, an open-source genealogy software program. It stores family trees, relationships, events, notes, and media links. Historically, Gramps utilized the Berkeley DB format for these files to manage complex, interrelated genealogical datasets.
Users often need to convert .grdb files because they are tied to specific, older versions of Gramps. They cannot be natively read by web browsers, text editors, or competing genealogy platforms like Family Tree Maker or Ancestry. The primary disadvantage of the .grdb format is its reliance on a strict database architecture, making it highly prone to version incompatibility and data corruption if transferred between different operating systems. Opening an old .grdb file often requires finding and installing an outdated version of Gramps just to perform a manual export.
The most practical conversion target is GED (GEDCOM), the universal standard for sharing genealogical data. You can also export to CSV for tabular data analysis or the newer .GRAMPS XML format. Converting to GED preserves the core family tree data but may result in the loss of Gramps-specific custom attributes or user interface settings.
This file format is difficult to open or convert directly because it is a compiled database, not a flat text file. Often, only the original Gramps software can properly read or export the data. If our analysis detects a supported underlying or embedded format, viewing or conversion may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your GRDB file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
If you want to convert GRDB file to , you can use Gramps or similar software from the "Genealogy Database Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to GRDB, try Gramps or another comparable tool in the "Genealogy Database Storage" 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 GRDB converter.