Gramps 5.1 Wiki Manual - Manage Family Trees
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A detailed exploration of the day-to-day use of Gramps. In this Chapter we give a detailed overview of how you can manage your family trees, as well as share your data with other genealogists.
Contents
- 1 Starting a new Family Tree
- 2 Opening a Family Tree
- 3 Saving changes to your Family Tree
- 4 Opening a GEDCOM or XML database
- 5 Deleting a Family Tree
- 6 Renaming a Family Tree
- 7 Backing up a Family Tree
- 8 Archiving a Family Tree
- 9 Extracting a Family Tree Archive
- 10 Unlocking a Family Tree
- 11 Repairing a damaged Family Tree
- 12 Converting a BSDDB Family Tree to SQLite
- 13 Importing data
- 14 Exporting data
- 14.1 Export Assistant dialog
- 14.2 Comma Separated Values Spreadsheet(CSV) export
- 14.3 GEDCOM export
- 14.4 GeneWeb export
- 14.5 Gramps XML (family tree) export
- 14.6 Gramps XML Package (family tree and media) export
- 14.7 Web Family Tree export
- 14.8 vCalendar export
- 14.9 vCard export
Starting a new Family Tree
To start a new Family Tree, choose the menu Family Trees ->Manage Family Trees... or select the toolbar Family Trees button or use the keybinding CTRL+O. This will open the Family Trees manager window.
Select the New button and to add a new Family Tree entry to the list of Family Trees. To change its name from the default Family Tree 1
, select the name and press the Rename button then type in a new name.
To open the new, empty Family Tree select the Family Tree and either double click or press the Load Family Tree button to load.
Family Trees manager window
Family Trees are what Gramps calls the database structure used to store and organize genealogical data. You need to create a Family Tree before any genealogical data can be entered, restored from a backup achive or imported from other software.
Family Trees can be renamed, converted to other database backends, repaired or deleted. A 'mistake' here won't be unrecoverable. (The biggest potential mistake, an accidental Deletion, requires a confirmation.)
Clicking the Family Tree Manager button brings up the Family Trees manager windows this allows you to work with and manage the Family Trees found within the specific Gramps Family Tree Database path directory.
The Family Tree Manager window allows the you to create a new Family tree, rename an existing Family tree, delete a Family tree, or load a Family tree or check information) about the Family tree. All the names of your Family trees appear in the list. If a Family tree is open, an icon will appear next to the name in the status column. The Database Type as well an indication of the date and time your family tree was Last accessed' is shown.
- New creates a new Family tree.
- Info shows information about the selected Family tree.
- Delete the selected Family tree, this will show a warning with a final confirmation for you to select.
- Rename the selected existing Family tree.
- Close the selected existing Family tree.
- Convert the selected family tree. This option only when the database of tree is different than the . See: Converting a legacy BSDDB Family Tree to SQlite ( BSDDB )
- Repair the selected existing Family tree, only available if Gramps detects an issue.
- Archive option is only present if GNU Revision Control System (RCS) is installed.
- Extract used with the Archive button and the option is only present if GNU Revision Control System (RCS) is installed.
- Help - opens the default browser window showing this section of the online manual.
- Close Window - dismisses the Family Tree manager windows
- Load Family Tree opens selected existing Family tree into working memory and locks the database file so other users cannot commit conflicting edits.
Opening a Family Tree
To open a Family Tree, either choose the menu Family Trees ->Manage Family Trees... or click the Toolbar Family Trees button. The Family Tree Manager will appear and you will see a list of all the Family Trees known to Gramps. In the Status column an icon (looks like an open folder) will display beside any Family Tree that is currently open. Select the tree you want to open, and open it by selecting the Load Family Tree button. Alternatively you can double-click on the desired Family Tree.
To open a recently accessed Family Tree, choose either the menu Family Trees ->Open Recent or the down arrow next to the Toolbar Family Trees button and select the Family Tree from the list.
Read Only Mode
The Tools menu will not be available.
Saving changes to your Family Tree
Gramps saves your changes as soon as you apply them. This means, for example, that any time you click OK when using Gramps, your changes are immediately recorded and saved. There is no separate "save" command.
You can undo changes you have made by selecting the menu Edit ->Undo. If you select this command repeatedly, your most recent changes will be undone one at a time. To roll back multiple commands at a time, you can use the menu Edit dialog.
If you want to return your Family Tree to the way it was when you opened it, select the menu Family Trees ->Abandon Changes and Quit. (This is just like quitting without saving in other programs.)
If you would like to save a copy of your Family Tree under a different name, you will need to export it and then import it into a new Family Tree. The Gramps XML database format is recommended for this purpose.
Opening a GEDCOM or XML database
Gramps allows you to open certain databases that have not been saved in Gramps own file format from the command line, see Command line references. These include XML and GEDCOM databases. But you should be aware that if the XML or GEDCOM database is relatively large, you will encounter performance problems, and in the event of a crash your data can be corrupted. Hence, it is normally better to create a new Gramps family tree (database) and import your XML/GEDCOM data into it.
Deleting a Family Tree
Select the family tree you want removed, and click the Delete button.
This will completely remove the tree, with no possibility to retrieve the data. Consider taking a backup of your data by exporting to the GRAMPS XML format, and storing that file.
Renaming a Family Tree
You can rename a Family Tree (or an archive of it) by selecting the tree you want to rename and clicking Rename. You can also click on the name in the list of trees.
In either case, you just type in the new name to have it take effect.
Backing up a Family Tree
The safest way to backup your Gramps Family Tree is to export without privacy options and filters to Gramps XML format (or Gramps XML Package to include items from your Gallery) and copy the resultant file to a safe place, preferably in a different building.
Backup dialog
From the menu select Family Trees > Make Backup..."
The Gramps XML Backup window will appear.
You can enter the Path: where the backup should be stored manually or using the path selector button to bring up the Select backup directory dialog.
You can enter a File: name manually or use the automatically generated file name.
You can either choose to Include or Exclude(default) the Media:.
Note This is just a regular XML export, except that no data is filtered out. You can import these as usual with any exported file. |
- You can use the Archive feature (see next section) to store snapshots of your Family Tree. These snapshots can be used as simple backups, very useful if you want to try something that you might later want to undo. However this method should not be used for standard backups, as it will not survive a hard disk crash or most of the other disasters that can befall a computer.
- For advanced users: each database is stored in its own subdirectory under ~/.gramps. Although a manual backup can be made by backing up this directory, it is not recommended. It is strongly recommended that you please use a Gramps XML backup instead.
Backup on exit
In preferences Family Tree tab, Gramps can be set to create a backup when Gramps exits. Note that this only creates a backup for the open family tree. If the tree is closed before exiting Gramps, no backup is created.
Automatic backup
In preferences Family Tree tab, Gramps can be set to create a backup every 15, 30 or 60 minutes.
See also:
- Settings Family Tree
- Advanced backup filename setting - Where you can also define the naming pattern for the backup filename.
- Backup omissions - what is not included during a backup
Archiving a Family Tree
Note The Archive option is only present if GNU Revision Control System (RCS) is installed so that Gramps can use it. You normally need to install this on your computer separately from Gramps. |
You can Archive your family trees with Gramps to retain a copy before any major changes and be able to return to a known version.
To make an archive :
- load your Family Tree.
- click on the Toolbar Family Trees button (it displays Connect to a recent database when you hover over it).
- click on the family tree you have just loaded: the Archive button should appear.
- click on Archive and you will be able to enter in the Revision comment dialog a Version description for your archive.
After archiving, the list of family trees will now show your original family tree with a right-pointing triangle on its left.
- Click on the triangle to display the archive name.(Click again to collapse the archive list).
Archives can be Deleted, Rename(d) and Extract(ed).
Extracting a Family Tree Archive
To retrieve a version of a previously archived family tree in the "Family Tree" manager highlight the archive you want to restore, and select the Extract button.
The archive will then be restored into a new Family Tree and be listed in the family tree manager.
The Family Tree name is based on the original name and the archive name eg: <name of original tree>:<name of archive>
.(see also Archiving a Family Tree)
This can be a useful way of preserving an archive, because archives disappear if the originating tree is deleted; and 'they are not incorporated into a Gramps XML export of the family tree.
Unlocking a Family Tree
Gramps is a single-user database application and identifies Tree database files as busy with a 'lock' when in use. As Gramps opens a tree, it drops a lock
file (which lists the username and domain) in the tree's subfolder in the grampsdb
folder of the User Directory. Gramps refuses to let you (or anyone else) open that Tree at the same time. A second instance of Gramps will be able to open another family tree, but any tree that is already open will appear with the lock icon in the Status column of the Manage Family Trees dialog. Closing the tree in the first copy of Gramps deletes the lock file and will make the tree available to be opened in the second instance.
If you could open the same Family Tree in two instances of Gramps at once, it is likely your data would be damaged as the two overwrite each other's work.
See also:
Be careful Breaking Locks! Only do this if you are sure no other copy of Gramps is using the selected Family Tree. |
Break the lock on the "Family Tree name" database? dialog
In the unlikely event that Gramps crashes, the family tree will be left in a locked state (indicated by a lock icon in the Status column next to the Family Tree name)
To unlock the Family Tree during startup
- If the Family Tree Preferences have been set to open a tree automatically on startup, then you will see the Error parsing arguments dialog which remarks that the Database is locked. Click on the Close button then choose Manage Family trees... from the Family Trees menu.
- Otherwise, the Family Tree Manager will appear automatically as Gramps starts.
Choose the locked family tree and then click the Load Family Tree button. The Break the lock on the '[Family Tree name]' database? dialog will be shown.
Click the Break lock button and the Family Trees (Manager) window should show that the lock icon has gone.
Choose the previously locked family tree and then click the Load Family Tree button to continue your work.
Repairing a damaged Family Tree
Should your Family Tree become damaged or corrupted in some way, Gramps Family Tree Manager will display a red Error icon in the Status column.
To have Gramps attempt to repair the damage, select the Family Tree and then click the Repair button.
This will attempt to rebuild your Family Tree from the backup files that are automatically created on exit.
See also:
Converting a BSDDB Family Tree to SQLite
From Gramps 5.1.x the default database is SQLite. Before following the conversion advice in this section, take the time to backup your family trees |
If you have an older legacy BSDDB format Database Type shown for any of your family tree's in the Family Trees (Manager) - Dialog, then selecting a family tree in the Family Trees (Manager) - Dialog will show the Convert button as available.
It is highly recommended that before doing the following you back up the family trees to be converted.
When ready select the Convert button and the Convert the 'Family Tree Name' database? dialog will be shown with the message Do you wish to convert this family tree into a SQLite database? you can select Cancel to stop or Convert to start the process, once completed the Family Trees (Manager) - Dialog will show a new entry for the converted copy of your Family tree but with the Database Type of SQLite, you should then open and backup the converted family tree.
You may then rename the original BSDDB family tree with the word OLD or you can Delete it to avoid confusion, then you can rename the new SQLite database.
Importing data
Importing allows you to transfer data from other genealogy programs into a Gramps Family Tree. Gramps can import data from the following formats:
- Gramps XML (
.gramps
file extension) Gramps native data exchange format in uncompressed text and gzip compressed - Gramps XML Package (
.gpkg
file extension) Gramps .tar.gz archive compressed backup format - GRAMPS V2.x database (
.grdb
file extension) - CSV Spreadsheet - comma separated values (
.csv
file extension) - GEDCOM (
.ged
file extension) de facto standard file format for data interchange between genealogy programs - GeneWeb (
.gw
file extension) - GeneWeb is genealogy software with a web interface. - Pro-Gen (
.def
file extension) - Pro-Gen has been very popular in the Netherlands and North-West Germany. It is often used by people who started collecting and storing data as early as 1989. This was a DOS based program which has been patched to work with Win 10. - vCard (
.vcf
file extension) - Virtual Contact File is a file format standard for electronic business cards. - JSON Import (
.json
file extension) - JavaScript Object Notation is a lightweight data-interchange format. - SQLite Import (
.sql
file extension) - SQLite database format
Import Family Tree dialog
First create a new and empty Family Tree. Then select the menu Family Trees ->Import or use the keybinding CTRL+I to import data or restore a previously saved Gramps Family Tree (from an older version of Gramps or the current version) the Import Family Tree dialog will open, asking you to specify the file you wish to import.
As you attempt to import into a Family Tree that is not empty, the Undo history warning dialog will open. This reminds you make a backup before importing. Create a new Family Tree instead, unless you are knowingly attempting to merge data.
Gramps uses a GTK File Chooser for selecting the data file to be exported. The basic options for navigating to a file are familiar and obvious.
The default display option for the filepath is to show each folder level as clickable breadcrumb navigation. The path can be typed in an editable text box by pressing the CTRL+L keybinding.
The file type extension will normally allow the Automatically detected option to expect a particular pattern of data to be converted to the native database format. You can override this by choosing a different Select file type: options. The list of files may be filtered by changing from the All files option.
When planning to use the import repeatedly (for ongoing updates or including genealogy research), you can customize the dialog by adding buttons for bookmarked folder paths. Right-click on a folder name and choose Add to bookmarks from the pop-up menu.
Data loss with some formats It is important to note that there is no direct one-to-one correspondence between all the features of Gramps and those supported in the basic GEDCOM generic genealogy file format or data files of programs like GeneWeb or Pro-Gen. Therefore, unrecognized data chunks may be lost when importing from any of these formats. Details of data at greatest risk of being lost from GEDCOM is outlined below. |
Reorder Events generated by other programs Some programs from which you have imported data may not order the events by date as you expect. They will be in the order they were exported by the other program. Gramps provides help for reordering events according to your preference. See the Sort Events tool. |
GRAMPS V2.x database import
GRAMPS V2.x database (.grdb): Prior to Gramps Version 3.0, this native Gramps database format was a specific form of the Berkeley database (BSDDB) with a special structure of data tables. This format was binary and architecture-dependent. It was very quick and efficient, but not generally portable across computers with different binary architecture (e.g. i386 vs. alpha).
Import from the GRAMPS V2.x database format is only supported by Gramps version 3.0.x. Import of V2.x into Gramps V3.0.x will not loose any data.
Moving a Gramps 2.2 databases to Gramps 3.x
To move your Gramps data from version 2.x to version 5.1.x you must import the v2.x database into an earlier Gramps v3.0.x program and then either save the database and import it into Gramps 5.1.x, or export the database in XML format from the earlier Gramps version and import it into Gramps 5.1.x.
Please refer to the User Manual for earlier versions of Gramps for instructions on the import of v2.x databases into Gramps v3.x.
Gramps XML and XML Package import
The Gramps XML and Gramps XML Package database are the native Gramps formats. There is no risk of information loss when importing (restore) from or exporting to these formats.
- Gramps XML (.gramps): The Gramps XML file is the standard Gramps data-exchange and backups format, and was also the default working-database format for older (pre 2.x) versions of Gramps. Unlike the GRAMPS V2.x grdb format, it is architecture independent and human-readable. The database may also have references to non-local (external) media objects, therefore it is not guaranteed to be completely portable (for full portability including media objects in the Gramps XML package (.gpkg) should be used). The Gramps XML database is created by exporting (Menu Family Trees ->Export...) to that format.
- Gramps XML package (.gpkg): The Gramps XML package is a compressed archive containing the Gramps XML file and all media objects (images, sound files, etc.) to which the database refers. Because it contains all the media objects, this format is completely portable. The Gramps XML package is created by exporting ( Menu Family Trees ->Export... ) data in that format.
If you import information from another Gramps database or Gramps XML database, you will see the progress of the operation in the progress bar of Gramps main window. When the import finishes, a feedback window shows the number of imported objects. If the imported data originates from the very family tree in which you import the data, the import feedback gives suggestions about what could be merged; the merge is not done automatically for you. If you want to merge basic genealogy data automatically, consider CSV Spreadsheet Export/Import.
Gramps CSV import
- The Gramps CSV Spreadsheet format allows importing and exporting of a subset of your Gramps data in a simple spreadsheet format. See CSV Import and Export for more information.
GEDCOM import
First create a new empty Family Tree. Then select the menu Family Trees ->Import or the keybinding CTRL+I then use the Import Family Tree dialog to select the GEDCOM file you want to import, depending on the the type of GEDCOM you may then see the GEDCOM Encoding dialog.
When you import information from GEDCOM, Gramps main window will show you a progress bar. When the GEDCOM import finishes, the Import Statistics window and the GEDCOM import report: windows show any results or warnings.
GEDCOM Encoding dialog
The GEDCOM Encoding dialog will be shown when the GEDCOM file you are importing has identified itself as using the ANSEL encoding format. Sometimes, this is in error. If after the GEDCOM is imported you notice that your data contains unusual characters, undo the import, and override the character set by selecting a different encoding from the available list.
Encoding:
- default
- ANSEL
- ANSI (iso-8859-1)
- ASCII
- UTF8
Import Statistics dialog
Shows details of the import statistics.
GEDCOM import report dialog
The GEDCOM import report details most of the GEDCOM lines that were either ignored or could not be understood. These are most likely because they are not part of the GEDCOM 5.5.1 standard. (See Addon:GEDCOM Extensions.) The contents of the GEDCOM line (or lines where there are continuation lines) are also shown. In some cases, the lines may not be exactly what is contained in the input GEDCOM file, because the line is reconstructed following some processing.
Reading the report
Gramps uses a more advanced 'data model' than GEDCOM, therefore some data in GEDCOM cannot be imported into Gramps. (See Gramps and GEDCOM.) The main exceptions are:
- Some GEDCOM attribute structures are treated as Gramps Attributes and therefore many of the GEDCOM Primitive Elements cannot be stored.
- The DATA elements of a SOURCE_RECORD (indicating the events recorded and responsible agency) are ignored.
- Any source citations on notes are ignored.
- Many GEDCOM Primitive Elements do not have exactly corresponding data elements in Gramps, and they are therefore stored as Attributes with appropriate names, normally the GEDCOM tag. This applies particularly to the header, submitter and submission GEDCOM records and particular fields like REFN, RFN, RIN and AFN.
Where data is listed as 'ignored', its omission is reported in the feedback at the end of import, and it is included in a Note attached to a relevant object with a custom type of GEDCOM import. See, for example, the Source object in the example screenshot.
Where data is listed as 'silently ignored', it is not reported and not included in a note. At present this may be regarded as something that has been missed by Gramps and should be raised as an issue.
GEDCOM import limitations
This section describes any GEDCOM data that cannot be directly represented in Gramps, and how it is handled. For additional information on the limits of GEDCOM imports (and exports), please read the section on Gramps and GEDCOM.
HEADer, SUBMitter and SUBmissioN
Gramps has no direct representation of this data, and hence all information there has to be stored in other objects. Depending on a General preferences setting, a 'default source' object may be created. If this is created, then much of the data is stored in that Source, or in Repositories attached to that source.
HEADer
HEADER:= n HEAD {1:1} +1 SOUR <APPROVED_SYSTEM_ID> {1:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +2 VERS <VERSION_NUMBER> {0:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +2 NAME <NAME_OF_PRODUCT> {0:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +2 CORP <NAME_OF_BUSINESS> {0:1} (Repository of the 'default source') +3 <<ADDRESS_STRUCTURE>> {0:1} (Repository of the 'default source') +2 DATA <NAME_OF_SOURCE_DATA> {0:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +3 DATE <PUBLICATION_DATE> {0:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +3 COPR <COPYRIGHT_SOURCE_DATA> {0:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +1 DEST <RECEIVING_SYSTEM_NAME> {0:1*} (Data item of the 'default source') +1 DATE <TRANSMISSION_DATE> {0:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +2 TIME <TIME_VALUE> {0:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +1 SUBM @<XREF:SUBM>@ {1:1} (Data item of the 'default source') (Also used to determine the SUBMITTER_RECORD) (that should be stored as the database owner) +1 SUBN @<XREF:SUBN>@ {0:1} (ignored) +1 FILE <FILE_NAME> {0:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +1 COPR <COPYRIGHT_GEDCOM_FILE> {0:1} (stored as the Publication information of the 'default source') +1 GEDC {1:1} +2 VERS <VERSION_NUMBER> {1:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +2 FORM <GEDCOM_FORM> {1:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +1 CHAR <CHARACTER_SET> {1:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +2 VERS <VERSION_NUMBER> {0:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +1 LANG <LANGUAGE_OF_TEXT> {0:1} (Data item of the 'default source') +1 PLAC {0:1} +2 FORM <PLACE_HIERARCHY> {1:1} (see below) +1 NOTE <GEDCOM_CONTENT_DESCRIPTION> {0:1} (note attached to the 'default source') +2 [CONT|CONC] <GEDCOM_CONTENT_DESCRIPTION> {0:M} * NOTE: Submissions to the Family History Department for Ancestral File submission or for clearing temple ordinances must use a DESTination of ANSTFILE or TempleReady.
The PLAC FORM is stored internally and used to govern the interpretation of places (in accordance with the GEDCOM specification).
SUBmissioN
The SUBMISSION_RECORD (there should be only one, but this is not checked) is stored as a Data item of the 'default source'
SUBMISSION_RECORD:= n @<XREF:SUBN>@ SUBN {1:1] +1 SUBM @<XREF:SUBM>@ {0:1} +1 FAMF <NAME_OF_FAMILY_FILE> {0:1} +1 TEMP <TEMPLE_CODE> {0:1} +1 ANCE <GENERATIONS_OF_ANCESTORS> {0:1} +1 DESC <GENERATIONS_OF_DESCENDANTS> {0:1} +1 ORDI <ORDINANCE_PROCESS_FLAG> {0:1} +1 RIN <AUTOMATED_RECORD_ID> {0:1}
SUBMitter
SUBMITTER_RECORDs (there may be more than one) are stored as Repository records attached to the 'default source' except as indicated in bold below. The SUBMITTER_RECORD that corresponds with the SUBM record in the HEADER is used to set the database owner and can be copied to the Researcher Information tab if required.
SUBMITTER_RECORD:= n @<XREF:SUBM>@ SUBM {1:1} +1 NAME <SUBMITTER_NAME> {1:1} +1 <<ADDRESS_STRUCTURE>> {0:1} +1 <<MULTIMEDIA_LINK>> {0:M} +1 LANG <LANGUAGE_PREFERENCE> {0:3} +1 RFN <SUBMITTER_REGISTERED_RFN> {0:1} +1 RIN <AUTOMATED_RECORD_ID> {0:1} +1 <<CHANGE_DATE>> {0:1}
- Mutimedia link is ignored
- LANG is ignored
- RFN and RIN are ignored
INDIvidual
The INDIVIDUAL_RECORD is stored as a Gramps Person record, except as indicated in bold below.
INDIVIDUAL_RECORD: = n @<XREF:INDI>@ INDI {1:1} +1 RESN <RESTRICTION_NOTICE> {0:1} +1 <<PERSONAL_NAME_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 SEX <SEX_VALUE> {0:1} +1 <<INDIVIDUAL_EVENT_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 <<INDIVIDUAL_ATTRIBUTE_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 <<LDS_INDIVIDUAL_ORDINANCE>> {0:M} +1 <<CHILD_TO_FAMILY_LINK>> {0:M} +1 <<SPOUSE_TO_FAMILY_LINK>> {0:M} +1 SUBM @<XREF:SUBM>@ {0:M} +1 <<ASSOCIATION_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 ALIA @<XREF:INDI>@ {0:M} +1 ANCI @<XREF:SUBM>@ {0:M} +1 DESI @<XREF:SUBM>@ {0:M} +1 <<SOURCE_CITATION>> {0:M} +1 <<MULTIMEDIA_LINK>> {0:M} +1 <<NOTE_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 RFN <PERMANENT_RECORD_FILE_NUMBER> {0:1} +1 AFN <ANCESTRAL_FILE_NUMBER> {0:1} +1 REFN <USER_REFERENCE_NUMBER> {0:M} +2 TYPE <USER_REFERENCE_TYPE> {0:1} +1 RIN <AUTOMATED_RECORD_ID> {0:1} +1 <<CHANGE_DATE>> {0:1}
- Link to submitter, ancestor interest and descendent interest indicators are silently ignored.
- The alias indicator ("An indicator to link different record descriptions of a person who may be the same person") is stored as an Association called 'Alias'.
- The REFN and REFN:TYPE are stored as Attributes of the Person, but if there is more than one REFN, it may not be clear which TYPE is associated with which REFN.
Handling of the INDIVIDUAL_ATTRIBUTE_STRUCTURE is rather complicated. The following tags:
- EDUC (Scholastic achievement),
- NMR (Count of marriages),
- OCCU (Occupation),
- PROP (Possessions),
- RELI (Religious affiliation),
- RESI and
- TITL (Nobility title)
are all treated as Gramps Events and the associated information is stored in the event structure. The details following the main tag (shown in brackets in the list above) are stored as the Description of the Event. The <EVENT_DESCRIPTOR> following the TYPE tag will overwrite the Description if the <EVENT_DESCRIPTOR> is not the attribute name.
The following tags:
- CAST (Caste name),
- DSCR (Physical description),
- INDO (National ID Number),
- NATI (National or tribal origin),
- NCHI (Count of Children) and
- SSN (Social Security Number)
are all treated as Gramps Attributess and most of the fields except the details following the main tag (shown in brackets in the list above), the source citation and the note structure are ignored, as indicated in bold below.
INDIVIDUAL_ATTRIBUTE_STRUCTURE: = n CAST <CASTE_NAME> {1:1} +1 <<EVENT_DETAIL>> {0:1} etc. EVENT_DETAIL: = n TYPE <EVENT_DESCRIPTOR> {0:1} n DATE <DATE_VALUE> {0:1} n <<PLACE_STRUCTURE>> {0:1} n <<ADDRESS_STRUCTURE>> {0:1} n AGE <AGE_AT_EVENT> {0:1} n AGNC <RESPONSIBLE_AGENCY> {0:1} n CAUS <CAUSE_OF_EVENT> {0:1} n <<SOURCE_CITATION>> {0:M} +1 <<NOTE_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 <<MULTIMEDIA_LINK>> {0:M} n <<MULTIMEDIA_LINK>> {0:M} n <<NOTE_STRUCTURE>> {0:M}
- Individual attribute structure, type, date, place structure, address structure, age, agency, cause and multimedia link are all ignored.
FAM_RECORD
The FAM_RECORD is stored as a Gramps Family record.
FAM_RECORD:= n @<XREF:FAM>@ FAM {1:1} +1 <<FAMILY_EVENT_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 HUSB @<XREF:INDI>@ {0:1} +1 WIFE @<XREF:INDI>@ {0:1} +1 CHIL @<XREF:INDI>@ {0:M} +1 NCHI <COUNT_OF_CHILDREN> {0:1} +1 SUBM @<XREF:SUBM>@ {0:M} +1 <<LDS_SPOUSE_SEALING>> {0:M} +1 <<SOURCE_CITATION>> {0:M} +1 <<MULTIMEDIA_LINK>> {0:M} +1 <<NOTE_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 REFN <USER_REFERENCE_NUMBER> {0:M} +2 TYPE <USER_REFERENCE_TYPE> {0:1} +1 RIN <AUTOMATED_RECORD_ID> {0:1} +1 <<CHANGE_DATE>> {0:1}
- The link to submitter is silently ignored.
- The REFN and REFN:TYPE are stored as Attributes of the Family, but if there is more than one REFN, it may not be clear which TYPE is associated with which REFN.
SOURCE_RECORD
The SOURCE_RECORD is stored as a Gramps Source record, except as indicated in bold below.
SOURCE_RECORD:= n @<XREF:SOUR>@ SOUR {1:1} +1 DATA {0:1} +2 EVEN <EVENTS_RECORDED> {0:M} +3 DATE <DATE_PERIOD> {0:1} +3 PLAC <SOURCE_JURISDICTION_PLACE> {0:1} +2 AGNC <RESPONSIBLE_AGENCY> {0:1} +2 <<NOTE_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 AUTH <SOURCE_ORIGINATOR> {0:1} +2 [CONT|CONC] <SOURCE_ORIGINATOR> {0:M} +1 TITL <SOURCE_DESCRIPTIVE_TITLE> {0:1} +2 [CONT|CONC] <SOURCE_DESCRIPTIVE_TITLE> {0:M} +1 ABBR <SOURCE_FILED_BY_ENTRY> {0:1} +1 PUBL <SOURCE_PUBLICATION_FACTS> {0:1} +2 [CONT|CONC] <SOURCE_PUBLICATION_FACTS> {0:M} +1 TEXT <TEXT_FROM_SOURCE> {0:1} +2 [CONT|CONC] <TEXT_FROM_SOURCE> {0:M} +1 <<SOURCE_REPOSITORY_CITATION>> {0:1} +1 <<MULTIMEDIA_LINK>> {0:M} +1 <<NOTE_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 REFN <USER_REFERENCE_NUMBER> {0:M} +2 TYPE <USER_REFERENCE_TYPE> {0:1} +1 RIN <AUTOMATED_RECORD_ID> {0:1} +1 <<CHANGE_DATE>> {0:1}
- DATA and its subsidiary records are ignored
REPOSITORY_RECORD
The REPOSITORY_RECORD is stored as a Gramps Repository record, except as indicated in bold below.
REPOSITORY_RECORD: = n @<XREF:REPO>@ REPO {1:1} +1 NAME <NAME_OF_REPOSITORY> {0:1} +1 <<ADDRESS_STRUCTURE>> {0:1} +1 <<NOTE_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 REFN <USER_REFERENCE_NUMBER> {0:M} +2 TYPE <USER_REFERENCE_TYPE> {0:1} +1 RIN <AUTOMATED_RECORD_ID> {0:1} +1 <<CHANGE_DATE>> {0:1}
- REFN, REFN:TYPE and RIN are ignored
MULTIMEDIA_RECORD
The MULTIMEDIA_RECORD is stored as a Gramps Media record, except as indicated in bold below.
MULTIMEDIA_RECORD:= n @<XREF:OBJE>@ OBJE {1:1} +1 FORM <MULTIMEDIA_FORMAT> {1:1} +1 TITL <DESCRIPTIVE_TITLE> {0:1} +1 <<NOTE_STRUCTURE>> {0:M} +1 <<SOURCE_CITATION>> {0:M} +1 BLOB {1:1} +2 CONT <ENCODED_MULTIMEDIA_LINE> {1:M} +1 OBJE @<XREF:OBJE>@ /* chain to continued object */ {0:1} +1 REFN <USER_REFERENCE_NUMBER> {0:M} +2 TYPE <USER_REFERENCE_TYPE> {0:1} +1 RIN <AUTOMATED_RECORD_ID> {0:1}
- It is expected that there will be a 'FILE' tag to indicate the file holding the multimedia object. This usage is taken from GEDCOM 5.5.1, but the ability in GEDCOM 5.5.1 to have more than one <MUTIMEDIA_FILE_REFN> and having the FORM, TYPE and TITL subsidiary to the FILE gedcom_line is not supported (a later FILE may overwrite an earlier one - there is no error checking).
- BLOB is ignored
- REFN, REFN:TYPE and RIN are ignored
NOTE_RECORD
The NOTE_RECORD is stored as a Gramps Note record, except as indicated in bold below.
NOTE_RECORD:= n @<XREF:NOTE>@ NOTE <SUBMITTER_TEXT> {1:1} +1 [ CONC | CONT] <SUBMITTER_TEXT> {0:M} +1 <<SOURCE_CITATION>> {0:M} +1 REFN <USER_REFERENCE_NUMBER> {0:M} +2 TYPE <USER_REFERENCE_TYPE> {0:1} +1 RIN <AUTOMATED_RECORD_ID> {0:1} +1 <<CHANGE_DATE>> {0:1}
- source citation ignored
- REFN, REFN:TYPE and RIN are ignored
Exporting data
To export data, choose Menu Family Trees ->Export... or the keybinding Ctrl+E or Command ⌘+E on Apple Mac's. This will bring up the Export Assistant dialog.
Exporting allows you to share any portion of your Gramps Family Tree(database) with other researchers as well as to enable you to transfer your data to another computer.
Gramps can export data to the following file formats:
- Comma Separated Values Spreadsheet (CSV)
- GEDCOM
- GeneWeb
- Gramps XML (family tree)
- Gramps XML Package (family tree and media)
- Web Family Tree
- vCalendar
- vCard
Export Assistant dialog
The Export Assistant pages will guide you through the output file format selection, and then the export options specific to that file format. After the Final confirmation page, the export will be performed according to the choices you have made. At any time, you can click the Back button and revise any selection, and then go forward to redo the export.
Saving your data
General information about exporting from Gramps.
Select the Next button to continue.
Choose the output format
Select the file format to export your data to:
- Comma Separated Values Spreadsheet (CSV)
- GEDCOM
- GeneWeb
- Gramps XML (family tree)(default)
- Gramps XML Package (family tree and media)
- Web Family Tree
- vCalendar
- vCard
Then select the Next button to continue.
Export options
After you have adjusted your options in the two sections.
- Top unlabeled section: Filters and privacy
- Bottom unlabeled section: File format specific options
Select the Next button to continue.
Filters and privacy
Gramps allows you to export your selected Family tree into common file formats.
The following filters provide options that allow you to fine tune your export.
Filters allow you to export a limited amount of data, based on the criteria you select.
Privacy Filter:
[✓] Do not include records marked private: Check this box to prevent private records from being included in the exported file. (Checkbox checked by default)
Living Filter:
These option restrict data and help limit the information exported for living people. This means that all information concerning their birth, death, addresses, significant events, etc., will be omitted in the exported file. For example, you can choose to substitute the word Living for the first name (see your settings); you can exclude notes; and you can exclude sources for living people.
Sometimes, it is not always obvious from the data if someone is actually alive. Gramps uses an advanced algorithm to try to determine if a person could still be alive. Remember, Gramps is making its best guess, and it may not always be able to guess correctly all the time. Please double check your data.
Select from the following options:
- Include all selected people (default)
- Replace given names of living people
- Replace complete name of living people
- Do not include living people
Person Filter:
Select from the following options:
- Include all selected people (default)
- Descendants of [Active Person]
- Descendant Families of [Active Person]
- Ancestors of [Active Person]
- People with common ancestor with [Active Person]
- Create a custom filter by selecting the Edit icon to show the Define filter dialog.
Note Filter:
Select from the following options:
- Include all selected notes (default)
- Create a custom filter by selecting the Edit icon to show the Define filter dialog.
Reference Filter:
Select from the following options:
- Include all selected records (default)
- Do not include records not linked to a selected person
File format specific export options
Depending on the file format chosen, you may find a number of file format specific export options to choose from listed underneath the "Filters and privacy" section.
See the relevant section for each of file formats listed that have specific export options:
Select save file
Enter a export file Name: Untitled_1.<file format extension>
(default) and choose the folder location to save the export file to (normally your Documents folder.
Then select the Next button to continue.
If you don't have permission to save the file to that location you will see the Could not create <file location and export file name> warning dialog and then the Export Assistants Saving failed wizard dialog, select the Close button and start the export again this time choosing a suitable folder.
Final confirmation
The Export Assistants Final confirmation wizard dialog allows you to check the summarized details (Format/Name/Folder) of the export file to be created.
At this point you can press Back to revisit your options or Cancel to abort.
Or select the Apply button to continue.
Summary
The Export Assistants Summary wizard dialog shows the Filename: and confirms that you export data has been saved successfully.
Select the Close button to exit the Export Assistant.
Comma Separated Values Spreadsheet(CSV) export
Comma Separated Values Spreadsheet(CSV): Allows exporting (and importing) a subset of your Gramps data in a simple spreadsheet format.
See CSV Import and Export for additional information and examples.
Comma Separated Values Spreadsheet(CSV) has the following file format specific export options:
- Include people -
- Include marriages -
- Include children -
- Include places -
- Translate headers -
Also, see Export (List) View as Spreadsheet.
GEDCOM export
Gramps supports the GEDCOM 5.5.1 version last updated 15 November 2019. |
Gramps allows you to export a database into the common legacy GEDCOM format.
GEDCOM export has no file format specific export options but you can change the following:
- Make sure you add your Researcher information to create a valid GEDCOM file, this can be also be done with the Edit Database Owner Information tool.
- In the General Gramps settings section of the General tab in preferences you can also choose to Add default source on GEDCOM import and also Add tag on import both can significantly slow down the importing of your data.
If you have installed the third party addon Addon:GEDCOM Extensions(.GED2) it will have its own specific file format specific export options. |
For more information on the GEDCOM format see: :
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEDCOM
- https://www.familysearch.org/developers/docs/guides/gedcom
- https://www.familysearch.org/developers/docs/gedcom/
See Gramps and GEDCOM for details of data which is not exported when exporting to GEDCOM (Use Gramps XML for a full family tree export/backup).
GeneWeb export
GeneWeb export will save a copy of your data to the GeneWeb genealogy format.
To find out more about GeneWeb and its format, visit:
GenWeb has no file format specific export options
Gramps XML (family tree) export
Privacy Filters It is important to verify your privacy options on Exporter. Do not enable filters or privacy options for Gramps XML backups. |
Gramps XML (family tree) export (.gramps): This format is the standard format for data-exchange and backups (see the related .gpkg format below for full portability including media objects). Exporting into Gramps XML format will produce a portable database. As XML is a text-based human-readable format, you may also use it to take a look at your data. Gramps guarantees you can open XML output of older versions of Gramps in newer version of Gramps (not the other way around though!).
If a media file is not found during export, you will see the same Missing Media dialog you encounter with GEDCOM export.
Gramps XML (family tree) has the following file format specific export options:
- Use Compression - option to allow Gramps to export a .gramps file, without compressing the file. (Checkbox is selected by default)
What's not included:
The Gramps Package backup only contains your family tree and (when the 'include media' backup option is selected) your media.
The following settings in Gramps are not transferred:
- Any changes you have manually made to
gramp.ini
- Any custom settings for reports (
report_options.xml
) you have made. - Any custom Books (
books.xml
) you have created. - Any custom holiday sets or country calendars (
holidays.xml
) you have created. - Any changes you have made to the dictionary for spell checking e.g.: new or excluded words.
- Gramps exports objects in the Tree. So any added Tags or custom types that have not been applied to at least one record, the Tag or Type will have no place to be included in the backup.
- Any custom filters (
custom_filters.xml
) you have created.
Custom Filter migration Keep your collection of custom filters through a minor updates to patch Gramps (e.g., from version 5.1.0 to 5.1.2) by manually copying your custom_filter.xml from Gramps User Directory to the corresponding directory in new gramps_version_number. |
You can keep your custom settings by manually copying each of the *.xml
files from the Gramps User Directory to the corresponding directory in the new gramps_version_number directory. Be aware that (due to changes in different versions of Gramps) the settings may no longer work. So be diligent that you test.
Gramps XML Package (family tree and media) export
Privacy Filters It is important to verify your privacy options on Exporter. Do not enable filters or privacy options for Gramps XML backups. |
Gramps XML Package (family tree and media) export (.gpkg): Exporting to the Gramps package format will create a compressed file that contains the Gramps XML database and copies of all associated media files. This is useful if you want to move your database to another computer or to share it with someone.
If a media file is not found during export, you will see the same Missing Media dialog you encounter with GEDCOM export.
Gramps XML Package (family tree and media) has no file format specific export options
What's not included:
The Gramps Package backup only contains your family tree and (when the 'include media' backup option is selected) your media.
The following settings in Gramps are not transferred:
- Any changes you have manually made to
gramp.ini
- Any custom settings for reports (
report_options.xml
) you have made. - Any custom Books (
books.xml
) you have created. - Any custom holiday sets or country calendars (
holidays.xml
) you have created. - Any changes you have made to the dictionary for spell checking e.g.: new or excluded words.
- Gramps exports objects in the Tree. So any added Tags or custom types that have not been applied to at least one record, the Tag or Type will have no place to be included in the backup.
- Any custom filters (
custom_filters.xml
) you have created.
Custom Filter migration Keep your collection of custom filters through a minor updates to patch Gramps (e.g., from version 5.1.0 to 5.1.2) by manually copying your custom_filter.xml from Gramps User Directory to the corresponding directory in new gramps_version_number. |
You can keep your custom settings by manually copying each of the *.xml
files from the Gramps User Directory to the corresponding directory in the new gramps_version_number directory. Be aware that (due to changes in different versions of Gramps) the settings may no longer work. So be diligent that you test.
Web Family Tree export
Web Family Tree export creates a text file that can be used by the Web Family Tree program.
To find out more about Web Family Tree and its format, visit
http://www.simonward.com/cgi-bin/page.pl?family/tree
- linkrot. see 2016 Internet Archive snapshot
Web Family Tree has no file format specific export options
vCalendar export
vCalendar export saves information in the format used in many calendaring applications, sometimes called PIM for Personal Information Manager.
For more information on the vCalendar format see:
vCalendar has no file format specific export options
vCard export
vCard export saves information in a format used in many addressbook applications, sometimes called PIM for Personal Information Manager.
For more information on the vCard format see:
vCard has no file format specific export options
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