Computer Genealogy Specialists

Opening GEDCOM Files Using Their Extension (.GED)

(Article 25)

Generally there are two ways to open a file, any file. Either start the program and open the file you want to view, or go to the file in MyComputer or Explore and double click on the file. For example, if you receive a GEDCOM file from your cousin and want to load it into an empty PAF database to store and view it, just double-click on the file and PAF will be activated and step you through the process.

However, when more than one genealogical program can view a particular type of file (e.g., a GEDCOM file) the question is, which program will be activated to open the file when you double click on it. Windows resolves this dilemma by keeping a list of file-types and the default programs that will be used to open each file type. If you have both FamilyTreeMaker and Personal Ancestral File software on your machine and double click on a GEDCOM file, it will be opened by whichever program was installed last on your machine. That's because, may programs assume that if you install their program you want their program to be activated when you double-click on the file types they use.

So if you like to double-click on files and have programs open them, but the wrong program gets activated, try re-installing the program you want to have open that file type and see if that corrects the problem. If the re-install does not correct the problem, then you can modify the default file-type-program association in Windows. To change which program starts when you open a file, do the following.

In My Computer or Windows Explorer, go to the menu bar and click the View menu, then click Folder Options.

Click the File Types tab at the top.

In the Registered file types list find GED (GED File) and click on it, then click Edit (Change in Windows ME)

(Windows 98 only) In the Actions window click on the Browse button to begin looking for the PAF program you want to open Gedcom files. The Browse button opens a window entitled Open With. You will be seeing the folders on the C-drive. Double-click on the folder called Program Files, then FamilySearch, then either Paf4 or Paf5 depending on your choice. In either of the Paf folders you will see the program Faf4 or Paf5 listed. Click on the Paf program of your choice, then the Open button, then OK, OK, OK, OK. Your job is done and ready for testing.

(Window ME only) Click the Change button to open a window entitled Open With, with a list of programs. Scroll down the list until you come to Personal Ancestral File. If there is only one entry, click on it, then click OK, OK, and you are done and ready for testing.

If there is more than one Personal Ancestral File in the Open With list (i.e., Paf-4 and Paf-5), you will not be able to tell the two apart, although you might guess that the first is Paf-4 and then test it to see if it opens when you double-click on a Gedcom file. To be certain of your choice, click on the Other button to browse the computer for the program you want. Select the C-drive, Program Files folder, FamilySearch folder, then the Paf4 or Paf5 folder. Within either of these folders will be the Paf program you want. Click on the program then click on the Open button, OK, and Close. Your job is done and ready for testing.

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25 Opening GEDCOM Files Using Their Extension (.GED)