Does my Ancestry GED file not automatically populate my personal family tree?

Question

I uploaded my GED file, but it is still asking me to enter manually all my parents, grandparents, etc. Is this supposed to happen? I can't re-enter those thousands of records. I feel like I must be doing something wrong. Thank you!

Comments

Uploading a GEDCOM does not create any profiles automatically. After a GEDCOM is uploaded, it must be processed through the GEDCOMpare system.

Processing a GEDCOM involves comparing its profiles to possible matching profiles in the WikiTree. Matches can (but don't have to) be edited as one works through the GEDCOMpare process. Unmatched profiles can be added through GEDCOMpare, but only after the ADD button appears.

Creating new profiles is a semi-automatic process (my opinion): the data in the GEDCOM will auto-populate the data fields and the text box. All data should be reviewed for accuracy and proper formatting before new profiles are created.

Many WikiTreers have found the GEDCOMpare process to be non-intuitive, so I always advise that one start with a very small test GEDCOM (a dozen or so profiles; see Splitting a GEDCOM to create a smaller GEDCOM) to learn how the system works and to see if one finds it worth the effort to learn.

Answer 1

Hi Julia, you might like to read this

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:GEDCOMpare

Answer 2

Julia, the good news is that if ancestors are already here, you will not have to enter them all. The bad news is that you have to do a lot of manual comparisons to include here, because there can only be one profile for each person.

I wish there was a way to help people like yourself, but unless you were to split your GEDcom up and email it to multiple people who you somehow found to help, the long way is the best way.

Comments

Well I've added back to my gg grandfather who was born in 1798 and no matches have come up for anyone at all. I find it hard to believe that this far back no one has already added them to the tree.

Answer 3

It is a long way to add all ancestors manually. I uploaded about 4500 ancestors with a GEDCOM and started generation for generation to add them manually and to compare with the GEDCOM.

At the moment I am creating the 10th generation (birth 1650-1700) and until now I have no match. That happens. And WikiTree is not a ancestor matching program.

I had a match, but the other person was also uploaded by GEDCOM from an ancestry tree in 2014 and it was total ********. 6 of 10 children were connected to the wrong parents. The uploader mixed two families on ancestry.

So it is good and it make sense to proof every person and to add verifiable sources. Last nicht I saw some profiles, which were created in Sep 2020 and the only source was personal knowledge or family tree created by a family member. That is no source and it is not a nice behaviour inside ONE worldwide tree!

Because this happens and to rduce mistakes WikiTree stopped the possibility to import GEDCOMs directly.

And this is the reason I like this WikiTree project more then other genealogical research programs.