Question

When WikiTree downloads a GEDCOM, the window for name and location only offers txt not ged...how can I convert it?

Comments

I have the EXACT problem! Ancestry downloads my Tree perfectly as a .ged file. I am able to save it to an iCloud folder (and to Dropbox) It saves as a .ged file.

BUT, when I try to upload it to GEDMatch, it automatically converts to .ged.txt -It ADDS the .txt, and I cannot erase it, so my upload does not work.

Is this perhaps because I am using an iPad?

It’s an annoying problem, and I have tried several times to fix it, but no luck so far!

Thank You!!!!

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As mentioned below, I use the app FileExplorer Pro on my iPhone - move files, rename, etc. It says it's for iPad also.

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Thank you! I will give it a shot!

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Thanks for that....but I don't have a smartphone...just an older laptop.

Answer 1

As the gedcom file is actually a text file, you can open it in a text editor (NOT a word processing program) and then save it as a .ged file. Most simple text editors should allow you to do this.

Answer 2

A GEDCOM file is, in fact, just a text file with the extension GED. If the download INSISTS that you save it as a TXT file, you should be able to change the extension to GED following the download.

Following the download, if the result of your download is SomeFamily.GED.TXT, simply delete the .TXT from the name. If the file is named SomeFamily.TXT, change TXT to GED.

That should do it.

EDIT: iPad wasn't mentioned in the original post, but may be the problem. Mentioned above and below, on the iPhone, the app FileExplorer Pro allows moving files, renaming, etc. It says it's for iPad also. First, you might try FileExplorer (without the Pro) and see if it works.

If it doesn't rename iPad files, it should allow you to move the file to a PC, rename it, and move it back.

Comments

The problem is that the iPad doesn't really allow users access to the underlying file system.

There have been many other reports of this, and there are some solutions, I think, but I don't recall them off the top of my head.

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I use the FileExplorer Pro app on my iPhone to move, rename, etc. It says it's for iPad.