HELP - Download Troubleshooting Sheet
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Using downloaded files can sometimes be tricky. Here are some suggestions to help you through the process.

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Click on one of the following for help with solving download problems:

 

Downloading Records for Macintosh Computers

Before records can be downloaded to a Macintosh and used in a family history program, two things may need to occur:

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Setting Browser Preferences for Macintosh Computers

Use the following instructions to set the preferences in your browser so it will recognize GEDCOM files:

For Netscape Navigator 4.0+

  1. From Navigator's File menu, choose Preferences.
  2. At the Preferences window:
    • Inside the Category box, choose Navigator.
    • Under Navigator, choose Applications. The application box lists the applications (and their file type) that Netscape Navigator currently recognizes. You now need to add GEDCOM to the list so Navigator can save the GEDCOM files you download.
    • Click the New button. 
  3. At the Edit Type window:
    • In the Descriptions box, type GEDCOM
    • In the MIME box, type ged
    • In the Suffixes box type ged
    • Click the Save to disk option.
    • Click the OK button.
  4. At the Preferences window, check to make sure the file type was added. Inside the Applications box, scroll until you find GEDCOM. This will indicate that your browser can now recognize GEDCOM files. If it does not appear, go back to step 2.
  5. Click the OK button to finalize your preference changes.

After completing the above process, Netscape will make sure that the GEDCOM files you download can be used by your genealogy program.

For Internet Explorer 4.5 

  1. From Explorer's Edit menu, choose Preferences.
  2. At the Internet Explorer Preferences window:
    • Inside the box of categories on the left, choose Receiving Files.
    • Under Receiving Files, choose File Helpers. The File Help Settings box lists the applications and their file types that Explorer currently recognizes. You now need to add GEDCOM to the list so Explorer can save the GEDCOM files you download.
    • Click on the Add button. 
  3. At the  Edit File Helper window:
    • In the Description box, type GEDCOM Files
    • In the Extension box type GED
    • In the MIME box, type text/gedcom
    • Click on the Browse button next to the Application label.
    • Locate your genealogy program that can import GEDCOM files.
    • Once you select your genealogy program, the file type and file creator boxes should be automatically completed.
    • In the Encoding field, select Plain Text.
    • Check the Use for Incoming and Use for Outgoing boxes.
    • In the Download Destination field, select Download Folder or the folder you want GEDCOM files to be saved in.
    • In the Handling field, select Save to File.
    • Click the OK button.
  4. At the Internet Explorer Options window, check to make sure the file type was added. Inside the Applications box, scroll until you find GEDCOM. This will indicate that your browser can now recognize GEDCOM files. If it does not appear, go back to step 2.
  5. Click the OK button to finalize your preference changes.

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Converting GEDCOM 5.5 Files to Earlier GEDCOM Versions

Files are downloaded in the GEDCOM 5.5 format. However, the Macintosh version of Personal Ancestral File and some other genealogy programs accept only the GEDCOM 4.0 format. If you do not want to purchase a family history program that will accept GEDCOM 5.5, you will have to convert the records you download to the GEDCOM 4.0 format by using the following procedures:

  1. Download files from FamilySearch Internet. They will be in GEDCOM 5.5 format. (If you have a Macintosh computer and have problems downloading, see Setting Browser Preferences for Macintosh Computers for further instructions.)
  2. Import the GEDCOM files into a database using a genealogy program that accepts both GEDCOM 4.0 and GEDCOM 5.5 formats. (Refer to your software's user's manual to see which versions of GEDCOM it uses.)
  3. Using the same genealogy program, export the records from the database to a GEDCOM 4.0 format.
  4. Import the new GEDCOM 4.0 file into Personal Ancestral File or another family history record-keeping program.

Note: An important difference between the GEDCOM 4.0 format and the GEDCOM 5.5 format is how links between the records of parents and their children are created.

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