| Storing Family Trees: Both-And, Not Either-Or |
| Earlier this year, I wrote about some factors to consider when choosing where to build your family tree. You might already have a preferred platform that holds most of your research, or be actively seeking out the single, perfect fit for you. But here’s some good news: Storing your tree online or on your desktop isn’t an “either-or” proposition. Many popular software programs are compatible with online family trees and vice versa, making sharing files between them a breeze:
But compatibility doesn’t end there. Genealogy software and online trees can all import and export family tree files as GEDCOMs. Just be careful when doing so—GEDCOMs only include links to media files like images and videos that are linked in your tree. You’ll need to copy the files themselves separately. The best solution for you will depend on your research and circumstances. As you can read below, there’s a strong case for storing your tree on a local desktop computer, then syncing your data to an online family tree as necessary. This strategy gives you optimal control over your family tree data, as well as the flexibility to share only as much information online as is necessary. |
