What is it?

Whilst Genes Reunited allows you to import from and export to GEDCOM files with your own tree, it doesn't allow you to download somebody else's tree. GRged is a tool to create GEDCOM files from any tree in Genes Reunited.

What can it do?

With GRged, you can:

• download details for all the descendants of an individual;
• download just the details of an individual;
• exclude certain individuals from your export (and all of their descendants);
• amend any of the details belonging to an individual or event (e.g. name, place of marriage, etc) prior to creating the GEDCOM file.

Where do I get it?

Right here. The current version is 1.2008.03.24 (released 24 March 2008; see version history). The software is free to download and use.

How does it work?

It's simple! See here.

Are there any limitations?

Yes:

• the application only works in conjunction with Internet Explorer on a Windows PC. This is because the application needs to do some activity on the web (to download the details of individuals) and it must run under your Genes Reunited account. If you're already logged into Genes Reunited in Internet Explorer, GRged will automatically pick up and use this account.
• this software won't allow you to see or download from trees which you've not been granted access to by the tree owner. Obviously, this is a deliberate limitation.

Always ensure you have the permission of the tree owner to download the details they've collected.

Why doesn't the Genes Reunited site allow you to download somebody else's tree as a GEDCOM file?

They do allow you to copy and paste people from somebody else's tree into yours. You can then download your tree as a GEDCOM. So GRged doesn't introduce any new capabilities that aren't already possible via the Genes Reunited site, though it does streamline the operation by several hundred percent! Hundreds of names and thousands of facts can be imported into your usual family tree software in a matter of minutes.

I'm a techie. Give me the details!

The main GRged application is written using the .NET Framework 2.0. The Favorites items are bookmarklets written in Javascript. The bookmarklets copy information to the clipboard which GRged then interprets. GRged then does all the necessary calls to the Genes Reunited site to obtain the details for individuals and reformats these into the GEDCOM 5.5 file format.

I've found a bug!

This is a new piece of software, so it won't be perfect!

From version 1.2008.02.10 onwards, GRged will save information whenever a crash occurs. If you want to report a bug, please send this saved information to me? You can find this folder by going to the About screen and clicking upon the "Experienced a Crash?" link. Send the contents as a Zip file to me by email.

For more general feedback or feature requests, please use the GRged Support Forum.

And finally..

Do remember that any information you collect from the Genes Reunited site should then be researched to prove its validity. This is also the most rewarding part in tracing your family's tree.

Copyright © 2008 Chris Wood.

GRged has no affiliation with or endoresement from Genes Reunited Limited.