Smarter GEDCOM Imports: How We're Making Your Data Migration Seamless

GEDCOM files are the universal language of genealogy. They are the bridges that let you move your research between different platforms and tools. But anyone who has worked with GEDCOM knows it can be a gift that keeps on giving... sometimes in unexpected ways.

Every genealogy service handles dates, locations, and relationships slightly differently. Some include detailed notes and media; others focus on bare facts. Some estimate dates generously; others leave them blank. When all of this diverse data flows through the standardized GEDCOM format, interesting challenges emerge.

The Challenge of Missing Dates

One of the most common issues in genealogical data is incomplete date information. Perhaps a birth year is known, but not the full date. Maybe a death date is completely missing. These gaps are natural. Records get lost, details were never recorded, or information hasn't been discovered yet.

The problem arises when software tries to estimate these missing dates. A naive approach might place someone's estimated birth or death at a time that contradicts other known facts about their life.

Imagine importing a GEDCOM where:

• John Smith appears in the 1900 census in Ohio.

• His birth date is unknown.

• A simple estimation places his birth in 1920.

That creates an impossible scenario. John couldn't have appeared in a census 20 years before he was born.

Our Improved Date Estimation Logic

In our latest round of improvements, we've enhanced our GEDCOM import to prevent these impossible scenarios. Our system now:

Analyzes All Known Events – Before estimating any date, we examine every event in an individual's timeline, including census records, migrations, residences, and military service.

Applies Logical Constraints – Birth dates must precede all other life events. Death dates must follow all confirmed activities. Estimated ages must align with documented appearances.

Respects Historical Context – We consider typical lifespans for the time period and region while ensuring estimates don't conflict with documented facts.

Handles Edge Cases – Special attention is given to infant deaths, late-life marriages, and other scenarios that might seem unusual but are historically accurate.

A Continuous Journey

GEDCOM import is truly a gift that keeps on giving—we continually discover new edge cases and nuances from different genealogy services. Each import teaches us something new about how various platforms handle data, and we refine our logic accordingly.

This commitment to ongoing improvement means your GEDCOM imports will keep getting better. Whether you're migrating from a legacy desktop application, a popular online service, or combining data from multiple sources, Genealogy Genie AI works to ensure your data arrives intact and logical.

Have you encountered any quirks with your GEDCOM imports? We'd love to hear about them. Your feedback helps us make imports even more robust for the entire community.