What is in each column
- ID: the person's code from the GEDCOM file, such as I12, so you can find them back in your genealogy program.
- Given names, surname and sex.
- Birth date and place, death date and place, exactly as they are written in the file.
- Parents and spouses: names with their ID in square brackets, separated by a semicolon.
- Notes: how many notes the person has. The text of the notes is not copied.
- The family file has one row per family: both partners, the marriage date and place, the number of children and their names.
Opening the file in Excel
Excel in most of Europe expects a semicolon between columns, Excel in the US and UK a comma. Pick the matching option and the file opens with a double click, accents included, because it carries a UTF-8 mark.
If everything still lands in one column, open Excel first and use Data, From Text/CSV. Choose UTF-8 as the file origin and the separator you picked here.
Why dates stay as written
Genealogy dates are often uncertain: ABT 1850, BEF 1900, BET 1850 AND 1855. Turned into Excel dates they would lose that meaning or change silently, so they stay as text. Sort on the surname or ID columns instead, or add a year column of your own.
Questions people ask
How do I convert a GEDCOM file to Excel?
Choose the file above, pick the Excel format that matches your country, and download the people file and, if you like, the family file. Each is a CSV that Excel opens directly, one row per person or family.
Why do accents look wrong when I open a CSV in Excel?
Excel reads a CSV without a UTF-8 mark in an older character set, so é turns into é. Both Excel options here add that mark. If you choose plain CSV, import it through Data, From Text/CSV and pick UTF-8.
Should I choose comma or semicolon?
Semicolon for Excel set to a European language or region, where the comma is the decimal sign. Comma for Excel in the US or UK, and for most other programs.
Can I turn the spreadsheet back into a GEDCOM file?
Not with this tool; it works one way. A spreadsheet has no room for sources, events and notes, so keep your original GEDCOM file as the master copy.
Are people without a name included?
Yes. Every person in the file gets a row, also without a name, so the ID column always matches your genealogy program.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The conversion happens in your browser and the file never leaves your computer or phone. Nothing is stored.
Is it free?
Yes, free and without an account, for files of up to 100 MB.
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