Exporting from Excel....... can it be done?

[Oscar]

As I am not the brightest spark in the computer world, I couldn't answer this query for a friend and I wondered if anyone could advise.

She has a Tree done on Excel. Is there any way that this could be exported to 'An.....y' in the equivalent of a Gedcom, or would she have to transcribe it manually?

I'll be gone for an hour or two, but will check back.

Thank you

Gwyn

[Elaine ..Spain]

Cannot see how you could import a tree from Excel - I think she will have to transcribe it manually.

[Oscar]

Thanks for that Elaine. I had a feeling that it would have to be done manually, but just wanted to make sure.

Gwyn

[Hugo]

How big is the family tree?

I am sure the conversion from Excel into GEDCOM format can be done but would not be a simple task.

If the family tree holds 50 names then it is simpler to do it manually. If there are 5,000 names then I would be looking at having a conversion done.

I have never done it but converting data formats is the type of thing I used to enjoy doing.

Hugo

[Grimsqueaker]

the biggest problem you will have Hugo is that Excel has no way of defining relationships between cells.....

Now if it were done in Access it would be a different matter.....

[TrevorFranklin]

There are some programs that state they can convert CSV format to GED format.
If you use 'Save As' in Excel and select the type as Comma Seperated Format (CSV)
Then try this free program

http://www.fhug.org.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=about:other_nonfh_software:acc2ged

For some reason link not functioning correctly, use the search box on the page it takes you to for acc2ged

[Grimsqueaker]

That looks rather specialised though Trevor, and would require the existing sheet to be reformatted correctly before applying the program.. Probably as time consuming as re-entering the information into a true genealogy app...

[TrevorFranklin]

But it did answer Oscar's original question.

[Hugo]

If the family tree is big enough to justify the effort, my first inclination would be to move the Excel data into Access or Base. That would probably be the easy part.

The manipulation of the data in Access or Base is probably where the fun lies.

The presupposes I can find the data specification for GEDCOM. I am sure I have it somewhere but of course now cannot find it.

Hugo

[Oscar]

Thank you folks - I am watching this and will forward all that you have suggested.

Gwyn