Genealogy Chat

i have read the instructions on gedcoms but am blessed if i understand any of it! so i am hoping one of you might be able to take me through it in as basic terms as pos!-why we use gedcoms? and-if i am reading the instructions correctly-if we make a gedcom file-we risk losing some of our data from our tree?

I am not to sure about everything but:-
genes will send you a copy of your tree it does not affect your genes tree.
If you load a tree to genes it overwrites what is already there and may not load properly!!!

The reason we use gedcom files is as a means of transferring data from one family tree program to another.

So, for example, I manage my tree on a program called Family Tree Maker, which runs on my PC.

By creating a gedcom file I can transfer data from my tree program to other members of the family or to other websites, such as GR or Ancestry. Similarly in the other direction, I can receive gedcom files from other sources and view these with my tree program, or add or merge information from them.

However, as SatNav has already pointed out, on certain sites, GR included, loading a new gedcom will automatically over-write your existing tree.

thank you both now i feel a little more adventurous i might give it a try thanks again