Kiwitrees family history software uses the GEDCOM specification (5.5.1) as the main structure for storing and displaying your family history records.
GEDCOM was developed by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) to provide a flexible, uniform format for exchanging computerized genealogical data. GEDCOM is an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmmunication. Its purpose is to encourage sharing of genealogy information and to provide a common platform for genealogists, historians, and other researchers to use in software products.
There has been a number of versions of the data specification. Kiwitrees uses the most recently and commonly used version, 5.5.1.
For more information about GEDCOM, there is an excellent Wikipedia article at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEDCOM
The GEDCOM specification
Download a copy here: GEDCOM 5.5.1 file or read by clicking the link below.
The official GEDCOM (5.5.1) specification document
GEDCOM tags
The list below has all GEDCOM tags recognised by Kiwitrees. Most can be edited easily through the software edit screen (GUI). A few of the more obscure ones from other software products can only be edited using the “Edit raw GEDCOM data” option.
GEDCOM tags, description, type, & source
The codes in the “Source” column represent where the tags originated from:
| wdt_ID | Abbreviation | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GED 5.5.1 | The current GEDCOM specification |
| 2 | Kiwitrees | Specific for Kiwitrees only |
| 3 | AQ | Ancestral Quest |
| 4 | BKW | Brother's Keeper (Windows) |
| 5 | FamHer | Family Heritage |
| 6 | FO | Family Origins |
| 7 | FTM | Family Tree Maker (DOS) |
| 8 | FTW | Family Tree Maker (Windows) |
| 9 | Gen | Generations |
| 10 | Leg | Legacy |
| 11 | PAF | Personal Ancestral File |
| 12 | Reunion | Reunion for the MAC |
| 13 | Roots III | Roots III |
| 14 | RM | RootsMagic |
| 15 | TMG | The Master Genealogist |
| Abbreviation | Organisation |