Before Using TMG to GEDCOM
Before using TMG to GEDCOM, review the GEDCOM settings for your TMG Tag Types. See the GEDCOM Tags page for more information.
First-Time Process
Each of the step names in this section is a link to a more detailed explanation which appears below.
- Start the program
- Create a settings file
Use the File > New... command to make a new settings file (".tgfile"). TMG to GEDCOM writes the configuration settings you choose to the settings file. If you have already created a settings file and saved it, then use the File > Open... command to open it.
- Choose your TMG project
Click the [Choose TMG project...] button in the Database section, then use the File Open dialog to navigate to the folder that holds your TMG project, select it, and then click [Open].
- Load a template (optional)
Use the Utilties > Load Template... submenu to load property values for the program where you intend to import the GEDCOM file. If there is no template file for your intended program, skip this step.
- Save the settings file
Use the File > Save command to save your settings file. Saving the settings file means you do not have to re-enter the settings you make after editing the settings.
- Export to GEDCOM
Use the File > Export to GEDCOM command to write the TMG data to a GEDCOM file. When TMG to GEDCOM is writing to the file, a progress window will open in the lower-right hand corner of your display.
Update Process
After you export the data once, you do not have to repeat all the steps above to update it if you save your settings file as described above. When you have a settings file, you follow these steps: start TMG to GEDCOM, open your settings file, then use the Export to GEDCOM command to write the GEDCOM file.
Details
1. Start TMG to GEDCOM and enter your registration information
When you start the program for the first time, you will be prompted to enter your registration information. Enter the information that has been sent to you. After entering your registration data, you will not have to re-enter it when starting the program.
2. Create a Settings File
To use TMG to GEDCOM you must create a settings file (".tgfile"). TMG to GEDCOM writes the configuration values to the settings file. By default, the file will be stored in your "Documents" folder under the "TMG to GEDCOM" subfolder. Use the File > New... command to create a new settings file. When you use the File > New... command, TMG to GEDCOM will prompt you to save the new file.
Save the file periodically so you do not have to re-enter the settings you have already specified. To re-open a settings file, use the File > Recent files sub-menu which includes a list of recently used files.
A settings file has multiple sections. When TMG to GEDCOM opens a settings file, it starts in the "Database" section. This section includes a button to choose your TMG project.
3. Choose Your TMG Project
Click the [Choose TMG project...] button to choose your TMG project. TMG to GEDCOM will present a standard "open a file" window. You can use the controls in that window to navigate to the folder that contains your TMG project. Click the file name to select the file, then click the [Open] button to open the file.
TMG to GEDCOM will attempt to position the Open File dialog in the folder of the last project you opened in TMG. If the project you want to open is not there, you must navigate to it using the controls in the Open File dialog.
If your project has multiple datasets, TMG to GEDCOM will ask you to choose one. Only one dataset may be exported at a time.
After you select the TMG project, TMG to GEDCOM will read the data in a background process and display a small progress window in the lower-right of your display. For very large TMG projects, the load progress may take several minutes. For most TMG projects, the process will complete in a few seconds.
TMG to GEDCOM converts the TMG data to an internal form that is designed to make it easy for TMG to GEDCOM to create the GEDCOM file.Note 1
TMG to GEDCOM writes to its log file as it reads the TMG project. You can review the log file using the Utilities > Logs > Open Application Log command.
4. Load a Template (optional)
Use the Utilities > Load Template submenu to load a template file with property values for the usage indicated by the name of the template file. If there is no template file for your intended program, skip this step.
See the Templates page for more information about using templates.
5. Save the Settings File
Use the File > Save command to save your settings file. Saving the settings file means you do not have to re-enter the settings you make after editing the configuration properties. It's good practice to save the settings file after you make enough changes that you wouldn't want to redo them. Saving before using the Export to GEDCOM command is usually a good idea.
6. Export to GEDCOM
Use the File > Export to GEDCOM command to create the GEDCOM file.
When TMG to GEDCOM is creating the GEDCOM file, a progress window will open in the lower-right hand corner of your display. The program writes the file using a background process. In most cases, the background process will complete in seconds.
Notes
- TMG to GEDCOM includes a text-based record browser that may be useful in some situations. To access the record browser, select Utilities > Open Record Browser.... Enter the ID number of a person to see that person's data records.