exporting to a pc

[G Hooper]

I would like to send my chart on my Mac OSX 10.6.8. to my cousin who has a PC. I have tried to do this but probably due to extreme age and general technical inexpertise, I failed. I would be so grateful for simple step-by-step instructions - I think I need to go via GEDCOM, but I'm doing something wrong. Many thanks in advance.

[Dennis J. Cunniff]

Re: exporting to a pc

I would like to send my chart on my Mac OSX 10.6.8. to my cousin who has a PC. I have tried to do this but probably due to extreme age and general technical inexpertise, I failed. I would be so grateful for simple step-by-step instructions - I think I need to go via GEDCOM, but I'm doing something wrong. Many thanks in advance.

First, we should make sure that we understand what you want to do; you say you want to send a chart to your cousin, which to me would mean sending a graphic chart or diagram of part of your family to them; but you also suggest that you might use a GEDCOM file, which is a text file rather than a picture.

If you want to send a chart, you want to send your cousin a .pdf file. You'd do this by using the menus while you're looking at the chart: File -> Save Graphic File..., and setting the file format to PDF.

If you want to send a more-or-less complete record of everything you have on your family, you probably do want to use a GEDCOM. But it would be helpful to know what your cousin will be doing with it (that is, if he will be importing it into a genealogy program, what program is he using? If he won't be importing it, but rather you want to share information (with a human rather than a computer), it might be better to use a narrative text report.

If you let us know more about exactly what you want to do, we'd be happy to help you.

[G Hooper]

Re: exporting to a pc

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry I didn't give you enough information. I will have to ask some questions and hope that when I have the answers you might be able to help me. Thank you again. I'll post again as soon as I can.

Gemma Hooper

[G Hooper]

Re: exporting to a pc

Further to my previous message, I know what I would really like - my son and my cousin to be able to access my Reunion file from their computers, with a password that I would give them. I have a Mac, they have PCs.

Is this possible?

The next best thing would be for me to send them my Reunion file, so they can copy on to their own family trees the information from mine that interests them. Again, is this possible?

I'm probably asking very basic questions that everyone knows the answer too; but I'm quite proud of my Reunion tree and have managed to put several photos in. It would be great if they could see it too!

Thank you very much for your willingness to help.

Gemma

[Dennis J. Cunniff]

Re: exporting to a pc

Further to my previous message, I know what I would really like - my son and my cousin to be able to access my Reunion file from their computers, with a password that I would give them. I have a Mac, they have PCs.

Is this possible?

The next best thing would be for me to send them my Reunion file, so they can copy on to their own family trees the information from mine that interests them. Again, is this possible?

I'm probably asking very basic questions that everyone knows the answer too; but I'm quite proud of my Reunion tree and have managed to put several photos in. It would be great if they could see it too!

Thank you very much for your willingness to help.

Gemma

Gemma,
No problem, but probably not good news, either. Reunion files can't be opened on a PC.

If you want to share information with PC users, the usual ways are:
[1] export your file into a GEDCOM file, which they will then import into whatever genealogy program they use
[2] save your charts as .pdf files, which they will be able to open on their computer
[3] save your reports as .txt or MS Word files, which they will be able to read on their computers.
[4] save your file as a web report. You can place this on the web or on a memory stick to share with PC users (see "How to Share Your Data Without Using the Web" in the manual for more information).

.pdf files, .txt files, MS Word files can be attached to email and sent.

I am not sure if remote access programs (like GotomyPC or GotomyMAC) would do what you want to, but I suspect the learning curve there might be a little steep.

Let me know if you have any trouble with charts or reports and we can help you through it.

[G Hooper]

Re: exporting to a pc

Hello Dennis

Thank you very much for your comprehensive reply, and I apologise for the delay in replying.

I am going to see if I can export my file to a GEDCOM file following the instructions in the Reunion guide. I should be able to do that.

If I get stuck or have a problem, perhaps I could contact you again.

I'm putting it off because I dread getting instructions I don't understand. It's an age thing - I believe!

Thanks again. I'll let you know if I succeed too!

Gemma

[G Hooper]

Re: exporting to a pc

Hello Dennis, all is well. My son came round this afternoon to see me and in about 3 minutes he'd exported my file as a GEDCOM and sent it to himself. I've also sent it to my cousin. Thank you very much for your very detailed instructions. I really wanted to do it myself and I might have succeeded, but my son's help was quicker and easier!

Gemma Hooper