If you create a GEDCOM file from a FTW file, does it contain all the attached do

Question:Birth certificates, photos, etc?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Birth certificates, photos, etc?

As far as the actual documents - NO. GEDCOM format doesn't provide for imbedded files. An FTW file can also have a lot of information that is not transferred (or transferred logically/correctly) to a GEDCOM. You can often run into problems with notes and definitely if you create a custom "fact". I'm not sure how FTW maintains "location of attached documents", but it is possible the GEDCOM will contain that path in some field. Though it won't do the recipient much good because it will be referencing files on YOUR computer.

GEDCOMs are text, so it won't have photos. It may have a link to a photo, which won't work when you send the GEDCOM elsewhere; it will say something like

c:\family history\smith\photos\
grandpajohn.jpg

which will work on your computer, but not anyone else's.

If the birth certificate is a source or you transcribed it as a note, it should export. If you scanned it, and it is basically a picture of a document, no, it won't.

You can test it, if you have a friend. Export a GEDCOM, e-mail to to him/her, have her/him import it and see what it looks like.

No. It will not transfer images, and notes don't always come out the way you'd hope either.