GEDCOM vs JSON - importing and exporting your family tree
Your family tree is valuable, so it is worth understanding how to get it in and out of the app. RootsPrint supports two formats: GEDCOM and JSON. This guide explains what each is for.
Why exporting matters
Your trees are stored privately in your browser, which is great for privacy but means there is no cloud backup. Exporting is how you keep a safe copy and how you move your data between devices. Make it a habit.
GEDCOM: the genealogy standard
GEDCOM (.ged) is the long-standing standard format for genealogy data. Nearly every family history program can read and write it.
Use GEDCOM when you want to:
- Move your tree to or from another genealogy application.
- Share data with a relative who uses different software.
- Keep an archival copy in a widely supported format.
Because GEDCOM is a shared standard, some app-specific details may not map perfectly between programs, but the core people and relationships transfer reliably.
JSON: the app’s native format
JSON (.json) is this app’s native format. It captures your tree’s structure and details exactly as the app stores them, with no conversion.
Use JSON when you want to:
- Make a backup you will re-import into this app.
- Move a tree between your own devices with all details intact.
Important: photos are not included in exports
Both GEDCOM and JSON contain your tree’s text - people, relationships, dates, notes, and places - but not the photos you have added. Photos are stored separately in your browser, so an exported file does not carry them. If you move a tree to another device, you will need to re-add photos there.
Everything else transfers, so exports are still an excellent backup of your genealogy work - just keep your original photo files somewhere safe too.
Which should I choose?
A simple rule of thumb:
- Staying within RootsPrint? Use JSON for the most faithful copy.
- Moving to or from other genealogy software? Use GEDCOM for compatibility.
When in doubt, export both. They are small text files.
How to import
To bring a tree in, open the editor, choose the import option from the File menu, and select your .ged or .json file. The import happens entirely on your device - nothing is uploaded.
A note on privacy
Both import and export run locally in your browser. Your files are never sent to a server. For more on how your data is protected, read family tree privacy.