Introduction to GEDmatch:

Tools for DNA & Genealogy Research

Ottawa TMGUG3 Oct 2015

GEDmatch

• GEDmatch is a free service that helps you find even more relatives than with the individual testing company sites. • Utility that allows you to upload your DNA results from AncestryDNA,

23andMe or Family Tree DNA (Family Finder) and compare to those uploaded from any of these companies.• Allows comparison of GEDCOM files.• While GEDMatch is free, they do accept donations!

http://v2.gedmatch.com/

GEDMATCH

For Autosomal DNA Only

GEDmatch

• 2014 Technology Advances Award fromthe Federation of Genealogical Societies

• Ranked as the 31st top genealogy site byGenealogyInTime Magazine

GEDmatch Basics

• GEDMatch Basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acGJmLlsWg4

• GEDmatch wiki: http://v2.gedmatch.com/gedwiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

• GEDmatch Forums: http://v2.gedmatch.com/msg_list_forums.php

• DNA for 'Dummies‘: http://v2.gedmatch.com/DNA_for_Dummies.php

DNA Upload

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acGJmLlsWg4

GEDCOM Upload

• We usually suggest that you submit a GEDCOM file that contains your entire genealogy database. That will maximize the chances of finding name matches. In cases where you have a very large GEDCOM that exceeds our capacity, you can split it into 2 or more smaller GEDCOMs.

• You must only submit GEDCOM files. DO NOT send files in ZIP (compressed) or in the native format of your genealogy program

• If your genealogy software has an option to select 'character encoding', use 'UTF-8'. Otherwise, some characters may not display properly.

• Very large files (larger than 10 Megs) may not load correctly. Because of performance limitations on the site database server, GEDmatch comparison utilities will only consider the first 10,000 individuals in each GEDCOM.

• Files containing more than 24,000 individuals will not be accepted at all.• Note that any GEDCOM uploaded to GEDmatch will be available for viewing and searching by

any other user. If you wish, you may privatize living individuals prior to uploading your file.

Gedmatch website

• http://v2.gedmatch.com/login1.php