The cause of this is the character set used when exporting the gedcom file.

To correct this problem, select "ANSI" for the character set. Create a new gedcom file and then do another import into TMG.

How do I choose the right import options?Applies to: All products

Answer: Experiment!

For many people the default import options are sufficient. If you want maximum control over the import process, however, then there are many options. It's a good idea to experiment. Try different options, and see which works best for your data.

With TMG in particular, after you start entering new data or modifying old data to take advantage of TMG's features, you won't want to go back and import again because you'll lose any changes you made after the import. Make sure you are happy with the results of the import process before you start managing your data in TMG.

In some cases, you may want to make changes in your old program before you import into TMG or FTST.

Other keywords: GenBridge

Should I use GenBridge or GEDCOM?
Applies to: All products

Answer: When you convert from another program to TMG or FTST, you may be tempted to transfer your data via GEDCOM. In changing to most other programs, that is the only choice. Both TMG and FTST, however, support GenBridge, a more effective way to transfer data. If your old family tree program is supported by GenBridge, and many are, then use it!

Other keywords: Import Wizard

What data formats can I import?
Answer: The Master Genealogist and Family Tree SuperTools can read data directly from a long list of other program formats.

For a list of products that can be directly imported into Family Tree SuperTools go to Product page - Family Tree SuperTools.

The list for The Master Genealogist can be found at Product page - The Master Genealogist.

By using the GenBridge process, and selecting direct import from the other programs files, you are able to import almost all of the data items from the other listed products with very little loss as opposed to a GEDCOM transfer which has a limited capability to transfer some types of data.

What is the meaning of "Missing Header in filename.ged"?
Applies to: All products

Answer: The gedcom file contains unicode (UFT-8) characters which are not supported.

If you have Windows XP it can be corrected as follows:

Open the gedcom file in Notepad
Then click on File > Save As
At the Save As window change the "save as type" to :All files"
and change the Encoding to "Ansi"

If you like, you can give it a new file name.

Now click on Save. You will be prompted with a warning regarding the loss of the unicode characters and asked if you like to Continue. Click on OK.

What should I know about importing from Ultimate Family Tree?
Applies to: All products

Answer: You can import either a project (*.PRO) or backup file (*.SQZ) directly from Ultimate Family Tree (UFT) or its predecessors. In particular, it will preserve the ID numbers, custom event types, alias and other name types, person flags, multimedia elements (including OLE objects), sources, repositories, evidence, proofs, sure levels, non-standard "families," medical fields, miscellaneous data, biographical notes, research notes, mailing label info, sticky notes, standard and custom roles, event/role templates, embedded text codes (bold, underline, italics, and indexes of people and places), short place names, and custom place labels.

By default, it will not import birth events that have no date or place associated with them. There is an import option with which you can control this behavior, however.

It will optionally retain the citation formats that you have constructed with components in UFT. While it will import all of the elements of the sources, an import option determines whether it honors the sequence and syntax of components from UFT when building a citation for a report.

While The Master Genealogist and Family Tree SuperTools do support Individual Flags, it does NOT support event flags and source flags so that data (if any) from UFT is not imported. A few less common or administrative data types are also not imported. A report at the end of the import indicates any problems or questionable issues that were encountered during the import. For a more detailed list of these data types in UFT, as well as a description of if and where they are imported, please see the document referenced below.

Although data from this family of products may be imported via GEDCOM, the GenBridge™ direct import module will generally produce much better results. For an extensive report comparing these two transfer processes, please see "Transferring data from ultimate Family Tree (UFT) via GEDCOM and GenBridge."

Roots IV, Roots V, Visual Roots, Family Gathering and Ultimate Family Tree are trademarks of Genealogy.com.

Other keywords: Roots IV, Roots V, Visual Roots, Family Gathering