Family tree problem

Hi,
I have a problem with a gsp family tree programme in that when I saved all my info to a flash drive the programme saved it as Dossexpt.001, Dossexpt.002 & Dossexpt.003 but unfortunately the files should be Gedcom to enable me to pass the information to my family to enable them to put it into their family trees.
Can anyone help me by advising me how to convert Dossexpt. files to Gedcom.
Thanks.
Campbell

 

You can try this, don't know if it will work.
http://www.zamzar.com/

 

Hi brandypeppy,
thanks for your reply, unfortunately the program will not handle Dossexpt. files.
Regards,
Campbell:wave

 

Hello Campbell,

The files you mention have been created by a program "Family Tree v1.5", it is a very old version of a program now superseded and changed to FTM 2009 or 2010 and the newer versions cannot open the really old files in that format. I don't think you'll find a wizz bang easy solution to converting your files. In fact some of the reading material I found said cut your losses and start fresh, but before resorting to such drastic measures, let's investigate an option or two.

Firstly, I presume that you cannot get access to the original program and re-save the files in gedcom format, the easiest solution of all.

Second, I found a discussion on this forum about the files that you mention.
http://www.bythedrop.com/forum2/index.php/m/14472/
scroll down and find the message #14448 by tim sewell, where he mentions the following URL http://www.globalserve.net/~bobbo/tree.htm which leads to a download of "Family Tree" once you install that program you should be able to create a file in gedcom format that other genealogy programs can recognise and then import the data into their files.

I have not tried any of the steps that are mentioned in the "bythedrop forum" or the Family Tree program, they did appear to work suitably for the lady who initiated the discussion, because the discussion is almost two years old doesn't automatically mean it's not a workable solution. I would strongly recommend that you make a copy of the files before you work on them with the Family tree program (just to be safe and rename then slightly).

Best of luck

paramonks

 

Hi paramonks,
thanks for your reply, I tried the sites but they will not accept DOSSEXPT. files.
regards
Campbell

 

Hi Campbell,

Well I'm stumped, and haven't found any other possible solution. I tried to install the program but couldn't get it to run. I suspect that you won't find a web based solution for conversion and that getting back to where you originally got the documents from will be the only computer based way to retrieve the data within the files.

If you have hard copies of the data, then starting a fresh is an option, lots of typing but still an option.

My experience with genealogy based software is that they are as guarded with how their software interacts with other software as the major corporations who mass produce operating systems.

Good luck

paramonks

 

Hi paramonks,
thanks again for trying, it looks as if I will have to reload all of the family tree information on to a different programme which can save as Gedcom.
Appreciate your efforts,
Take care,
campbell:wave

 

This may help:

http://genforum.genealogy.com/using/messages/50444.html

 

Hi Tux,

I read that posting on the genealogy forum and initially thought it was another great lead, but eventually came to the conclusion that it wasn't a solution.

My understanding is that Campbell doesn't have the original program, only saved files from it and those saved files are not in a format that can be read by any other program, which is often the case with genealogy software, unless you save the files into gedcom format only then can the data be easily imported to any genealogy software or even uploaded to the Web.

If my grasp of things is incorrect, please advise.

paramonks

 

Hi paramonks and Tux rules, thanks for the interest you have shown in helping me, I have already seen the site which Tux sent and it did not help me but I have now reloaded all the information on to Family Tree maker and I am able to save it as Gedcom. Big job but got the result.
I have a copy of the family tree disk but it would not let me save as Gedcom.
If you want a copy of the disk send me details.
thanks again:wave
Campbell

 

Do you need a current subscription to view the page? I can't for the life of me get it to load.

paramonks

 

Hi

Pls don't go to any bother for me, I am not in need of converting data to a gedcom file. The genealogy software I am using is FTM 2009 and I am not having any issues with it.

I was interested to read the page that you found as it could have provided another solution for Campbell (O.P.). In the meantime Campbell has re-typed all the data into another program and created a gedcom file which makes transferring data between genealogy programs super easy.

Ah-ha, after 5 minutes wait the page has loaded, don't know why it would take so long, I'm running XP Home with FF3, mysterious.

FYI - if your interested none of those programs would have converted Campbell's data files to gedcom, they(files) are from a really, really old program, (I think it was windows 95 based).

Thanks - paramonks

 

Hi

This looks very promising, one to mark for future reference material

Thanks

paramonks

 

Hi plodr,
thanks for info.
looks interesting
campbell

 

And did you find a solution, campbell?

 

Hi,
no, I never did get this resolved but have now retyped all the information on to a different family tree programme but unfortunately I preferred the layout of the original files and family tree.
Thanks everyone for your help.

 

Wondering if you have or are doing any family history research since you volunteered to help this fellow out?