How is a GEDCOM file organized?
The file is generally a plain ASCII file that can be read by any editor. (Technically it can have some foreign characters in it as well and is usually called an ANSEL character set.) It has lines that start with a number and a keyword. The rest of the line may contain information related to the keyword. The information is divided into sections as defined by the initial number. The major sections all begin with a 0. Within each major sections are other sections that expand on the information. The first section begins as: 0 HEAD. It contains header data about the file. The last line in the file begins as: 0 TRLR. It is a trailer record that marks the end of the file. Between these two major sections are other major sections defining individuals, family groups, source data, repository data, etc. Within the individual sections, marked with INDI, there is an entry for each person in the database. The information about the person is defined as level 1 data, which relates to personal informat
