# How to create GEDCOMs **URL:** \ **Category:** RootsMagic\ **Tags:** question, rootsmagic, issue\ **Created:** [November 10, 2024, 12:42am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-create-gedcoms/12456 "2024-11-10T00:42:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RogerC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/rogerc/32/3002_2.png) [@RogerC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/RogerC)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 12:42am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-create-gedcoms/12456/1 "2024-11-10T00:42:40Z")
I need to create a GEDCOM for a cousin; but I don’t want the entire db file. I need to make a GEDCOM of a given line, i.e. a GGGrandfather and all of his descendants and their descendants, etc. Is there any way to do that. I don’t need nor want a but the entire db file. And creating a Group to do this with is flat out too much work. Also, I think I may have found a bug, but then again it may be me. When I try to make a GEDCOM file by using the ‘Select from list’ option, a empty file is created. Thanks RogerC ---
**Author:** ![MYoung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@MYoung](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/MYoung)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-create-gedcoms/12456/2 "2024-11-10T01:38:27Z")
See the explanation from @nkess here > [@Create a Gedcom Consisting of five generations of a couple's descendants](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/create-a-gedcom-consisting-of-five-generations-of-a-couples-descendants/8186/2): > > yes it can be done-- once you have the file open you want to make the gedcom from– go to EXPORT DATA under File on Left side Select Gedcom and where you want to save it to ( Desktop is a good option) and hit save–MAKE SURE YOU NAME IT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE ORIGINAL FILE-- such as RAPP Lines would be renamed RAPP LINES 2… A popup screen will appear–check all the boxes you need then Click on the ARROW NEXT TO EVERYONE Click on SELECT FROM LIST then just for good measure click on … ---
**Author:** ![mscheffler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@mscheffler](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/mscheffler)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-create-gedcoms/12456/3 "2024-11-10T18:23:27Z")
Do be aware that if you have a large database as I have, that you might get way more people copied to the gedcom than you expected. It is difficult to get just a small group unless you chose small sections of the database individually, i.e. overlapping groups may have one or more people in common. ---
**Author:** ![kbens0n](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/kbens0n/32/80_2.png) [@kbens0n](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kbens0n)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-create-gedcoms/12456/5 "2024-11-11T01:20:35Z")
> [@nkess](#): > > if you put a checkmark by 10 people BUT none of those 10 are HIGHLIGHTED–it won’t transfer anyone Actually, that’s not correct… any folks with checkmarks will be in the GEDCOM (even if a non-checkmark person has the highlight). The typical human error is mistaking the highlight as a “selected” person. The checkmark accomplishes the choice(s). The highlight merely reflects cursor position focus/movement. ---
**Author:** ![nkess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@nkess](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/nkess)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 2:48am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-create-gedcoms/12456/6 "2024-11-11T02:48:03Z")
So then what does cause it as I had it happen twice tonight following EXACTLY what I posted–since I had checkmarked X amount of people, it should have worked ---
**Author:** ![kbens0n](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/kbens0n/32/80_2.png) [@kbens0n](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kbens0n)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 4:03am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-create-gedcoms/12456/7 "2024-11-11T04:03:55Z")
> [@nkess](#): > > I had it happen twice tonight I did my test in RM9. RM10, maybe? Checkmark only one person then click on any other to change the highlight. That one person should wind up in the .GED file.