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Gedcom is an open source file standard, it wasn't created by Ancestry.com, it's free for anyone to use. There was briefly an attempt to include media files in a gedcom, but it was abandoned, probably because file sizes were too big and not all software supported it.
"Support for embedding media directly was dropped in the draft 5.5.1 standard."
Also, you don't have to be a paying subscriber of Ancestry.com to download your gedcom.
They could add a feature that lets you back up everything, including pictures and documents. They just haven't done it, which is bad... considering how much money they charge. Most people have at least some supporting documents on there. The gedcom is usless for most users.
They could add a feature that lets you back up everything, including pictures and documents. They just haven't done it, which is bad... considering how much money they charge. Most people have at least some supporting documents on there. The gedcom is usless for most users.
Back it up how? What file type would they use? What sort of software would you be able to open it with? Ancestry don't produce computer software anymore, so they can only use an open source file type, like gedcom. So the download is limited to what gedcom allows. Different software uses different proprietary file types - Family Tree Maker uses .ftm, RootsMagic uses .rmgc, Legacy uses something else. Each company uses something different and most of them aren't compatible with each other, so Ancestry can't use any of them because if they used one of them, then it would be useless to all other software users. They can't use all of them because there's far too many (and there may be legal rights involved). The ONLY open source file type that will work with all and any family tree software is gedcom. And it is not Ancestry's fault gedcom doesn't include media.
You could maybe argue that they should produce their own software, but they are a website, and not obligated to do so. They charge money for access to genealogy records - again, the tree builder and gedcom download are available for free, they are not charging you for that, so they are under no obligation to make it how you personally want it.
The images will (probably) always be available for access (and download) at Ancestry. I believe it was when Blackstone purchased Ancestry that the subscriber agreement changed to grant Ancestry a license to use the uploaded images, as well as the information, in our trees, without restriction. In perpetuity. I'm waiting to see a few of my "colorful" ancestors pop up in Ancestry's advertising.
1. The same way Google, Facebook, Instagram etc. do it.
None of those sites host family trees so that's completely irrelevant.
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2. If they want to keep paying customers, they better.
They seem to be doing just fine.
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BTW. Of course they charge you for it. Everything they have is priced in the fee you pay.
Nope, plenty of people who don't have a subscription there host a tree there and can download their gedcom for free.
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