GEDitCOM II Release Notes

This page highlights the new features in each new release of GEDitCOM II. More details on all features can be found by choosing "GEDitCOM II Help" from the "Help" menu while running GEDitCOM II.

Version 3.3 (released 8 NOV 2025)
Version 3.2 (released 16 JUN 2024 to 22 DEC 2024)
Version 3.1 (released 19 Feb 2024 to 12 MAR 2024)
Version 3.0 (released 10 Jul 2022 to 27 Mar 2023)
Version 2.7 (released 30 Dec 2020 to 10 Sep 2021)
Version 2.6 (released 31 May 2020 to 23 Nov 2020)
Version 2.5 (released 29 Mar 2020)
(Release notes prior to 2020 no longer posted here)
Version 1.0 (released 7 JUN 2009)

Version 3.3 (8 NOV 2025)

The release worked on Internal Scripting features, included several new and/or faster extensions, and validated in MacOS Tahoe. The following is a partial listing of new features:

The "Create Generations Book" extension to export a book from your data was completely rewritten as an internal script. It runs 10-20 times faster, no longer needs Python installed, has several enhanced features, and has restored the option to automatically typeset the book for you.
Added options and documentation for working with GEDitMobile app for the iPhone.
Links you create in web content notes would sometimes not work in certain modes. Those links are now reliable.
Clicking a thumbnail displayed when the image file is missing now explains why only thumbnail view is currently available.
Clicking a zoomed image would try to open in a helper application (which is unlikely the action you want). Those clicks now do nothing. Clicking normal display of the image still has option to open in a helper application.
Numerous improvements to extensions and two Internal Scripting modules.
Many improvments to the Internal Scripting language.
The GEDitCOM Editor was updated with documentation about all the new Internal Scripting features.

Version 3.2 (16 JUN 2024 to 22 DEC 2024)

This release has numerous new features. They are described better by downloading and reading the "What's New" help topic, which lists all new features with links to their new documentation. Many of the new features were requested by users on the GEDitCOM II Discussion Group (thanks for the suggestions). The following is a partial listing of new features:

Build 6 mostly fixed problem with the "Create Generations Book" caused by MacOS Sequoia. See "What's New" help topic for a few other features added as well.
Build 5 fixed family tree issue in MacOS Sequoia (and one minor extension error).
Build 4 fixed a some crashes that might have been caused by test code in leak fixes of build 3. This build also added some internal scripting features and updated the Python module.
Build 3 fixed some memory leaks and added to features requested by users.
Build 2 fixed two minor internal scripting issues, fixed OpenLayers maps when POIs have apostrophes, and added an option to sort sources in the "Default Format."
Working with GEDitMobile to provide an iPhone companion to GEDitCOM II.
A "New Family" panel makes it easier to create new families with new spouses in a single step.
A new menu command automates queries into the genealogy data base at FamilySearch.org.
A new application settings option to use the new style of tool bars that became available in MacOS 13.
Many improvements to the "Default Format" and many were inspired by the "Modifed Default Format." Examples including showing more multimedia objects and sources on those panes and methods to copy and paste sources.
Many improvements to the internal scripting language that were used to rewrite prior extensions, add a new extension (to copy a report to a Notes record), and to rewrite scripts embedded in the "Default Format."
The "Edit GEDCOM Source" command now selects the GEDCOM data you were editing and scrolls it into view the GEDCOM source editor.
Entering a partial place name and using arrow keys to select a similar name now works correctly.
Several more bug fixes. One bug was crash caused by an inadvertent drag after just editing a field (this may have been one reported some some users, but hard to reproduce).
The GEDitCOM II web site is new "secured" to be https instead of http. This change caused the current "Download Extension" to fail (because it tried to download using http), but that is fixed in this version.
GEDitCOM Editor was updated to support and document all new Internal Scripting.

Version 3.1 (19 FEB 2024 to 12 MAR 2024)

Build 4 fixes a bug for those developing internal scripts (where a script error woudl crash rather then report the problem). It also add support for a few more internal scripting commands.
Build 1 of this version was for beta testing. Build 2 had problems with some text display in MacOS Sonoma 14.3.1 (which was released a few days before build 2 was posted). Build 3 fixes all known issues and works in High Sierra (10.13) through Sonoma (14.3.1) and most likely in future MacOS updates as well.
To avoid too many record browsers from opening, many options for opening those records (such as from the index window, search results, or reports) will now reuse an existing record browser (if an appropriate one is available).
The Web Site extension was rewritten as an internal script to be much faster (and updated to include multimedia from family records and sources).
Finally fixed color switching issues when used with new MacOS "Automatic" appearance mode.
When you create a new file, a dialog box now appears that lets you create one or two individuals to get started on the file.
When attaching a child to a family with only a wife record, the wife's surname will be entered into the "Find Field" of the selection panel.
Many additions to the internal scripting language. These changes are documented in GEDitCOM Editor help (and required for some of the extension updates) (and the GEDitCOM Editor was update to work with enter new commands into scripts). They were used to provided new extensions and minor fixes to some prior extensions.
See several other minor features listed in the "What's New" help topic in the help window.

Version 3.0 (10 Jul 2022 to 27 Mar 2023)

Build 4 fixed problem saving in MacOS High Sierra, fixed color settings when using MacOS "Automatic" mode, checked "tool tips," and fixed bug in "Prepare for GEDCOM Export" extension.
Build 3's main new feature is a way to save (and later recall) any set of customizations for viewing family trees using the new "Tree Styles" submenu. Some other changes were a. built and tested in Ventura (and fixed problems Ventura caused with a few extensions); b. converted some more scripts to internal scripts; c. fixed a few interface bugs.
Build 2 made many improvements to the internal scripting language, rewrote many previous extensions using internal scripting (for speed), and fixed a bug that could crash when using "Fit In Window" on a very large family tree in a very small window.
Built and tested in MacOS Monterrey.
Note that MacOS Monterrey 12.3 has removed python 2.7. This version has instructions for switching to Python 3.8 or newer. All extensions that use Python work in Python 3.8 or newer and continue to work in Python 2.7.
This version has switched to being based on GEDitCOM 5.5.1, which finally became the official GEDCOM standard in 2019. The effects of this change when using GEDitCOM II are mostly minor, but after opening and saving in this version, some multimedia information may not display correctly is reopened in older versions of GEDitCOM II (the solution is to upgrade all your copies of GEDitCOM II).
All new features added in GEDCOM 5.5.1 are now available including name translations, setting "U" for undetermined sex, methods for entering translations of individual and place names between languages including those using different alphabets, restrictions on family records, and an improved method for entering generic events.
The method for exporting GEDCOM files has been simplified and clarified to pick the desired style for exporting.
All browser styles and extensions have be updated to assume they are working on files that use GEDCOM 5.5.1. data. Some new extensions were added for working with GEDCOM 5.5.1 files
A major new features (which might appear hidden to many users) is a new way to write extensions for GEDitCOM II using an internal scripting language.
A new preference lets you enable autosaving to prevent loss of work due to a power failure or a crash.
The interface for picking light and dark mode settings for colors and for font colors have been improved. Each one has a single color well: click the left side to set light mode and right side to set dark mode.
Fixed a bug when Mac replacement text (setup using System Preferences → Keyboard → Text options) occurred when you typed return (which commits changes for the current editing field).
Fixed a bug that failed to copy multimedia records when dragged between files.
Copying and pasting events between two files was improved.
Many improvements to the GEDitCOM Editor, mostly to add support for create scripts using the new internal scripting language.

Version 2.7 (build 1: 30 DEC 2020, build 2: 27 FEB 2021, build 3: 9 Apr 2021, build 4: 2 May 2021, build 5: 30 May 2021, build 6:20 JUL 2021, build 7:10 SEP 2021)

Build 7 fixed an issue displaying portraits in relationship charts. This fix also allows you to paste such charts into a notes record if you want to keep one in the file.
Build 7 added searching option to match (or not match) a regular expression.
Build 6 fixed two crashes after uncommon edits (pasting an image into plain-text field and multiple undos that included editing of raw GEDCOM data) and reorganized some help (based on user comments).
Build 5 added light and dark mode color options for family tree windows and improved the use of the "span" expression (such as when used for a column in the index window for individuals).
The only change in build 4 was to fix an issue in build 3 that would not inform users of build 2 that a new version was available.
Build 3 fixes an instability that could happen in windows that display html content. This version was also compiled and tested in Big Sur and on new Mac M1 chips.
The Ancestors (Ahnentafel), Family Tree as List, and All Relatives reports can now alternatively be output as a table of individuals with selected details in columns of the table by choosing their new "Columns" option.
Fixed some minor issues in HEAD record when importing odd GEDCOM files.
Build 2 compiled as Universal app to run native on Intel Macs and on new Silcon chip Macs
The "Miscellaneous Tasks" extension added a new option to calculate age at death and to insert the results into AGE fields the death events for all individuals with known birth and death dates.
The "Remove all of one type of tag" option in the "Miscellaneous Tasks" extension was generalized to optionally limit the removal to one class of records.
Certain bad files exported by Family Tree Maker would cause an error in the "Default Format". That format will now display the bad data, although bad data usually will not display very well. At least you can see what is there.
Revised browser style methods to allow a single browser style to work in both light and dark modes (the "Dark" formats in previous versions were removed because no longer needed).
GEDitCOM II and GEDitCOM Editor both correctly adjusts the interface if you switch between light and dark mode while they are running running.
Some versions of MacOS changing printing methods that caused some printing features in GEDitCOM II to stop working. You can now all windows except output of some reports (due to MacOS bug; they can be printed by exporting the report and opening in browser software).
Parts of the help information was revised (and hopefully easier to access)

Version 2.6, (build 1: 31 MAY 2020, build 3: 15 SEP 2020, build 4: 21 SEP 2020, build 5: 31 OCT 2020, build 6: 23 Nov 2020)

Fixed bug where "Source Data" entered in the header record would not get saved.
Fixed an issue caused by a bug in Objective C language (as confirmed by Apple) that had hard-to-recognize consequences. The most prominent was a crash when searching for places or copying places in the Place Advisor window for some users. The code now works around that bug and should fix the Place Advisor.
Several extensions ("Create Generations Book," "Age Analysis Reports," and "Repair GEDCOM Files") were improved.
Fixed issue caused by recent MacOS not recognizing the key window. This issue affected validation and date reports confined to currently selected records.
Fixed issue in old systems (at least El Capitan or older) where relationship charts would cause a crash if the search found only one relative (build 3).
Fixed issue where place names with international accents would sort differently in the pop-up menu to select a place name then in the index of place names. They now sort the same (build 3).
Compiled and checked in MacOS Catalina (and all new code warnings that could be found were fixed).
Added new Apple requirement to "harden" the code which should avoid Apple claiming that GEDitCOM II is "malicious" software (at least until the next MacOS comes up with new scary warning).
Fixed issues caused by Catalina in the start up "Welcome to GEDitCOM II" window.
Fixed handling and spelling of "Emigration" events in a couple of extensions and one browser style.
Fixed individual selection problem in the "Errors in Family Lines" option of the "Find Records" extension.
Added "Fix Duplicate Spouse Links" to the "Miscellaneous Tasks" extension. One user had family records where husband and wife linked to the same individual. This new task fixes that error in files.
If you choose the "Insert UUIDs" preference, GEDitCOM II will insert them when opening prior files that do not have UUIDs. This task was done silently before, but now comes with a message letting you know when some are inserted.
The "Install Extension... menu command needs to know if the chosen file should be installed as a "User Extension" or a "System Extension." Some MacOS starting hiding these options by default. This version now makes sure they are visible when the file selection dialog box first opens.

Version 2.5, builds 1 and 2 (released Mar-Apr 2020)

This mostly supports Mojave including options for dark and light mode (and fixes Apple-caused issues)
Mapping by Google maps and by OpenLayers had broken because of changes in both of those systems. The mapping is now functional again by either tool.
Because of Apple change in their web kit, it no longer allowed custom links used in reportsd to open records. All links and all reports were change to conform to new link-formatting requirements. See help information if your are using such links in notes formatted using html (in brief, all custom links defined by GEDitCOM II must start in two slashes; e.g. use "//@I34@" where "@I34@" alone used to work before Apple put is big foot down).
Build 2 fixed problem in fonts for Relationship charts, fixed appearance of "Web" menu in Dark mode, and fixed pasting of styled text into certain GEDitCOM II editing fields (now goes in correctly as plain text).

Version 1.0 (released 7 JUN 2009)

This was the first official release of GEDitCOM II