DNAGedcom stores all gathered data in a local SQLite database on your computer. The database file is located in the folder you specified in Settings (typically %LocalAppData%/DNAGedcom on Windows). All CSV exports, clustering output files, and log files are also saved in this folder.
Your database is entirely local — no DNA data is uploaded to DNAGedcom servers. You have full control over your data.
The database contains tables organized by DNA testing service. Each service uses a prefix for its tables:
| Service | Table Prefix | Key Tables |
|---|---|---|
| Common (All Services) | CL_, CMA_, CLM3D_ | CL_Match (matches), CL_ICW (in common with), CMA_Chromo (chromosome segments), CL_Ancestor (ancestors) |
| A* | Ancestry_ | Ancestry_matchTrees, Ancestry_Ethnicity |
| 23andMe | MeAnd23W_ | MeAnd23W_Match, MeAnd23W_Chromo |
| FTDNA | FTDNA_ | FTDNA_Match, FTDNA_Chromo |
| MyHeritage | (varies) | Match, Chromosome segment tables |
| GEDmatch | (varies) | Match, Chromosome tables |
| Application | DNA_ | DNA_Login (credentials), DNA_Kits (kit list), DNA_Process (process history) |
The clustering tools (CLM, CMA, Shared Clustering, Warthen Interactive Cluster) read from a set of common tables that are populated during gathering regardless of which DNA service the data came from:
The Client exports gathered data as CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files, the universal format for genetic genealogy tools. CSV files are saved to your database folder alongside the database file.
Exported files are compatible with:
Clustering tools (CLM, CMA, Shared Clustering) also generate HTML and Excel output files in the same folder.
You can regenerate CSV export files from your existing database data without re-gathering. Each gather page has a Run Report option (or Auto-Report toggle) that creates fresh CSV files from the current database contents.
Each gather page has Clear buttons that let you remove specific data types (matches, ICW, chromosome, trees) for a kit before re-gathering. This is useful when you want a completely fresh dataset.
Running a new gather for the same kit updates existing records and adds new matches. You can control how often data is refreshed using the “Re-gather after (days)” setting (A*) or by manually clearing and re-gathering.
If you experience database errors, use the Fix Database button on the Settings page. This runs SQLite integrity checks and repairs common issues.
If kit counts appear wrong or kits are missing from dropdowns, use Rebuild Kit Summary on the Settings page to recalculate kit statistics.
Navigate to the Data section to view your gather history — a log of all previous gather operations showing when data was collected, which service, and the results.
Default database locations by platform:
%LocalAppData%\DNAGedcom\ (typically C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\DNAGedcom\)~/Library/Application Support/DNAGedcom/~/.local/share/DNAGedcom/AppData doesn't appear in File Explorer unless “Show hidden items” is enabled, which makes your database hard to find later for backup or for moving to a new computer. We strongly recommend changing the location in Settings on first launch to a visible folder — Documents\DNAGedcom works well for most people.