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Gathering DNA Data

Service availability: Gathering from MyHeritage and GEDmatch is currently unavailable while support for those services is being rebuilt. A*, 23andMe, and FTDNA all gather normally. Previously gathered MyHeritage and GEDmatch data still works in the analysis tools.

Overview

The DNAGedcom Client enables you to download genetic genealogy data from DNA testing service websites into a local database. The gathered data is exported as CSV spreadsheet files that can be viewed in Excel and Google Sheets, or uploaded to other genealogy programs like DNAPainter, Genealogical DNA Analysis Tool (GDAT), and RootsFinder DNATools.

How Gathering Works

The basic process for each service follows these steps:

  1. Navigate to the Gather section and select a DNA service
  2. Log in to the DNA platform through the Client
  3. Select a DNA profile or kit
  4. Configure your gather options (cM range, which data types to collect)
  5. Click Gather to begin data collection

Data is downloaded into your local SQLite database and exported as CSV files to your database folder. You can cancel a gather at any time and resume later — all data collected up to that point is saved.

Matches come first — but you don't need a separate gather to make that happen. ICW, trees, and chromosome data all attach to specific matches, so a populated match list has to exist before those data types can be processed. You have two equally valid ways to get there:

  • One combined gather — turn matches plus everything else you want on, and start. The Client gathers matches first internally, then moves on to the rest. Lowest total wall-clock time.
  • Matches-only first, then a follow-up — run a matches-only gather so your full match list is in the database within minutes, then start a second gather with ICW / trees / chromosomes turned on. Lets you begin analysis while the longer phases finish.

The one thing to avoid is running an ICW-only, trees-only, or chromosome-only gather as the first gather of a brand-new kit — there are no matches in the database yet, so there is nothing to attach the linked data to.

Available Data by Service

Data Type A* 23andMe FTDNA MyHeritage* GEDmatch*
MatchesYesYesYesYesYes
Chromosome SegmentsNoYes†YesYesYes
ICW (In Common With)YesYesYesYesNo
TriangulationNoYes (hidden)NoYesYes
Family TreesYesNoYesYesYes
EthnicityYesYes (Ancestry Composition)NoNoNo
HaplogroupsNoYesNoNoNo

*MyHeritage and GEDmatch gathering is currently unavailable and will return in a future update.

†23andMe chromosome segment data requires a 23andMe+ Premium subscription. Free 23andMe accounts cannot access this data.

A* does not provide chromosome segment data through its platform. 23andMe chromosome gathering was suspended in October 2023 but has been restored using browser-based AJAX interception — for 23andMe+ subscribers.

Gather Methods

The Client uses two approaches to gather data:

Browser-Based Gathering (A*, 23andMe)

You log in through an embedded browser within the Client. As you browse the DNA service, the Client automatically captures data from the page responses (AJAX interception). This approach works with services that don't provide direct API access.

Credential-Based Gathering (FTDNA)

You enter your service credentials (user ID and password) in the Client. The Client communicates directly with the service's API to download data. This is typically faster than browser-based gathering.

Common Gather Settings

Most services share these configurable options:

  • cM Range — Set the minimum and maximum shared centimorgans to include. Higher minimums (30+ cM) focus on closer, more reliable matches and gather faster. Lower minimums capture more distant matches but take significantly longer.
  • Data Type Toggles — Enable or disable specific data types (ICW, Chromosome, Trees, etc.) depending on your needs.
  • Auto-Report — Automatically generate CSV report files after gathering completes.
  • Cancel & Resume — Cancel a gather at any time. All data collected is saved. Resume later to continue where you left off.
  • Clear — Purge gathered data for a kit before re-gathering for a fresh start.

Gather Time

Gather time varies dramatically based on your cM range and the service:

  • A kit with 40,000 matches at low cM thresholds can take nearly 20 hours
  • The same kit gathered above 30 cM may take less than 5 minutes (90%+ of matches fall below 30 cM)
  • MyHeritage is particularly slow due to enforced rate limits (nearly a minute between each match)
  • Start at 30+ cM and expand later as needed

Service-Specific Guides