# Getting Started

## To Start GRAMPS

You can start &app; in the following ways:

Applications menu

  Choose Other Gramps.

Command line

  To start &app; from a command line, type `gramps`, then press Return.

  If you would like &app; to open a specific database or to import a specific file on startup, you can supply the filename as a command line argument:

  `gramps -i` filename.ged

  where filename.ged is the name of the file you want to open/import. The detailed reference to the command line options is found in the .

## Running GRAMPS for the first time

The first time you run the program, GRAMPS will display its Getting Started dialogs. Follow the directions guiding you through Researcher information, Numerical date formats, Alternate calendar support, and LDS extensions sections. Most of the dialogs are self-explanatory and will not be covered here.

### GRAMPS Getting Started Window: Researcher Information

Shows Researcher Information Window.

Enter your personal information in the corresponding text entry fields. Although &app; requests information about you, this information is used only so that &app; can create valid GEDCOM output files. A valid GEDCOM file requires information about the file's creator. If you choose, you may leave the information empty, however all the GEDCOM files you export will not be valid.

This information can be entered at any time in the Preferences dialog, under the Usage category.

## Choosing a database on startup

If &app; is started without any database to open, the following window will appear prompting you to choose what database to open.

### Open Database Window

Shows Open Database Window.

If you would like to open an existing database, check the top radio button and click the OK button. You will then be asked to specify the name of your existing database. If you would like to start creating your brand new database from scratch right away, choose new XML database.

NOTE: when starting new database, you should select an empty DIRECTORY and NOT a FILE. Create empty directory if needed. The directory you specify will be used by &app; to store database file data.gramps as well as any possible copies of media objects. This directory will be updated by &app; each time the database is saved.

NOTE: when opening an existing database, you should open a DIRECTORY and NOT a FILE. The directory you need to open should contain the database file data.gramps as well as any possible copies of media objects. Such a directory is created by &app; when you start a new database and is updated each time the database is saved.

## Obtaining Help

At any time, the following items are available for immediate aid from the Help menu:

User manual

  Choose this item to read the text of this manual in the help browser.

FAQ

  Use this item to read Frequently Asked Questions about &app; in the browser.

GRAMPS home page

  Select this item to open home page of &app; in your default web browser.

GRAMPS mailing lists

  Choose this item to direct your web browser to the &app; mailing list archives.

Report a bug

  Use this item to file a bug report against &app; with the bug tracking system.

Show plugin status

  Use this item to display the status of loaded plugins.

Open example database

  Select this item to load the example database shipped with &app;. This database is composed of fictitious people and serves as a useful example for learning how to work with &app;.