What is a GEDCOM file/Archive 1

Big question here - If I have not already bought some genealogy software and I have a gedcom file to upload, is it then impossible to use your software? This doesn't seem to be mentioned in any documentation, or if it is it's very well hidden. I installed your software on my website, thinking this would be cool, but what is the point of open source software if you have to buy a program for it to work?!?!

You don't have to buy software....

There are at least 2 software programs that you can get for *free*, both of which will produce GEDCOMs for you.

• PAF http://www.familysearch.org/ and go to downloads
  
• Legacy http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/

I appreciate your reply, I will see about getting a program. I do however wish that the software came with a default file in it so it was possible to use the software (generally for testing purposes) with out having to upload.
_____________________________________

Here's a dummy file to try (I've not tested it!):
0 HEAD
1 SOUR RYO
1 GEDC
2 VERS 5.5
2 FORM LINEAGE-LINKED
1 CHAR ANSI
0 @S0@ SUBM
1 NAME Not Given
0 @I1@ INDI
1 NAME Remove /Me/
2 GIVN Remove
2 SURN Me
1 SEX M
0 TRLR

Type this into a text editor, save it as xxxx.ged - use it to build the first person. Delete the record later.