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Server Settings for Large Imports
Large GEDCOM files need a little more room on your server. This guide explains what ForeBranch checks and how to give your imports the time and space they need.
Check your server first
- Go to ForeBranch → Dashboard → Diagnostics.
- Look at the four status tiles at the top: PHP, MEMORY, TIME, and UPLOAD. Each shows your current value and a Pass or Fail badge.
- Click Run Test on WordPress Settings Test, Memory Capacity Test, Execution Time Test, and File Upload Test for details. Results appear in the Test Results panel on the right.
Recommended values
| Setting | Diagnostics tile | Recommended | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHP version | PHP | 8.2 or later | ForeBranch requires PHP 8.2+. |
| Memory | MEMORY | 256 MB or more for files over 5 MB | Large trees need memory while they are processed. |
| Execution time | TIME | 300 seconds (5 minutes) or more | Scripts must run long enough for each part of the import to finish. |
| Upload size | UPLOAD | 16 MB or more | Your GEDCOM must fit within the upload limit. The Import screen shows the current maximum. |
For example, a 30-second time limit and a 2 MB upload limit both show Fail on the Diagnostics tab. Raise them before a big import.
How to raise the limits
These limits are set by your web host, not by ForeBranch. The easiest route is usually to ask your host.
- Contact your hosting provider’s support, or open your hosting control panel’s PHP settings.
- Ask for these PHP values (or higher):
- memory_limit: 256M
- max_execution_time: 300
- upload_max_filesize: 16M (or larger than your GEDCOM file)
- post_max_size: at least as large as upload_max_filesize
- WordPress also has its own memory settings, WP_MEMORY_LIMIT and WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT, set in your wp-config.php file. The WordPress Settings Test checks these, along with WP_DEBUG, which often blocks large imports.
- Return to Diagnostics and confirm the tiles now show Pass.
Use the import’s performance options
Even on modest hosting, ForeBranch’s chunked import helps large files get through.
- Go to ForeBranch → Import and click Show advanced options.
- Under Processing chunk size, choose:
- 500 lines (shared hosting) – the default and the safest choice.
- 1,500 lines (conservative)
- 3,000 lines (balanced)
- Leave Smart import optimization checked. It starts at 500 lines and increases up to the chunk size you chose when each step finishes quickly.
If imports time out, step back down to 500 lines.
Run the remaining tests
- Import Performance Test – checks database speed, memory availability, and PHP settings to find bottlenecks before you import.
- Database Connection Test – confirms the database stays connected during long operations. It runs for up to 30 seconds.
After a large import
- On Diagnostics, use GEDCOM Comparison: select the GEDCOM file and the tree, then click Compare to spot missing or extra data.
- On ForeBranch → Dashboard → Database, click Optimize Now to tidy the database tables after the import.