Berks FHS Use of
Computer Packages
... for Genealogy
and Family History
prepared by
Eddie Spackman 11th February 2000
updated 27th October 2000, 1tth January 2001
| Berks FHS |
Use of
Computer Packages prepared by
Eddie Spackman 11th February 2000 |
The main Family History
Programs This
is a list of the main lineage-linked data base programs which run
on IBM compatible PCs. It should be used ONLY as a guide and is
NOT a complete list of all FH programs.
The
deja Count & rating
gives the number of reports and rating (*****=highest) at www.deja.com based on Features, Ease of
use, Performance, Cost/Benefit. Treat this with great caution -
it is better to read the user reviews at the site
BerksFHS
usage is compiled
from returns to the Computer Group Directory in 1998/9
| Program and current version |
Cost (guide) |
BerksFHS
usage 1999 survey |
Deja
Count/rating Oct 2000 |
Reviews | Comments |
| Family Tree Maker v8 | £50+ | 98 (33%) | 869/* | FTM Mar00 MacUser May97 |
Comprehensive multi-media data base. The most widely used program. v3 available for Mac |
| Brother's Keeper v5.2B | £40 ShrW | 54 (18%) | 749/* | ||
| Reunion v7 | £78 | 37 (13%) | 407/** | CiG Jun93 FTM Oct00 |
Mac version only |
| Personal Ancestral File v4.0 | Free on web £6 on CD |
32 (11%) | 451/**** | FTM Dec99 | Comprehensive multi-media data base. No drop-line FT. Pentium required. v2 available for Mac |
| Ancestral Quest v3.0 | $40 | nil! | 246/*** | FTM Jly00 | Multi-media program. No drop-line FT |
| Pedigree | 29 (10%) | ||||
| GSP Family Tree v2.0a | £20 | 19 (6%) | FTM Feb98 | Beginners multi-media data base. Source info not separate | |
| Generations v8 | £35+ | 12 (4%) | 400/**** | FTM Apr00 CiG Sep98 |
Comprehensive multi-media data base. Good on features. |
| Family Origins v9 | £30 | 11 (4%) | 1101/** | FTM May98 | Comprehensive multi-media data base |
| Kith & Kin Pro | £33 ShrW | 9 (3%) | FTM May99 | Flexible multi-media database. Charts - basic (need TreeDraw). Pentium required. | |
| The Master Genealogist v4 | £73 (Gold) £10 (Silver) |
6 (2%) | 949/* | FTM Feb99 | Comprehensive multi-media event oriented data-base auitable for research projects and one-name studies. |
| Cumberland Family Tree v2 | £28 ShrW | 4 (1%) | 157/**** | FTM Nov98 | Produces good indexed family book. No drop-line FT. |
| Ultimate Family Tree v3 | £45 | 3 (1%) | 815/***** | CiG Jun98 FTM Aug99 |
Good research tool. No longer being developed. |
| Legacy v3 | £38 | 2 (1%) | 814/* | FTM Dec00 | Pentium required. |
| Custodian II | £49 | 1 (<1%) | FTM Jan00 CiG Sep98 |
Not lineage linked data base. Family History research data base suitable for one-name studies. Pentium required. | |
| Ancestors & Descendents |
204/**** |
||||
| Clooz v1.2 | £25 | 288/*** | FTM Mar99 | Not lineage linked data base. Electronic Filing Cabinet | |
| Easy Family Tree v4.2 | £10 | new rel | Cut down version of Generations. Basic starter FH data-base | ||
| FamilyBase v2.11 |
£30 |
Produces drop-line family trees. Limited to 1000 records | |||
| Family Matter v4.14 |
$35 ShrW |
FTM Sep00 |
|||
| Genealogy for Windows v5 | £53 | FTM Nov97 | Good source-oriented research tool suitable for one-name studies | ||
| Genius v1.51 |
£24 ShrW |
Limited reports with maximum of 5000 records. Limited field lengths. No separate source documentation | |||
| GenoPro v1.71 |
FreeWare |
FTM Nov00 |
|||
| TreeDraw v2 |
£20 ShrW |
FTM Jan01 |
Graphics utility for producing dropline ancstral and descendent charts | ||
| WinGenea v1.7 |
£32 ShrW |
CiG Sep96 |
Good screen display. No separate source recording | ||
| Win Family v6 |
£50 ShrW |
FTM Aug00 |
Comprehensive data base. Good for charting. No separate source documentation |
All programs include import/export using the GEDCOM standard. There are pro's and con's for every program. The main programs are in bold. A summary of Windows Genealogy Software by Eric Probert is given in Computers in Genealogy (CiG) [Mar 2000] and Family Tree Magazine [Jun 2000]. Listings of software to run under DOS on IBM compatible PCs and for other PCs is in CiG.[Jun 2000]
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software (Lineage-linked) Data-base software (not Lineage-linked) |
Suppliers |
| Requirements | non Data-base software |
| prepared by Eddie Spackman |
updated 11th January 2001 |