Do you need a Family History Computer Program ? First of all, let's realize that you do not absolutely need a genealogy
program
Genealogies have been recorded for thousands of years without the use of
graphical interfaces, a mouse, or multimedia files.
Methods of Recording Family History
Family Histories have been successfully recorded using:-
- Hammer and chisel on stone
- Scribe on a clay tablet.
- Pencil and paper
But this presentation is about using a Computer Program
With any good genealogy program, you can...
Search and organize within a true database
Enter name, dates, and localities for each ancestor one time
- then reuse the information in other records
Print and view a variety of reports
- including Family group sheets
- Pedigree charts, Descendancy charts, and many more.
Make updates (corrections) easily
Integrate pictures, maps, drawings, video, and audio along with text
Receive and share databases via GEDCOM files
To select the best program for you.
You need to answer a range of questions to get a clear picture of your needs
- Do you want the option of printing family tree information in several
different styles or in booklet form?
- Do you want to print wall charts complete with pictures of each individual?
- How about multimedia scrapbooks that you can show at a family reunion?
Do you want to purchase a genealogy program that includes:-
CD-ROM disks containing the Social Security Death Index for the USA
census records, and other information,
Or would you prefer to rely on:-
- Paper-based documents
- Online research sites
- Archives on the Web
Will you need to import and export information in specific file formats?
Do you want bells and whistles?
Automatically search multiple Web sites for information on your ancestors
Generate self-loading CD-ROM disks for distribution to family members
Contain a list of all the sources you researched, a repository list, or a
future tasks list
Calendars Mailing Lists Correspondence Log
Research Log Research Notes
What sort of System do you have?
Are you using an older system with modest capabilities
Do you have a modem
Or do you have a Macintosh or some other non windows computer?
Or do you have a high-speed modern computer with a huge disk drive and lots of
memory?
What are you prepared to pay?
You may be very happy with a free genealogy program
- today's free programs are far better than the £100+ plus programs of only a
decade ago!
- although moving up to a paid program typically adds functionality.
Today you have a large choice of programs at prices up to £75
- However, extra features are not always added in direct proportion to the
price.
Try before you buy
Keep in mind that whatever program you select probably will be used a lot.
Most genealogists spend many hours seated at a computer
- Entering their family tree
- Sorting data
- Printing reports
- Or maybe creating online output.
Your selection of genealogy software will represent a large investment of
time, even if it is not a large financial investment.
I strongly suggest that you shop around. Download the demo versions of several
programs and take them for a "test drive" to see which ones feel more
comfortable to you.
GEDCOM
Through the use of GEDCOM files, you can export data from one genealogy
program and then later
import the same data into another program, assuming that both programs support
GEDCOM
You can exchange genealogy data with other people through the use of GEDCOM
Many online databases accept data in GEDCOM format.
Check that any program you are considering will support GEDCOM transfers.
Which of the following are most important to you?
Ease of use · Price
Source citations · Research notes
Graphics · Photographs
Slide shows · Videos
Printouts · Calendars
Mailing lists · Wall charts
Creation of web pages · Ancestor charts
Descendants charts · Drop line charts
Register report · Data exchange
Multiple languages · Multiple databases
Integration with online genealogy databases
Any other requirement that may be important to you
Mumford's Genealogical Report Cards
Now no longer maintained but this used to be the most detailed online
comparison of Windows
genealogy programs in existence go to:-
http://www.mumford.ca/reportcard
- Local
It is still a useful site as a reminder of what to look for and a comparison
of what used to be
available.
You should bear in mind that the programs listed have probably been updated.
Louis Kessler's Genealogy Software Links
Louis lists his impressions of what he considers to be the four best genealogy
programs as well as the three most popular.
There are links to many other software reviews, written by a number of people.
He includes links to accessory programs you may wish to use
http://www.lkessler.com/gplinks.shtml
Louis Kessler's Behold
Louis has decided to write his own program.
It is still being developed and is still in its alpha stage.
Currently it reads data from a Gedcom file but you cannot directly modify it.
His presentation "a every thing report" is entirely different to other
programs and the output is currently in htm format
Dick Eastman's Program Reviews
Dick Eastman Review has probably reviewed any genealogy program that you are
thinking of purchasing.
Search his site at:-
http://www.eogn.com/search
Which is the best program for YOU?
Again, make a list of what is important to you!
Then read software reviews
Look at Mumford's Genealogical Software Report Card
Look at Louis Kessler's Genealogy Software Links
Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate.
Starting from Square One
You might want to start with one of the free genealogy programs
You can always upgrade to a more powerful program later
You can transfer your data from the old program to the new one via a GEDCOM
file
Many people use two or more genealogy programs at more or less the same time:
they may prefer the record keeping capabilities of one program and the printed
reports of another
With GEDCOM, you are not constrained to one program
This magazine provides a cover CD with Genealogy related programs and much
more.
Often the programs are full versions and there are usually trial versions of
popular programs.
Cover price is £4.99 but a discount will be obtained with a subscription
TWR Computing
Trevor is a member of the Essex Society for Family History.
He is always willing to discuss your needs with you
I have flyers available for you to see what he can offer but note that I am
not on commission.
He has a web page at www.twrcomputing.co.uk
Remember
Almost all the programs have downloadable demo versions.
Those that do not have demo versions normally have a money-back guarantee.
- Don't be afraid to use it!
Either way, you can try several programs at no financial risk.
Experiment to find the program that best fits your needs.
The one you prefer might not be the most powerful or have the best graphics or
be the "best" at anything. However, it might simply "feel good." If so, that is
the best program for you.
Legacy
Arguably the best free genealogy program available today.
http://www.legacyfamilytree.com
A commercial version adds even more functionality
cc Chris Searl 19/05/2005 e-mail: chris@searlfamily.name
Ancestral Quest:
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0301.htm
Ancestry Family Tree
A free genealogy program that also integrates nicely with Ancestry.com's
online genealogy databases
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0150.htm and
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0331.htm
Cumberland Family Tree
A full review is available at
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news9631.txt
followed by a later update at:
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0043.htm
The Master Genealogist
This is believed to be the most powerful genealogy program available today and
has a very loyal customer base.
It does require a bit more effort to learn its use, but those who become
expert at The Master Genealogist usually do not switch to anything else:
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0221.htm
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0350.htm
http://www.whollygenes.com.
RootsMagic
A new, easy-to-use genealogy program with excellent credentials
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0251.htm
Personal Ancestral File
A free genealogy program that is very popular
Produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons)
You can download it online at no charge or buy it on CD-ROM
The CD-ROM version also includes PAF Companion, an add-on utility not
available with the downloadable version.
http://www.familysearch.org/
Family Historian
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0403.htm
Family Tree Legends
A new and very good genealogy program that features ease-of-use along with
very powerful features
It also integrates nicely with a huge online database:
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0414.htm
Heredis for Windows
The best-selling genealogy program inFrance
It is also available elsewhere:
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0151.htm
Family Tree Maker
Probably the best-selling genealogy program in the world, although not the
most powerful.
Family Tree Maker has a very strong emphasis on ease of use and graphics. It
features excellent reports.
GRAMPS for Macintosh
Is a free genealogy program that can be used on Macintosh OS X
However, installation is very complex
- best attempted by a UNIX expert who thoroughly understands OS X's UNIX
underpinnings.
- I would discourage all other Mac users from attempting to install GRAMPS.
Heredis for Macintosh
Is an OS X state-of-the-art product from France
It does an excellent job of combining a great user interface, a powerful and
reliable genealogy database, and the multimedia files for which the Macintosh is
famous.
More information can be found at:
http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0342.htm
Personal Ancestral File for Macintosh
Is available from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
However, be aware that it is an aging program; it has not been updated in a
long time
It also has fewer features than almost all of today's current genealogy
programs.
Personal Ancestral File 2.3.1 works with Macintosh OS 6.0.5 through 9.2
systems.
However, this program will not operate on Macintosh OS X in native mode.
You can find more information at:
http://www.familysearch.org
Reunion for Macintosh
This is a very powerful genealogy program that includes all the features
expected in modern genealogy software.
When you order Reunion, you actually receive two versions in the same box:
- One for Macintosh system 8.5 to 9.2
- And another that is a native OS X program.
The two are virtually identical in functionality, but each one is optimised
and designed for its native operating system.
The OS X version of Reunion runs in native mode and brings you the Aqua
interface.
More information can be found at:
http://www.leisterpro.com/
Ancestoral Author
Ancestral Author is a Windows program that constructs hyperlinked Adobe
Acrobat PDF files from GEDCOM files, text files, images, and other user inputs.
It is very simple to use, and creates high quality documents that can be
printed, emailed, published on the internet, or sent to a service bureau for
conversion into a bound book.
http://www.ancestralauthor.com/
Gedcom Census
is a free application designed to be used with Calico Pie's Family Historian
to allow faster and more convenient creation of census source records with
occupation attributes, census events and birth events linked to the sources.
Gedcom Census is in no way associated with or endorsed by Calico Pie.
It can be used with any Gedcom File
http://www.fhug.org.uk/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=111
GEDCOM Utilities
A collection of various utilities including GedLiving which enables you to
modify a Gedcom file to exclude data for living people before publishing your
file.
When I tried to register I found the author was no longer contactable so
although shareware, the
programs will be free until the web site is updated or removed.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~gumby/ged.html
Question
Brian Wilcock asks:-
How do the various programs handle census data? my current one ignores it in
its documentation, so I have the choice of a) creating a custom event and
attaching the data in the 'source' field, repeating this for every individual
covered or b) typing it into the 'notes' field for every individual. Is there an
easier way? Ideally I would like to enter the data just once and refer all
individuals to this.
Answer
There are almost as many ways of recording census data in family history
programs as there are users! It is quite a complex subject.
One answer is to consider using Gedcom Census which is a free download from
http://www.fhug.org.uk/cgibin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=111
Local
It was developed specifically for Family Historian users which is a program
that saves its data in the Gedcom format.
Question
Brian Wilcock asks again:-
Documents: I am currently limited to a text-only notes field for each
individual, but would like to embed, or point to, fully-formatted multi-page
'Word' documents with many embedded photographs; possibly even with hot-linked
data such as BMD or the census info covered above.
"Dream on"? or does any program approach this?
Answer
There are two possibilities that I am aware of, there may well be others.
The Master Genealogist can achieve this but is only for people prepared to
climb a steep learning curve.
Family Historian has good multimedia facilities including linking in Word
documents or any type of file such as a pdf, and the ability to select precise
areas of a scanned photograph or document and link those areas to the person or
people concerned. For instance you could have
one scanned image of a census page linked to Family Historian, and link the
individual lines in
that image to the individual people concerned.
BerksFHS
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with any queries