Genealogy Chat

Thought I would just update this thread for posterity. After many hours of trying out demo versions of RootMagic (RM) and Family Historian (FH) I have just ordered a copy of RM. My main reasons were: - RM is significantly simpler and intuitive to use by someone like myself who is completely new to genealogy but not new to a multitude of software - FH's demo prohibits saving any sort of data, which is VERY frustrating for new users without existing GEDCOM files as it means rekeying data every time you want to have a more-than-trivial play around. In comparison RM allows full details of up to 50 persons allowing the tester to really get in to it. - RM is less than half the price of FH - Although I have yet to use it, I like the ability of RM to prepare web pages direct, without having to use third-party transcribing software. My twopence worth Barry

Thanks for useful responses everyone. I'm sure this has been discussed before on the message boards, but it seems essential for newbies like me. Barry (still testing :)

I would recommend anyone who wants to spend a few hours examining the features of various genealogical database programmes to visit the site: mumford.ca/reportcard/ This contains comparative reports (called score cards) on many programmes in very great deal. It also has links to reviews in the National Genealogical Society's magazine. Now that is American, so there may be a bias towards the needs of US users, but it nevertheless is very useful in examining the features in different programmes. I used the comparative score cards (plus various reveiews) when I selected Family Historian (FH). The features which I wanted scored high, and features in which I was less interested scored lower. Of course it did help in making my choice that after 3 years I had a good idea of what I was looking for (eg very flexible box charting capability, gedcom merge/split, advanced queries). When I tried the demo, I was really sold on ease of basic data entry and navigation (especially since you can view and navigate around families using a box chart view or diagram as FH calls it.) A further suggestion: only rely on Mumford's score card to narrow down the options - do work with the trial versions for a bit before you make your final choice. Out of interest I have just tried the free demo version of Rootsmagic. I agree with Barry that its features are easy to use. Another advantage is that it is cheaper. However, I find I spend so much money and time on family history research I did not mind spending an extra amount, equivalent to the cost two or three certificates, to get the programme better suited to my particular needs.

Barry LOL! Alas I have no interest in the software other than enthusiasm and appreciation of a good product/excellent support network. My career path didn't take me into computers, although I sometimes wish that it had! :-) Good luck Simon in Munich

Simon, You don't work for FH by any chance do you ;) I'm sure FTM (like wordperfect) is old and clunky and have hence not even trialled it. That's why I started looking at x generation genealogy software. (I have know idea what generation genealogy software is up to.... because, believe me, I am completely new to this). Basically to compare apples with apples. All I can say is that, even as an experienced computer user, I am finding FH a bit daunting. Rootsmagic's learning curve is significantly better and hence, along with the fact that I am totally new to genealogy, I'm tempted to go with it to start with and export out if and when I run in to limitations. Rootsmagic demo version is also a lot more workable (upto 50 persons, no printing etc) than FH's (no saving of sessions at all) which is very annoying. Plus Rootsmagic is less than half the price. I'll keep looking/trying, but FH really has to ease off their demo restrictions to entice first time users like me a little more. Barry Zero, Ziltch, Nada financial or otherwise interest in any software!

I am another recent convert to Family Historian (in Oct 2003). I think the above comments are very fair. How pleasant it is use FH after 3 years with the clunky Brother's Keeper and then a trial of another package. FH is extremely flexible, but this does mean there are a lot of features to learn, and I have still not mastered everything. Beginners might be satisfied with a simpler package until their tree gets large and they want to produce tailored outputs for publication or to send to other researchers. I hope people wont feel offended if I say the clunkiest thing I have seen is the genesconnected tree - but then that is an online tree so perhaps it is harder to achieve what you can do with almost any package on your computer.

Barry I think you are quite correct in your first look assessment. I had trialled a couple of other programs before I tried FH and despite being an experienced computer user myself did find it a bit difficult to follow to start with. I am not alone, please see the comments below which are from people who have used FTM but now use FH. "In hiding its inner workings behind an interface, FTM is easy to learn, but loses much of the flexibility which is available in FH. As a fairly experienced computer user, I did find FH a little hard going to start with, but I now find it greatly superior to FTM. FTM tries to do too many things - the web and search related functions are of very limited use to British users and the desk top publishing facility is also very limited compared to dedicated DTP programs. I particularly like the way FH displays sources in the properties dialog. I also prefer the charting arrangements which allow you to suppress individual lines, if you wish. Indeed I have achieved much more compact charts in FH than I managed in FTM and find that the combination of resizing the background and the dimensions in FH is very effective, in displaying the maximum amount of data on one page. The only limitation seems to be that reached when the chart displayed becomes to small for the legend to be easily read. By playing about with the data references (by trial and error mainly) in the text schemes, it looks as though you can display pretty well any fact you wish to including 2nd given names." And some more "FTM is an old product, is appropriately clumsy, but takes zero learning. FH can do so much more but takes a great deal more learning. That's where FTM scores, but for a really serious genealogist who works with large files, say of over 4000 individuals and is for ever making queries or moving around the data base, then FH leaves FTM in the Neolithic age. I am glad to be rid of FTM's nasty habit of corrupting indices, yes I know there are (hidden) utilities to re-index the database, but they don't always work properly. So I have FTM's corruptions in data sources imported into FH, awful problem with many individuals. I'm glad to be rid of FTMs limitation of file size for notes, they conveniently blame it on a Windows restriction but fail to allow embedding Word files which would have compensated. Notes are seemingly size unrestricted in FH and FH can support embedded Word files. FTM is so old and the supplier is I suspect regarding it as a cow to milk. FH's diagrams, moving around in them and directly interrogating individuals (although FTM has gone part way on that) is just what a genealogist needs to show clients. Pity that FH won't easily allow second given names to be displayed." I hope I don't upset the authors of these comments by repeating them here. However, there are plenty more like it on the website itself which you can read for yourself. Regards Simon

first look at the family historian showed that it appears to be much less intuitive than rootsmagic, but that it is more powerful? I found it very difficult to 'get started', but really liked the highly developed and flexible date entry formats Barry

I would also suggest that you take a look at Brother's Keeper. It's a very flexible program and can accomodate all the data that you can throw at it. You can download a workable program at http://www(.)bkwin(.)com. I am using it for both my UK and USA relatives and if you have a need for working in another language, you have options there also. The price for the full version is about $40.00 US the last time I looked. Good Luck, Dave

yOUR FAMILY TREE magazine has a cdrom onthe front with sample genealogy package it's got many samples for you to try out and the magazine is quite good too,,,,,,, no I don't work for them, but its quite good to see which one you like first before investing .......KIM

I'm quite pleased with Family Tree Maker, although you do have to enter the dates in american format. But beyond that it's very user friendly.

Barry You are right, the demo is non saveable and this is a limiting factor. However, if you have an existing gedcom file you can load this and play. Alternatively you could download a gedcom file and use that to play. The LDS 1881 site allows records to be downloaded in a gedcom format, so this might be an option. Whilst it is non saveable, it has something no other software has and that is an online user forum, where you can get help and advice. The software is probably unique in that it has a UK bias. It has been updated already since I bought it late last year, further improvements are planned and patches become available very quickly if there are problems. All of this is free, so you get much more than just a software package. Obviously, the price is an issue for you. I know nothing about Rootsmagic, indeed I had never heard of it until I read your post, so I can't offer anything by way of a comparison. Re the other question, it is possible to save reports in html format and it is also possible to put diagrams into PDF format with the appropriate software freely available on the web. Regards Simon

It's much cheaper at Amazon - that's where I got mine.

Well I'll try the (non-saveable) demo of Family Historian, but its more than double the price of RootsMagic. Can Family Historian produce web pages? thx, Barry

Family Historian for me too! Further info available at www.familyhistorian.ip3(.)com including a trial version. Remove brackets as usual Regards Simon in Munich

By the way Barry, I'm glad you're still alive. That wife of yours was really terrible to you. At least the truth will come out tomorrow night - sure to be a good episode!!! :O)

depends on the OS syetem you have? i have an iMac and use REUNION 8 which i cannot fault, great charts and every person card area is clickable. take a look at there web site: http://www.leisterpro(.)com/ dont forget to remove the brackets is you have a PC :-( sorry cant help but i am sure that lots of people on here can advise on the programs that they use. happy hunting Ian

Family Historian is great for me!

Which genealogy software package is everyone using? Most seem to be a bit U.S.-centric. Is there one which is better for English heritage? I have downloaded a free trail version of Rootmagic which seems OK, but I have nothing to compare it to. Are there any up to date reviews of the various packages? Thanks, Barry Australia