Genealogy software recommendations?
Wettlesheim
After 21 years I've decided it is long overdue and about time to buy a
genealogy program. Which one would you recommend for an amateur just
starting out? I would like one that works with ancestry.com and one that
would have a place where I could enter brief information/stories about
people.Please keep the discussion civil.
Thanks in advance,
Ron Sohn
W. Fred Rump
wish long after you've mastered the basics as a neophyte user. Wasting
your time learning something which will eventually lead you to wish
you had chosen something with more available options is the worst kind
of decision. In other words, buy somethiing which will let you decide
how to do your genealogy, not the way some programmer thinks you
should.
fred
> -------------------------------
> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GEN-DE-...@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
>
--
Fred Rump,
730 5th St. NW Naples, FL 34120
fred...@gmail.com 239-775-7838
http://www.rumpfamily1.phanfare.com/
'The best sermons are lived, not preached' - old cowboy saying.
Richard van Schaik
> Ron Sohn wrote:
>> After 21 years I've decided it is long overdue and about time to buy a
>> genealogy program. Which one would you recommend for an amateur just
>> starting out? I would like one that works with ancestry.com and one that
>> would have a place where I could enter brief information/stories about
>> people.
>
> The best program is always the one which will let you go as far as you
> wish long after you've mastered the basics as a neophyte user. Wasting
> your time learning something which will eventually lead you to wish
> you had chosen something with more available options is the worst kind
> of decision. In other words, buy somethiing which will let you decide
> how to do your genealogy, not the way some programmer thinks you
> should.
And along that answer look at http://www.gensoftreviews.com/ find the
description best fitting, try a free sample and use the one best suited
to your taste (all programs I know are referenced there and some more,
hope the list does include all any knows).
Richard
--
Richard van Schaik
f.m.a.vans...@THISziggo.nl
http://www.fmavanschaik.nl/
Mail address changed repair to this on my site is being worked on
Richard van Schaik
> W. Fred Rump wrote:
>
>> Ron Sohn wrote:
>>> After 21 years I've decided it is long overdue and about time to buy a
>>> genealogy program. Which one would you recommend for an amateur just
>>> starting out? I would like one that works with ancestry.com and one
>>> that
>>> would have a place where I could enter brief information/stories about
>>> people.
>>
>> The best program is always the one which will let you go as far as you
>> wish long after you've mastered the basics as a neophyte user. Wasting
>> your time learning something which will eventually lead you to wish
>> you had chosen something with more available options is the worst kind
>> of decision. In other words, buy somethiing which will let you decide
>> how to do your genealogy, not the way some programmer thinks you
>> should.
>
> And along that answer look at http://www.gensoftreviews.com/ find the
> description best fitting, try a free sample and use the one best suited
> to your taste (all programs I know are referenced there and some more,
> hope the list does include all any knows).
P.S. There is no need to go for a single program as long as data can be
exported and imported between them. I use multiple programs myself. The
main program for entering data however should fit your needs most (which
might be different from my needs). The others are to get better output
(layout or whatever) also suiting your needs.
Keith Nuttle
> W. Fred Rump wrote:
>
>> Ron Sohn wrote:
>>> After 21 years I've decided it is long overdue and about time to buy a
>>> genealogy program. Which one would you recommend for an amateur just
>>> starting out? I would like one that works with ancestry.com and one that
>>> would have a place where I could enter brief information/stories about
>>> people.
>>
>> The best program is always the one which will let you go as far as you
>> wish long after you've mastered the basics as a neophyte user. Wasting
>> your time learning something which will eventually lead you to wish
>> you had chosen something with more available options is the worst kind
>> of decision. In other words, buy somethiing which will let you decide
>> how to do your genealogy, not the way some programmer thinks you
>> should.
>
> And along that answer look at http://www.gensoftreviews.com/ find the
> description best fitting, try a free sample and use the one best suited
> to your taste (all programs I know are referenced there and some more,
> hope the list does include all any knows).
>
> Richard
>
http://www.gensoftreviews.com/
site was the number of stars that a piece of software receive was
somewhat dependent on how well know the software was. Is there a site
that compares the individual features of the software and rates its ease
of use and intuitiveness?
I currently use the Family Tree Maker old version, and while happy with
it have thought about upgrading to something else so I do not end up
with an old obsolete program with and all of my data in an obsolete file
format. To me the viability and longevity of the file format is the most
important thing I would be looking for in new software.
Richard van Schaik
> One of the things I noticed in looking at the
> http://www.gensoftreviews.com/
> site was the number of stars that a piece of software receive was
> somewhat dependent on how well know the software was.
Is a problem of all comparison sites.
> Is there a site
> that compares the individual features of the software and rates its ease
> of use and intuitiveness?
I do not know of any, but if available are very interested (user of
never-any-more-updated PAF). Comparing to my needs thus far gave nothing
in a way (explanation only in private, is too long for this post (Legacy
and TMG were top ending though)).
> I currently use the Family Tree Maker old version, and while happy with
> it have thought about upgrading to something else so I do not end up
> with an old obsolete program with and all of my data in an obsolete file
> format. To me the viability and longevity of the file format is the most
> important thing I would be looking for in new software.
Looking at soc.genealogy.britain a lot there are using old versions of
FTM as they do not like the newer versions. That also is an indication
how feeling with some program plays in.
Bob Melson
(f.m.a.vans...@THISziggo.nl) opined:
It will take some work on the part of the OP, but I would strongly
recommend a visit to Dick Eastman's blog at http://blog.eogn.com/
Eastman regularly reviews genealogy software and those reviews are usually
available in his archives.
Bob Melson
--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Arthur C. Clarke's 3d Law
Todd Carnes
YOU want to, not how the programmer thinks they should be.
However, it doesn't interface directly with Ancestry.com which is how I read
your request, (though I'm not sure I understood that part correctly).
What kind of features are you looking for?
What operating system(s) do you plan to run it on?
Todd
"Wettlesheim" <so...@speednetllc.com> wrote in message
news:H%uWm.75449$We2....@newsfe09.iad...
Wettlesheim
pieces of paper stored in a plastic storage container, information that was
given to me which was passed through many different people scattered around
the USA and a few different people in Germany. Over the years people shared
information with me in various conversations that I want to write down so I
won't forget them and to pass them on. I would like a program that allows
me access to ancestry.com or genealogy.com or both if possible, I would like
to share the information I have with others wherever the live around the
world. Presently I'm using Windows XP and maybe in a few years I'll upgrade
to a different operation system when XP doesn't do what I want it to.
Thanks,
Ron
"Todd Carnes" <toddc...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:hgeetm$png$1...@aioe.org...
Wettlesheim
Thanks for all the ideas,
Ron
Paul Berndt
I've been following this thread and all of the suggestions.� I use Family Tree Maker for the opposite reason Todd likes Legacy.� Many times it is better to force a format that has rules and less flexibility.� This helps keep your information consistant and understandable for anyone who needs or wants to consult with you.� When I first started with FTM, I didn't like it for this reason.
If you use Legacy, make sure to establish rules for how you enter dates,�source data and other information.� Even with FTM's rules, I wish I had spent more time up front learning the software and understanding how I wanted my information to look.� As I work on my tree, I'm often fixing facts and sources.
I'm not saying FTM is the best, I just like that I don't have to invent the rules.
Also, I think you can build your tree online with an Ancestry subscription and attach source information as it is found.� You can then download the tree with�the source�to your software.� I'm doing it the other way around, saving source information on my hard drive and then entering it into the tree.
I also scan all�documents and photos for source info.� I don't attach these to the tree because it can get very large.� It does make it easier to reference on the hard drive and send to others looking for sources.
Happy New Year,
Paul Berndt
Ohio, USA
----- Original Message ----
> From: Wettlesheim <so...@speednetllc.com>
> To: gen...@rootsweb.com
> Sent: Sun, December 27, 2009 11:26:29 AM
> Subject: Re: GEN-DE Genealogy software recommendations?
>
> I'm looking for a program to organize the information I have on various
> pieces of paper stored in a plastic storage container, information that was
> given to me which was passed through many different people scattered around
> the USA and a few different people in Germany. Over the years people shared
> information with me in various conversations that I want to write down so I
> won't forget them and to pass them on.� I would like a program that allows
> me access to ancestry.com or genealogy.com or both if possible, I would like
> to share the information I have with others wherever the live around the
> world.� Presently I'm using Windows XP and maybe in a few years I'll upgrade
> to a different operation system when XP doesn't do what I want it to.
> Thanks,
> Ron
>
>
>
> "Todd Carnes" wrote in message
> news:hgeetm$png$1...@aioe.org...
> >I like Legacy 7.0 it's very flexible & lets you maintain your records how
> >YOU want to, not how the programmer thinks they should be.
> >
> > However, it doesn't interface directly with Ancestry.com which is how I
> > read your request, (though I'm not sure I understood that part correctly).
> >
> > What kind of features are you looking for?
> >
> > What operating system(s) do you plan to run it on?
> >
> > Todd
> >
> > "Wettlesheim" wrote in message
> > news:H%uWm.75449$We2....@newsfe09.iad...
> >>
> >>
> >> After 21 years I've decided it is long overdue and about time to buy a
> >> genealogy program.� Which one would you recommend for an amateur just
> >> starting out?� I would like one that works with ancestry.com and one that
> >> would have a place where I could enter brief information/stories about
> >> people.Please keep the discussion civil.
> >> Thanks in advance,
> >> Ron Sohn
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
Wettlesheim
Ron
"Paul Berndt" <pwbe...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:mailman.10.126193...@rootsweb.com...
Keith Nuttle
>>>>
>>>> After 21 years I've decided it is long overdue and about time to buy a
>>>> genealogy program. Which one would you recommend for an amateur just
>>>> starting out? I would like one that works with ancestry.com and one that
>>>> would have a place where I could enter brief information/stories about
>>>> people.Please keep the discussion civil.
>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>> Ron Sohn
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
document, I make an electronic copy. This makes it easier to share
information with other members of the family.
I use FTM 2006. I reference the electronic copy by the name of the
electronic file. I then consider all of the directories with images of
the original documents as part of the "Database".
I have created "book" containing a title page, an Introduction to each
family, a tree, a genealogy report, and several text files where I
explain all of my conclusion of those weak links in the family.
When I share with other people I send them the FTM file the book and all
of the family directories with the image files.