What is the best genealogy software out there?

Question

And please say why you think it is. I'm considering getting a new program. I have Heritage Family Tree Deluxe which I got as a first time program. However I would like something better now. One thing I would like if possible is when creating a web page that it can go past 32 generations. Heritage limits that to just 32.
What are some cool features in yours that you enjoy? I was considering RootsMagic because it sounded so good but they dont go beyond the 32 generations in creating a web page. (Anyone know why?)
Thanks.

Thanks so far to everyone who answered this question, you gave it a lot of thought and details and also pointed out some things to me I hadnt considered. I wish I could give you all 10 points. But since I cant I'm giving my thanks to you now. I can see you all went to a lot of work to answer this. Thanks.

Answer 1

I have tried several types of genealogy software. My favorite, hands down, is called "Roots Magic." It's very good at dealing with multimedia and sources, and has lots of nifty tools. The person who wrote it puts out updates very frequently, and is very amenable to suggestions for new features. I do not know of any limit on generations in this program at all.

I like the feature that allows me to color-code all the ancestors of a given person - that way, when you're working on a particular branch of your tree, you can easily trace it back to the person, even when you're not familiar with all of their ancestors; likewise, it has a feature that allows you to determine the relationship of all people in the database to any particular person; i.e., if I set relationships for my own son, it will say that I am his mother, that various people are his ancestors, and tell me the relationship of anyone else to him that is related by blood.

It has the standard features like being able to calculate the relationship between any two people as well; in addition, its merge feature is very good. Its search function is easily the best I've seen, allowing you to search on a variety of fields in combination.

Answer 2

Hey ЯЮЯЫК,

Anything beyond 32 generations is absurd anyway. Too much to prove and validate, too many opportunities for the 'milkman' syndrome, and too far removed from who you really are. You will be lucky to fill in 8 generations fully.

Although, some branches are fun to go beyond 32 generations, admittedly, Cleopatra looks might nice on my family tree, and her ancestry is very well documented. Family Tree Maker, has it's limitations too, for example the SEARCH of ancestral files never clears. So, you wind up with literally thousands of useless files that you have to weed through to find one that matters, even if the are 5 stars - they do not necessarily apply.

To define who you are, you only need to go out as far as 20 generations or so. Each contributor at that level, to your gene pool, is only one out of (2 to the twentieth power). That is infintesimally small, with a high probability of being incorrect anyway.

Anyway, the sites below include some comparison sites.

Answer 3

I like Roots Magic because it is powerful yet intuitive. I'm a programmer by trade and I know their data base is well-designed. I like the fact it "suggests" locations, since I'm a poor typist. I like the fact I can edit all the location names just once. I love its "Problem" list.

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/genealogy-software/index.html

is one site of genealogy software reviews. If you Google [genealogy software review] you'll get lots more.

There are a dozen GEDCOM -> HTML utilities out there. I use Gene Stark's. It does not have a generation limit. Most programs that create web sites figure 32 is the limit because that will take normal people back about 1,000 years, and, unless you believe that line in the AF from the Bulkleys to Charlemagne and Charlemagne to Adam, most people don't go that far back.

I get 50 times as many e-mail messages from people who saw my data on Roots Web World Connect than from people who saw my data on my personal web site. In this day and age I don't think making a web site is all that important; upload a GEDCOM to RWWC, GenCircles, Genes Reunited and Kindred Konnections.

Answer 4

relatives tree Maker has been round a lengthy time period . the present variations have had a variety of of criticism and numerous people like myself opt to stay with the older version ( version 16 or earlier ) no longer surprising on comments yet can produce an " all in relatives tree" print out it truly is noticeably unique . i love Roots Magic it truly is large with comments yet no longer so good with charts! I have a tendency to apply both as RM can import the relatives tree archives with out replacing to a gedcom document . in case you're in the united kingdom both those progs are more suitable geared to US study and also you should attempt relatives Historian it truly is truly complicated yet surprising . prices for most relatives tree progs variety . i'd bypass for the elementary and under no circumstances the inflated large dooper variations the position you're procuring a variety of of many times ineffective CDs .

Answer 5

PAF- Personal Ancestral File can be downloaded from www.lds.org at no cost.