Looking for new genealogy program-need reviews.?

Question

I currently use Family Origins 9.0. I know-ancient news! I want to upgrade and would like reviews from actual users. Please list what you like best AND what you like least. One feature I'd particularly like to have is to add info to multiple individuals at the same time. For example, when I find a family in a census I would like to add the info to each individual record but all at once.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I use Roots Magic. I have been a computer programmer for 32 years and I know good work when I see it. I had FOW (RM's predecessor) and FTM at the same time once. FOW was easier to use and had a better custom reporting feature. I've used FOW 6.0, FOW 8.0 and RM 2.0; I've never looked back.

I don't think any software will let you add the same data to multiple records.

RM will let you memorize a source. You enter the source citation once ("1880 Census, Springdale, Monroe, Ohio; ED 123, Page 56" for instance) on Dad, then click "Memorize", then just clisk "Paste" on Mom and the children.

You can put a note at the family level instead of the individual level.

Finally, RM "Suggests" locations. So, if you've already entered locations:

Madisonville, Logan, Illinois
Modesto, Stanuslaus, California
Monroe County, VA (now WV)
Monterey, Alta California, Mexico (now Calif., USA)

When you type "M" in a location, it will suggest Madison. If you type "Mo" it will suggest Modesto. If you type "Mos", it will clear the suggestion, but if you type "Mon" it will suggest Monroe County. If that is what you want, you just press ENTER and move on, having saved a pile of keystrokes.

I cheat sometimes; I edit the location I want to be, for instance,
"M onterey, Alta California, Mexico (now Calif., USA)",
with a space after the "M" to make it come up first in the alphabet. Then all I have to type is "M", RM suggests M onterey, I accept it and move on to the next person. When I finish the family that lived, married and died in Monterey I go back and take out the space.

That is another neat thing RM does. You enter locations just once. If you have 400 citations for a location, then discover it is spelled MontErey instead of MontArey, you correct it just once and it is correct in all citations.

Answer 2

I am a huge fan of Roots Magic. It will enable you to add a husband and wife, and then to add their children. It will keep asking you for children until you tell it that there are no more. It's very intuitive, especially (at least in my opinion) as compared to Family Tree Maker. (I know that Family Tree Maker is what some people swear by, but I can't stand it! It's awkward at best.) Roots Magic has a free trial so that you can try before you buy; I don't recall exactly what the limitations are on the trial, but it was good enough for me that I bought it immediately. It's also very nice in that when you decide to buy it, you can download it and have it *immediately* (they also send you a CD). The price is very good - only $29 or $30.

Roots Magic has a to-do list, and you can add those for either your database as a whole, or for a specific individual. You can add pictures, sound, and even movie clips. It also has a lot of features that Family Tree Maker makes you pay extra for, like GenSmarts, and reunion planning.

Roots Magic also has a another really neat feature that I like; it allows you to create an auto-play CD that you can give to any member of the family to share your work. You can share as much or as little of it as you like. They can go through it just as they would if they were sitting at your computer - they just can't change any information. This has helped me get several other family members interested in genealogy - especially as I'm after the younger members, so that the information gets preserved long after I'm gone. I make a new one each year and give them out (usually at the holidays when everybody is at home). It also contains all the data, so that if another family member wants to work on something, they can incoporate my data, rather than having to re-invent the wheel, so to speak.

Roots Magic also has the capability of interfacing with Ancestry.com, Family Search, RootsWeb, FamilyHistory.com, and Genforum. If you have an account with Ancestry.com, it can store your user name and password, and link directly into the site.

Another thing to consider is that Family Tree Maker is about to go in to a new version (version 17 - "Family Tree Maker 2008") in August; at the moment, they have their old version (version 16) discounted, but then in about three weeks they're going to be trying to sell you the new one.

Lastly, the thing I like best about Roots Magic is that it doesn't have the "Mormon slant" that FTM has; it doesn't assume that couples are married (obviously, sometimes, they're not); it allows multiple sets of parents, and doesn't force you to call one an adoptive set of parents (so that if you're not sure WHICH brother in a family was the father of a child, you can put both...), and such things as that. I've got nothing against the Mormons - but not everybody researches their family because of religion, and a program that assumes that's the reason you do and behaves accordingly is (at the very least) irritating!

In case you haven't figured it out by now... I REALLY like Roots Magic, and I REALLY dislike Family Tree Maker. Whatever you choose (and there are lots of good ones out there), I wish you the best of luck in your research!

EDIT: I don't know where Jennabeany1993 above got the idea that you can't save to your hard drive - you most definitely can!

Answer 3

My husband uses Family Tree Maker and what we like about it is that we can easily access the web search and add the resulting information to your family data as well as save copies of the source document. It also turns out great customized reports with a bare minimum of effort and they add new information and databases all the time, The down side is that it is somewhat expensive, but considering the amount of information we have acquired using it, its paid for itself. By the way, it does what you mentioned in your question, if I understood it correctly.

Answer 4

yes definitely needed some type modification in introducing the inf about some individual families. It helps others to learn experinces and works from one and the other at the same time and likewise we could help somany individuals. Always our theme should also be like this it should be most social work orientation and should be useful help to each catagory of people for which the review program could however be needed.

Answer 5

I've been using Family Tree Maker for years. I've also used LDS PAF, it's a good one and free at the LDS web site.
I used Legacy, it's nice. I used the trial version of Roots Magic and probably a few others. I always come back to Family Tree Maker.

Answer 6

I use Family Tree Maker 2006 - it's a good program.

Answer 7

Family Tree Maker 2008 will be coming out shortly and it can be ordered for $29.99. It seems to be the most user friendly program on the market and I have been using it since 2.0!!

Answer 8

I too have used Roots Magic and FTM. I then learned about Legacy. I love the interface design and all functions it has. Many of the functions are like Roots Magic, suggesting names of places and surnames. It all depends on what you like. Download the trials of a few different apps and try them out, see which you like the best!

Answer 9

Try going to www.familysearch.com

You can search through millions of names and it won't cost you anything. I do a lot of family history searching and I found that this one is the best. Ancestor.com charges you about 75.00 a year to search your family through them, but you can get some great results by searching your family tree through familysearch.com, you will also get the kind of help that you need when you need it. Also you might want to check out your nearest "Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints" They have family history centers in their buildings that are dedicated to helping you search your family history. I hope that this helps you, I know that you can't go wrong with this information I hope that you find it a useful resource...

Answer 10

look at AgeTree
I use it and it is a very simple program that will build your family tree along with step-relatives and anything to do with anything.
I have personally not tried any of the others above and below me, but see what this program has to offer
p.s. after 30 day trial, you will have to purchase a registration key (typical!)