Which is your favorite genealogy program?

Question

As of now, I'm using Family Tree Maker 2005. It's the free starter addition that I've downloaded for my new computer. (The old computer had some other programs, and I'm pretty sure the one I used the most was an older version of Family Tree Maker. Although I used it for countless hours, I can't even remember that program's name, haha.) Of course, some features are locked, as this is the free version. However, I'm hesitant to pay to unlock if because frankly, the older version (in which more features were free, actually), was much better.

So what does everyone else use? And, I'm also wondering if you're like me in that you always try to find a new program with some neat functions only to find out that it manipulates the GEDCOM in some weird way. My old program might not be the best, but I'm more used to it, so trying out different ones can be a bit frustrating.

Answer 1

Just a friendly observation...

K>I>S>S> keep it simple, sweetie.

I've been researching long enough to see software companies go out of business. Same for web sites, internet providers et al. I get very discouraged at rounds of "MY web site is the BEST".

The same perspective applies (imho) to newer, bigger, better.. planned obsolescence are vulgar words to me. All respect to Zina.. my info belongs to me, on my system.

I do have PAF, since it is free, always has been, and it more than does the job. Much of my data/ info is in simple text files (readable on ANY computer), and I don't compress files, since people might have different versions of windows.

Thus (with a hug) my thinking is that if I am spending more time involved with the program than the actual research, something is off kilter. Programs are just a place to store the info, not a means to find it. You can get so sidetracked that you lose sight of the goal.

Answer 2

This is probably a different type answer than what you were expecting. I don't have a favorite, because, no matter the fame attached, they all expect persons using these programs to conform to their needs, not the users. These programs also eat up a lot of space and slow the computer down.

For one thing, they all expect people to have the same surname. I'm sorry, but if a person has gone back to the beginning of the Medieval Era, there were no (or almost NO) surnames. Several of my ancestors, whey they did use surnames, had one surname for the father, another for the oldest son, still another for the next son, and so on. Most of the "surnames" are in the order of, "John of Moresville".

Another problem: they will NOT allow you to go back more than a few generations! I ran out of "room" years ago.

If an ancestor is a "double" (i.e., more than one of their descendants became your ancestor, or a person married more than once, each spouse becoming an ancestor), the programs don't want to "duplicate" these names. Although you can change the settings, using these programs is too much of a hassle. The nicest thing is they will compile an alphabetical list.

I use the word processor. My Dad is 1; his dad is 2, his mom 3, and so on. When you have gone back 10 generations, the closer the numbers, the closer the relationship! It is quick and easy to see where you need to look to "fill in the holes"; I also use notations such as (1 of 10 gens), a feature not available in the genealogy programs.

Answer 3

I presently use Family Tree Maker 2006. It's OK, but has more clutter than I would like to see in a program. I guess everyone knows that.

I had used Brothers Keeper for a long time prior to FTM. It had it's downfalls, and I guess nothing is perfect.

Both programs did the job. However, I think BK could hose a gedcom file faster than FTM, but in all honesty, that was many years ago.

Answer 4

I've used a couple programs on my computer in the past, but my tree has grown so big I prefer to be web based. I keep a back up GedCom file on a cruser. I have 2 site one payed on Ancestry.com and on free on Tribalpages. I can do all the things between both sites that I could defore with the home computer based program.

Answer 5

I still use Family Tree Maker 9. I tried the other but it took out my pics and some of them I can't retrieve. I have heard others say they like the 2005 version. I'll stick with my old version as its dependable and I know how to use it.

Answer 6

you're mistaking the appliance with the learn. application won't be able to do the learn for you. you ought to try this. constrained components is all maximum persons had previously 12 years in the past while the internet became into an infant. yet with persistence and perseverance we've been solid researchers. the final application IMHO is PAF that's allotted loose with the aid of the LDS. even though it won't pull up numerous data for you. you ought to try this. It, like relatives tree Maker and others, is there to rearrange the data which you have have been given stumbled on. yet you ought to do the looking and make particular that the data you're looking are precise. think of that your grandfather's call became into Will Rogers...yet no longer the will Rogers. the pc won't comprehend the adaptation, you ought to determine that out and easily look on the data that are particular on your ancestor. My humble advice is which you bypass to the GenWeb undertaking or relatives tree society on your section and faucet into the different researchers close to you. enable them to coach you techniques relatives tree easily works and walk you thru an instructional. There is additionally human beings at your community library who carry seminars each and each month. touch base with somebody who can dispel the misconceptions and help you build an rather valid tree of your loved ones.

Answer 7

It doesn't have a lot of the glitz but I actually prefer Personal Ancestral File (PAF). It's simple, it's easy to understand, and I've never had any problems with it.



And oh yeah, it's free! (http://www.familysearch.org)



Good luck,

Dave

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Upload a GEDCOM and make a family tree online at http://www.familypulse.org

Answer 8

MacFamilyTree. It is awesome. Lets you store photos, audio and video in addition to source data.