Geneology/Family Tree Software

[LAR]

Anyone have any good/bad experiences with these types of softwares?

I was hoping to find a solid program (for much less than $100) that would enable me to make neat tree charts that I could post on my own web site - not the software companies site. Unfortunately, I suspect that the web builder tool offered by my web hoster has a limited number of file extensions that it can recognize so I'd need to know the file extensions to determine if my host can accept it...

We dont have long complicated roots in the US so a program who's forte is vast US database access is not necessarily a big selling feature for me. It would be more about making nice looking reports etc...

Thanks
LAR

 

[JeffV]

Take a look at Family Tree Maker. I have used it with good luck.

 

[wgaldred]

My wife has been doing the family tree for a few years now,
she uses a program called Legacy from http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/
It has a free version that can be downloaded.

She uses 2 programs with this for drawing charts, Legacy Charing Companion
from http://www.progenysoftware.com/legacy-charting-companion-details.html
and Treedraw from http://www.spansoft.org/

She has managed to do everything she needs with these.

Willie

 

[3kids4me]

I love Family Tree Maker, but I have no idea whether you can post the charts to a website. I suppose with any program, you can print it, scan it in, and then post it, right?

Sharon

 

[Topeka Tom]

The program you want is called The Master Genealogist, published by Wholly Genes Software. TMG, as it's called, is the only top-quality program left.

Some programs are popular because of their bundling. Students of early american language might get a laugh about that. "Bundling" either means getting CDs with the program, or heavy [1 omitted].

TMG comes with an integrated publishing tool designed specifically to do what you want. Check it out on the Wholly Genes website.

 

[bigrick]

My wife has been doing the family tree for a few years now, she uses a program called Legacy from http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/
It has a free version that can be downloaded.

I use this FREE Legacy software also. One advantage is as I share copies of the tree with family members I can distribute the software also so they can get started right away.

Legacy has great support. One advantage for me was they list local usergroups. There's one in my area; check about your area. Also I went to a user group in San Jose, CA a few months ago when one of the developers made a presentation and answered audience questions. I have emailed their customer support several times and have ALWAYS received timely and useful help. (That alone makes the outstanding FREE price a deal!)

I don't use any other add-on software yet but the Legacy site has lots of tools available. See wgaldred's links above.

 

[EAM]

Legacy comes with a "create web page" menu item but I haven't tried it. The default start page is index.htm, but you can change that. The extensions can be .htm or .html.

I think Family Tree Maker FTM expects you to create web pages at their site rather than a site of your choosing. I haven't tried the newest version though.

TMG has many advantages but, IMHO, ease of use is not one of them. You can do more with more complex technology, but it may be more difficult.

This is not a tool for genealogy web page creation, but if you need a program to help you keep track of your genealogy research, you might consider BYGONES at www.bygonessoftware.com Bygones is freeware and useful for keeping track of your research and is meant to be used in conjunction with pedigree software such as Legacy, PAF, FTM, etc.

Since you are not from the USA, you might check out http://www.cyndislist.com/software.htm to see if there is software that is specifically aimed towards family history in your part of the world.

 

[wgaldred]

My wife has created her family tree website using the facility in Legacy
www.aldredfamily.co.uk

 

[LAR]

Thank you, but just to clarify. My father was born in Brooklyn (1937) and his parents were born in Austria and Poland and my mother is French with French born parents.

I'm definitely American - born in Connecticut!

Cheers
LAR

 

[judyjht]

I just downloaded the free program and signed up for the Boston Yahoo Group. We'll see what happens!!

 

[Karen G]

I'm posting this information from KarenK who is having computer problems and unable to access TUG, but wanted to share this info:

On TUG Lounge, someone asked about genealogy programs. I recommend PAF
(Personal Ancestral FIle) which is free from the Church of jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints.

 

[spike]

Get your DNA done!!!!

At the risk of thread creep...Everyone should check out the DNA effort at http://www.familytreedna.com/ and other sites.

Also I sometimes see a 25% discount on FamilyTreeMaker on the ancestry.com site.

I had my DNA done and got an identical match for a lost relative I knew squat about. This may the the best way to find lost relatives!

 

[bigrick]

We dont have long complicated roots in the US so a program who's forte is vast US database access is not necessarily a big selling feature for me.

Few things are long and complicated until you immerse yourself in them.

Legacy has some easy search tools (for trees under construction). The Search heading has several options pre-loaded. One is to search the internet for the person you specify. The current internet sites to choose from (any or all in one search) are ancestry.com, rootsweb, mytrees.com, familysearch internet, genealogy.com, intelliseek, altavista, and genealogyportal.com.

If that's not enough, another search option searches the IGI website (which is the LDS Family History Center site) and no password required!