Novice: Recommended software?

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Terry Pinnell

Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Terry Pinnell » 13 nov 2005 17:11:52

About 6 years ago I bought a copy of Family Tree Maker (Version 6,
European edition, 15 CD set), and was also given a copy of Ultimate
Family Tree Maker (Deluxe, UK Version). But other priorities
intervened and I never got started with my family history project. I'm
now about to do so, and would appreciate others' opinions on the
software they've chosen please. In particular, views on the above two
options.

Although a complete novice, I've read enough in the last few days to
realise that the software is of minor importance compared to the
research, and I suspect *any* package would be a helpful tool. But if
the experienced family historians here have found some distinct
advantages of one or two particular packages, it would be good to
benefit from that please.

--
Terry Pinnell, West Sussex, UK

Hugh Watkins

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Hugh Watkins » 13 nov 2005 18:06:32

Terry Pinnell wrote:

About 6 years ago I bought a copy of Family Tree Maker (Version 6,
European edition, 15 CD set), and was also given a copy of Ultimate
Family Tree Maker (Deluxe, UK Version). But other priorities
intervened and I never got started with my family history project. I'm
now about to do so, and would appreciate others' opinions on the
software they've chosen please. In particular, views on the above two
options.

Although a complete novice, I've read enough in the last few days to
realise that the software is of minor importance compared to the
research, and I suspect *any* package would be a helpful tool. But if
the experienced family historians here have found some distinct
advantages of one or two particular packages, it would be good to
benefit from that please.


personally I use Family Tree Makerer 2006
get the single CD flat pack for about £30

easy to use and ideal for beginners
I think I started with version 6 but the latest is best

life is too short for inadeuqateor out of date software


Hugh W

Terry Pinnell

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Terry Pinnell » 13 nov 2005 19:11:28

Hugh Watkins <hugh.watkins@gmail.com> wrote:

Terry Pinnell wrote:

About 6 years ago I bought a copy of Family Tree Maker (Version 6,
European edition, 15 CD set), and was also given a copy of Ultimate
Family Tree Maker (Deluxe, UK Version). But other priorities
intervened and I never got started with my family history project. I'm
now about to do so, and would appreciate others' opinions on the
software they've chosen please. In particular, views on the above two
options.

Although a complete novice, I've read enough in the last few days to
realise that the software is of minor importance compared to the
research, and I suspect *any* package would be a helpful tool. But if
the experienced family historians here have found some distinct
advantages of one or two particular packages, it would be good to
benefit from that please.


personally I use Family Tree Makerer 2006
get the single CD flat pack for about £30

easy to use and ideal for beginners
I think I started with version 6 but the latest is best

life is too short for inadeuqateor out of date software


Hugh W

Thanks. Have now just installed FTM 6 and even have a few entries!
Looks easy enough. May upgrade to 2006 if I get on well with it for a
few days.

Still interested in more feedback on the alternatives please.

--
Terry, West Sussex, UK

Peter

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Peter » 13 nov 2005 19:23:13

Terry Pinnell wrote:
About 6 years ago I bought a copy of Family Tree Maker (Version 6,
European edition, 15 CD set), and was also given a copy of Ultimate
Family Tree Maker (Deluxe, UK Version). But other priorities
intervened and I never got started with my family history project. I'm
now about to do so, and would appreciate others' opinions on the
software they've chosen please. In particular, views on the above two
options.

Try a few alternatives, or check with your local genealogy society or family
history group and see what advice they can give.

It seems Legacy is very popular (for Windows OS), and you can get a free
trial. http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/
I run Linux OS and find Gramps is good.

It seems to me that many people get used to just one application, and become
a strong advocate for that one. It is hard to get a good comparison
between the options, but as you say, there is probably not that much
difference between them.

HTH

Peter

J. Hugh Sullivan

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av J. Hugh Sullivan » 13 nov 2005 19:28:02

On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 18:11:28 +0000, Terry Pinnell
<terrypin@dial.pipex.com> wrote:

Hugh Watkins <hugh.watkins@gmail.com> wrote:

Terry Pinnell wrote:

About 6 years ago I bought a copy of Family Tree Maker (Version 6,
European edition, 15 CD set), and was also given a copy of Ultimate
Family Tree Maker (Deluxe, UK Version). But other priorities
intervened and I never got started with my family history project. I'm
now about to do so, and would appreciate others' opinions on the
software they've chosen please. In particular, views on the above two
options.

Although a complete novice, I've read enough in the last few days to
realise that the software is of minor importance compared to the
research, and I suspect *any* package would be a helpful tool. But if
the experienced family historians here have found some distinct
advantages of one or two particular packages, it would be good to
benefit from that please.


personally I use Family Tree Makerer 2006
get the single CD flat pack for about £30

easy to use and ideal for beginners
I think I started with version 6 but the latest is best

life is too short for inadeuqateor out of date software


Hugh W

Thanks. Have now just installed FTM 6 and even have a few entries!
Looks easy enough. May upgrade to 2006 if I get on well with it for a
few days.

Still interested in more feedback on the alternatives please.

--
Terry, West Sussex, UK

You will be doing yourself an injustice if you don't look at the demo
version of RootsMagic and the free version of Legacy.

Enter a family or two, work the programs and do a few printouts.

FTM has many supporters and many detractors. If FTM was the only
genealogy program available I would quit genealogy. But we probably
don't have the same taste in cars or clothes either.

You are the best person to decide which program you want to use -
AFTER you have tried a few.

Hugh

Terry Pinnell

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Terry Pinnell » 13 nov 2005 20:02:32

Peter <nospamjynyl@yahoo.co.nz> wrote:

Terry Pinnell wrote:
About 6 years ago I bought a copy of Family Tree Maker (Version 6,
European edition, 15 CD set), and was also given a copy of Ultimate
Family Tree Maker (Deluxe, UK Version). But other priorities
intervened and I never got started with my family history project. I'm
now about to do so, and would appreciate others' opinions on the
software they've chosen please. In particular, views on the above two
options.

Try a few alternatives, or check with your local genealogy society or family
history group and see what advice they can give.

It seems Legacy is very popular (for Windows OS), and you can get a free
trial. http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/
I run Linux OS and find Gramps is good.

It seems to me that many people get used to just one application, and become
a strong advocate for that one. It is hard to get a good comparison
between the options, but as you say, there is probably not that much
difference between them.

HTH

Peter

Thanks for all the follow-ups.

Downloaded Legacy and will try it tomorrow.

--
Terry, West Sussex, UK

Robert Melson

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Robert Melson » 13 nov 2005 20:18:02

In article <7d3fn110go56d2t7pnlm87cfufqclhlgcl@4ax.com>,
Terry Pinnell <terrypin@dial.pipex.com> writes:
Peter <nospamjynyl@yahoo.co.nz> wrote:

snippage
I run Linux OS and find Gramps is good.

It seems to me that many people get used to just one application, and become
a strong advocate for that one. It is hard to get a good comparison
between the options, but as you say, there is probably not that much
difference between them.

HTH

Peter

Thanks for all the follow-ups.

Downloaded Legacy and will try it tomorrow.


Also free and tyro-friendly, in my opinion, is PAF, available for download at
the Mormon genealogy site, familysearch.org. I haven't used any of the M$
genealogy apps for years - largely because I refuse to pollute my computer with
Gates' Universal Computer Virus - but PAF is what really got me started after
I became disgusted with FTM. If you find you like PAF, there's a modestly
priced extension package that adds several bells and whistles.

Bob Melson
(using gramps, ftree and phpGedView on FreeBSD unix)


--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
"One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation." Thomas Reed
-----

Dennis Lee Bieber

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Dennis Lee Bieber » 13 nov 2005 21:23:42

On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 16:11:52 +0000, Terry Pinnell
<terrypin@dial.pipex.com> declaimed the following in
soc.genealogy.computing:

About 6 years ago I bought a copy of Family Tree Maker (Version 6,
European edition, 15 CD set), and was also given a copy of Ultimate
Family Tree Maker (Deluxe, UK Version). But other priorities

Off hand -- the name is JUST "Ultimate Family Tree", no "Maker" on
it.

Second, UFT and FTM somehow both became properties of the same
publisher -- and that publisher discontinued UFT. Many UFT users
migrated to "The Master Genealogist".

Before that demise of UFT; most surveys tended to put UFT and TMG at
the top in terms of completeness and power. FTM was sort of near the
bottom. Many use FTM: It's cheap, easy for a beginner, and is in every
store carrying software. When available, UFT only seemed to be in the
largest stores. I think I've only seen one version of TMG in stores --
it tends to be sold from the Wholly Genes website based on
word-of-mouth.

OTOH, FTM tends to release a $$$ upgrade once a year, apparently
containing minimal changes. TMG has bug-fix builds every couple of
weeks, free for the download to a registered version (one only tends to
pay an upgrade going from version to version, and that process is
two-three years apart usually).
--
==============================================================
wlfraed@ix.netcom.com | Wulfraed Dennis Lee Bieber KD6MOG
wulfraed@dm.net | Bestiaria Support Staff
==============================================================
Home Page: <http://www.dm.net/~wulfraed/
Overflow Page: <http://wlfraed.home.netcom.com/

Lesley Robertson

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Lesley Robertson » 13 nov 2005 21:24:18

"Terry Pinnell" <terrypin@dial.pipex.com> schreef in bericht
news:nroen15kiv5b70h5p4v0cvo11t6i8u9idv@4ax.com...
About 6 years ago I bought a copy of Family Tree Maker (Version 6,
European edition, 15 CD set), and was also given a copy of Ultimate
Family Tree Maker (Deluxe, UK Version). But other priorities
intervened and I never got started with my family history project. I'm
now about to do so, and would appreciate others' opinions on the
software they've chosen please. In particular, views on the above two
options.

You could start with the FTM 6 while trying demos of other software. As well

as its normal file save format, Ver 6 can write gedcoms which any modern
software should be able to read if you find something better.
Most of my research is UK (specifically Scotland) based, and I've been using
FTM ever since I started - I'm now up to FTM 2005 (I tend to go for every
2nd or 3rd upgrade they bring out, so haven't gone to 2006) but everyone has
different requirements. One of the main reasons I've stuck with FTM is its
good charts - it'll give you a chart showing everyone in your database -
very useful for a 1-place study!

Have a look around a bit - I found FTM 2005 in a "3 for the price of 2" bin
in Debenams last summer!
Lesley Robertson

Terry Pinnell

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Terry Pinnell » 14 nov 2005 13:38:15

"Lesley Robertson" <l.a.robertson@tnw.tudelft.nl> wrote:

"Terry Pinnell" <terrypin@dial.pipex.com> schreef in bericht
news:nroen15kiv5b70h5p4v0cvo11t6i8u9idv@4ax.com...
About 6 years ago I bought a copy of Family Tree Maker (Version 6,
European edition, 15 CD set), and was also given a copy of Ultimate
Family Tree Maker (Deluxe, UK Version). But other priorities
intervened and I never got started with my family history project. I'm
now about to do so, and would appreciate others' opinions on the
software they've chosen please. In particular, views on the above two
options.

You could start with the FTM 6 while trying demos of other software. As well
as its normal file save format, Ver 6 can write gedcoms which any modern
software should be able to read if you find something better.
Most of my research is UK (specifically Scotland) based, and I've been using
FTM ever since I started - I'm now up to FTM 2005 (I tend to go for every
2nd or 3rd upgrade they bring out, so haven't gone to 2006) but everyone has
different requirements. One of the main reasons I've stuck with FTM is its
good charts - it'll give you a chart showing everyone in your database -
very useful for a 1-place study!

Have a look around a bit - I found FTM 2005 in a "3 for the price of 2" bin
in Debenams last summer!
Lesley Robertson

Thanks, I'm going to do exactly as you suggest. I've duly installed
FTM6 and made a sketchy initial tree. But I'm baffled as to how I use
the 15 CDs supplied, and have posted separately for advice.

--
Terry, West Sussex, UK

Gjest

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Gjest » 14 nov 2005 16:27:16

I would second Legacy as well - some of the other genealogy
applications push subscriptions a little too much for my tastes.

I would check this site: http://www.genealogysoftwarenews.com/ - it'll
give you an idea of what software is current (a lot has been released
this past summer/fall). They also run
http://genealogysoftwareguide.com/ which they are still working on.

Dan J.

Hugh Watkins

Re: Novice: Recommended software?

Legg inn av Hugh Watkins » 15 nov 2005 02:14:48

Terry Pinnell wrote:

"Lesley Robertson" <l.a.robertson@tnw.tudelft.nl> wrote:


"Terry Pinnell" <terrypin@dial.pipex.com> schreef in bericht
news:nroen15kiv5b70h5p4v0cvo11t6i8u9idv@4ax.com...

About 6 years ago I bought a copy of Family Tree Maker (Version 6,
European edition, 15 CD set), and was also given a copy of Ultimate
Family Tree Maker (Deluxe, UK Version). But other priorities
intervened and I never got started with my family history project. I'm
now about to do so, and would appreciate others' opinions on the
software they've chosen please. In particular, views on the above two
options.


You could start with the FTM 6 while trying demos of other software. As well
as its normal file save format, Ver 6 can write gedcoms which any modern
software should be able to read if you find something better.
Most of my research is UK (specifically Scotland) based, and I've been using
FTM ever since I started - I'm now up to FTM 2005 (I tend to go for every
2nd or 3rd upgrade they bring out, so haven't gone to 2006) but everyone has
different requirements. One of the main reasons I've stuck with FTM is its
good charts - it'll give you a chart showing everyone in your database -
very useful for a 1-place study!

Have a look around a bit - I found FTM 2005 in a "3 for the price of 2" bin
in Debenams last summer!
Lesley Robertson


Thanks, I'm going to do exactly as you suggest. I've duly installed
FTM6 and made a sketchy initial tree. But I'm baffled as to how I use
the 15 CDs supplied, and have posted separately for advice.

CDs are a waste of time and money for most people (irrelevant)

and now all of them are on line as part of Ancestry World Tree

which you may use free of charge for 14 days
when you install FTM 2006


Hugh W

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