The FINAL time: Which software to get (and WHY)

[Sir Creep]

I bought FTM11 back 4 yrs or so ago (6? LOL)...have used it, but
honestly it seems cumbersome for having to click and open this and
that and try to remember where each intricate detail you want to
include is embeded. And then citations are a joke, unless I've no
idea how to use it properly (dar I say the company sent NO
instructions or manual with the software!).

So....I am about to re-embark on the journey with my own family and
want a once-and-for-all software that is more user-friendly (if you
think I am wrong and FTM IS user-friendly, I am happy to hear it and
maybe just need guidance). I see people talk about FREE stuff you can
get from LDS or whatever. Isn't there a reason the free stuff is
free? Anyway, this question is for the (I"m trying to be nice) non-
novice....what do you suggest and WHY. I do not necessarily want to
publish, but I do not find it impossible in the future. I DO want to
post my findings on the web....eventually. (BTW, what's the best
website to post on? and why LOL).

I know.......we've answered it a hundered times. But if Legacy (free)
is best, why? If LDS download is best, why....etc etc. I am happy to
spend a couple $$$ if need be.

Of course I could just plop the info in FTM 11 and transfer it to the
new program, couldn't I? I've no idea how the hell that works, but
hey....you guys must do that from time to time when you upgrade.

Thanks in advance.

SC

[Robert Melson]

In article <[email protected]>,
Sir Creep <[email protected]> writes:
<snip>

So....I am about to re-embark on the journey with my own family and
want a once-and-for-all software that is more user-friendly (if you
think I am wrong and FTM IS user-friendly, I am happy to hear it and
maybe just need guidance). I see people talk about FREE stuff you can
get from LDS or whatever. Isn't there a reason the free stuff is
free? Anyway, this question is for the (I"m trying to be nice) non-
novice....what do you suggest and WHY. I do not necessarily want to
publish, but I do not find it impossible in the future. I DO want to
post my findings on the web....eventually. (BTW, what's the best
website to post on? and why LOL).

snip

I think the best answer to give you, apart from the partisan
"I use Joes Genealogy 2000 and it's the best", is to suggest you
list the features you expect to find in a program and the
importance of each to you. Then look at the programs available
and note which ones have those features and which don't.
Exclude the latter. Then go to someplace like the Eastman site -
sorry, I don't have the URL - and read the reviews and use those
to thin out your possibilities. From the remaining bunch, get
the freebies and the limited trial versions and test'em on a
realistic sample of your database. Don't have a database? Download
one from RootsWeb.

In the final analysis, it comes down to how comfortable you are with
a given package. A feature that drives me nuts might be just what
the doctor ordered for you .. and vice versa. If I use "Joes" and
think its the best thing since sliced bread and you use it and find
it gives you a case of the galloping fantods, that doesn't mean there's
something wrong with you - or with me - just that we have different
ideas of what's good, bad and ugly (hmmmm, might be a movie title
in there somewhere).

Fortunately, the field to select from is relatively small and, overall,
the prices range from $0 to well under $100 for even the top-of-the-line
stuff, so you wouldn't be out a huge amount even if you bought
everything out there.

Me? I run UNIX as my operating system, which limits what I can use
natively to gramps, ftree, lifelines, genj/gdbi, GeneWeb and phpGedView or
The Next Generation. With the exception of TNG, I have'em all and
use'em all because each offers a different set of capabilities
that I find useful in different circumstances. Which is as it should
be, in my opinion.

Dunno if this philosophical detour will be helpful. But, really, the
bottom line is what YOU like and why, not what I or anybody else
likes.

Bob Melson

--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
"People unfit for freedom---who cannot do much with it---are
hungry for power." ---Eric Hoffer

[Steve Hayes]

On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 05:59:02 -0700, Sir Creep <[email protected]> wrote:

I bought FTM11 back 4 yrs or so ago (6? LOL)...have used it, but
honestly it seems cumbersome for having to click and open this and
that and try to remember where each intricate detail you want to
include is embeded. And then citations are a joke, unless I've no
idea how to use it properly (dar I say the company sent NO
instructions or manual with the software!).

So....I am about to re-embark on the journey with my own family and
want a once-and-for-all software that is more user-friendly (if you
think I am wrong and FTM IS user-friendly, I am happy to hear it and
maybe just need guidance). I see people talk about FREE stuff you can
get from LDS or whatever. Isn't there a reason the free stuff is
free? Anyway, this question is for the (I"m trying to be nice) non-
novice....what do you suggest and WHY. I do not necessarily want to
publish, but I do not find it impossible in the future. I DO want to
post my findings on the web....eventually. (BTW, what's the best
website to post on? and why LOL).

I use Legacy because it does well for me. I can't tell you if it will suit you
--n that depends on your needs. I also use PAF 4.0, to gonvert GEDCOMS for
Legacy, otherwise it switches the RINs around.

I tried FTM briefly, didn't like it, deleted it. For a start, you can't see
the RINs or print them. That may not matter to you, but it does matter to me.

I tried The Master Genealogist but never succeeded in getting it to run. It
crashed every time, on different computers.

But others have had good results with it.

I know.......we've answered it a hundered times. But if Legacy (free)
is best, why? If LDS download is best, why....etc etc. I am happy to
spend a couple $$$ if need be.

Of course I could just plop the info in FTM 11 and transfer it to the
new program, couldn't I? I've no idea how the hell that works, but
hey....you guys must do that from time to time when you upgrade.

Thanks in advance.

SC

--
Steve Hayes
E-mail: [email protected] (see web page if it doesn't work)
Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/famhist1.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7783/

[Charani]

On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 05:59:02 -0700, Sir Creep wrote:

I know.......we've answered it a hundered times. But if Legacy (free)
is best, why? If LDS download is best, why....etc etc. I am happy to
spend a couple $$$ if need be.

Try as many of the programs as you can. If they aren't free they
offer a free trial. Only you will know what is best, ie does what you
want and you feel comfortable with.

I use Legacy because it does what I want, it's very user friendly (my
10 year old sussed it out with no problems) and I like it's
customability. I upgraded to the Deluxe version for some of the extra
features which I find useful.

I've also used PAF but I find it clumpy, clumsy and not very user
friendly. I just use it as a holding tank for people/families I'm not
yet sure "belong" to me.
--
http://home.comcast.net/~webact1/Collingridge/

[T.M. Sommers]

Sir Creep wrote:

I see people talk about FREE stuff you can
get from LDS or whatever. Isn't there a reason the free stuff is
free?

For physical goods, perhaps, but the marginal cost of a copy of
software is essentially nil, so the economics are different.
Some of the best software in the world is free. The internet
runs on free software. Want to convert a domain name to an IP
address? Your DNS server will almost certainly be running bind,
which is free. Want to send some email? The odds are very good
that it will be handled by sendmail or postfix, free software.

--
Thomas M. Sommers -- [email protected] -- AB2SB

[singhals]

Sir Creep wrote:

I bought FTM11 back 4 yrs or so ago (6? LOL)...have used it, but
honestly it seems cumbersome for having to click and open this and
that and try to remember where each intricate detail you want to
include is embeded. And then citations are a joke, unless I've no
idea how to use it properly (dar I say the company sent NO
instructions or manual with the software!).

So....I am about to re-embark on the journey with my own family and
want a once-and-for-all software that is more user-friendly (if you
think I am wrong and FTM IS user-friendly, I am happy to hear it and
maybe just need guidance). I see people talk about FREE stuff you can
get from LDS or whatever. Isn't there a reason the free stuff is
free? Anyway, this question is for the (I"m trying to be nice) non-
novice....what do you suggest and WHY. I do not necessarily want to
publish, but I do not find it impossible in the future. I DO want to
post my findings on the web....eventually. (BTW, what's the best
website to post on? and why LOL).

I know.......we've answered it a hundered times. But if Legacy (free)
is best, why? If LDS download is best, why....etc etc. I am happy to
spend a couple $$$ if need be.

Of course I could just plop the info in FTM 11 and transfer it to the
new program, couldn't I? I've no idea how the hell that works, but
hey....you guys must do that from time to time when you upgrade.

Bad news, son: if you're looking for a program that doesn't
make you here a click, there a click, everywhere a
click-click, you're not going to find one.

PAF 2.x was great that way: there were 2 and ONLY two places
to put info. PAF 3 added one; and PAF 4 & 5 seem to believe
in a place for everything no matter whether you can get it back.

I use PAF4 and 5, because I've used PAF since 2.0; learning
a new program at this point would be more bother than it
could possibly be worth. PAF does what I want it to do with
as few mental gymnastics as possible from me. IOW, I can
concentrate on WHAT I'm keying in rather than on HOW to put
it in or WHERE to put it.

I have Legacy (Free version) and although I like the web
pages it produces better than I like those out of PAF, it's
otherwise pretty similar to PAF5.

I've looked at The Master Genealogist but never developed a
full appreciation of the benefit of keeping my data by
"event" rather than by "family" and even the demo drove me
crazy. It is, however, the best data-analysis tool around.

I've used past versions of FTM and got mad in every possible
useage of the word. It did do a nice age-at-death report,
and the how-is-everyone-in-the-database-related-to-me report
has been handy once or twice.


Cheryl

[aspidistra]

"Sir Creep" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

I bought FTM11 back 4 yrs or so ago (6? LOL)...have used it, but
honestly it seems cumbersome for having to click and open this and
that and try to remember where each intricate detail you want to
include is embeded. And then citations are a joke, unless I've no
idea how to use it properly (dar I say the company sent NO
instructions or manual with the software!).

So....I am about to re-embark on the journey with my own family and
want a once-and-for-all software that is more user-friendly (if you
think I am wrong and FTM IS user-friendly, I am happy to hear it and
maybe just need guidance). I see people talk about FREE stuff you can
get from LDS or whatever. Isn't there a reason the free stuff is
free? Anyway, this question is for the (I"m trying to be nice) non-
novice....what do you suggest and WHY. I do not necessarily want to
publish, but I do not find it impossible in the future. I DO want to
post my findings on the web....eventually. (BTW, what's the best
website to post on? and why LOL).

I know.......we've answered it a hundered times. But if Legacy (free)
is best, why? If LDS download is best, why....etc etc. I am happy to
spend a couple $$$ if need be.

Of course I could just plop the info in FTM 11 and transfer it to the
new program, couldn't I? I've no idea how the hell that works, but
hey....you guys must do that from time to time when you upgrade.

Thanks in advance.

SC

I bought two softwares, Family Tree Maker and one other, and both were

cumbersome and a pain. I am still using PAF, the free Mormon program, nearly
2 years later. It's not perfect but it's nearly perfect. It's easy. It's not
a scam or a burden or full of ads or begging you to buy add ons.

It just works and it's important that it be easy, fast, and not cumbersome.
I didn't care if I spent a lot, I wanted the best. I got the best, so
called, and I just didn't like them. But PAF works, and doesn't have
gimmicks or annoying features, and that is the main reason I have for
recommending it.

As ancestry.com has a monopoly, I had no choice but to pay their fee and
rejoin. I need the powerful database and search engine. Using this and their
online family tree feature, along with my PAF file to create a GED, I have
everything necessary.

If and when I want to print a super duper report again I'll take out the
Family Tree or Legacy or whatever else, and fool around with it. But as no
one but me cares in the family, I think the plain family tree format is just
fine. I do this for future generations. The current batch just live in the
present and are bored of history.

[Bruce Remick]

"aspidistra" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:r9kTi.126313$1y4.119627@pd7urf2no...

"Sir Creep" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I bought FTM11 back 4 yrs or so ago (6? LOL)...have used it, but
honestly it seems cumbersome for having to click and open this and
that and try to remember where each intricate detail you want to
include is embeded. And then citations are a joke, unless I've no
idea how to use it properly (dar I say the company sent NO
instructions or manual with the software!).

So....I am about to re-embark on the journey with my own family and
want a once-and-for-all software that is more user-friendly (if you
think I am wrong and FTM IS user-friendly, I am happy to hear it and
maybe just need guidance). I see people talk about FREE stuff you can
get from LDS or whatever. Isn't there a reason the free stuff is
free? Anyway, this question is for the (I"m trying to be nice) non-
novice....what do you suggest and WHY. I do not necessarily want to
publish, but I do not find it impossible in the future. I DO want to
post my findings on the web....eventually. (BTW, what's the best
website to post on? and why LOL).

I know.......we've answered it a hundered times. But if Legacy (free)
is best, why? If LDS download is best, why....etc etc. I am happy to
spend a couple $$$ if need be.

Of course I could just plop the info in FTM 11 and transfer it to the
new program, couldn't I? I've no idea how the hell that works, but
hey....you guys must do that from time to time when you upgrade.

Thanks in advance.

SC

I bought two softwares, Family Tree Maker and one other, and both were
cumbersome and a pain. I am still using PAF, the free Mormon program,
nearly 2 years later. It's not perfect but it's nearly perfect. It's easy.
It's not a scam or a burden or full of ads or begging you to buy add ons.

It just works and it's important that it be easy, fast, and not
cumbersome. I didn't care if I spent a lot, I wanted the best. I got the
best, so called, and I just didn't like them. But PAF works, and doesn't
have gimmicks or annoying features, and that is the main reason I have for
recommending it.

As ancestry.com has a monopoly, I had no choice but to pay their fee and
rejoin. I need the powerful database and search engine. Using this and
their online family tree feature, along with my PAF file to create a GED,
I have everything necessary.

If and when I want to print a super duper report again I'll take out the
Family Tree or Legacy or whatever else, and fool around with it. But as no
one but me cares in the family, I think the plain family tree format is
just fine. I do this for future generations. The current batch just live
in the present and are bored of history.

Don't dispair. I used to live in the present for my first forty years or
so, and then became very interested in my family's history. Sadly, by then
the family elders had passed on and I found that no one had cared to
document even their own immediate past. Now that you're doing it, I suspect
some of your descendants will thank you for it later.

Bruce

[Hugh Watkins]

aspidistra wrote:

"Sir Creep" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

I bought FTM11 back 4 yrs or so ago (6? LOL)...have used it, but
honestly it seems cumbersome for having to click and open this and
that and try to remember where each intricate detail you want to
include is embeded. And then citations are a joke, unless I've no
idea how to use it properly (dar I say the company sent NO
instructions or manual with the software!).

So....I am about to re-embark on the journey with my own family and
want a once-and-for-all software that is more user-friendly (if you
think I am wrong and FTM IS user-friendly, I am happy to hear it and
maybe just need guidance). I see people talk about FREE stuff you can
get from LDS or whatever. Isn't there a reason the free stuff is
free? Anyway, this question is for the (I"m trying to be nice) non-
novice....what do you suggest and WHY. I do not necessarily want to
publish, but I do not find it impossible in the future. I DO want to
post my findings on the web....eventually. (BTW, what's the best
website to post on? and why LOL).

I know.......we've answered it a hundered times. But if Legacy (free)
is best, why? If LDS download is best, why....etc etc. I am happy to
spend a couple $$$ if need be.

Of course I could just plop the info in FTM 11 and transfer it to the
new program, couldn't I? I've no idea how the hell that works, but
hey....you guys must do that from time to time when you upgrade.

Thanks in advance.

SC


I bought two softwares, Family Tree Maker and one other, and both were
cumbersome and a pain. I am still using PAF, the free Mormon program, nearly
2 years later. It's not perfect but it's nearly perfect. It's easy. It's not
a scam or a burden or full of ads or begging you to buy add ons.

It just works and it's important that it be easy, fast, and not cumbersome.
I didn't care if I spent a lot, I wanted the best. I got the best, so
called, and I just didn't like them. But PAF works, and doesn't have
gimmicks or annoying features, and that is the main reason I have for
recommending it.

As ancestry.com has a monopoly,

depends on the country
and the year

I had no choice but to pay their fee and
rejoin.

still many freebies
it is also allowed to go to archives

I need the powerful database and search engine. Using this and their
online family tree feature, along with my PAF file to create a GED, I have
everything necessary.

If and when I want to print a super duper report again I'll take out the
Family Tree or Legacy or whatever else, and fool around with it. But as no
one but me cares in the family, I think the plain family tree format is just
fine. I do this for future generations. The current batch just live in the
present and are bored of history.

there is a separate tree program for PAF

Companion??

Hugh W


--
For genealogy and help with family and local history in Bristol and
district http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Brycgstow/

http://snaps4.blogspot.com/ photographs and walks

GENEALOGE http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ MAIN BLOG

[JD]

"aspidistra" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:r9kTi.126313$1y4.119627@pd7urf2no:

"Sir Creep" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I bought FTM11 back 4 yrs or so ago (6? LOL)...have used it, but
honestly it seems cumbersome for having to click and open this and
that and try to remember where each intricate detail you want to
include is embeded. And then citations are a joke, unless I've no
idea how to use it properly (dar I say the company sent NO
instructions or manual with the software!).

So....I am about to re-embark on the journey with my own family and
want a once-and-for-all software that is more user-friendly (if you

<snipped a bunch>

I bought two softwares, Family Tree Maker and one other, and both were
cumbersome and a pain. I am still using PAF, the free Mormon program,
nearly 2 years later. It's not perfect but it's nearly perfect. It's
easy. It's not a scam or a burden or full of ads or begging you to buy
add ons.

It just works and it's important that it be easy, fast, and not
cumbersome. I didn't care if I spent a lot, I wanted the best. I got
the best, so called, and I just didn't like them. But PAF works, and
doesn't have gimmicks or annoying features, and that is the main
reason I have for recommending it.

As ancestry.com has a monopoly, I had no choice but to pay their fee
and rejoin. I need the powerful database and search engine. Using this
and their online family tree feature, along with my PAF file to create
a GED, I have everything necessary.

If and when I want to print a super duper report again I'll take out
the Family Tree or Legacy or whatever else, and fool around with it.
But as no one but me cares in the family, I think the plain family
tree format is just fine. I do this for future generations. The
current batch just live in the present and are bored of history.

As many bad things that Ancestry.com can & have been said about it I agree
with this method, especially for beginners and people like me that only
just now want to REALLY start digging past the Ancestry databases. As long
as the user is aware (or cares) that some of the resources are poorly
documented or plain wrong (like most all of the trees) and trys to avoid
using them, you can't beat the speed of getting citations into your file
and the user interface is reasonably logical and speedy, I think. And the
evaluation of the citations (sources) is really what the decisions to link
or not link are or should be based on, yes? The most citeable and
electronically automated-entry data in one place seems to be Ancestry.com.

I try to only add to my online tree work if the entry includes a decent
citation, and export-import into something on my PC that meets my basic
display and what-if needs. I'm only just now (after 5 or so years and am
happy with my "rough" tree) thinking about something better for the PC that
will help me as I hunt down the not-available-on-the-net data. Completeness
, ease of entry, & evaluation of citations is only just now what I want to
"work" for me.

[ChrisGW]

JD <jd4x4@ wrote:

"aspidistra" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:r9kTi.126313$1y4.119627@pd7urf2no:

"Sir Creep" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I bought FTM11 back 4 yrs or so ago (6? LOL)...have used it, but
honestly it seems cumbersome for having to click and open this and
that and try to remember where each intricate detail you want to
include is embeded. And then citations are a joke, unless I've no
idea how to use it properly (dar I say the company sent NO
instructions or manual with the software!).

So....I am about to re-embark on the journey with my own family and
want a once-and-for-all software that is more user-friendly (if you

snipped a bunch

I bought two softwares, Family Tree Maker and one other, and both were
cumbersome and a pain. I am still using PAF, the free Mormon program,
nearly 2 years later. It's not perfect but it's nearly perfect. It's
easy. It's not a scam or a burden or full of ads or begging you to buy
add ons.

It just works and it's important that it be easy, fast, and not
cumbersome. I didn't care if I spent a lot, I wanted the best. I got
the best, so called, and I just didn't like them. But PAF works, and
doesn't have gimmicks or annoying features, and that is the main
reason I have for recommending it.

As ancestry.com has a monopoly, I had no choice but to pay their fee
and rejoin. I need the powerful database and search engine. Using this
and their online family tree feature, along with my PAF file to create
a GED, I have everything necessary.

If and when I want to print a super duper report again I'll take out
the Family Tree or Legacy or whatever else, and fool around with it.
But as no one but me cares in the family, I think the plain family
tree format is just fine. I do this for future generations. The
current batch just live in the present and are bored of history.



As many bad things that Ancestry.com can & have been said about it I agree
with this method, especially for beginners and people like me that only
just now want to REALLY start digging past the Ancestry databases. As long
as the user is aware (or cares) that some of the resources are poorly
documented or plain wrong (like most all of the trees) and trys to avoid
using them, you can't beat the speed of getting citations into your file
and the user interface is reasonably logical and speedy, I think. And the
evaluation of the citations (sources) is really what the decisions to link
or not link are or should be based on, yes? The most citeable and
electronically automated-entry data in one place seems to be Ancestry.com.

I try to only add to my online tree work if the entry includes a decent
citation, and export-import into something on my PC that meets my basic
display and what-if needs. I'm only just now (after 5 or so years and am
happy with my "rough" tree) thinking about something better for the PC that
will help me as I hunt down the not-available-on-the-net data. Completeness
, ease of entry, & evaluation of citations is only just now what I want to
"work" for me.

I use FTM version 9 and it is ok. I can not see upgrading, I have not seen
anything in the newer versions that I think is worth the cost or other software
that would be that much better. I have not checked out PAF. Was wondering if
anyone has set something up in Excel that works better. I have considered
playing around with it, just have not taken the time to do it.

Chris