What (Free) Software? Family History Local History

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register for free.
Did you miss your activation email?
Thursday 04 December 08 17:27 GMT (UK)

News: Ad: Could they be in the 1871 Wales Census? Find out today.

RootsChat.Com

General

The Common Room

Technical Help (Moderator: Ticker)

What (Free) Software?

« previous next »

Pages: [1]

Author

Topic: What (Free) Software? (Read 1018 times)

PaulRobinson
RootsChat Extra

Offline

Posts: 15

What (Free) Software?
« on: Sunday 26 December 04 18:53 GMT (UK) »

I'm evaluating a couple of free programs to store my family history data but
before I commit loads of data to a program I'd like to be sure it's stable and the data is exportable if necessary.

I'm currently trying Legacy 5.0 (free edition), Embla Family Treasures (I've managed to crash it a few times!) and GenealogyJ.

Anyone got any comments on these or any other suggestions?


	Logged

Martin, Holland, Nevey (West Bromwich)
Horne (Claverley, Shropshire)
Robinson, Hurdsman (Wrexham)

Falkyrn
RootsChat Marquessate

Online

Posts: 4844

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 26 December 04 20:05 GMT (UK) »

Have a look at
http://www.1stopfreeshop.com/gensoft.htm
or have a look at some of the computer magazines (british) which have recently given genealogy software away on their cover discs.


	Logged

~Robert J Paton~
Searching for:
Ireland :- PATTON: WIGGINS , FLUKE, POGUE (POLLOCK).
Scotland :- GOURLAY: DEWAR : MACLELLAN : STEWART, FERGUSON : HENDRIE : BARR & others
Cuimhnich air na daoine o'n d'thainig thu

suttontrust
RootsChat Aristocrat

Offline

Posts: 2640

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 26 December 04 21:08 GMT (UK) »

It's all a matter of what you want it to do. Legacy is great for all sorts of reports but limited in the sort of charts it can produce. If you download an assortment of freebies you still might not get exactly what you want, and then decide to pay for that extra functionality.


	Logged

Godden in East Sussex, mainly Hastings area.
Richards in Lea, Gloucestershire, then London.
Williamson in Leith, Vickers in Nottingham.
Webb in Bildeston and Colchester.
Wesbroom in Kirby le Soken.
Ellington in Harwich.
Park, Palmer, Segar and Peartree in Kersey.

petere
RootsChat Extra

Offline

Posts: 28

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 26 December 04 21:14 GMT (UK) »

Paul,
I use Family Historian and am very satisfied with it. You can download a demo version to try from :-http://www.family-historian.co.uk/index.htm

regards -- Peter


	Logged

PaulRobinson
RootsChat Extra

Offline

Posts: 15

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #4 on: Monday 27 December 04 19:05 GMT (UK) »

Thanks all - I'm sticking with Legacy for now, it seems more than capable for my purposes.


	Logged

Martin, Holland, Nevey (West Bromwich)
Horne (Claverley, Shropshire)
Robinson, Hurdsman (Wrexham)

tallted
RootsChat Member

Offline

Posts: 225

I've not edited my PROFILE yet

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 28 December 04 02:19 GMT (UK) »

Hi Paul,
I am in Canada and use Family Tree Maker 2005. It has a lot going for it including the feature of creating various books for different families etc.. It has all reports re family etc.. I have never had a problem with it except for one weakness in transfering back up to cd's. You might look into it, but everyone running Windows XP might want to try it out at the store before using it to assure the cd transfer works for you.
Tallted


	Logged

Surnames I am Interested in:
Dolan, Banks, Chambers, Bemi, Hills

Reggie
RootsChat Senior

Offline

Posts: 386

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 28 December 04 06:56 GMT (UK) »

Paul

Have a look at The Master Genealogist (TMG).

Goto http://www.whollygenes.com

Also there is a forum for help at http://www.whollygenes.com/forums201/index.php

I have found it to be the best.

Reg


	Logged

Johnson: Scotland & Australia
Robertson: Scotland & Australia
Bedford: London, Surrey, Somerset, Kent, Kensington
Ash(e): Ireland, NSW Australia
Tooley: England, NSW Australia
Austen: Surrey (Shalford)
Jackson: Australia - Ulmarra, Cowper
Howard: Australia - Maclean
Reiley: South Bersted, London
O'Reilley: London & Melbourne Australia
Tubb: Berkshire
Paterson: Scotland, NSW Australia
Higginbotham: possibly England, South Australia, NSW
Tooley: London, Sydney Australia

Susie1
RootsChat Senior

Offline

Posts: 336

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 28 December 04 07:58 GMT (UK) »

Hi Paul
I use Family Tree Maker 2005. I have used Family Tree maker for years, and have upgraded a few times. I like the fact that it is easy to fill in, and you can store so much info.
Sue


	Logged

Bell - London, Dorset & Somerset
Bridge, Crow, Fewell, Prior - Essex
Cane - London & Portsmouth
Hunter - London
McLeod - Scotland, Helmsdale & Wick

Jane Taubman
RootsChat Extra

Offline

Posts: 98

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 29 December 04 22:42 GMT (UK) »

I moved from FTM as I found it too limited when it came to multimedia support, the files get very large as you add images. Also its export support is poor and unless it has improved greatly support for accurate sourcing is difficult.


	Logged

Taubman, Mitchell, Purcell - Lancashire,
Couglan, Byrnre - Ireland
Mullins, Bowditch, Crabb, Record - Dorset

nellie d
RootsChat Member

Offline

Posts: 233

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #9 on: Thursday 30 December 04 00:01 GMT (UK) »

Paul

I've used Embla family Treasyres and it's caused real problems with my computer. I think it's best to give it a miss.

Thaanks for the other info everyone.

Nellie


	Logged

Mayhew,Birch,Coates,Norman - Suffolk
Masters - Somerset
Richardson, Masters, Langridge, Dyer, Chambers - Sussex
Dyer, Luscombe, Hurrell - Devon
Chambers - Brecon
Lambden, Hawkins - Berkshire
Biggs, Cooper, Druce, Hedges, Haywood, Francis,Ward, Skidmore, Pinfold, Dorn, Gardener, Hopgood - Oxfordshire
Francis, Clarke - Lambeth/Surrey
Rowland, Emmett, Lockhart - Southwark/Middlesex
Simpson, Exall, Mann, Frisby, - Kent
Ward, Teasdale, Smalwood - Yorkshire
Tomkins, Bayliss - Warwickshire

PaulRobinson
RootsChat Extra

Offline

Posts: 15

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #10 on: Thursday 30 December 04 07:22 GMT (UK) »

Thanks Nellie & everyone, some useful info here.

I've put just about all my available data into Legacy now and it seems to work very well. The interface is a little dated but I have no other complaints considering it's a free program - I'm probably going to shell out the $20 (what's that, about £12) to upgrade to the deluxe edition.

Cheers

Paul


	Logged

Martin, Holland, Nevey (West Bromwich)
Horne (Claverley, Shropshire)
Robinson, Hurdsman (Wrexham)

foreign bunny
RootsChat Extra

Offline

Posts: 13

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #11 on: Thursday 30 December 04 08:16 GMT (UK) »

Hi Paul

One important feature of any genealogical program is the ability to do backups, so you can protect your data.

Check Legacy for exporting to Ged files and ensure that for your own protection, that you use it.

Regards
Fran


	Logged

PaulRobinson
RootsChat Extra

Offline

Posts: 15

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #12 on: Thursday 30 December 04 12:18 GMT (UK) »

Fran

Yep, it does export to GEDCOM and I'm using the back-up! Wink

Paul


	Logged

Martin, Holland, Nevey (West Bromwich)
Horne (Claverley, Shropshire)
Robinson, Hurdsman (Wrexham)

seiker9
RootsChat Pioneer

Offline

Posts: 1

I'm a llama!

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #13 on: Friday 31 December 04 06:55 GMT (UK) »

Yes, I have used Legacy for about 6 years and found it very, very dependable. I am now using Version 5 De Luxe.

But you might also be interested in GenPro. It is a free program which produces a genuine tree. That is its function. The Help instructions are clear and straightforward. It handles Gedcom beautifully. I use it as an addition to Legacy. Find it at GenoPro.com
Best wishes
Bill


	Logged

Woodhouse, in Waterhouses,
Staffs.
Harrison, in Norbury & Roston, Derbys

PaulRobinson
RootsChat Extra

Offline

Posts: 15

Re: What (Free) Software?
« Reply #14 on: Friday 31 December 04 08:42 GMT (UK) »

Thanks Bill, I'll check it out


	Logged

Martin, Holland, Nevey (West Bromwich)
Horne (Claverley, Shropshire)
Robinson, Hurdsman (Wrexham)

Pages: [1]

« previous next »

[Copyright] [Free RootsChat Webspace] [Your Surname Interests] [Shrink Link] [About Us] [Terms of Use]

All Census Lookups are Crown Copyright, National Archives for academic and non-commercial research purposes only
RootsChat.com cannot be held responsible directly or indirectly for the messages or content posted by others. Inline images in messages are the copyright of the respective linked sites.
RootsChat.com, Europa House, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 5BT

0.24:22