RootsChat.Com
General => Technical Help => Family History Programs, Tree Organisation, Presentation => Topic started by: PaulThommo on Tuesday 16 October 18 13:32 BST (UK)
-
Hello Rootschatters, when I first joined up to Find My Past numerous years ago I bought 'Pay as you go' as I did family research in dribs and drabs and the credits lasted for one year, which suited me fine. Then they changed it to lasting for 3 months. Now they have announced that if you do not have a subscription or current 'Pay as you go' (I often let mine lapse until I want to do more research) then you will not be able to access 'My Records'. I have a feeling that next in line will be my family tree which you won't be able to access unless you are paying money to them.
So I think it may be time to own my tree and be able to have total control over it. I know this subject was raised a couple of years ago but new things come along and others improve, so can anyone recommend a paid for or free program?
Many thanks, Paul
-
Hi Paul,
There are several "local" programs out there. I use Family Tree Maker for the very reason you mentioned. FTM synchs with Ancestry so you get the power of Ancestry searching with the control you desire. Just a thought.
:)
-
FTM synchs with Ancestry so you get the power of Ancestry searching with the control you desire.
I have FTM 2006 (bought disc) i.e. not downloaded which I have installed on several comps/laptops at different times over the yrs to do portable research but it doesn't sync with Ancestry anymore!
I believe the same thing with more up-to-date FTM syncs with Ancestry is only if you have a subscription although I'm not sure?
I would recommend a bought disc rather than downloaded as it can be installed on any comp/laptop.
Annie
-
That is true. Both FTM and Ancestry are paid products but they serve my needs.
:)
-
So I think it may be time to own my tree and be able to have total control over it. I know this subject was raised a couple of years ago but new things come along and others improve, so can anyone recommend a paid for or free program?
The other thing with buying a disc is, you don't have to be 'online' to add content & I've noticed there may be a limit as to the amount of generations you can download from a free online tree?
Having your own disc will allow you to upload/download gedcoms to/from anywhere/anytime with no limits.
Annie
-
Hi
Before you do anything else, please ensure that you have a full copy of the main detail of those on your tree residing on your "home" computer, and separate backups. . . . . .
Ray
-
Many thanks to all who replied, can you get the discs to load onto your computer now? all the sites I looked at just offer the downloading option, I think it is the way they operate now. Same as my internet security, I pay, they send me a product code and I download the program.
I looked at Family Tree Maker 2017, Family Historian 6, Legacy 9, RootsMagic 7 & Family Tree Heritage 9 and Family Historian 6 looked the best for my requirements as it is a UK product, suitable for UK historians (which is me) and also it links in with Find My Past, which I use. Of course all these products have so many applications for you to use, same as mobile phones nowadays, you only use a fraction of what they have to offer, I have no need for colour coordination families and I have yet to find a same sex marriage in my ancestors. Maybe I might try the free version first which has just the basics and then I can upgrade to the paid version if I need more, unless anyone can recommend a paid basic model.
Many thanks, Paul
-
I use Reunion - it is an American programme (its one drawback for me) - paid for and downloadable - I find it really good - not cheap but reliable and clear. Not reliant on any other programmes but secure on my computer.
Every year or so they upgrade it but I still use the original programme I bought as I like the look of it. I bought it in 2009 I believe. If nothing else, it is worth considering. I run a Mac computer and it suits that, but I think can run on PCs as well.
Wiggy (also in Australia)
-
I have Family Historian (an early version). It is very good and appealed due to being a UK product. It got (and probably still gets) glowing reviews. I find even the early version quite complex, and to my shame, I have never fully mastered it.
When I "do" trees for friends and family, I use Tribal Pages. It is free but an paid upgrade with more features is available. I find it very simple, intuitive and easy to use. As I was building other's trees, the fact that they can log in and make changes is what appealed.
-
Thanks Wiggy & Ruskie, more to think about, I still like Family Historian.
Paul
-
With Family Historian the free version is a time-limited trial of the full product (except for the optional plug-ins), whereas some other programs offer a free version that works indefinitely but with some features permanently unavailable.
If you're weighing up costs, even though Family Historian may initially be a bit dearer than some programs, it seems to me that the major paid-for updates don't come round as often as with some others.
I'm certainly happy with Family Historian. You can do fairly complex things with it, but you don't have to if that's not your thing.
-
Thanks ArthurK, yes I had noticed that Family Historian did a free 'trial' version but only for 30 days, which is a pity.
Has anyone tried Tribal Pages? It came up while looking on the internet.
Thanks, Paul
-
Thanks ArthurK, yes I had noticed that Family Historian did a free 'trial' version but only for 30 days, which is a pity.
Has anyone tried Tribal Pages? It came up while looking on the internet.
Thanks, Paul
See my reply #8.
Yes. It is basic but adequate, depending on what you want to do with your tree.
-
Thanks ArthurK, yes I had noticed that Family Historian did a free 'trial' version but only for 30 days, which is a pity.
Has anyone tried Tribal Pages? It came up while looking on the internet.
Thanks, Paul
See my reply #8.
Yes. It is basic but adequate, depending on what you want to do with your tree.
Thanks Ruskie, yes I did see your comment re Tribal Pages, it must have been at the back of my mind when I saw the website. Really all I want to do is record dates and place of bmd's for each family member plus ability to add where they were living at census time and also add any photographs I may have of them, houses/streets they lived at and gravestones. Oh and the ability to have 2 marriages as a couple of my ancestors married twice.
Thanks, Paul
-
I think you can do all of those things on Tribal Pages. There may be more security or less chance of your information being lost if you have your own tree on your own computer rather than have Tribal Pages "hosting" it? That might be something to investigate/consider.
-
I think you can do all of those things on Tribal Pages. There may be more security or less chance of your information being lost if you have your own tree on your own computer rather than have Tribal Pages "hosting" it? That might be something to investigate/consider.
Thanks Ruskie for your help. Paul
-
Once you have your 'GED/GEDCOM' file you can load that in any Genealogical software..... I have used http://www.tcgr.bufton.org/index.html in the past - which will allow you a trial period before you have to buy. It has a couple of associated addons that are very useful too. The (tcgr programme) has a PDF generator that has been adopted by My Heritage, which is my preferred 'in computer' programme. It's very easy to use. .....Just don't let My Heritage know more than the absolute minimum about you..... :)
-
.....Just don't let My Heritage know more than the absolute minimum about you..... :)
oooo. :o Why? Can you elaborate please? :)
-
Free
Editable on-line
( or just edit the gedcom file off line )
Reloadable/refreshable from that amended gedcom.
ZoomPast.com
Ray
-
For much of my career I used to test and assess software. I am very impressed with ZoomPast. It is supposedly not yet ready for mobile devices, but it still works very well on my Android tablet, as well as on PCs. It also works perfectly OK offline if you load it in your browser (no local software is needed) while you have Internet access. It has a unique but easy to learn Interface, much like using a map. It's not my main software, but I think it will grow in popularity. Totally free.
Martin
-
a lone voice in the wilderness here
I have a tree online. Its not custom generated, I tried a few of the available programs years ago and found that they didn't suit me.
So I set to and built my own tree.
I have a filing system on my computer, a folder for each generation, and a zillion subfolders for the people, children of the people, and grandchildren of the people in each generation. That is backed up about 5 different ways. Every snippet of info, every reference to those snippets is saved into the individual's folder.
Then I have a website, password protected and carefully monitored. Each person has a page and I record all the documents and their references, and tell their 'story' and show any pictures I have that relate to their lives. That too is backed up in various ways. Plus I have all the original files on my computer.
Oh and I also have the filing cabinet, stuffed with folders for each person with printed versions of all the info. No matter what changes there are in computer technology, they will still be readable in 100 years time :-)
I am sure that a custom built 'programme' would have been simpler/quicker for me to use, but it just didn't suit me.
I could have built a tree on one of the many commercial sites, but again that's not what I wanted.
Each to their own, but the bottom line is, think about it carefully and make your own decision about what suits 'you' and do bear in mind that though the programme is available now and works with a current operating system, it may not do in the future.
Whether that future is reached in the next week, month, year, decade, or even century it 'may' not work at some stage.
I've put a LOT of time, effort and hard cash into my research, I want to make sure its still around in some format for future generations
Boo
-
My program of choice is Roots Magic which uses a SQLite database. If the main program lacks something you want (which seems unlikely) the database can be queried in any way you can think of using SQLite. The free RootsMagic Essentials does not limit the number of people or events you can enter.
No connection, just a satisfied user.
Mike.
-
I’m getting Family Historian.
I sent them an email asking if one licence allows use on computer and laptop. They answered very promptly with a “yes, it allows use on 2 computers”.
Jamjar
-
Free
Editable on-line
( or just edit the gedcom file off line )
Reloadable/refreshable from that amended gedcom.
ZoomPast.com
Ray
Thanks Ray & Martin, I had a look at Zoompast and have added my extended tree to that site.
It seems to be well thought out and a useful way to share family tree information with either the public, limited groups of individuals or indeed kept private.
I look forward to playing about with it and seeing just how good it is.
Cheers
Guy
-
Zoompast sounds interesting, thanks Ray and Martin. I'm going to have a close look at it as well. :)
-
Thanks everyone for their thoughts, ideas and recommendations, like a few other people Zoompast looks good. cheers, Paul