Software: Summary
by John Cardiff
Last updated: 03 Sep 2008
  
If you are happy with your present genealogy software, don't switch without good reason. After all, you have an investment in installation and learning curve to protect. 

Get the program that meets your needs. Wall chart enthusiasts should look for variety and depth -- there are dozens of wall chart types out there. Potential book publishers should ensure their choice will produce the book format they want. Those wanting to distribute their handiwork as web pages will want to pay attention to each program's web site generation features.

Failure to document your sources is a big whoops. Make sure documenting yours is quick, easy and thorough. Check out all program's "bug list." Bugs are not acceptable. You want a solution that works for you.

"Working for you" should include GEDCOM 5.5 support. Any less and you should look elsewhere.

There is one other measuring stick: what does your friend or cousin use? Using the same program allows you to share what your have learned as you go. It won't necessarily improve your genealogy, but it might enhance genealogy experience.

The foregoing not withstanding, here's a wrap-up of each program's strengths and weaknesses.

Ancestral Quest 2002. There is a lot to like here: online collaboration, great sourcing, great chart generation, a multimedia scrapbook with slideshow creation. This one is definitely worthy of your consideration.

Brother's Keeper. One of the oldest genealogy programs still available. Reasonably priced. Available online. Very slow. Produces unacceptable off-standard, web site file. No longer in popularity's top five. May crash your system. Not Recommended.

Generations and Reunion. Reunion for Windows bombed. It was sold to another company, renamed Generations, re-released, and bombed again. Genealogy.com (the company behind Family Tree Maker) bought it and shelved it. No Longer Available.

Master Genealogist. A very powerful program. Perhaps too powerful. If you are serious to the point of turning professional, and plan to use your genealogy program for hours each day (so you won't forget how to use all its features) go for it! The Master Genealogist certainly has all the bells and whistles. But most genealogists are weekend warriors, hobbyists, who want something easier.

Family Tree Maker. The market leader. It prints beautiful wall charts. Book generation is not its strong suite. Web site generation is non-existent. This is the one you are most apt to find on store shelves bundled with collections of data on CD-ROMs. The unbundled program alone is reasonably priced. Genealogy.com co-ops your uploaded data, which should make this program a non-starter for most of us. For its policy of scooping user's data and not providing true HTML generation: Not recommended.

Family Tree Legends. The new kid on the block, Legends seems like a good solid freshman effort. Once it matures in future releases it will presumably be more competitive. It is a tad too Internet and GenCircles dependent for my taste.

Personal Ancestral File (PAF). Everyone's favorite second choice. Free, available online, and by yesterday's standards, reasonably powerful. Wall charts are not its strength. (For those download an accessory program: PAF Companion.)  If you want a manual, plan to hunt for third-party products online. Word 97 couldn't open the RTF descendants book file PAF 5.0 generated, during our tests. 

Legacy. Legacy 7.0 Standard Edition is a free download, so right away it has something going for it. But virtually everything worth your consideration is a Deluxe version feature. The web page (yes, just one) is nothing short of bizaar. Future versions should be more mature, particularly on the output front.

Family Origins. Family Origins has been discontinued. It had been my personal favorite since version 4, when it was the fastest, easiest and most powerful Windows genealogy program available. Version 10 still compared well with competitors' latest releases. My favorite for publishing charts, books, and web sites. The data entry screen was a novice's dream. Sourcing was almost as automatic as you hoped it would be. The manual cost extra, but didn't break the bank.

RootsMagic. RootsMagic version 1.0, Family Origins' successor, arrived buggy and incomplete in February 2003. But through various versions it has steadily improved. These days it is the one to beat. RootsMagic 3.0 is the one I use day-in, day-out. Version 4 should be out in time for Christmas.

Bottom line. If you are savvy enough and patient enough to proceed without a printed manual, why not download free PAF right now, and get your feet wet with that? Later, if you so choose, you can upgrade to RootsMagic or Master Genealogist.