RootsChat.Com
General => Technical Help => Family History Programs, Tree Organisation, Presentation => Topic started by: Jebber on Friday 30 June 17 21:45 BST (UK)
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RootsMagic have announced that data and pictures can now be transferred between RootsMagic on your computer and your trees on Ancestry.
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Needs the new RootsMagic version 7.5 ;D
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Hi KGarrad
I'm interested to know your thoughts on whether RootsMagic is worth investing in. I'm looking fairly new to genealogy and have my trees on ancestry.com but would prefer to have it stored on my own hard drive.
Jebber - do you use this software app and if so what's your experience?
Thanks in advance
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I have been using RootsMagic for about 10 years now - and I am perfectly happy with it.
You can start with the free RootsMagic Essentials.
Try it out and see what you think.
http://www.rootsmagic.com/Essentials/
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Thanks KGarrard
Is it the only local software app you use or is it part of a suite of apps? Is the connection with ancestry.com as good as it appears on the brochure?
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I use the PC software - not an app!
I don't connect to Ancestry, so can't comment about that side of things.
"app" is a term invented by Apple - and I refuse to have anything to do with their products.
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I use the software on my laptop, I don't have the latest version because, like KGarrad I don't connect to Ancestry, I choose not have a tree on there.
I have the app on my iPad for the convenience of having my complete tree to refer to when out. The disadvantage of the app you, can't edit it, so if needed, I make notes to add information to my tree on the laptop and regularly transfer the updated version to the iPad.
I keep several trees on the app, this is convenient for showing computerless friends what progress I make on their trees.
I also carry RootsMagic on a memory stick, this I can plug into any computer and edit my tree, or share sections with relatives.
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Thanks KGarrard and Jebber, I think I'll buy the full-fledged software based on your recommendation.
Jebber - I was interested in your comment that you've chosen not to have a tree on ancestry.com - have you had a negative experience(s) there or do you have other tools that suit you better? Also, I was interested in your comment that you research and record family trees for friends. I hadn't even thought about doing that (I've been too engrossed in my own family's for the last few months of getting into genealogy) but now you've mentioned that idea (and that RootsMagic allows you to keep multiple trees) I'm going to keep it in mind.
Much thanks
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I would always suggest you keep some sort of backup and not rely on keeping a tree on a website, particularly not Ancestry given the problems they are having at the moment!
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Thanks for the input ggrocott. What are the problems ancestry.com are having at the moment?
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Site keeps crashing, people cannot get in, searches are not very good, hints are their usual awful self, (when was the last time someone managed to get married/baptised/buried before they had even been born) ........................................
The list is endless.
I keep a tree on my computer so that I can work on it without going on to any of the commercial sites.
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Site keeps crashing, people cannot get in, searches are not very good, hints are their usual awful self, (when was the last time someone managed to get married/baptised/buried before they had even been born) ........................................
The list is endless.
I keep a tree on my computer so that I can work on it without going on to any of the commercial sites.
That's simply not my experience of Ancestry! ;D
I have never had it crash.
Searches, generally, are only as good as the input. Narrow your search range by country, place, dates, etc.
Hints can be ignored!
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KGarrad
« on: Today at 22:00 »
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I said 'at the moment'. It has only been the case since Easter. You have been very lucky, or not using it if you haven't found yourself staring at the gold panner, directed to ancestry.com, told you need to pay when you are already paid up or just locked out over the last few weeks, and it doesn't matter how much you narrow the search at the moment, the results are awful. The results frequently don't even bare any relation to what you have input.
Yes, I ignore practically all the hints, but how they manage to come up with them is a bit of a puzzle.
Its a shame because Ancestry used to be very good. At the moment it isn't. Hopefully they will get it sorted out eventually because I have paid for another 6 months and at the moment it verges on unusable.
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I am on Ancestry almost every day, I have no trouble, touch wood this dose not jinx it ;D
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I am on Ancestry almost every day, I have no trouble, touch wood this dose not jinx it ;D
Me too 😀 i get some odd hints but they are generally because i don’t have the country included in my ancestors details.
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I am on Ancestry almost every day, I have no trouble, touch wood this dose not jinx it ;D
Me as well, I use it everyday and so far haven't had any problems. It can't be the fact that I use a Mac as KG hasn't had problems! :D
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I am on Ancestry almost every day, I have no trouble, touch wood this dose not jinx it ;D
Me as well, I use it everyday and so far haven't had any problems. It can't be the fact that I use a Mac as KG hasn't had problems! :D
I'm in the 'it's terrible' camp, unfortunately, and I also use it every day. I've had instances where I know the exact name, baptism date, church & parents names and it still doesn't appear in the results, but leaving out the forename and father's name will somehow return the record. I'll also specify (say) Yorkshire, but the first page or two of results will be for a completely different county, and the top one is frequently for a completely different name!
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I too have had recent problems in the last month or so. Searches not coming up with something I know is there, and want to refer back to, record sets not appearing in the card catalogue (I have to google search them),search parameters not coming up with the correct responses (yet when I make it a more general search I find the records I want), and the card catalogue sometimes not having anything past the first page. I feel there are some gremlins in their software.
As an example, look for the Dorset wills in the card catalogue. I have to look for it via Google lately.