I need some advice on choosing a Family History Program

[downside]

Loo

All programs do pretty much what you require.  The main differences are how data is displayed on the screen and in reports and charts. 

Unfortunately you are not in a position to test trial versions of the various programs you mentioned because you have created a Word version of your family tree.  Basically you need to have a GEDCOM file before you can test your data in those various programs.  You may have a tree on GenesReunited.com in which case you could ask them to send you a gedcom file from that, otherwise you are going to have to spend some time inputting all your data.  Of course you can copy and paste data from your Word document into your program.  However, much of the formatting cannot be used, so if you have used bold or italics in your Word document then you will not be able to copy into your family tree program.

My advice to you is to download a free program like PAF (Personal Ancestry File) from the LDS and input some data.  Once you have created a few records then you can download free trial versions of other programs and then export a gedcom file from PAF and import it into other downloaded trial versions.

http://www.familysearch.org/

[JAP]

Loo
All programs do pretty much what you require.  The main differences are how data is displayed on the screen and in reports and charts. 

Very true!
The fact is that probably all programs are pretty good and it's just a matter of individual preference.  As with all cars 
Give them all a test drive and see what you like.  As with cars, you may not get it right first time around 

Unfortunately you are not in a position to test trial versions of the various programs you mentioned because you have created a Word version of your family tree.  Basically you need to have a GEDCOM file before you can test your data in those various programs.  ... 

NO, not at all!

TMG (The Master Genealogist) has a process called GenBridge which does NOT require a GEDCOM but transfers direct from many many family history programs.

Though, of course, not from a Word story - which would presumably be a narrative story rather than entries in a database.

I actually moved from Word to TMG (requiring, of course, much data entry!) because I thought that my Word narrative was really what TMG was trying to produce out of its database ...

But there's no doubt that it's not the program for everybody ...

However, I just mention this as a matter of fact.

All the best,

JAP

[Reggie]

Yes, it is a matter of preference and the most IMPORTANT consideration is how you want your Reports to appear.

I use The Master Genealogist (TMG).  It is the best program on the market that I have tested.  However, in saying that, it is a program that is not easy to learn but once you have mastered it I don't think you will ever go to another one. If you do decide to go with TMG be aware version 7 is getting very close to releasing.

I downloaded Rootsmagic trial version because I did a talk on Genealogy programs. While it is a reasonably good program and quite easy to use it doesn't go anywhere near TMG.  I also have Family Historian (FH) which again is a good program but still doesn't even produce a good narrative given the cost of it.  I communicated with the people at FH but got a very negative reply from a person who said "..this is what I do..." but it wasn't really a narrative.  It doesn't break the data into reasonable paragraphs. BUT, it has some wonderful features. Also has quite a good individual report for people.

I have also used Legacy.  Again a good program but not up to the standard of TMG.  Very easy to use.

Regarding reports from a genealogy program - I think you want to be able to have the report come out into 'word' or a similar word processing program. Here you can put those finishing touches to your report.  Eg, maybe you want a narrative on your descendants, plus some family group charts of some of the earlier generations tied in with a pedigree chart (a glimpse of a chart and where a person falls is worth a thousand words).

As we all say, it is up to you what you feel is right for you.  And again, as someone said earlier you will have to input all your data into a genealogy program and that will take a lot of work. More than likely it will be worth it.

TMG have a 30 day trial ( http://www.whollygenes.com/ )

Legacy use to have a free program.  However, there is an upgrade which allows some more features ( http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/ )

Family Historian has a free trial - (http://www.family-historian.co.uk/ )

Rootsmagic has a free trial ( http://www.rootsmagic.com/ )

Load them down and give it a go.  That is the best way to do it. It is your choice on how you feel with the ease operation, screen views, various reports produced, how the reports are produced, photograph insertion and placements etc.

Good luck.

Reg

[loo]

Thanks for the opinions;  keep 'em coming!

So far, you have made me re-think what exactly I want to get out of this in the end.
I prefer the narrative I write myself, and don't really want the programme to do that for me.  I think I am just looking for a place to put all the basic facts and their source footnotes, cross-checks, and sometimes substantive notes, in a way that can be graphically presented with colour-coding, more as a reference item than as the 'whole story' - something to refer to while reading the Word narrative and looking at the photos etc.  I do collect a LOT of "basic facts", however, and I expect to soon have 11 generations in some files.

I don't have a GEDCOM, and have never been quite clear how I would make one.  I do have that kind of a chart, but I just do it in Word, as part of my larger documents, as needed, and I stick in other bits that I want to have in there at the same time as there is no space limit.  (Sounds strange maybe, but it works for me!)  I have never wanted to give much of my info to GenesReunited or to the LDS sites, as I don't entirely trust them, although I have found some good contacts there from time to time!  I think I could learn a suitable computer programme, but I don't do it often, and I always hate it when they change things after I get used to one way!

The question you raise about what the product will look like in the end, and what do I want it to look like, is a good one.  Not sure exactly, just want it to be comprehensive and accessible, and with the possibility of variable font sizes so that people with vision problems can read it.  I am a bit bewildered about how much it is possible to put into one chart, or how one prints out large charts.  I don't think I can put everybody into one continuous chart.  But I am assuming these programmes will have some way of producing and printing relatively large graphic charts?  I mean the kind where you can see the connection between "A" and "K" at a glance through several generations, and it might take up the width of a wall in your study.  Right now, I think I could paper the whole room with them!!  (Would be fun, actually!)

I should perhaps add that I need something that can transcribe in other Western languages, with accents and so on.

Probably should experiment a bit, as you suggest.

[Reggie]

A narrative report generated from a genealogy computer program is very mundane really.  It is very repetitive in its generation.  However, again, it depends on what you want out of it.

In my case I like genealogy programs because at least it stores the data and you can generate various reports. With TMG I do a lot of extra manipulating so that a readable narrative report is produced. Because the information stored is getting larger all the time, I concentrated on the manipulation of the early data  because that is where the history really is.  The later generations I leave as the computer generates them. (hope I explained this ok).

Regarding variable font sizes - when you produce to MS Word format you can do what you want with fonts and hi-liting etc.

Regarding charts - My Johnson wall chart is now 9.2 metres long (ie a chart reading from top down).  That is too big for any room in my house.  And that is one good advantage of a genealogical computer program you can produce some wonderful charts. I save a chart to a Cd and take it to a person who has the ability to print charts (we have a person in the TMG user group who has a continuous printer).  Most Plan printing establishments (here in Oz) can do them.  In TMG you can use accents to colour any variation you want in a family.  I do have a very early version of a Johnson chart on my wall hanging from the ceiling to floor.  It is on a heavy weight paper with batons at either end, the top have a cord for hanging and the bottom to keep it nicely against the wall and to stop the paper from curling

I have attached a chart I produced for a family reunion last year.  As you can see we had to spread it on the floor.  It was great to see members of the family viewing it to see where they are in the big picture.

Again, it is a decision for you to make. These programs have advantages and disadvantages. My preference is to have my work organised and I think a genealogy program does this well.

[RJ_Paton]

It is unlikely that you will find any single program that will do everything you want it to do and I believe it would be better to concentrate on finding one which will fit in with your present way of working and bring strengths to those areas where you find you are weakest. Personally I chose Family Historian over The Master Genealogist as I found it better suited the way I want to work.

As said earlier, gecom files have become the universally accepted method of recording genealogy files on a computer system and if you chose to go that route it is likely that you would have a considerable amount of work ahead of you.

This then begs the question "Is it worth it ?" and it is only you that can answer it.

[downside]

I don't have a GEDCOM, and have never been quite clear how I would make one.

You make one when you type information into a genealogy program.

When people transfer their written notes into a family tree program they usually discover lots of mistakes, which is an added benefit of using computer software.  In addition to charts and reports, you can also make a book style report and output it as a Word document.  That works in PAF but I'm not sure about other programs.  Family tree programs use database technology and therefore their word processing capabilities are limited, so you will have problems trying to use the same formatting techniques you have been using in Word, but if you output your information into a Word document then you can edit it and apply various formats that way.

[loo]

Yes, I think I understand you, Reggie, and I too would prefer to write my own stories, as I have seen some on the internet that seemed very "wooden".

You said, "Regarding variable font sizes - when you produce to MS Word format you can do what you want with fonts and hi-liting etc."  Does this imply that you can move the info from the genealogy programme into Word?  I'm not very knowledgeable about computer software, I just use it!  I really only use Word and the internet.

Regarding charts - thanks for the demo!  I don't think it would be a problem to get anything printed here, as I am in a major city, and we have a chain of fancy print shops here as well, and I have seen people getting some very unusual jobs done there.  So I can just put it on CD, then, and take it in?

I blush, but am not positive I know what GEDCOM is.  I take it to be the kind of chart that has everybody in a linear fashion listed by generation, something like this:

1  Joe BLOW  1673-1699
    +  Mary TOWN  1677-1720
         2  Joey BLOW 1696-1760
             +  Prudence PATIENCE 1700-1730
         2  Marion BLOW  1697-1698

These are the kinds of charts that I keep in Word, and they seem to be adequate for me, except for two things:  inability to make graphic charts, and difficulty sharing this information with elderly relatives who can't follow the system.  The numbers on the generations seem to confuse them.  There is also a problem with the names running off the side of the page after about 8 generations.

Falkryn, It is really for these other people that I am considering getting this programme, to make it easier for them to participate in what we have learned.  For myself, I probably wouldn't bother, although it would be nice to have a big chart or two on the wall. 
Would I be right in thinking that I could get a big chart out of one of the trial programmes?  I'm thinking of something "quick and dirty" so that I can construct a couple of graphic charts this week, for starters.

Downside, I think part of my problem in visualizing all this is that I have never worked with a "database technology" programme!

[RJ_Paton]

Gedcom is not a program in its own right nor does it produce charts or any visual output on its own .... Gedcom is the name given to what is now accepted as the common link between many different computer based genealogy programs. Just as Word produces .Doc files genealogy programs can produce .ged files (gedcom's)

That said, there are a number of differences between the many programs available.

A gedcom file would certainly make it easier to pass your information to someone else who already had a computerised system to read the information but it is unlikely to be of any assistance to the non computer user and that is where your written narrative is far superior.