I need some advice on choosing a Family History Program

[downside]

I have never worked with a "database technology" programme

In a way you have.  A database is a way or organising data using a type of SQL (Structured Query Language) which allows reports and charts to be generated from the information in the database and presumably your Word document is organised using your own particular method.  A gedcom file is a structured text file.  What you illustrated above is actually called an Outline Descendancy Report.

As I mentioned in my first thread you can download PAF free of charge and it is the full program.  It doesn't matter whether you like the program because your data can always be transferred to another program via a gedcom file.

[loo]

So, if I understand correctly, then,
if I entered my basic data (BMDs) on any of these programmes, it would generate a gedcom, which is a kind of file that can somehow be transferred to other programmes?  Is that right?

If I wanted to produce some very basic charts, let's say just with BMDs, would one of these free programmes be able to do that, do you think?  It's hard to figure out what they do exactly.  I think it would be easier for me to start with one that can do that, if I knew which one it would be.

I'm a little leery of the sites that appear to be LDS-owned, as I have a lingering fear that they would consider that they then owned my information, especially if they were free access sites.  They seem to be so aggressive about acquiring data.

[RJ_Paton]

PAF although originating from the LDS does not grab nor hand over any of your information and as said the basic version is free.

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/pafonline.asp

Family Historian, The master genealogist and many other paid for programs generally have a trial version for a free download a sort of "try before you buy".

Family Historian http://www.family-historian.co.uk/
The Master genealogist http://www.whollygenes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?screen=TMG

To try out these different programs you need only enter the information once and you could then use the gedcom file generated by the first program to upload the same information into any of the others without having to re type it all again.

[Mumsie2131]

 
Often on the free discs with Family History Magazines there are free trials of Family History Programmes.
I downloaded lots before I settled on the one I preferred - it is only necessary to enter a few names to get the essence of how it works.
I agree with many other contributors that The Master Genealogist is the best BUT I consider myself reasonably intelligent and computer literate BUT I found it difficult to deal with.  I ended up with Roots Magic ONLY because I found it the easiest one to erase entering mistakes, sounds simple but if an incorrect entry is made (easily) removing it is(in my opinion) very important.  I also liked the format on screen - a basic pedigree OR a family page or a descendant format.  I always have my own basic pedigree as my first choice because I can 'go to anywhere' from there.
 

[downside]

I'm a little leery of the sites that appear to be LDS-owned, as I have a lingering fear that they would consider that they then owned my information, especially if they were free access sites.  They seem to be so aggressive about acquiring data.

I think you may have misunderstood something.  You download their free family tree program and it is installed on your hard drive.  All the information you input stays on your computer unless you want to upload it.

As far as I know the LDS only own one website unless you are confusing them with myfamily.com who ancestry.com and many others.

All programs do basic charts and reports.

[Suttonrog]

Loo,

You can forget about producing easy to read family chart as you describe spanning several generations.

I have access to several large (AO plus) printers and anything more that 4 or 5 generations just takes up too much space as Reggie has said.

If you are producing a narative in word and want to put charts into that then you may get 3 generations on a page, but only if they are small families.

Bite the bullet and download a free program and give it a trial.

It wont hurt and it will help you make up your mind as to what you need.

Rog

[alicemaud]

I'm a little leery of the sites that appear to be LDS-owned, as I have a lingering fear that they would consider that they then owned my information, especially if they were free access sites.  They seem to be so aggressive about acquiring data.

The free LDS family tree program resides on your computer once you have downloaded it.....the data that you load into it can't go anywhere unless you send it somewhere! I don't believe the LDS is interested in stealing anyone's data and in fact I am in awe of the amount of free data that is available through the LDS Family History Library....and on the web.

Gedcom files are a great way to share the info with family and friends but they will need some kind of program in order to read the files.

I have managed to get a 6 generation chart on one document (with help from Mr Alice and Excel!)....anything bigger than that will have to go on a roll of white wallpaper....or I will have to start printing out multiple sheets and spending more money on Scotch Tape!

I use Family Tree Maker and am happy......although have not taken advantage of all the upgrades

Alice

[Suttonrog]

Alice,

If I start 6 generations back there are 413 names on my bottom line.

Rog

[geno500]

I have been doing family history for about 30 years so I started before there was so many software providers,one thing I have learnt is that you do not need a complicated program  all the latest Family Tree Makers are a complete waste of time and money,even Legacy is to complicated,if I was to give any advice on what to buy it would be this look on Ebay  for the GSP family history software they come up fairly often,they date from about 1993 this may seem ancient but the program was so good it was developed into Family Tree Maker which as I have said is no good,so look  for this old software it will work up to Vista it will not work on 7 the beauty of it is that it displays your whole tree if you want ,you will find it helps to work on your tree like that,this software is okay up to about 2003 after that it started to be changed into a much more complicated  system.
This should cost about £3 with the postage on ebay