Is there a good family tree program?

[Pebbles Kernow]

Hi,
I think I need to explain myself a bit.

When I was growing up I used to draw my family tree often. It showed me and my brothers, then the parents and all their brothers and sisters with spouses and children. Then grandparents and their siblings, with children, spouses and offspring back down to my own generation.

What I'm looking for is a similar programme that I can import my tree to. It seems to be that I can have the direct lines but not the branches.

I'd be quite happy for it to only cover 3 or 4 generations at a time, it's just that I like to be able to see cousins and full families, especially as at least 4 couples with the tree were related to each other and I have one I am trying to sort out where it looks like the brother of one couple married a grandchild of another couple within the tree.

I know that Genes Reunited does a full tree view you can print out, but I find it badly laid out and difficult to see across the same generation.

If anyone else has any suggestions I would be very grateful,

Thanks

pebs

[Canuc]

They all have pros and cons, you'll have to do an internet search and look at the write ups.

In general they will all do as you describe give you a whole family on 3 generations. The limit isn't the genealogy program but your printer, most are just A4/Letter which means you have to position the relatives and line up the pages. Some printers might take A3 but they are not a common format for home users now. Bigger formats tend to be plotters that produce the tree on one page have a kerching attached and are of little use for printing a letter to Aunt Joyce.

Good luck
Canuc

[falcybe]

Hello,

Look at the post immediately above yours:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,158637.0.html

and search through this board, there are lots of recommendations.

A lot of us like Legacy because, A) the basic programme is free and B) when you buy the full lot then it comes with some lovely charts.

there is also http://www.phpgedview.net/support.php but this requires a fair amount of confidence in running computer programmes.

And you'll see lots of other recommendations

cheers, falcybe

[Pebbles Kernow]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Sorry for repeating the post but I did look for that which I seek and was unlucky in my quest. I shall continue with my task once more.

Pebs

[cati]

Some of the FH magazines include free CDs which include trials of programmes such as RootsMagic - you can try them out to see which you like

Cati

[falcybe]

Don't worry Pebs, lots of people seem to miss the thread giving all the information 

Mind you, it becomes out of date quite quickly (versions often change) so perhaps it is a good thing, in case someone has something better to suggest

[Redroger]

The basic problem is that the British charts run from top to bottom earliest at the top and their descendants down, this gives a very wide tree at the bottom. American charts run from left to right, newest generation at the left etc. Presentation of both gives problems, but I get round this as far as possible by using both Legacy and a British format program.