Best Family Tree Software

[annieoburns]

I am interested in this topic also and someone over Christmas has asked to help him get started in FT research and recommend a software package.  I think I will keep going with FTM until run into trouble but also have another one to default to in future.  Is it as easy as creating a GEDCOM and moving all data to a new system?   I have a load of miscellaneous info in the notes section for example and already have two FTM versions with I suspect different bits on each.  So already bit disorganised....

[Guy Etchells]

Choosing genealogy software depends on the requirements of the individual.
I have tried most stand alone Windows family history programs but still found Brothers Keeper to be the best for my needs.

I started with family tree software for the Amiga, Amigene but when the Amiga started falling behind Windows converted to Windows for my computing needs.
I have since tried and tested Personal Ancestral file, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, RootsMagic, Generations, Ancestral Quest, Heredis, Genbox Family History, Gramps, The Master Genealogist, Family Historian and a number of other long forgotten programmes.

I also now use Treedraw to construct an all in one tree that no other family tree software can do successfully.

Cheers
Guy

[mike175]

Just putting in another vote for RootsMagic I first tried it around 10 years ago after finding most of the others lacking. I now use the UK version as I'm UK based. It is very well endowed with practical features and even has built in report and chart designers so you can produce customised charts/reports.

I think any GEDCOM transfer between different programs should correctly copy all the basic facts, dates, etc. but is likely to get a bit confused with non-standard, program-specific features

Mike.
(No connection with the company)

[pinefamily]

As long as the two programs use the same version of Gedcom.

[StevieSteve]

I don't think it's quite as straightforward as that.

From reading the Family Historian forum, the problems will be User Defined Facts, Notes, Media and in some cases Date Range formats.

That said, the continuing players seem to be providing migration processes, so it's the effectiveness of those as well as the actual program itself that you may want to evaluate

[annieoburns]

Rootsmagic it is then... just downloaded the 'free' version and searched  for a Gedcom already on the laptop and bingo!  all there including notes so happy bunny     Thanks for advice all.

[pinefamily]

StevieSteve,
I think you're correct. I seem to recall I had some issues with notes not transferring properly when I used Gedcom between programs. I think it was Generations that had various Facts in separate sections, and these all came across into RootsMagic as notes, a little jumbled up. Not the end of the world, just a bit of sorting afterwards.

[northern_rose]

I've been watching this thread with interest as my FTM programme seems to have died. It was linked to Ancestry where I have continued to make additions/changes thinking if I ever got back into FTM it would sync again.

Do you know if you can pull a GEDCOM from Ancestry?

[StevieSteve]

Yes.

Go to
 Family Trees
Manage Trees
Create & Manage Trees
Export Gedcom


Edit: swap steps 2 & 3