Religious Education

Lesson 6
Other Programs

Many Family History programs are available for your use. Below is a list of programs that are highly recommended. They are categorized according to their capability: some programs are compatible with the NewFamilySearch whereas others are only compatible with Macintosh computers.

New FamilySearch Compatible

Ancestral Quest
Ancestral Quest (AQ) is a genealogy program in which you may add data about your family, cite sources with CitePro^™ Technology, create scrapbooks, websites, publish a family book, pedigree charts, family group sheets, ancestry charts, descendant charts, genealogy book reports, and fan charts. Other capabilities include comparing and merging databases, organize research with the Research Manager and Log, FilterPro^™ technology (which allows you to search, filter, and focus your data), and use AQ in a variety of languages.

For many years, Ancestral Quest has been a great asset to family history programs such as PAF and other websites. However, research has greatly enhanced with the linking compatibility of Ancestral Quest to the Internet. Ancestral Quest allows you to collaborate with others using NetFam^™. New FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch.org and others easily combine your research information. Also compatible with Ancestral Quest is PAF 5. For LDS users, AQ is also TempleReady^™ compatible and you can update ordinance information from TempleReady and new FamilySearch. Through AQ it is also possible to check the online version of the IGI for current ordinance information.

System Requirements: Microsoft^® Windows. Ancestral Quest version 12 requires Windows 2000, XP or Vista. Older versions of Ancestral Quest (3-11) will run on Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 and XP.

FamilyInsight
FamilyInsight is a genealogical program that allows you to organize your family easily. Once added to your PAF, FamilyInsight will show in the 'Tools' menu of your PAF 5 program. In order to synchronize your family history tree with the new FamilySearch, you must use the new version of PAF Insight, which is FamilyInsight. FamilyInsight will open GEDCOM files made by other genealogy software programs. By synchronizing FamilyInsight with new.familysearch.org, you can search for matches to those records already in your file, update ordinance information into your file, add people and information into your file as well as FamilySearch family tree, and separate and merge individuals in your file. If still using the old FamilySearch.org, you can search the IGI on FamilyInsight. FamilyInsight will also suggest place names.

FamilyInsight also allows you to edit RINs, pedigrees, as well as sort and find information in your data. Foreign language characters used in names, places, etc. will automatically be saved. Foreign languages available for FamilyInsight are English, German, Portuguese, and French. FamilyInsight automatically updates itself.

System Requirements: Different versions for Macintosh and Windows computers

RootsMagic
RootsMagic is a genealogy program that allows you to easily create web sites from your data in a variety of formats. You can purchase this program on www.rootsmagic.com. Also, you can run RootsMagic and data off your flash drive. Another fun aspect of RootsMagic is its ability to show how individuals within the file are related to the root person. Conveniently, RootsMagic will automatically write proper sources for you based on Elizabeth Shown Mill's citation guide for genealogists. Compatible with the new FamilySearch, RootsMagic makes it easier for you to transfer and compile information with the new FamilySearch. Conveniently, there is the option of including LDS ordinance information as well. RootsMagic is also compatible with GEDCOMs. Data stored within RootsMagic is automatically saved and restored. However, RootsMagic also allows you to backup information to CDs. Once you are ready to publish information, RootsMagic Publisher allows you to create a variety of reports and charts as well as easily create a website that includes photos, GEDCOM files, and an index.

System Requirements: Windows Vista, XP, and 2000

Compatible with Family Tree Maker, PAF, and Legacy

Get My Ancestors
Get My Ancestors is a program that allows you to download linked pedigrees from new FamilySearch Family Tree (download using your new FamilySearch username and password at: http://labs.familysearch.org/familytree/Main.html#start). Individual information downloaded summarizes basic events: birth/christening, marriage, death, burial. LDS ordinances are not included. The file downloaded can then be saved as a Personal Ancestral File (PAF) database. Thus, the files created with Get My Ancestors are compatible with PAF 5, FamilyInsight, and PAF Insight.
Download Get My Ancestors for free on www.ohanasoftware.com. However, if you do not already have a PAF Insight license on your computer, you will need to get a Get My Ancestors license. This can be obtained on www.ohanasoftware.com and is also free.

System Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista or Mac

Family Tree Maker
Family Tree Maker, found at (http://labs.familysearch.org/familytree/Main.html#start/), is a free program connected to the new FamilySearch. To register you will need to be registered with the new FamilySearch, and the same username and password will be used for both programs. Still being refined, Family Tree Maker is a trial program that will eventually become part of the new FamilySearch. Until it is official launched, Family Tree Maker can be used on the website. Through Family Tree Maker, families can compare and add to information which will be automatically updated to new FamilySearch. Also, temple ordinances that have been completed but do not appear on new FamilySearch can be entered in Family Tree Maker which will update new FamilySearch.

System Requirements: Internet access

Mac Compatible Software

Reunion
Reunion is a genealogy program for Macintosh computers that helps you document, store, display family information (names, dates, places, facts, notes, sources, pictures, sounds, and videos), and print genealogy reports, wall charts, calendars, indexes, slideshows, etc. You can share your family tree information by publishing it on the web or even carry it on your iPhone or iPod Touch. In fact, there is even a version of Reunion for iPhone.

System requirements: Mac OS X 10.3.9 or newer.

MacFamilyTree
The most advanced genealogy program of Mac OS X, MacFamilyTree allows Macintosh users to organize and store their genealogical information. Available in many different languages, MacFamilyTree is user friendly. As with many programs of this kind, you can create charts, timelines, and virtual trees and globes to help document your family. Connected with the internet, MacFamilyTree also provides a library of geographic places so finding names and locations is convient and easy. In addition to geographic connections, MacFamilyTree allows you to sort through databases which include images, sound files, and movies.

Compatible with GEDCOM and creating web pages (which may be integrated in MacFamilyTree's website, allowing for easy contact with other MacFamilyTree users) allow for better communication with other genealogists. MacFamilyTree has a mobile counterpart with MobileFamilyTree, an iPhone and iPod touch client.


System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4.8 or newer

iFamily
iFamily for Leopard is a genealogical program that focuses on individual people rather than the family unit. This format makes it easy to see the number of parents, spouse, and siblings they had. Able to import and export GEDCOMs, iFamily can also copy images from iPhoto or web pages, edit these, and save these text/image/audio/video file formats. There is also a transcription function that allows one to transcript information from images of old records. A search toolbar is included which simplifies searching for specific people, dates, and places. Included in the automatic saving function, iFamily also remembers the navigational route the user has used. 

System Requirements: Systems later than Mac OSX 10.4 (Tiger). iFamily works best on larger displays (17"+) set to maximum resolution.

Other Useful Programs

Legacy

Legacy is a genealogical program that allows you to organize and print your family history. A number of other entries for individuals are also possible. Web pages, multimedia, and more are possible. Reports can also be made in different languages. Microsoft^® Virtual Earth^™ allows you to map your ancestors and their travel, Compatible with MyTrees.com, you can search pedigrees and add them to your Legacy genealogy. Legacy also includes a list of interview questions that can be used when conducting an interview, an individual chronologcial timeline, and access to reference books within the software allow you to know what historical events occured at different times.In the last few years Legacy has been working with new FamilySearch to develop a compatibility between the two programs. When it is ready, a free Standard Edition will be available to use.

International versions of Legacy allow people of over the world to use it. To try a free download version of Legacy or buy the program, go to the website, www.legacyfamilytree.com/Index.asp.

System Requirements: Windows Vista, XP, NT, and 2000. Legacy also runs on newer Macs that have installed Windows under Bootcamp, Parallel, or Fusion. Linux machines will also run Legacy if they have a Windows emulator.

Personal Historian
Personal Historian is a program that helps you write personal histories by breaking down a large project into small tasks. Included in the program are timelines, historical and cultural facts, and other useful information to enhance your personal history. Compatible with word processor documents, photographs, and other genealogical programs, it is easy to bring previous work into your personal history. In addition, you can assign topics to categories. The timeline feature can be especially helpful as you can view a specific individual and see the historical and cultural information available. Another helpful feature is the ability to write down thoughts and memories and later organize these ideas into logical groups and orders. When you have completed your history, you can publish it by printing, saving in a word processor, or creating a PDF document.

System Requirements: Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP, or 2003

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