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Family Tree CD
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I want to put my extensive Family Tree onto my laptop, what is the best, easiest CD to use ? thanks all.
Answers
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May I clarify your question? I think you mean you have all your family history on paper and would like some guidance as to which program to use to enable you to store it all on the computer. In which case if you ask 10 people you'll likely as not get 15 opinions!
Tricky one to answer because not many people will have tried more than one program.
I bought Family Tree Maker but didn't get very far before I started to use Ancestry to record my tree. The hints that pop up have been very useful in filling in gaps. The ease of use is about the same. So what I am doing now is to complete the recording on Ancestry and then will make a copy on my computer. The more photos etc you put in, the bigger the file that the computer has to cope with. Worth stating the obvious because just a few graphics can take up umpteen Mb, so something to be aware of when backing up.
Tricky one to answer because not many people will have tried more than one program.
I bought Family Tree Maker but didn't get very far before I started to use Ancestry to record my tree. The hints that pop up have been very useful in filling in gaps. The ease of use is about the same. So what I am doing now is to complete the recording on Ancestry and then will make a copy on my computer. The more photos etc you put in, the bigger the file that the computer has to cope with. Worth stating the obvious because just a few graphics can take up umpteen Mb, so something to be aware of when backing up.
I found PAF5 free and adequate for most needs. I'd recommend trying free ones first, then contemplating a purchase if you need more.
Site like Ancestry or Genes Reunited, (I have accounts on both) will accept uploads from your data too, and can make useful suggestions for further research, but I've never contemplated anything loaded onto the Net as being my primary tree, as it were. Just me I suppose, but I think thrice about uploading anything to the Net, I'd feel uncomfortable relying on it and not having my own tree on disk/PC/whatever.
Site like Ancestry or Genes Reunited, (I have accounts on both) will accept uploads from your data too, and can make useful suggestions for further research, but I've never contemplated anything loaded onto the Net as being my primary tree, as it were. Just me I suppose, but I think thrice about uploading anything to the Net, I'd feel uncomfortable relying on it and not having my own tree on disk/PC/whatever.
Old_Geezer has made some valuable suggestions. I didn't know there were so many freebies. Ancestry lets you put information on there free, but I don't know about getting stuff back. If not, then would only mean taking out a subscription for, say, a month, then cancelling.
At the risk of digressing from your question, I do think thrice about what I put on Ancestry - generally, no living people, so it's not making life easy for whose who steal identities. My own cut-off point is the 1911 Census, except for instances where I know the individuals have died. I agree with the point about not relying on online versions, but neither of my offspring cares two hoots about the family past, so it's a comfort to know that, after my demise, when the paper copy is in the skip, the internet version will be available for evermore.
I bought my copy of FTM on ebay; it wasn't the latest version, about the price of a BMD certificate.
It claims to be compatible with Ancestry but I haven't tested that. When I'm done with 1911 and before, the intention is to make a copy and then put the more recent stuff into FTM. Let's hope it works! Anybody tried??
At the risk of digressing from your question, I do think thrice about what I put on Ancestry - generally, no living people, so it's not making life easy for whose who steal identities. My own cut-off point is the 1911 Census, except for instances where I know the individuals have died. I agree with the point about not relying on online versions, but neither of my offspring cares two hoots about the family past, so it's a comfort to know that, after my demise, when the paper copy is in the skip, the internet version will be available for evermore.
I bought my copy of FTM on ebay; it wasn't the latest version, about the price of a BMD certificate.
It claims to be compatible with Ancestry but I haven't tested that. When I'm done with 1911 and before, the intention is to make a copy and then put the more recent stuff into FTM. Let's hope it works! Anybody tried??
whichever hosting site you do use, it is essential that you realise you need a specific type of file systemto actually download and upload your data, or to move your data between different tree building software, you need GEDCOM ,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEDCOM
which means you can download your research and your tree in it's online format from say ancestry or FMP and then transfer it to a software on your laptop for editing or to add photos that you may not want online. It's not the same as simply downloading text, as a family tree builder contains all kinds of text and layouts, as well as having the ability to interpret the various genealogical records and link them to your ancestor.
Family Tree Maker is expensive but it matches ancestry.co.uk perfectly and is ideal. You can build your tree on ancestry without having a subscription, then when you have compiled it, take out the free 14 day trial and then add the primary and secondary source material to your individuals which would remain there whether you carried on your subscription or not, alternatively, you can use any tree builder software BUT you would not have the compatability to link the records to your individuals, unless you bought all the relevent certificates and scanned them to your photos say, there is not much else you can do.
If you wanted to send a CD version of your tree to sdomeone else, it is useless to them unless they have the software to open it however,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEDCOM
which means you can download your research and your tree in it's online format from say ancestry or FMP and then transfer it to a software on your laptop for editing or to add photos that you may not want online. It's not the same as simply downloading text, as a family tree builder contains all kinds of text and layouts, as well as having the ability to interpret the various genealogical records and link them to your ancestor.
Family Tree Maker is expensive but it matches ancestry.co.uk perfectly and is ideal. You can build your tree on ancestry without having a subscription, then when you have compiled it, take out the free 14 day trial and then add the primary and secondary source material to your individuals which would remain there whether you carried on your subscription or not, alternatively, you can use any tree builder software BUT you would not have the compatability to link the records to your individuals, unless you bought all the relevent certificates and scanned them to your photos say, there is not much else you can do.
If you wanted to send a CD version of your tree to sdomeone else, it is useless to them unless they have the software to open it however,
I have my tree stored on line at www.tribalpages.com - it's about £18 a year I think (but in dollars) Been using it for about 5 years now .... and it's really simple and has some useful tools .... plus you can export a .gedcom file and transfer it elsewhere .... but I guess if you are subscribing to Ancestry anyway you could make extra use of it and store a tree there ... I have a subscription and periodically I copy the .gedcom file across to it to give wider exposure to relatives who might be researching similar names ...... hope I have not confused you!!!
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