Genealogy Programs

[jparker402]

I would like to find a program that would allow me to add images, connecting lines and text boxes for the purposes of building a family tree. I have started looking at "family-tree-building" programs, and am coming to realize that they all cost. Guess I may have to become resigned to that. I am using a Mac but many in my family that I would like to provide copies to are Windows users. To share, I suppose I could print copies though electronic/digital sharing would seem easier. Would like suggestions on programs that would be suitable. Thank you!!

 

[calliex]

I would like to find a program that would allow me to add images, connecting lines and text boxes for the purposes of building a family tree. I have started looking at "family-tree-building" programs, and am coming to realize that they all cost. Guess I may have to become resigned to that. I am using a Mac but many in my family that I would like to provide copies to are Windows users. To share, I suppose I could print copies though electronic/digital sharing would seem easier. Would like suggestions on programs that would be suitable. Thank you!!

I have used Reunion for years since in the beginning it was the only one avail. Family tree maker is also avail now. They are probably the two top ones. There is an iPad app that works with the mac version only problem for me is that it uses dropbox to sync between the two. Earlier version had it on sync process. I do not trust dropbox so I can not use the iPad app. It has a nice feature that lets you build a custom pdfs of your family info and many different formats. You can also export a standard Gedcom file that can be read by other genealogy programs.They seem to update around OS dates sometimes which means you have upgrade to use the new OS. I am betting there will be one coming with apple silicon.

 

[trauring]

Having done this for a very long time, I can tell you that you should definitely use a dedicated genealogy program, or an online alternative. Sure there are charting apps that can make a tree, but once you need to make a change, it's a pain in the neck. With a dedicated program, you just make the change and spit out a new chart.

Reunion (https://leisterpro.com/) is great, although expensive. There are many options, such as MacFamilyTree (https://www.syniumsoftware.com/macfamilytree), Family Tree Maker (https://www.mackiev.com/ftm/), Heredis (https://www.heredis.com/en/), etc. RootsMagic is supposed to fully support the Mac in version 8, but it's been delayed. Maybe later this year. RootsMagic (https://www.rootsmagic.com/) has a free version and a paid upgrade. For completely free you can always try out GRAMPS (https://gramps-project.org/) which is an open-source genealogy program. If you're going to invest in a program, also look at which ones offer companion apps on the phone. If you use an iPhone, being able to enter data on the phone and then sync it to your Mac is really helpful.

Alternatively there are online sites like ancestry.com and myheritage.com which offer some free usage for building trees on the web, and they also have charting options.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

We (my girlfriend, mostly) have been using Reunion for ages, and we are (she is) very happy with that.

We've bought MacFamilyTree a short while ago, to try out the collaboration mode, so both of us can work at the same tree at the same time, but haven't started migrating to that...yet.

Anita & Lasse

Her finner du Lasse og Anita sin slekt.

look.no

 

[calliex]

Having done this for a very long time, I can tell you that you should definitely use a dedicated genealogy program, or an online alternative. Sure there are charting apps that can make a tree, but once you need to make a change, it's a pain in the neck. With a dedicated program, you just make the change and spit out a new chart.

Reunion (https://leisterpro.com/) is great, although expensive. There are many options, such as MacFamilyTree (https://www.syniumsoftware.com/macfamilytree), Family Tree Maker (https://www.mackiev.com/ftm/), Heredis (https://www.heredis.com/en/), etc. RootsMagic is supposed to fully support the Mac in version 8, but it's been delayed. Maybe later this year. RootsMagic (https://www.rootsmagic.com/) has a free version and a paid upgrade. For completely free you can always try out GRAMPS (https://gramps-project.org/) which is an open-source genealogy program. If you're going to invest in a program, also look at which ones offer companion apps on the phone. If you use an iPhone, being able to enter data on the phone and then sync it to your Mac is really helpful.

Alternatively there are online sites like ancestry.com and myheritage.com which offer some free usage for building trees on the web, and they also have charting options.

Thanks for listing all the alternatives. Did not know about Gramps will give it a look.