GENEALOGY SOFTWARE

 

The Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois (CAGGNI) hosts programs on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m.,  at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 South Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL 60193  Map

CAGGNI also sponsors special interest groups for:
                Family Tree Maker
                The Master Genealogist
                Ancestral Quest.

 

Which genealogy software to choose depends upon a number of factors:

  1. How tech savvy you are.

  2. How analytical you want your tree to be.

  3. What you hope to do with the finished product i.e. Just print a chart, create a book, add historical perspective, etc etc

  4. What is your primary research database.  Do you need your software to link with the database directly?

  5. Price

  6. Does the graphical interface appeal to you?

Most programs allow for a free 30 day trial.  Take advantage of this and download several programs and play with them to see their features in action and determine your comfort level.

REVIEWS OF THE TOP TEN PC GENEALOGY SOFTWARE PROGRAMS

 

INFORMATION AND REVIEWS ON MAC GENEALOGY SOFTWARE

 

UTILITIES:

GenSmarts

GenSmarts is a utility that uses artificial intelligence to analyze your existing genealogy file and produce research recommendations.

GenSmarts Finds Missed Research Opportunites
Are there research techniques you’ve missed or under-applied? Here’s an example: You’re probably aware that the 1880 U.S. census asked for the birthplace of a person’s parents. Suppose you have an ancestor born in 1780, and his son, your direct line, was born in 1800. Since both the father and son died prior to 1850, you might not think about the 1880 census for this family. BUT WAIT… this son had a younger brother, born in 1815… he might still be alive in 1880, and could give you the birth location of your 1780 ancestor. GenSmarts applies complex research logic like this to identify research opportunities.

GenSmarts Finds Under-Explored Limbs In Your Family Tree

The full edition of GenSmarts includes support for:

- RootsMagic (including RootsMagic 4)
- Family Tree Maker (older versions as well as FTM 2008 through FTM 2011)
- PAF 5
- The Master Genealogist
- Legacy
- Ancestral Quest
- Ancestry Family Tree
- Brother's Keeper (Version 6)
- Ultimate Family Tree
- Family Trees Quick and Easy (contact us for info)
- Heritage Family Tree Deluxe (contact us for info)
- Gedcom

Clooz: The Electronic Filing System for Genealogists

This program is an electronic filing cabinet that stores data from your documents, helps you find where you've filed these documents, and in the process it becomes a research tool. Clooz enables you to pull out genealogically significant data from multiple documents for comparison, verification, and study. You'll never lose an important fact, photo, or other vital piece of ancestral information again.

"Clooz is a method of recording scraps of information and then sorting, filtering, and manipulating that information in many, many different ways." – Dick Eastman