Genealogy Software - do I need it?

Question

A G2G question this morning brought up RootsMagic.  Made me think about software for my records.

I had software 20 years ago, lost the hard drive and the records and was never able to restore.  At that time I had only entered things I had paper documentation for (the famous research by elderly Aunties).

Thus, when I began on WikiTree I was starting over from the paper records.  I have done plenty of additional research (thank you age 65) and put everything on WikiTree.

What I have now is lots of paper (the old stuff), some new printouts from research, and the wonderful tree (whose leaves I am working on) on WikiTree.

Should I have some sort of software on my own system to archive all the information?

Is WikiTree a strong enough 'container' for all my work?

Should I have another online tree?

All advice gratefully accepted.

Comments

Like you, I have a pile of stuff on a broken hard drive and I've never bothered since.  The documents are in a box, and everything else is on the net, where I got it from.  Far too much of genealogy seems to consist of just moving data from one place to another, and it's always still in the wrong place.

In any case, medievals are a moving target.  That old tree probably had about 20 lines in it that are no longer accepted.

In principle, WikiTree should be a much better way to work.  If only.

Answer 1

Personally, Kristina, I will always maintain my own copy of my own research on my own computer with my own software. There I can use my own preferences for how to name things, how to cite sources, and MY choice about how to define relationships.

Rootsmagic is one of the best. 

Comments

Thank you, such a quick response.  Rootsmagic apparently does not have a Mac version.   I will go take another look at it.

Thank you.

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I also maintain my own master file with personal software. This file contains data that won't be published for one reason or another. It is a lot easier to update WikiTree with your own software to keep everything handily in one place.

I use Family Tree Maker and sync my file to Ancestry.

Whatever you choose it is a very personal decision; there is no one outstandingly better than the other.

I would maintain trees in as many places as possible. My full tree is at home in Family Tree Maker, backed up continuously by Carbonite. My Ancestry member tree can be used to restore my FTM file as well. Once in a while I upload a tree to Rootsweb. And I also am adding data to FamilySearch's Family Tree. This one is like WikiTree but without the strong controls and a lot more strange things floating around in it.

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Kristina,

RootsMagic does have Mac option.  Through the use of MacBridge.  It is a separate program to run RootsMagic on a Mac. That is what I use.  It works 95% as good as a native program.  Some minor things but nothing terribly annoying.  I like it a lot.  I had purchased Parallels to Run Windows to run RootsMagic, but I have stopped using them not that I have MacBridge.

http://www.rootsmagic.com/mac/

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I try to maintain several trees for different reasons.

I use Ancestry primarily because of their databases and the potential for contact to other cousins.  I also experiment on Ancestry, I call it fishing for cousins.  

I use Family Search because of their database and source citations.  I hate their tree, but I try to maintain and keep it updated hoping that they will call Wikitree for advice.

I use RootsMagic as my personal database and try to maintain it, it is an investment of time, however.

I use Wikitree for direct lines and once connected, learn what I can from others. I have too many reasons why I love Wikitree to list here, however.

I also try and maintain a paper-based file system.

and I use Dropbox as an electronic file system which allows me to share documents like I did on the other G2G post.

And I experiment with other sites as well, My Heritage, Rootsweb, and my personal web page.

And I experiment with other tree programs because each has something unique that helps me find problems and issues.

I need to realy focus and use RootsMagic and my home database and I am investing more time into Wikitree because of the many features I keep figuring out how to use both for source accumulation and cousin bait.  I love being able to accumulate my various sources from different online and electronic databases into one location and I love being able to share a profile with someone without them having to pay to see my stuff.

It is a bit messy, but I like to call it "Organic" and "Evolving".

Answer 2

I think it is a wise idea to keep a copy of your records on your own software. I use both Legacy & Family Tree Maker. FTM is great if you use Ancestry to search for records. The synch is great. Legacy is outstanding & provides many oustanding publishing, report & tracking/charting features. I have not tried searching on Family Search & then synching to Legacy, but I think that is an option.

Comments

Thank you to everyone.  I have a bit of exploring to do.

On any of the programs mentioned, can I import my tree into the software (perhaps with a GEDcom) or will I need to begin at the beginning?

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All software programs mentioned allow the importation of GEDCOMs. Just realize that if you are importing a gedcom that you exported from wikitree, the bulk of the data will end up in the basic text /notes field. Including the sources. Only the name fields, birth death and marriage fields will convert to fields. I'm not sure how it handles relationships. Perhaps others can speak to this. I've only done it once and didn't like the results. So I didn't do it again.

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Another issue if you try importing a Gedcom from Wikitree is that you (apparently) will be limited to profiles for which you are on the trusted list.