RootsMagic 4 is released

I wanted to pass along a press release about RootsMagic 4:

"It's Here! It's finally here! RootsMagic 4 is the biggest upgrade in our company's history. If you want to learn more about RootsMagic 4, visit our blog at http://blog.rootsmagic.com.

To Order, the fastest way to get your upgrade is to order online at:

http://www.rootsmagic.com/orders_rm.htm

Please understand that if you decide to order by phone, your download order will be delayed as it needs to be processed manually. You may also need to leave a name and number for a callback due to the high volume of calls.

You can upgrade from any version of RootsMagic or Family Origins for only $19.95 for the download. If you want a CD, just add $5 to cover shipping and handling.

Free Upgrades - If you purchased RootsMagic 3 on or after August 1, 2008 or as part of a special genealogy conference offer during 2008-09, you are eligible for a free downloadable upgrade of RootsMagic 4 by visiting http://www.rootsmagic.com/myupgrade and entering information about your original order. Please allow up to 48 hours for processing as we must manually verify each request to verify that it qualifies.

Discount Offer - Do you have friends that you would like to switch to RootsMagic? Or are you not a RootsMagic user yet, but like what you see in RootsMagic 4? We'd like to welcome you to the RootsMagic family with a special discount. For a limited time, users of Personal Ancestral File (PAF), Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, or The Master Genealogist can buy RootsMagic for the upgrade price of $19.95. Go to http://www.rootsmagic.com/upgrade for more information."

You can also order copies at Amazon.com by clicking here: RootsMagic 4

First things first, getting started in genealogy

The first thing you need when starting a genealogy project is a way to collect all of the data that you find. If you are not organized, you are going to get frustrated very quickly. With that in mind, you must devise a system of record keeping.

Until recent times, most genealogy record keeping was done on paper and stored in files. You could get large charts from the local LDS library and had to write everything in pencil so you could make changes. I literally have a chart that is the size of my living room, not that I use it anymore. I keep it as a reminder of the way things used to be.

Maintaining paper records is always a good idea but you have to come up with an adequate filing system. I always make folders, going by last name, first name of the husband and keep records for himself, his wife and any unmarried children in that file. I then put all of my folders in a file cabinet, in alphabetical order by that last name.

Having a bunch of papers does not constitute a family tree. To see the fruits of your labor, you need to create a coherent accounting for the information found on each document. In the older, manual method you would use "family group sheets" to document the names and dates associated with each person in a given family. These are simple paper forms that most local libraries, at least those with a genealogy focus, can give you. You can also find online versions that you can print off for free by using this link: Ancestry free genealogy forms

The modern way of organizing genealogy data would be a computer-based database. There are many programs on the market, ranging from one hundred dollars down to free. More expensive does not always mean better though...keep that in mind. There are also web-based programs that you can use, again some are free and some charge a fee per month/quarter/year. A few of the most popular online programs would be Ancestry, My Heritage, Geni and Tribal Pages.

I tend to stay away from the online database programs, for several reasons. You sometimes lose control of what you put online. Most sites allow you to keep your work private but you really have no way of knowing exactly how safe and secure their site really is. If they had a computer crash or went out of business tomorrow, what would happen to all of your research? I am probably being a little paranoid but I like to hold my hand closer to my chest. I would recommend having a program on your computer and then uploading that information to a web-based program, if you want it on the web at all.

As for computer-based programs, there are lots of choices out there. I have always used Family Tree Maker for my own research. The most recent versions have had some growing pains but the program is still the most used in the industry. Another popular option would be RootsMagic. Reunion is popular with those who use a Mac/Apple computer. There are also a few free programs that you can download, the most popular being Personal Ancestral File or PAF. It is made available by the LDS church. I have not used their program personally but it is widely utilized throughout the world.

Follow some of these links and check out each program before making a decision. A good site for product reviews is GenSoft Reviews. There you can read hundreds of personal reviews of over 400 different genealogy programs.

After deciding on the right program for you, take the plunge and get one. Most can be obtained online but you can get the more popular programs at Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc. Try to get the most recent version, not something that has been sitting on the shelf for three or four years. You can also pick them up at eBay but only buy those that are "new in the box."

When you get the program in your hands, install it on your computer and start playing around with the features. Get bold and enter what you know about yourself and your immediate family. Once you enter your first name and date, you are officially initiated into the genealogy hobby. I warn you now that it can be extremely addictive!

RootsMagic 4 public beta

I am a little late in getting around to pointing this out but better late than never...

If you have ever wanted to try RootsMagic, now would be the time. They are offering the public a chance to beta test their latest version, RootsMagic 4. The offer is good until the end of March and is totally free. You just download the program, after filling out a brief form, and install it using a temporary registration code they provide to you in an e-mail. At the end of March, the program will stop working but you can use it until then. You can then provide feedback about any issues you find.

I downloaded the program and it was larger than I thought it would be. I think the program was +/- 33 MB and the optional maps were another +/- 68 MB. Compared to Family Tree Maker, 2008/2008 this is still tiny but I was under the impression that it was smaller than that. I would not recommend trying to download the program if you are using dial-up.

Yesterday I briefly played with RootsMagic 4 and, overall, I liked what I saw. I have never used any version of RootsMagic before so it was my first experience. It did look a lot like the Family Tree Maker 2008/2009 interface, which surprised me after all of the complaints. Maybe RootsMagic has looked like this for awhile and FTM copied them...someone will have to educate me on that point.

From what I saw, I was not overly impressed at first. It seems a little too stripped down visulally. I was however very interested with its website creation function. It is somewhat limited but very powerful at the same time. I am going to make a sample site and I will post a link to it, maybe later tonight if I can stay up late and get it done.

Anyway, download the program and let me know what you think. I really cannot give a review at this point because I just started to playing with it. I will weigh in on the subject once I give it more study.

Here is the link for the beta test: Click here for RootsMagic 4 beta