GENMTD-L Archives

Archiver > GENMTD > 2003-01 > 1041525230


From: Brian Kelly <>
Subject: [GM] Re: Recommended software
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 08:33:50 -0800
References: <av08pj$613$1@askin-17.linkpendium.com>


> I'm very new at genealogy. I have quite a bit of information from
> my husband's side of the family, but not much from my family. I am
> of French and Polish decent. I plan to research my side of the
> family.
>
> My question is what kind of software do you all recommend? I got a
> CD for Christmas that has a collection of about 100 free and
> shareware genealogy programs. I'm concerned about the longevity of
> the software and if it will be readable in the future. I sure don't
> want to put a lot of work into something that will have to be redone
> in the future! I would also like to have a software that I can
> include photos of my family.
>
> Lydia


Lydia,

One important element of genealogical software you decide to use
should be its ability it both import from and export to a file
format called GEDCOM. This is a standard genealogical data transfer
format that uses a structured text file. The standard was developed
by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) who
have a theological interest in genealogy. They were also the
authors of the the Personal Ancestral File (PAF) software and freely
distribute copies from their web site.

If your program can import from GEDCOM files and can export its data
to the GEDCOM format your worries over the longevity of your
software and the readability of the data in the future can be
lessened.

I'm sure you will also hear many comments on the "failures" some
programs have in exporting their data. You must understand that the
more sophisticated programs have features in terms of the data they
store over and above the basic genealogical information, often the
form they use to export this information, if it is exported at all,
may not be understood by other programs.

I note that you want software that will store photos of your family.
Be prepared that these photos will not be included in any GEDCOM
transfer. I have heard that the GEDCOM standard allows for this
transfer but I am not aware of any programs that actually implement
such a feature.

Good luck in your research and many Happy Years of genealogy to you.

Brian Kelly
Rockland, ON, CDA

Brian Kelly <>

This thread: