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Archiver > TMG > 2000-06 > 0961301192


From: "Wanda Story" <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Thinking about buying TMG
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 21:06:32 -0700
In-Reply-To: <000a01bfd8ae$a167b260$fe521b18@houston.rr.com>


I have been using TMG for one year now, I came from Brother's
Keeper (8 year user) and also consider myself an advanced
computer user (I teach computer courses at our local college).

I was initially a little frustrated ...... for not understanding the "new
philosophy" of this program. I had the hardest time with new
terms, like tag and flag, and it took me a little while to really get
what they were, and to get a handle on the reports feature (and I
teach database). A tag is a field (database talk). You can create
any fields or tags you want. Fabulous when you get the hang of it!,
and each person (or record) can have the same field more than
once. You can use the education tag over and over again if you
have a very learned family member, or even use vital tags, like
birthdate more than once. (two different Aunts may give you two
different birthdates for your ancestor). You can organize your tags
in any sequence so it becomes a chronology of your ancestors life.
....

The report feature is like preparing queries in Access database.
The wizard is great inserting most of the syntax for you etc.

For less experienced computer users the customizing features will
take some time to learn, but the standard or pre-set features are as
good as any other Genealogy program.

I gedcommed my stuff in (of course left my old program and data
intact) and jumped in cold turkey and did great, learning as I
explored. I know find, after one year, still following the TMG list
(quietly) I actually know the answers to most of the user questions
now (not the technical stuff).

I would never go back, and absolutely encourage you to go for it -
you will get over the initial "stumbles" and then love it.

My # 1 tip, get to know the F3 (repeat) key !! I typed in the same
city (for other records) and the same source and citation, over and
over again before I got the hang of using the F3 key and wasted
lots of time. Hit the F3 key more than once and you will get the
second to last entry recently typed, or the third to last entry
recently typed !!

Wanda Story, (preparing to print a book in two weeks, using a
custom narrative report, indexing, bibliography, and the whole
works!)

> I am thinking about buying TMG, I am presently using PAF. I consider myself
> an advanced computer user. I have been monitoring the mailing list for the
> last couple of days. I get the feeling that TMG is quite powerful, but
> difficult to use. Is this a correct assumption?
> Also, I hear that a newer version is due out shortly, should I wait until
> then to purchase it?
> Thanks
> John
>
> ______________________________


****************************************************
Wanda Story - yes I'm into genealogy !!
(in Williams Lake, BC)
Check out my HomePage at http://wlake.com/wandas

Co-ordinator of the Cariboo-Chilcotin region of BC GENWEB.
http://www.wlake.com/genweb
**********************************************************

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