JD <jd4x4@ wrote: > keithareynolds@hotmail.com wrote: > >> I know there are a number of genealogy software packages but i don't >> know where to begin. I am looking for something relatively simple >> that will let me do charts. I would also like to be able to export >> the material into word to go with written material. Or is there a >> better way to go? >> >> Does anyone have suggestions? > > Totally agree with the others about trying them all before buying. The > views, reports, & entry methods are a VERY personal preference! > > I'll add that in the coming months I think that all of the major ones will > likely add better support for auto-entry of info from web sources. Just my > feeling, I'm not an "insider" or anything. if you use auto entry you will add some errors too auto search is OK but check all you add Hugh Wusing

Hugh Watkins <hugh.watkins@gmail.com> wrote: > JD <jd4x4@ wrote: >> keithareynolds@hotmail.com wrote: >> >>> I know there are a number of genealogy software packages but i don't >>> know where to begin. I am looking for something relatively simple >>> that will let me do charts. I would also like to be able to export >>> the material into word to go with written material. Or is there a >>> better way to go? >>> >>> Does anyone have suggestions? >> >> Totally agree with the others about trying them all before buying. >> The views, reports, & entry methods are a VERY personal preference! >> >> I'll add that in the coming months I think that all of the major ones >> will likely add better support for auto-entry of info from web >> sources. Just my feeling, I'm not an "insider" or anything. > > if you use auto entry you will add some errors too > auto search is OK > but check all you add > > Hugh W > > You have me curious now, Hugh. I'm still sorting out the auto-entry features of the current crop of software and I'm only roughly familiar with FTM 2008 and it's auto-entry/import from the Ancestry.com site (which I think is a GREAT feature, btw). Are you referring to errors originating with the source sites/cites, or with the software processes themselves (ie. user setup, templates, etc.)? And while on the subject, do you know of any current software that automatically "pulls" the additional relevant cite info. etc. from the web, other than FTM 2008?

JD <jd4x4@ wrote: > Hugh Watkins <hugh.watkins@gmail.com> wrote: > >> JD <jd4x4@ wrote: >>> keithareynolds@hotmail.com wrote: >>> >>>> I know there are a number of genealogy software packages but i don't >>>> know where to begin. I am looking for something relatively simple >>>> that will let me do charts. I would also like to be able to export >>>> the material into word to go with written material. Or is there a >>>> better way to go? >>>> >>>> Does anyone have suggestions? >>> Totally agree with the others about trying them all before buying. >>> The views, reports, & entry methods are a VERY personal preference! >>> >>> I'll add that in the coming months I think that all of the major ones >>> will likely add better support for auto-entry of info from web >>> sources. Just my feeling, I'm not an "insider" or anything. >> if you use auto entry you will add some errors too >> auto search is OK >> but check all you add >> >> Hugh W >> >> > > You have me curious now, Hugh. I'm still sorting out the auto-entry > features of the current crop of software and I'm only roughly familiar > with FTM 2008 and it's auto-entry/import from the Ancestry.com site > (which I think is a GREAT feature, btw). > > Are you referring to errors originating with the source sites/cites, or > with the software processes themselves (ie. user setup, templates, etc.)? > > And while on the subject, do you know of any current software that > automatically "pulls" the additional relevant cite info. etc. from the > web, other than FTM 2008? I am an original user of ancestry.co.uk before that I had the 1881 CDs and the PRO 1901 pay per view from reading news:alt.genealogy I knew the importance of the federal census indexes of ancestry.com which is why I became an ancestry evangelist (before that a GUI / Mac one too) because I knew if they got a good cash flow they would digitise the rest and I would enjoy the benefits personally FTM 2008 has more modern basic tecnology but it lacks much of the functionality of FTM 16 and earlier so after beta testing 2008 in August and helping beta test the repair of SP 2 - I still find the learning curve too steep Back to ancestry.co.uk in particular the birth places of the 1891 census are riddled with errors because of the auto fill softeware used to key in the index Since then TGN have appointed quality control stafff and the standard has improvedIn UK genealogy if you are reseaching a popular surname or patron ym you must get certified copies of the vital records back to 1 July 1837 for example in http://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/rectype/census/uk/default.aspx Exact Search Results - U.K. Census Collection You searched for Thomas Watkins Refine your search Sort By Viewing 1-10 of 28 | Next » Search Results 480 1881 England Census 443 1881 Wales Census 417 1901 England Census 401 1901 Wales Census 382 1871 Wales Census 379 1861 England Census 377 1861 Wales Census 367 1891 England Census 360 1851 England Census 347 1891 Wales Census 346 1871 England Census 329 1841 England Census 323 1851 Wales Census 243 1841 Wales Census 6 1891 Scotland Census 4 1881 Scotland Census 3 1901 Scotland Census 2 1841 Channel Islands Census 2 1861 Scotland Census 2 1881 Channel Islands Census 2 1891 Channel Islands Census 2 1901 Channel Islands Census 1 1841 Isle of Man Census 1 1851 Isle of Man Census 1 1851 Scotland Census 1 1871 Scotland Census 1 1881 Isle of Man Census 1 1891 Isle of Man Census two of them are my direct ancestors Edward Jones born Raglan in one instance is not in Wales but in England born Ragland and older spelling Alfred Watkins born Llanfair Kilgeddin (which has at least 6 variant spellings) is Alfred Watkin born Llanvair (probaly the local pronunciation) the "s" is tiny in the original so a fair transcription there are many many much worse examples in SGB it is almost a game for the SKS to see who is first find lost ancestors On the other hand in my LAPHAM One-Name study I do include wrong spellings as AKA to enable other to find a point of entry the same with alternate marriages which get sorted as more data emerges but still should be noted in a study In IGI there ae a lot of LAPPAM which is exactly how the name was spelled in Kilmington parish registers for a period - and how it is pronounced today around Bristol and Somerset so the LAPPAM get AKA Lapham to help the index another common erro is entering Baptisms as date of birth and burials as date of death the only cerect way is to write Before DDMMYYY FTM 2008 introduces geolocations unfortunately in the field used by most of us for historical place names which are not in the maps.live.com base I am considering TMG 7 but I have no wish to customize so I regard it as too complicate - almost unfinished Essentially a family tree program is a word processor and the output is a text document with gedcom structure and links Hugh W