I received a number of responses off list that might be beneficial to some of you: << I use PAF......Personal Ancestor File..... Have used it for years and like it better than several others. One of which is Family Treemaker...... >> <<have been using Family Tree Maker for quite a few years now and have not had any complaints about it. Did upgrade about two years ago and really find it does what I need. I agree with Bill you need to hear from others. ruth>> <<You probably don't have a MAC, but if you do or know someone who does....I use Reunion genealogy software and love it. Also have FTMaker. Much prefer Reunion. Denell>> you should send a copy of your response to the list so that others can use your response in their evaluation. you see from the three above that everyone has their favorite and in time might give another a try. As yet no one has responded with one that they absolutely hated. Bill

Hi, all: Here's my three cents worth. Inflation, you know. These are all programs I own and use regularly. Ultimate Family Tree (UFT) - an excellent program, all the bells and whistles, has now been abandoned by its publisher. You can still get it, often really cheaply, and there is a mailing list for support which has been pretty good, but keep in mind it will not be debugged or upgraded any further. The reports are extraordinary. The learning curve is steep. It is a 16-bit program. The Master Genealogist (TMG) - I just switched from UFT to TMG. TMG has an extraordinary, active, and responsive support mailing list on RootsWeb; the developer of the program participates from time to time. Like UFT, it has all the bells and whistles, but that also means a steep learning curve. Reports are very good, but not always as "pretty" as some other programs; but once you get to know TMG it can jump through flaming hoops. A new "add-on", Visual Chart Form, with which I am not familiar, promises to provide new possibilities in wall charting. Documentation of sources and research management are the best around; only UFT comes close. The program is showing some age, at version 4.0c, which is a 16-bit program; I think the interface is somewhat clunky looking, but to paraphrase Forrest Gump, "Pretty is as pretty does." Version 5 is scheduled for release "any time now" and is a 32-bit program. *THIS IS MY MAIN PROGRAM AS OF THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY 2001* Personal Ancestral File (PAF) - The program put out by the Mormons, whose contributions to genealogy are the stuff of legend. (No religious requirements to use it.) PAF is a free download, and for the price <grin> extremely capable. There are some problems with the newly released version 5, according to online comments I've read, but I haven't had any trouble with it, including a successful import of a monster quarter-million-individual GEDCOM. Maybe the bugs have already been fixed anyway, there are a lot of good programmers in Utah <big grin>. The reports, documentation of sources, and research management are adequate or better; the onscreen displays are better than either UFT or TMG, in my opinion, and navigation is excellent. Family Origins (FO) - Relatively inexpensive, published by the same people as those who put out Family Tree Maker; meaning it probably doesn't get anywhere near the marketing effort it deserves. An excellent choice for someone who wants a balance between just printing a family tree (it does much more than that), and running a genealogical business or publishing a well-documented book (TMG would be a better choice). It has roughly the same strengths and weaknesses as PAF, I think. Lastly, in my opinion, it makes absolutely no difference what "free CDs" come with the program. You will find almost all that stuff on line anyway. The ability to organize and output your own information are what counts, and I think TMG, PAF, or FO would all be good choices. TMG for the gung-ho, PAF for the budget-conscious, FO for a balance of ease of use and capabilities. Darrell Darrell A. Martin a native Vermonter currently in exile in Addison, Illinois [email protected]