Steve, It all depends on what you do with your software. The most intensive genealogy program is probably "The Master Genealogists" which includes a lot of citation choices, etc. There are others like Gene Pennington who use that software that can give you a lot more info. It is more difficult to use, but some find the rewards more important than the input. Family Origins is still out there and a good program. It has never been one that I have enjoyed using. An awful lot of genealogy programs have fallen by the wayside. PAF is being discontinured, Generations is no longer made. Legacy Family Tree is quite popular. However, I have been and continue to be a Family Tree Maker user. Primarily for the following reasons: The interface is very easy to use and navigate. Using keyboard shortcuts, I can quickly move from parent to child and sibling to sibling. As I am intering information, I can quickly use a keyboard shortcut to get to the source window. It is easy to export to a gen report format or as a gedcom. I typically don't include much in the way of pictures and or clippings. I will type the information in the notes or copy and paste information. This is because I don't want my file size to get too big. My main family database is about 73,000 individuals and Pennington database is about 11,000. My main database is the result of about 10 years of work. Having said that, I have copies with my aunt and grandmother - Did I say it was easy to export??? That way I have a backup. I think that everyone has a favorite software program and can give you the high and low points of their choices. I have tried many other programs, but always seem to come back to Family Tree Maker. I just like working with it! Carmen Johnson ARD - JFMF PRA Group 7: http://pragroup7.genheirlooms.com PRA - www.penningtonresearch.org On Tue Nov 28 9:47 , 'Steven Kelly' <stkelly@syr.edu> sent: >Good afternoon, > >What software do you recommend/use for your documentation purposes? > >I figure it is time to get all of the hand-drawn family trees my >grandfather has done and all of the newspaper articles, photos, etc all >together and organized...with a 3 year old running around, things tend >to turn up missing!! Plus I need to get it in a format where I can >contribute to the efforts here... > >I have researched and RootsWeb and Family Tree Maker seem to get the >best reviews from the various online sites, but I thought I would ask >the experts! > >Thanks for any help! >Steve Kelly >Group 4 > >Please note NEW address to post to the list: PRA@rootsweb.com >For more information about the PRA including our DNA Study, visit us at http://www.penningtonresearch.org >Learn what's new at the PRA by going to http://www.penningtonresearch.org and click on the "News" link on the left side of the page. >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ---- Msg sent via CableONE.net MyMail - http://www.cableone.net