On the Future of Custom Reunion Source Types

28 Apr 2012 By 16 Comments

Have you wondered what happened with the Reunion source types I had been creating? Let me tell you what happened.

As you’ll recall, I created custom source types based on guidance from “Evidence Explained” (EE) (see “source types” in the Reunion Tutorial Index). I also shared the process I devised for customizing Reunion source types. You may also recall that I revisited a couple of those customized source types to improve them.

That was the first sign of trouble, yet I pushed on because there was interest. Then two things happened: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Editorial, Mac Software, News, Other Topics, Reunion 9 Tagged With:

Family Tree Maker for Mac 2 Update Issues

6 Apr 2012 By 19 Comments

If you follow this blog, you know that we do not currently recommend Family Tree Maker for Mac 2 (FTMM2). However, I still use it personally and keep hoping that Ancestry and the developer will fix it. I recently installed the Family Tree Maker for Mac 2 (FTMM2) update, version 21.2.2.415. According to the release notes:

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Editorial, Famly Tree Maker for Mac, Mac Software

What Genealogy Software Do We Recommend?

14 Mar 2012 By 5 Comments

When I tell people I don’t recommend Family Tree Maker for Mac 2, they often ask what I do recommend, which is understandable. But I really can’t recommend a genealogy program for other people without knowing what their requirements are. You must first decide what your priorities are. Then you can check on the web to see which programs meet your requirements. You can use Ben’s Feature Comparison Table or FindtheBest.com to find the features you need (but take the Smart Ratings on the latter with a grain of salt). GenSoftReviews.com lists lots of genealogy programs, although not all of them have reviews. But see Tamura Jones’ article, The Most Important Genealogy Software Feature. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ancestry, Editorial, Famly Tree Maker for Mac, Mac Software, Other Software, PC Software, Reunion 9, RootsMagic

Splitting a Tree with Family Tree Maker for Mac 2

12 Mar 2012 By 5 Comments

I just sent the following in an email to a GenealogyTools reader who asked me how to split a Family Tree Maker for Mac 2 (FTMM2) tree. This person had purchased the genealogy software, downloaded a 13,000 person tree from Ancestry.com, and found it too cumbersome to manage. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Editorial, Famly Tree Maker for Mac, Mac Software

Ancestry iOS App 3.1 Update: New Feature Review

7 Mar 2012 By 3 Comments

Ancestry iOS Update IconThe new update to Ancestry’s app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch is now available in the app store.

The app can now notify you when Ancestry.com finds  information it thinks relevant to your ancestors. Enabling this optional feature will cause the little red number badge to appear on the Ancestry app icon when Ancestry.com finds new information. If you’d like to use this feature, be sure to allow push notifications when prompted after launching the updated app for the first time. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ancestry, News, Other Software, Other Topics

Ancestry iOS App 3.0.1 Update

21 Nov 2011 By 1 Comment

Fire up the App Store! An update to version 3.0.1 of the Ancestry app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch is available.

Here are the changes listed in the version notes:

  • Shaky leaves
  • Simple merge tool
  • In app purchase of records
  • Information automatically added to photos
  • Changeable privacy settings
  • Integrated feedback and support

The note also promises more stability and faster performance.

That all seems pretty straight forward except the part about automatically adding information to photos. If you figure out what that means please leave a comment.

Filed Under: Ancestry, News, Other Software

Family Tree Maker 2010 for Mac Version 19.2.1.241 Released

22 Jan 2011 By 6 Comments

Launch your copy of Family Tree Maker for Mac to get the latest update. It’s apparently loaded with undisclosed bug fixes and enhancements. Here’s what the upgrade dialog lists:

  • Numerous stability fixes were made
  • Child sort order is shown correctly in reports
  • Added support for GEDCOM 5.5.1
  • Numerous other fixes and enhancements

It’s unfortunate when professional software developers can’t or won’t provide detailed lists of fixes and enhancements. Ancestry is not alone in this and there are some companies who do this well (like RootsMagic). While it’s good to know that GEDCOM 5.5.1 is supported and that the child sort order is fixed in reports, it’s of virtually no help at all to know that “numerous” stability fixes and enhancements are in a release. Come on! You know what they are and if you don’t you shouldn’t be publishing software. Please list them so that we can see if the problem fixes or features we desire are present in updates to our genealogy software.

Filed Under: Editorial, Famly Tree Maker for Mac, News, Other Software

Family Tree Maker Added to Comparison of Mac Genealogy Software

21 Nov 2010 By 1 Comment

Mac Genealogy Software Comparison Cover ImageI updated my comparison of Mac Genealogy Software. This is the document I first made available on MacGenealogist.com. It reviews the features and capabilities of Family Tree Maker for Mac, Heredis Mac X.2, iFamily for Leopard, MacFamilyTree, ohmiGene, PAW2X, and Reunion for Mac. Here are the changes:
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Editorial, Famly Tree Maker for Mac, News, Other Software

Downloading the Best Possible Image from Ancestry.com

30 Oct 2010 By 2 Comments

It occurred to me after making the previous video, , that you may not be getting the highest resolution version of document images when you download them from Ancestry.com. If you aren’t selecting the 200% resolution version you’ll want to see this video to learn how it’s done.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Ancestry, News, Other Software

Is Family Tree Maker for Mac Too Expensive?

8 Oct 2010 By 9 Comments

“Why is the Mac version of Family Tree more expensive than the Windows version?” I’ve read the question in the comments here and on Twitter. Here’s the scoop and thanks to GenealogyTools member Roger, the secret to a significant discount:

The Mac version price is higher because in bringing Family Tree Maker back to the Mac, Ancestry have had to pay to convert the program (a process called porting). They’ve got to pay for this expense and let’s face facts, Mac using genealogists are a tiny minority. That means the cost is spread across a much smaller group so the price will be higher.

We can complain, but it won’t do any good. We can refuse to buy it in protest, but that may simply lead to them leaving the market again. I think it’s better for us to have more competition. That’s why I welcome Family Tree Maker to the Mac.

On to the secret to a greater discount.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Editorial, Famly Tree Maker for Mac, News, Other Software
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