GenealogyTools

Genealogy Software Tutorials for Mac & PC

iFamily for Leopard

The Perils of Following the GEDCOM Standard (Updated 28 Apr 2016)

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Vicious Circle
Jacek Malczewski, Vicious Circle [Public domain, USA], via Wikimedia Commons
After testing a few desktop genealogy applications for how well they handled GEDCOM files, it occurred to me that I should write an article about my testing philosophy and methodology, as well as some of the problems with complying with the GEDCOM standard. Take a moment to ponder that: this series was motivated by the problem of genealogy software like Family Tree Maker (FTM) not complying with the GEDCOM standard. But there may be unintended consequences, both for users and software publishers, of following the standard. [Read more…] about The Perils of Following the GEDCOM Standard (Updated 28 Apr 2016)

Comparison of Mac Genealogy Software Features

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Comparing features helps when you’re choosing a new genealogy application. Seeing which ones support the features essential to your genealogy workflow and practice is also helpful.

I just compiled a set of tables I hope you’ll find helpful in comparing features of Mac genealogy software. I published it on the Family Tree Maker for Mac 2 buyer’s guide page.

I was able to complete this much more quickly than the one for PC genealogy software feature comparison because I had already been maintaining similar tables. I updated the tables where appropriate and made the criteria match those for PC genealogy applications. This way you can compare features not only between Mac genealogy software, but also PC counterparts–it’s a sad tale across the board.

A Brief, Introductory Tour of iFamily for Leopard

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If you’re interested or curious about what it’s like to use the Mac genealogy software iFamily for Leopard, you’ll like this video: A Brief Video Tour of the iFamily for Leopard Mac Genealogy Software. In it I demonstrate a few features of the interface and adding some people to the sample data that is included in the demo download.

How to Link Images to Multiple People in iFamily for Leopard

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Sometimes it’s appropriate to have an image applied to more than one person in your family history database. iFamily for Leopard includes a simple, space-saving way to add an image to one person then link it to other people. This allows you to avoid having multiple copies of the image in the iFamilyData/Pictures folder on your Mac. The software will also list people who reference that photo.

In this video, Linking Images to Multiple People in Mac Genealogy Software iFamily for Leopard, I show you how I linked a four-generation photo to the my pictured siblings, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and me. You will find that after viewing this you will be able to do the same for your images.