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The database input mechanism is hierarchical, showing the family relationships in a way that you can easily navigate to younger, or older generations simply by clicking links to the right or left. You can easily swap the partner in a relationship to navigate their ancestry. Multiple partners are easily supported. It is very flexible and allows generating many different report types and creating web pages. The add-on product PAF Companion allows creating graphical views of the family relationships.
If you want a small, portable, and really easy to use program, this one may just be for you.
Others to be added or considered for review here: GenoPro (restricted freeware with limits), Legacy, Family Tree Legends, Legacy Family Tree, Bygones, GEDTree, GEDView, GRAMPS (Linux only), Family Tree Maker (starter), and others Below is a list of everything I have accumulated so far to be looked at and considered for review here. Please note this is not necessarily complete, and quite a few of these applications will probably be eliminated, or at least listed very briefly as supplemental tools. E.g. Many of them are not real genealogy databases, but tools for browsing the GED export text files that many of the databases use as a common data sharing mechanism. Many are also used by genealogists to convert their data into HTML format ready for publishing to a web page. My Family Health Portrait - http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/download.html (US Dept of Health & Human Services) GEDReporter - http://www.gedreporter.dmcmartin.com/ Online: |
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5.2 
Unrestricted Freeware 
Windows
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Editor
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This software category is maintained by volunteer editor buckeye |
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genealogy, family tree, family hierarchy, family tree software, freeware |
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Please note that Gramps is NOT a Linux only app. It may have been once but there now also a Windows version - see http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/gramps4win/index.php?title=Main_Pa...
My Excel2Ged Excel spreadsheet may be occasionally useful. It is a genealogy formatted Excel spreadsheet available here: http://www.godskingsandheroes.info/software/. It has a macro for converting the data into gedcom files while preserving indicated family relationships.
The latest version of Personal Ancestral File, 5.2.18.0, was released on 23 July 2002.
Legacy is also another free program for genealogy. It's what I've been using for a few years now. Much like the Family Tree Maker platform.
What about itsourtree.com Home Edition?
Take a look at geni.com. Might be good to monitor it for a while. If they can add a way to record sources, it would rank #1 in my book. But until then, I use PAF.
I use My Heritage Family Tree Builder, and it's just outstanding.
Easy to get started and use, extremely full featured, lots of different
(customizable) charts and diagrams, PDF format reports etc etc. Many
different languages are supported. I don't think I've explored all the
features yet (e.g. there is some kind of language translation support)
It integrates with the (free) My Heritage web-site (should you choose
to publish on-line), and can search over 1000 on-line genealogy related
web-sites and info sources helping you research your family tree.
The web-site emails you with matches to other peoples trees (often
1000s of members).
It's been a long time since I was so impressed with a free software app.
Lucifer Sam
I just opened an account with My Heritage Family Tree Builder a few days back. I am using the free version. However after having entered almost reaching 250 people records, I was informed that the free version has a limitation of up to 250 records. Should I like to continue with the free version then anything beyond that number would not be displayed. Therefore for those having larger than 250 people records will not be able to fully utilize the program unless he/she opts for the Pro version.
I wonder if there is any other program that provides "no limitations " for its use of the same program.
Abdul Jalil
I do have to agree with you about this being a very good software package. I have checked it out and found it to be most of what you clam it is. The problems that I found is it is a little on the NAG ware side. When you start the program it pops up a window that want you to publish your genealogy file to the My Heritage site. It also starts your web browser and takes you to the site. On the plus side I find this a small price to pay for the quality of the package.
The software does have a few limitation. The free version does not have these features: Smart Research, Smart Match Merge, All-in-one chart, Publishing of videos, audios and documents. They are in the Premium and Premium Plus versions.
As for the family page web site:
The free site will let you have a family tree size of only 250 people, is ad supported (they have to pay for this some how) and a storage size of 250 MB. The Premium site is $75.00 a year and increases the tree size to 2500 people, 500 MB storage, deletes the adds from your page, and unlocks the other feathers in the software. The Premium Plus is $119.40 per year. This gives you unlimited tree size and storage. Oh if you sign up for more than a year you do get a discount.
Family Tree Legends is so easy my mother is able to use it. Some great features and pretty charts too.
Simon.
I am going through the list, but initial thoughts are:
PAF is limited in the free edition. It leans a bit towards religious aspects.
Geni is very good, but is web-based (and so not for me).
Simple Family Tree is good, but too basic. If basic is what you want it is excellent.
My Heritage Family Tree is also very good, best for me so far. File management is a bit quirky and some odd effects in some of the chars - such as lines from parents to child going from either father or mother instead of from the link line.
I use www.geni.com. it has a lot of features.
I also used the software provided by myheritage.com, but i didnt find it had that many features, and its web based port had limitations.
Also take a look at the open source GenealogyJ (genJ)
An open source java program.
Thanks, I will take a look as soon as I can.
consider PHPGEDVIEW free opensource check out an example here http://ancestors.stadig.org
Thanks, I will take a look as soon as I can.
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