Alan E. Mann, A.G.

alan@alanmann.com Accredited Genealogist

www.alanmann.com/articles/ Thursday, 2 August 2001 7:00 – 9:00 p.m

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Family History Computer Products

(Non-Family History Library)

 

This session looks at computer products other than those produced by the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our first problem is trying to define "computer products." My definition is anything that requires a computer to use it. This definition would encompass the entire Internet as well as CD-ROM products, all electronic databases, software, and software utilities. The topic is far too broad to cover in any detail. I would like to demonstrate several types of products and help you discover where you can learn more.

I will specifically mention web sites. If you do not have an Internet connection, this does not leave you out. You can still visit a local library, school, or friend to check out the web sites.

CD-ROM products

You can learn more about existing CD-ROM products from the following web sites:

Genealogy.com (formerly Broderbund, FamilyTreeMaker, and Automated Archives). This company produces more genealogy CD-ROM products than anyone else. The collection of CD-ROMs is called the Family Archives. I would like to point out that the index to all of their CD-ROMs is online at www.genealogy.com/cdhome.html. While they are starting to make their CD-ROM data available on the web, you should carefully investigate the charges before using the online service. Their collection is broken into several sub-sets and you must pay a separate fee for each set and, in most cases, an additional fee for each CD-ROM you wish to use online. Despite the confusing and expensive access fee, the collection is an excellent resource. I suggest using the online index and Lori Hoffman's lookup list (http://loricase.com/CDs/cdlist.html) for one-time use.

Cyndi's List gives links to web sites that mention CD-ROMs (www.cyndislist.com/cd-roms.htm).

Alan Mann's list of CD-ROM vendors (www.alanmann.com/articles/cdromlist.htm). This has a categorized list of CD-ROMs and a separate list of vendors with web pages, email, and other contact information.

I will demonstrate several CD-ROM products.

In my opinion, CD-ROM will eventually be replaced by Internet as the method of offering access to genealogical data. The Internet has several advantages, including lower distribution cost (packaging and shipping), much great accessibility, greater security, and better ability to charge according to usage.

 

Genealogy Software

While you might think of a genealogical database manager when you hear this term, software includes programs other than one to keep track of your relational data. It includes programs that analyze, sort, advise, direct, and inform. I will give a few examples.

I strongly urge you to use a genealogy programs that meets certain basic requirements, namely:

There are a lot of programs designed to be your "main genealogy program," or what I would call a genealogy database manager. Two of the most popular are Personal Ancestral File (PAF) and Legacy. I mention these because they are available at no charge. Hundreds of other database managers are available at a variety of prices. We do not have time to look at the various programs or attempt to form some basis for evaluation. If you are interested in this subject, you may wish to look at my article comparing these programs at www.alanmann.com/articles/comparison.htm.

Several major comparisons of genealogy database manager software programs are available online, including:

http://www.cagenweb.com/rwilson/comparison.htm and

http://www.mumford.ab.ca/reportcard/index.htm.

 

 

Genealogy Utility programs

There are utility programs to create web pages from a GEDCOM, calculate Soundex codes, extract data from FamilySearch databases, draw maps directly from your database showing where your family comes from, help plan and/or organize your research, analyze your data by trees, print specialty charts or books, and much more. I will demonstrate a few utility programs.

 

Lists of utility programs are available in several places. Some of my favorite lists are:

http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/pub/genealogy/INDEX.html (allows you to download each)

http://www.cyndislist.com/software.htm#Tools (tools and utilities)

http://www.genealogy.com/links/c/c-computers,software.html (Genealogy.com's list)

 

Internet Databases

This category is far too large to even begin to list. I will demonstrate a few major databases--both free and fee-based, but keep in mind that there are whole categories of online databases that I don't have time to demonstrate.

 

To find Internet databases, use the following web sites:

www.alanmann.com/articles/name.htm

www.cyndislist.com/

www.genealogysitefinder.com/

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/WebSites/frameset_websites.asp?PAGE=search_websites_advanced.asp?object=y (FamilySearch - Search Web Sites)

 

©Copyright 1997-2001 by Alan E. Mann. All rights reserved. Written permission to reproduce all or part of this syllabus material in any format, including photocopying, data retrieval or any computer bulletin boards, must be secured in advance from the copyright holder.