Write it Down

By now you’ve had plenty of time to learn all you can from your older relatives.  I had planned to have a post to share with you comparing different genealogy programs.  But it got to be difficult.  As a genealogist, you really only need a program that will allow you to keep track of the information you find.  For some, that will be all they need; just something basic.  Others want bells and whistles with extras like adding images into the program or ones that offer additional research help.

So, what it boils down to is this:  what do YOU want?  We like using Personal Ancestral File (PAF).  For us it is easy to use and works for our needs.  The only downside we have found with this program is that it isn’t being supported or updated anymore because its developers (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) has changed their focus to a wiki type of system online through their research arm of FamilySearch.

I personally do not like the idea of putting my genealogy online in that manner; it becomes to easy for someone to come along and change something that I don’t agree with their conclusions.  I prefer to share it but maintain my tree away from others.  There are so many programs to choose from:  Ancestral Quest, Legacy, Family Tree Maker, RootsMagic Family.  Just a quick Google search will give you these and many more.

Ultimately each of these products do the same things and range in price from free (for basic usage) to as much money as you’re willing to spend.  The differences in cost are caused by the bells & whistles that each program offers.

Which program will work best for you can only be determined by you.  Each of the programs I have tried in the last little bit worked the same way and, once I got used to each of the programs’ intricacies, were easy to navigate.  My advice is to choose a program and stick with it.  Let yourself get used to it and it will become natural for you.