Uncovering a family history can be a labor of love and a lifelong pursuit. Genealogy is a hobby that can be casual or intense. In the process, those on the hunt for a clear picture of their family's past will find they can come across more information and documents than they can easily store or organize. This is where free genealogy software can really come in handy.
Whether it's a database system or a simple family tree maker, a computer program can very much ease the process of collecting history. Since most people want to create as detailed a picture of the past as possible everything from birth and death dates to likes, dislikes, employment histories and more about ancestors will likely be included in a full family history.
Putting together a family history is a labor of love. Depending on how far back a person wants to research, the effort can be quite an undertaking that may involve many years and even travel to complete. And of course, all the while, new additions to the family history will be written along the way.
Good programs to help researchers, whether free or not, typically include a number of features that make organization more simplistic. On the basic level, for those who only want to create a family tree with limited information, a free program should at least enable the creation of a printable document that might help others do more detailed research in the future.
Extensive programs meant to track everything possible about all family members do exist. These are the choice of many who pursue genealogy on a more rigorous basis and since they're computerized the data base (if a laptop is available) is more than portable.
Good programs in general offer some of the following features: * Easy to understand instructions for operation and inputting of materials. The program itself will handle the formatting and data base organization. * Simple editing options that allow for the addition and subtraction of material on an individual entry as needed. Good programs enable the input of as much information about a person as the researcher deems necessary. * Easy to use search mechanism. Since family histories can become very long, a solid program enables the researcher to quickly find information about any person in the data base. * Sourcing ability. Storing documents obtained during research can be difficult. To keep them all handy is nearly impossible. Sourcing abilities allow for footnoting to tell the researcher where certain information came from so if the need arises he or she can prove their work or go back to the source document for additional information if it's required. * Printing capabilities. Half the fun of creating a family history is sharing the information that's been discovered. Good overall programs will enable a quick print of a simple family tree or timeline without having to print out the entire data base.
Creating a family history is a fun and rewarding pursuit that can give researchers a clear look at their own past. Keeping up with all of the documents and information, however, can become tedious. Good programs do the work of organizing for researchers, freeing up their time for more serious pursuit.
Remember Your Operating System
There are nearly 50 different genealogy software programs available on the market, with many of them being quite similar in what they offer and in the price you will pay to purchase them. Therefore, the first step in narrowing down your search is to determine which ones are compatible with your operating system. Failure to purchase a genealogy software program that works with your computer system will only lead to disappointment, frustration, and wasted money.
The majority of the available software is created to work with Windows. Nonetheless, there are programs available for Linux, Palm, and Mac as well. Be sure to check the box before purchasing.
Consider Your Needs
Your personal needs should also be taken under consideration when selecting a genealogy software program. For example, you may need software that is available in your language if your primary language is not English. Or, you might need software that is compatible with a screen reader if you have vision problems. If you have a physical disability, on the other hand, you might need software that allows you to enter data with keystrokes rather than with a mouse. Consider your unique needs and narrow your choices down even further from there.
Decide How the Software will be Used
Of course, you also need to determine what you will be using the software for. If you are interested in creating a family web page or creating a family history book, you will need genealogy software that is capable of supporting these types of creations. Or, you might want to add audio, photos, or video to the information you are creating and saving. The software you select, therefore, must be compatible with the programs you will be using for your photographs or for your video or audio clips.
Your expected output is also important. For example, you might want to create a life-sized family tree to display at you family reunion. In this case, the software needs to be capable of creating such a large image and sending the information to your printer.
If you want the basics, there is also genealogy software available that simply stores names, events, and dates. Decide ahead of time what you hope to achieve with your software, and use that to help you determine which one you will purchase.
Determine Your Comfort Level
All the "bells and whistles" of a genealogy software program will mean nothing if you aren't comfortable using them! So, before you go out and purchase a program that does all sorts of wonderful and exciting things, make sure you are prepared to learn how to do them. Decide how willing and capable you are to sit down and learn about all of the special features offered by your genealogy software. If you know you won't be able to take full advantage of them, save yourself the time, frustration, and money by purchasing a more basic software program.
Get Help with Research
If you plan on sharing a great deal of your information with other genealogists or with family members, you might want to consider purchasing a software program that helps you out when it comes to reading genealogy files that were created by other programs. By purchasing a software program that is capable of interacting with other forms of software, you can easily transmit and share information without the risk of losing important data. In addition, you may wish to purchase a program that is capable of creating easy to read charts and other types of reports that can be easily uploaded to the Internet and onto your family website.
Genealogy software can make the process of researching your family tree far simpler if you take the time to find a program that is well suited to your needs. Similarly, it can make it far easier to share information with friends, family, and fellow genealogists. This sharing makes it possible for them to help add to your research. In addition, you can create attractive displays with the right software that can help you create lovely and meaningful gifts and mementos for your family members.
Both Jessica Deets & Marie Christianson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jessica Deets has sinced written about articles on various topics from Interest, Acid Reflux and Heart Conditions. Jessica Deets researches the internet and writes information to help people. You can find out more news and ideas about family history and genealogy at