Using a genealogy program to document your family tree can be great. The challenge is to know the features that you need without a lot of time and money. A variety of genealogy programs are available to help with your families' trees. Search the internet for computer based genealogy programs or family tree software and look at the top 10 sites in your browser. One of the most popular programs is Family Tree Maker®. I have used it for many years to help me organize, document and display my family tree.
But the choices don't stop there. There are numerous other software packages available for download as well as many online programs that you can use to help you document and publish your family's history. Generally, most sites can be grouped into the following broad categories:
- Genealogy that provide charts and templates that you can fill in by hand;
- Computer based genealogy software programs that you can download; or
- Internet based programs where you can update and store your family's history.
What features should family tree programs provide? Well that's up to you. The best approach is to list the features and benefits that you want in your genealogy software. I've provided a simple list of a few features that you might want to consider to get you started:
- Want to start with a free genealogy program, before you buy?
- Want to access your trees even when you are not at your computer?
- Want to share data with family members that already have a software program?
- Have families in other countries that do family tree research?
So take a pen and paper and start making a list. Don't be afraid to expand the list over and over. Once you think that you have a pretty good list – take the time to prioritize it. Do this very carefully. Remember, this list of features will guide you to select a few good examples of programs that might be best for you.
When looking for genealogy programs, recognize that the best family tree software for everyone else may not be the best for you. By answering your questions and ranking them according to importance, you will be on your way to finding the right software. Remember, selecting software for family trees is subjective. This article can only scratch the surface of the important issues.
Now search the internet again for computer based genealogy or family tree software and start making a short list of products that have the features you are looking for. Check out other pages on this website for more information about the various products available including:
- Family Tree Maker
- my favourite;
- OneGreatFamily.com - a great tool that connects you with other amateur family historians; and
- Ancestry.com - that boasts one of the largest genealogy databases available to amateur genealogists.
Hopefully, this article has provided a few insights into the benefits of computer based genealogy programs. Check out the links on this page for more information and any other questions that you need to ask yourself before you decide on the family tree software to record your families' heritage.
