Issue 2.10
In recent articles I described the three current programs that will synchronize your family history records with the New FamilySearch program. They are Ancestral Quest, Family Insight and RootsMagic. Recently the creator of both PAF and Ancestral Quest created a comparison chart and accompanying video discussing the three programs. I found the video very enlightening even though I have used and am familiar with all three programs.
Gaylon Findlay, of Incline Software, the creator of PAF and Ancestral Quest said, “As a service to all who are trying to get a sense of the differences between the three current certified syncing products: Ancestral Quest, FamilyInsight and RootsMagic, I have just completed a detailed comparison.
This is the page to access the chart and accompanying video:
http://www.ancquest.com/CertCompare.htm
When I began the process of comparing these products, I had heard of one major difference, but the more I explored the more surprised I became at what I found. I am in a position to understand better than most what these products must do to “talk” to New FamilySearch, so I was able to examine things that many folks might overlook. I expect that the video will be very educational for all who take the time to watch it.
As one of the authors of both Ancestral Quest and PAF, I know that this video may be a bit biased, but I have tried to make it very fair and straight forward.”
I found the videos very educational and pointed out some of the differences I had noticed, but in a more detailed comparison. There is a fourth program in the making, Legacy, which will soon be released that will also synchronize with the New FamilySearch program.
New FamilySearch’s December 2009 release contains a new pedigree view that allows you to display more information in more ways. Some of the rules that are used to determine whether temple ordinances can be done have also been modified. When you click the Me and My Ancestors tab, you will see the Family Pedigree with Details as usual. If you click the Change View button, you can now switch to the Family Tree view or the Individual List view. This Family Tree view was only available on the labs site, but has now been incorporated into the NFS program.
Shanna Sullivan Jones is a professional genealogist. For additional information, Shanna can be reached at (435) 628-4900 or shannasjones@msn.com.