Both types of applications can store and manipulate your genealogical information. They typically have some standard features in common. For instance, most serve as containers for family facts and stories, have some reporting functions to see the data contained within them, and have export capabilities so that you can share your data with other family historians (or with another application). Each application may have a few unique features that make it stand out from the others. For example, one might have the capability to take information out of the application and generate online reports at the click of a button or integrate with data stored on subscription genealogical websites. Here’s a list of some simple features to look for when evaluating applications:
✓ How easy to use is the application? Is it reasonably intuitive how and where to enter particular facts about an ancestor?
✓ Does the application generate a view of its data so that you can take the next step in your research? For instance, if you’re partial to Family Group Sheets, does this application display information in that style?
✓ Does the application allow you to export and import a GEDCOM file? What other formats does it export to? GEDCOM is a file format that’s widely used for genealogical research. For more info about GEDCOM, see the sidebar in Chapter 14 titled “GEDCOM: The Genealogist’s Standard.”
✓ What are the limitations of the application? Make sure the application can hold an adequate number of names, documents, and photographs (and accompanying data) to accommodate all the ancestors about whom you have information.
✓ Can your current computer system support this application? If the requirements of the application cause your computer to crash every time you use it, you won’t get very far in your genealogical research.
✓ Does this application provide fields for citing your sources and keeping notes? Including information about the sources you use to gather your data – with the actual facts, if possible – is an important and a sound genealogical practice. Take a look at the section “Learning about Sources,” earlier in this chapter, for more information about the importance of citing sources and understanding how to do so.
✓ Does this application have features that warn you of incorrect or incomplete data? For example, some applications check the place-name that you enter against a database of locations and suggest a standard way of spelling the location.
✓ Does the application integrate with genealogical websites? Integrating content between websites and genealogical software is an easy way to build your genealogical database, as well as to share your findings with others.
Entering Information into RootsMagic Essentials
To help you get a better idea of how genealogical software installed on your personal computer can help you organize your records and research, and to help you figure out what features to look for in particular software packages, this section examines how to use RootsMagic, a popular genealogy program.
You can download a free trial version of RootsMagic Essentials software and install it on your computer:
1. Open your web browser and go to the RootsMagic site at www.rootsmagic.com/Products.
2. Scroll down to the RootsMagic Essentials section and click the Free Download button.
3. Complete the information fields, including your name and email address. Enter your email address again in the Verify E-mail field shown in Figure 1-3.
4. Select the checkbox if you want to receive emails from RootsMagic.
5. Click Download.
The instructions for downloading the product appear. Be sure to click on the correct version for your computer’s operating system. There are two versions – one for Windows and the other for Mac.
6. Click the RootsMagic Essentials Installer link.
The software downloads to a directory on your computer.
7. To begin the installation, double-click the downloaded file.
When we installed it, the filename was RM7Setup.exe. The RootsMagic Setup wizard pops up with a license agreement.
8. Read through the licensing agreement. If you agree to its terms, click the I Accept the Agreement option and then click Next.
In the window that appears, choose where to have the RootsMagic Essentials software stored on your computer.
9. Identify where to store the application and then click Next.
The Select Start Menu Folder field appears. This enables you to identify where to put shortcuts for the program. The default location is a folder called RootsMagic 7.
10. If you want the shortcuts listed in RootsMagic 7, leave the default location in the field. If you prefer to have shortcuts in another folder, browse and select the folder or enter the location.
11. Click Next.
The Select Additional Tasks window opens. If you want to set up any additional tasks (such as creating a desktop icon for the program or downloading a place database for geocoding and gazetteer components), select the appropriate checkbox.
12. Click Next.
The final information for the installation appears.
13. Review the installation information and, if everything looks correct, click Install.
When the software has finished installing, the Completing the RootsMagic Setup Wizard box appears.
14. If you want to open RootsMagic now, select the Launch RootsMagic checkbox and click the Finish button.
A window opens welcoming you to the software and asking you to identify which version of the product you’re opening.
15. Click the RootsMagic Essentials – Free Version link.
FIGURE 1-3: Information fields for the RootsMagic install.
Now that you have the RootsMagic Essentials software installed on your computer, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and start entering data. When you open the application for the very first time, you get a RootsMagic News window containing links to various announcements and stories of interest to RootsMagic users. If you want to read any of these, you can click the links; otherwise, just click Close.
When the RootsMagic News box closes, you see a Welcome to RootsMagic screen. To begin your family tree, follow these steps:
1. Click Create a New File.
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