| This table offers the following table of features as a guide to help you choose the right genealogy software for your needs | ![]() |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software title | RootsMagic Edition 4 |
Family Tree Maker 2006 | Family Tree Maker 2008 v2 (All editions) | Family Historian v4.1.3 | Family Tree maker 2010 |
| Price | |||||
| My History | £24.90 | from £12.45 | from £9.95 | £35.50 | From £18.95 |
| TWR Computing (Free delivery) |
£25.50 | £9.95 | from
£9.95 |
£35.90 | £19.95 |
| Price Direct from author | £25.50 | £9.95 | from
£9.95 |
£35.90 | £19.95 |
| Most recent edition | 2009 | .Aug 2005 | .Nov 2008 | May 2009 | September 2009 |
| Operating System | W95-V7 | W98-Vista | XP/Vista | W98-V7 | WXP-V7 |
| Evaluation Rating | |||||
| Ease of use (1[Complex]-10[Easy]) | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| users | Suitable for beginners in computing and genealogy | Suitable for beginners in computing and genealogy | Suitable for beginners in computing and genealogy | Suitable for beginners in genealogy | Suitable for beginners in genealogy |
| Privacy | |||||
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| Data Storage Privacy | Home Computer | Home Computer | Home Computer | Home Computer | Home Computer |
| Instuctions | |||||
| Getting Started Guide - Printed | ![]() |
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Deluxe & Platinum only | 48 pages | Deluxe & Platinum only |
| Getting Started Guide - On disc | ![]() |
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| Main Manual - Printed | Available separately | Available separately | Available separately | Available separately | Available separately |
| Main Manual - On disc & printable | ![]() |
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Yes 200 pages | ![]() |
| On-screen Help | ![]() |
Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Data Storage/Sources | |||||
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| Multiple dates for a single event | ![]() |
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| Space for sources | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Attribute a single source to multiple records | ![]() |
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| Add multiple sources to a single event | ![]() |
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| Automatically assign a source to fields as they are keyed | ![]() |
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| Create/Edit a list of Sources/Master Sources | ![]() |
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| Create/Edit a list of Repositories | ![]() |
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| Report of sources and where used | ![]() |
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| Working with data | |||||
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| Colour code people to help navigation in tree | ![]() |
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| Create/Edit standard list of place names/occupations etc. | ![]() |
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Place names only | Places, Occupations, + more | Place names only |
| Notes | |||||
| Allow notes against individuals | ![]() |
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| Allow separate notes | ![]() |
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| Create a Source for Notes | ![]() |
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| Link separate notes to multiple persons | ![]() |
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| Research | |||||
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| Produces blank forms for manual research | ![]() |
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2 Forms | ![]() |
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| Automatic Internet Research for Records | Ancestry, Rootsweb, Family Search | Ancestry | Ancestry | ![]() |
Ancestry |
| Create Map Coordinates and link to Microsoft 3D Maps | ![]() |
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| Create a 'To-Do' list | ![]() |
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Excellent | ![]() |
| Charts/Diagrams | |||||
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| Diagrams are part of main program | ![]() |
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| Overall layout of Charts (Out of 10) | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 |
| Ancestor Tree/Pedigree | ![]() |
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| Standard Pedigree | ![]() |
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| Descendants | ![]() |
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| Hourglass | ![]() |
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| All Relatives Diagram/All-in-one | ![]() |
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See extended chart in FTM 2009/10 | ![]() |
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| Everyone Diagram | ![]() |
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| Fan Charts | ![]() |
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Expected on free update in 2008 | ![]() |
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| Expand/Hide Branches | ![]() |
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| Click and drag on diagrams to add relatives | ![]() |
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| Allow repositioning of people in diagram | ![]() |
Limited on Descendant chart | Limited on Descendant chart | ![]() |
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| Click and drag to rescale charts to fit paper | ![]() |
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| Prevent boxes printing over page joints | ![]() |
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| Save and edit customised charts | ![]() |
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| Synchronised charts | ![]() |
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| Chart Design Templates | ![]() |
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| Display Relationships on Diagrams/Charts | ![]() |
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| Print a numbering system on Diagrams/Charts | ![]() |
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| Show same generation cousins as one level on charts | ![]() |
Descendant chart only | Descendant chart only | ![]() |
Descendant chart only |
| Decorative box borders (colour) | Colour only | ![]() |
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| Decorative page borders (colour) | ![]() |
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| Choice of Colours for text/boxes/lines/background | ![]() |
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| View/Edit individuals data by clicking on diagrams | ![]() |
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| Statistics | ![]() |
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| Time Lines | Family Only | ![]() |
Family & National(USA bias) | ![]() |
Family & National(USA bias) |
| Multimedia Facilities | |||||
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| Add Photos | ![]() |
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| Edit Photos in Program | ![]() |
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Links to favourite photo editing program | ![]() |
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| Link Individuals to parts of a photo | ![]() |
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| Categorise and sort photos | ![]() |
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| Add Sound | ![]() |
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| Add Video | ![]() |
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| Reports/Publishing | |||||
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| Narrative /Register Reports | Good | Excellent | To be re introduced in a future update | Excellent | ![]() |
| Create PDF documents from Reports | ![]() |
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No * | ![]() |
| Family History Book Publishing | Excellent | Excellent | To be re introduced in a future update | Good | ![]() |
| Preview before Publishing | ![]() |
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Good | ![]() |
| Create publishers files from Diagrams | ![]() |
Bitmap, JPEG,PNG, TIFF and more * | ![]() |
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| Create Ahnentafel report/book | ![]() |
Detailed Report | ![]() |
Outline Report | ![]() |
| Create web (HTML) browser-based versions of reports for CD or internet publishing | ![]() |
Limited to creating PDF documents from reports & diagrams | Limited to creating HTML files from reports | Limited to creating HTML files from reports | ![]() |
| Create a website to publish on the internet | ![]() |
Yes On Ancestry server only | ![]() |
Yes Advanced | ![]() |
| Create website for publishing on a CD | ![]() |
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Yes Advanced | ![]() |
| Publish a read-only copy of program and family file on a CD | ![]() |
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| Import/Export Features | |||||
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| Import from a Gedcom file | ![]() |
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| Export to a GEDCOM file | ![]() |
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| Import and attach to existing file | ![]() |
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| Import and check for duplicates | No (poor) | ![]() |
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Yes (good) | ![]() |
| View/Compare two open files | ![]() |
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| Export part of a tree to a GEDCOM file | ![]() |
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| Data Storage/Backups | |||||
| Use with data stored on External Hard-drive | ![]() |
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| Back up directly to Memory Stick | ![]() |
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| Back up to External Hard-drive | ![]() |
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| Back up directly to CD | ![]() |
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| Use Program from a Memory Stick |
Program and data |
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| Backup service on remotecomputer | ![]() |
Yes $9.95/year | ![]() |
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| Store Contact details for living individuals in tree | ![]() |
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| Extras | |||||
| Collaboration with relatives | ![]() |
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| Extra Programs/Data CDs | ![]() |
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| Free Trial/Subscriptions | ![]() |
Yes - 14 day Ancestry.co.uk | Yes - see packs for duration | ![]() |
Yes - see packs for duration |
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Last updated July 2010
My History
4 Mexborough Business Centre, College Road,
Mexborough, South Yorkshire, UK
Telephone: 01709 586758, Fax: 0705 343 7756, email:
sales@my-history.co.uk