RootsMagic

Main Web site

http://www.rootsmagic.com/rootsmagic/

Corporation

http://www.manta.com/c/mm86z8w/rootsmagic-inc

Bruce Buzbee

20 years

One of our earliest products- the popular “Family Origins”

SQLite 3 as its database engine

346 E 900 S
Mapleton, UT 84664
Phone: (801) 489-3102

Private corp.

Facebook site

https://www.facebook.com/RootsMagic/posts/10151717380946707

Training Site

http://www.rootsmagic.com/webinars/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbOoAh4Jw9E

Creating a Shareable CD with RootsMagic

http://www.youtube.com/user/RootsMagicTV/videos

30 videos

Fixing Broken Media Links in RootsMagic

Product Review

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0076MEXA8?psc=1

I had been using the free, limited version of this program for some time and loved it for the ease of use for entering names, pictures and other media as well as sources and references. I purchased the full version because I wanted to take advantage of all the bells and whistles that this program comes with. You can quickly and easily merge individuals and records from different databases into RM5. I've done a lot of research on Ancestry.com and built a sizable family tree using their online service but wanted to keep records of my own at home. I was able to download all the data I had collected on that site in a GEDCOM file which imported seamlessly into RM5 with all the attendant links, media, sources, etc. I'm sure I haven't even scratched the surface of the capabilities of this program yet. Anyone who is looking to start researching their family history would find this program a great help in building their family tree. I highly recommend it!

http://genealogy-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

http://www.gensoftreviews.com/?paged=2

http://genealogy-software-review.toptenreviews.com/rootsmagic-review.html

Now you can dig deep into your family history and organize your lineage with RootsMagic, our TopTenREVIEWS Bronze Award winner. This genealogy software has recently been updated entirely and has much improved over previous versions. We are happy to report that the new interface is much easier to use and you can quickly move through the application and add new information from just about every screen.

This genealogy software is highly compatible and portable. It can import PAF type files to and from FamilySearch. In terms of portability it can run directly from a flash drive with RootsMagic To-Go. You can also perform web searches right through the application without having to copy and paste names and dates; this software will pull the data for you.

This software functions like a database, and it can store and organize a large volume of information and small details such as marriage dates, health information, burial dates, occupations and religion. All in all it has 60 pre-defined fact categories, or you can add your own. Additionally, photographs, sound clips and video can be attached to any person, family, place, source or event. This genealogy software can do just about everything our higher-ranked products can; however, its interface still does not look quite up-to-date, and it has less multi-media integration than other products.

Pricing

RootsMagic $19.95 till 12/20/2013 $29.95

http://www.rootsmagic.com/holidayoffer/

Down load site

Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RootsMagic

Features

http://www.rootsmagic.com/rootsmagic/Features.aspx

can run off flash drive
Almost 400 SourceWizard templates based on Evidence Explained, Evidence!, and Cite Your Sources
Easily merge duplicate sources from the master source list
Thesaurus
FamilySearch Family Tree certified synchronization
Spell Checker checks the current notes, or all notes.
Direct Family Tree Maker import (version 16 and earlier)

Blog

http://blog.rootsmagic.com/

User Group

http://www.rootsmagic.com/User-Groups/

None in Oklahoma

Changes/Updates

http://forums.rootsmagic.com/index.php?/topic/11972-rootsmagic-6-update-history/

Recomendations/Comments

Janet Lott

I love RootsMagic. Have used it for years and many upgrades and everything transfers nicely! However, I don't have 20,000 names.

Karla Von Fumetti Staudt

I love RootsMagic. I converted from FTM about 4-5 years ago and haven't looked back. My database is close to 40,000. You can choose which evidence facts you want to highlight (show) and which you want to be private and not included in reports. You do you convert from my GED. I found that everything came along but there is an exception to that. Notes that I had created special titles for in FTM came but without the old title.and I had to recreate a new note type title in RootsMagic. RM has a lot of great webinars on their website and their printed! books is clear and easy to follow, as well as indexed so you can get answers easily. they also have a blog that people will help you if you run into a problem. The diverse source documentation prompts are terrific and help make sure all pertinent data gets recorded, as well as to rank by primary, secondary, indirect and allow you to indicate how reliable the source is. Each source also allows you place to enter not only the source info but where in the world you found the source by name, address, phone # etc. RM does regular updates that are free and major upgrades that you would buy occur with far less frequency. I have entered pictures to my database but not to the extent you have, but I never had a problem. Everything always seems to be such an effort with FTM. Everything with root magic just seems easy and does not get in the way of doing research.

Jeff Jahn

Robert Pulse Ftm 2014 lets you export to ftm 208/2009 format. Am trying that right now to see if I can inport into rootsmagic. so far it isn't looking promising. It looks like I am losing people and media in the process if it isn't even hung up right now. It wont work since it has to be FTM 2006 or earlier for direct inport into rootsmagic, which I believe is about the time FTM was rewritten and after that point don't believe ancestry would work with any of the software so they could direct import it.

Karla Von Fumetti Staudt

Something to possibly consider is that Rootsmagic is directly inportable into the Family search program on familysearch.com it was the only one as a month or two ago that may have changed, that does bring along a whole lot of customization things that I don't think you find in another program, currently.

Sue Clifford Maxwell

Robert RootsMagic is NOT run by volunteers! It is a company that has been in business for over 20 years. It will handle an unlimited number of people in the database. Many people have over 200,000 individuals. Most of the programs, if not all of them, do not store images, pdf files, etc in the program. They create a link to the image. RootsMagic keeps track of them internally. If by chance you move your images around it has a simple way of relinking the images to the appropriate place. You can create a fact type for your numbering system without a problem. It uses Elizabeth Shown Mills' process for sourcing by fill-in-the blank templates, or you can create your own free form sources. It will search for records in FamilySearch and any other database within the program or it will populate and open an external browser - no typing necessary. The issue with direct import/export to FTM format with all the programs is that Ancestry will not provide their file format to any other vendors to make that possible, but it handles gedcom files just like the rest of them. The existing Gedcom standard has not changed over all these years. Yes, there are groups working on it but it will probably still be quite some time before that happens. You can choose to have the internal record number, your own created reference number, or even the PID number from FamilySearch to display on reports. Oh, and it will handle any number of images and document links. No problem. Did I miss any of your questions/wants/needs?

Peggy Baldwin

I have moved from FTM to Legacy to TMG to GenBox to RootsMagic, and I can pretty much tell you that citations never come through completely correctly. There will be cleanup to do no matter which software you move to. I recommend RootsMagic and I'm not moving again!

Grace Smith

Re RootsMagic users, will I have problems importing my FTM tree into it? What do you most like about RootsMagic? Can I do a direct descendant line from the ancestor to me that shows spouses. Is it good with cousin relationships?

Patrice Houck Schadt

I have used Rootsmagic for many years and like it. It is easy to navigate through. I would suggest you try their free download and see if you like it. I think I got an email saying they are having a sale the book and Rootsmagic 6 for $20. Check their website for the exact details. Can't count on my memory. I don't know if you will have problems or not transferring info.

Jeff Jahn

I have had the best luck going from FTM to rootsmagic with the least errors, Media transfers nicely, custom facted transferred nice where tmg doesn't like my custom facts. TGM messed up sources to where rootsmagic didn't. Have to check my test legacy to see about it. Looks like my sources didn't transfer in the same format to rootsmagic

Janelle Vandervort Dvorak

I used RootsMagic before Legacy and liked it until an update obliterated several years of research. I don't know if RootsMagic follows Evidence Explained criteria, but EE is built into Legacy.

Sue Clifford Maxwell

Janelle, RootsMagic does use ESM's EE.

Janelle Vandervort Dvorak

It would have been more accurate if I had said "fry my RootsMagic software and database". My operating system remained intact.

Janelle Vandervort Dvorak

This was several years ago, but this is how I recall it: I downloaded and ran the update. After doing so, the program presented in a most irregular fashion and the data was in irreparable disarray. In justice to the program, no one of my acquaintance who uses RootsMagic has had the same experience.

Sue Clifford Maxwell

I wouldn't assume it was RootsMagic that caused the problem. Always contact support for any program that you think may be the cause of a problem and give them a chance to resolve it. Many data issues can be repaired. Also, as Patrice mentioned, ALWAYS back up data before doing any kind of updating. A great rule of thumb someone shared with me many years ago -- if you are willing to lose one month's work then back up once a month. If you don't want to lose today's work then back up every day!

Good advice and i ahve used it in the past

Janelle Vandervort Dvorak

Since everything else on my computer was fine, I felt confident that it was the RootsMagic update that caused the problem. In any case, it all turned out fine in the end.

From another thread

Patrice Houck Schadt

I have a question about gedcom files. I use Rootsmagic and have for years. I currently use Version 6. I wanted to try other programs, but have had difficulties. It seems that both Legacy and The Master Genealogist don't like the gedcom that I am using. I have tested my file on rootsmagic doing the check and repair. It says everthing is ok with my file. I am wondering if there is a separate program that anyone is aware of that will check the validity of a file. Thanks for your time.

Leslie Brinkley Lawson

Patrice, when you create the gedcom make sure you UNcheck the box, "Extra Details (RM specific)". Then the gedcom should work perfectly!

Patrice Houck Schadt

Leslie - Thanks. That did not work. Still gedcom issues.

Sarah L M Christiansen

Is it your character set? Do you have a choice of ANSI or ANSEL or others? It may be as simple as changing the character set. I know that some characters in other languages do not always transfer correctly and you need to look at your character set. Also you can actually look at and edit your GEDCOM using Notepad (if the database is small) or Wordpad if it is larger. Just be sure if you make any changes to save it as a text file.

Bruce Buzbee

Patrice Houck Schadt What do Legacy and TMG not like about the RM GEDCOM? Do they give a specific message? Or is some data not transferring?

Sarah L M Christiansen

Can you do a small Gedcom as a test such as descendants from someone born in the 1900's and see if that will transfer?

Cheryl Rothwell

TMG generally does not require a GEDCOM, can handle the file in the native format.

Faye Doyle West

Call TMG support; they should be able to help you.

Sarah L M Christiansen

Cheryl, I used TMG ages ago, but that is something that I do remember and that was the reason that I had bought it then, because the program that I had been running (we are talking DOS days) really did not do good GEDCOMs. So I used TMG for a while and then was able to move my file to a program I preferred, using their good GEDCOM writing ability. That said then Patrice should be able to get her file into TMG directly (no GEDCOM) and if she wanted to try Legacy use TMG to export the GEDCOM.

Patrice Houck Schadt

You folks are all much more technologically savvy than I am. This all starts with a gedcom into legacy. When I ran a report that is wrong and gives wrong data. Others can't seem to recreate the error. I remember that I had something similar happen when I tried Legacy many years ago. As suggested, I tried fix and repair. I get an error rebuilding indexes. Then an error 91, object variable or with block variable not set (note: often fixed by check and repair), Check and repair is how I am seeing these errors. Next error is 48, error in loading dll. (may be fixed by running compact file). Then I get an error closing file. Then and error 9, Subscript out of range. Then a run time error 3356. When I go to rech support on the site. They list error 91 and state they are aware of problems but cannot recreate. I decide to try Master Genealogist, which has no direct import from Rootsmagic, so I use Gedcom 4.0 or 5.5. I get the message that UFT-8 ged can't be imported see help topic. I am very frustrated now and decided to just continue as I have done for years with Rootsmagic. I like it, have no problems with it. I just wanted to see what others are talking about. My question is finally. My RM file checks out in RM, but I have difficulties moving it to other programs. Is there a problem in my RM that I am not aware of, or is it a compatability issue with other programs. Before I go and do more data entry in this file, I would like to make sure it is a good file. If not, do I start data entry over at square one. I am truly sorry that this is so long and drawn out. I just don't quite get it. Thanks all for your time.

Colin Spencer

Patrice Houck Schadt remember that the Gedcom standard is quite old and has not been updated in years. The standard allows for users to extend the standard and lots of FT programmes do this and not all other programmes understand others extensions to the standard. There is a useful programme called FT Analyzer available free from http://ftanalyzer.codeplex.com/ that will look at and report on issues it sees with your Gedcom file.Remember also that a Gedcom file is just a plain text file and you can open it in a text editor such as Notepad (Notepad++ free and a much better editor) to view what is actually in it.My advice would be don't feel locked in to one particular programme if you have issues with it. Persevere and move across to the programme you really want to work with.

Need to look at some time

Bruce Buzbee

Patrice Houck Schadt, your message above about UTF-8 is most likely the issue. RootsMagic has full Unicode support and Legacy and TMG are both only ANSI. Basically this means that RootsMagic handles any character set (Cyrillic, Polish, Japanese, etc) and the others only Western European Latin. Here's an article about Unicode vs ANSI ( http://www.differencebetween.net/.../difference-between.../ ). Anyways... when RootsMagic exports a GEDCOM, it uses the Unicode (UTF-8) encoding to make sure none of that data is lost. When TMG or Legacy import a GEDCOM with Unicode encoding, they must either a) convert the Unicode characters to ANSI (possibly losing the information), or b) just not import the file. Here's something you can try: 1) Export the GEDCOM from RootsMagic, 2) Open that GEDCOM file in the Windows NotePad program, 3) A few lines down in the GEDCOM file you will see a line that says 1 CHAR UTF-8... change that to 1 CHAR ANSI, 4) Do File > Save As from the NotePad menu, but before saving change the "Encoding" from UTF-8 to ANSI. That will save the GEDCOM as an ANSI GEDCOM that the other programs will accept (but could lose any non ANSI characters you might have used in your database).

Important for German location names - i wonder if FTM will export the names I have it in now

Interesting the CEO of RootsMagic is helping some one to move files from Rootsmagic to a competing program

Patrice Houck Schadt

This is the result of trying what Bruce suggested. The import into Legacy went well. Still had same issues in reports. When to gedcom and did fix and repair. Same Errors. I then imported into Master Genealogist. It accepted the import, but, at 1/2 hour in it was only 4% done. I gave up and cancelled out of the whole thing. The database contained less than 5,000 people.

Patrice Houck Schadt

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all thoughts and comments. I am keeping rootsmagic and am not going to venture out to other programs. EverytHing seems to work for me there. In the event I do venture out to other programs I will contact their tech support. Although I appreciate the help, I don't know that this is the best place to work out software issues. Thanks to all.

From another string

Jim Catanzaro

Personally, I think this is another nice addition. I am pretty sure I will be using it Sharing Notes Between RootsMagic and FamilySearch Family Tree http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiD6OvAPOzs

From another string

Sue Miller Jones

I just downloaded a gedcom file for family tree from Ancestry.com. When it asked for a name I just named it Hancock. It is on my desktop but I cannot open it. It asks what do I want to open it with. I have Windows 8. Can anyone tell me a link or name of a software I can download? Also, is the file name I selected ok?

Regina De León

You need a genealogy program, such as Family Tree Maker, RootsMagic, Legacy Family Tree, and many more. (RootsMagic and Legacy have free versions. Do an internet search for their names and you should find the programs.)

Sue Miller Jones

I have RootsMagic already. I am wanting to eventually send it to gedmatch.com.

Tools for DNA and Genealogy Research

Genevieve Netz

Try renaming it Hancock.ged

Sue Miller Jones

I downloaded it to RootsMagic and it works just fine. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Maggie Hein

GedMatch.com is a service that allows people who have had tests at different DNA testing companies to compare their DNA tests. A gedcom file is a download of data from a genealogy program. These are two completely different things.

Linda Theaker

You need to open Roots Magic and import it. Whatever you named it, it should have .ged as the extension.

Paula Williams

Maggie Hein - you can upload your gedcom along with your DNA results to gedmatch.com - it allows for people who match to look to see if they can find the connection. So while gedmatch and gedcom are indeed two different things, it's not inconceivable to have gedmatch.com in mind when preparing a gedcom, the file.

Sue Miller Jones

That is what I am doing. I am going to download my gedcom file to gedmatch. Thank you for all of your posts. I really appreciate it.

From another string

Jim Catanzaro

This is kind of neat too We have just released a new update to RootsMagic (6.3.0.6). This update adds the ability to print sources on your pedigree charts, and supports sharing notes between RootsMagic and FamilySearch Family Tree. If you have RM6 just run it and it will notify you of the update and give you a button to install the update.

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