The Next Generation (TNG) version 6.2.0 Released

"The Next Generation," affectionately knows as "TNG," is the name of a genealogy program that runs on web servers. Indeed, TNG functions in much the same manner as any other genealogy program: it has most all the features one expects in any modern genealogy program, including a powerful database, easy methods of adding new data, relationship charts, timelines, and more. The major difference is that TNG is installed on a Windows, Apple or Linux web server. It also is multi-user: multiple people can access the database and even add new data simultaneously.

I wrote a review of TNG in this newsletter several years ago. That review is still available at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2004/06/the_next_genera.html. You can also listen to an audio interview of TNG software developer Darrin Lythgoe at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2006/11/tng_with_darrin.html. Now Darrin has updated the program significantly.

The following announcement was written by Darrin Lythgoe:

A new incremental release of The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding (or “TNG”) is now available from Next Generation Software (http://www.tngsitebuilding.com).

The popular online product makes it easy to put your genealogy on your web site in dynamic fashion. Instead of forcing you to create and upload thousands of pages each time you publish your family tree, TNG uses a database to store your information and create the pages only as they’re needed. When you want to make a change, you only need to upload your GEDCOM file again, or enter the new facts directly online. TNG also allows you to link photos and other media to the people in your tree.

New in this version (6.2.0) is the ability to see instant previews of your larger images just by mousing over the smaller thumbnails. As a result, visitors can now enjoy a better media experience with far fewer clicks. To see what this looks like, please visit http://lythgoes.net/genealogy/browsemedia.php?mediatypeID=photos and move your mouse pointer over the small images on the left.

TNG is commercial software ($29 USD one-time license fee), but this version is a free upgrade for existing users with version 6.0 or higher. In order to run TNG, your web site must support PHP (a programming language) and MySQL (the database).

Unlike similar shareware or freeware programs, TNG also offers fast, free, hand-on technical support directly from the author, and a money-back guarantee if you can’t get it working on your site. No one gets left behind!

If you are planning to attend the Computerized Genealogy Conference at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah on March 14-15, 2008, please stop by the Next Generation Software booth. An hour-long demonstration of TNG will also be offered in the evening of March 14.

TNG was created in 2001 and can now be seen on more than 6,000 genealogy web sites world wide. For more information, please see http://www.tngsitebuilding.com, or contact the author directly at darrin@lythgoes.net.

Comments

[Don Jaggi]

I have used TNG for years and I have never had any problems with my database. This has to be the future of genealogy. No web pages to create. Just upload your gedcom and build it from there with photo's, documents, sources, histories. There is a learning curve that is quite easy to overcome with the TNG community and Darrin. Google has indexed my database and now frequently when I make a google search my webpage appears in the results. My database gets maximum exposure. I now have three others who have added there own gedcoms to compliment my own. Wherever I am with access to a computer I can log into my site and add new information. When is the genealogy community realize that this is the future?

[Taneya]

I am a TNG user as well and love it! I have been using it for about two years and it was exactly what I had been waiting for. Thanks for sharing details about the upgrade and I too hope more people take a look at it.

[Miron Ophir]

There is a freeware, open source equivalent (some say even better) software which is called phpGedView.
It has superior support (all the community helps) and it is used by hundreds of sites.
You can request the community to add new features that you need.
I am using it for years in my own family heritage site and I'm very pleased with it.

[Virginia Travis]

I have used TNG for 15 months and after the initial set-up and customizing, find it fairly straightforward to use. I am very pleased with how my genealogy pages look and will be updating to 6.2.0 very soon. Thank you for this informative post.