MacFamilyTree 5.1 Public Beta

Synium Software has released a fully functional public beta of the company's latest version of its flagship product, MacFamilyTree. Mac users can download the new beta release as a free demo. The new version adds fan charts and a media browser and has been substantially improved in media handling, diagramming, and editing of genealogy data.

The company's announcement states that fan charts were among the most frequently requested features. The new release adds fully configurable charts that are easy to edit. Standard settings give you quick results, while you may still fit the fan charts to your needs with just a few clicks.

The new update to version 5.1 of MacFamilyTree also gains a media browser, where you can browse and access all pictures available in your family tree. The new Edit Mode "Media Browser" serves as a centralized picture gallery.

New and enhanced features include:

New - Fan Chart:

• Fully editable, as are all charts and reports in MacFamilyTree 5.
• Flexibly and interactively set the number of generations.
• Adjustable fan angle from 90 to 360 degrees; cell size automatically increases to accommodate information for more distant generations, too.
• Autocoloring of generations for quick results; colors and styles can be manually adjusted.
• Black & white mode for printer-friendly output included.

New - Media Browser:

• Centralized picture gallery to display essential information on media items (media title, person name, date of birth).
• Gives quick access to all pictures in the database.
• The Media Browser also works as an entry point to rapidly edit individuals with linked media.

Much-improved graphical user interface (GUI):

• Media can be browsed directly in the Persons, Families, Sources, and Events Edit Mode.
• Direct access to Kekule numbering (ahnentafel numbering) via main window.
• Improved Auto-Zoom and Fit-to-Screen for charts and improved list views.
• Many contextual menus added for quick-access of frequently used functions with your mouse (right mouse button/CTRL-click).
• GUI: many usability improvements including Drag'n'Drop support.

More ...

• Now also includes Spanish localization.
• Performance enhancements.
• Some minor issues fixed.

Supported Languages:

• US English, Finnish, French, Italian, German and Spanish.
• Many other language versions are due to be released as subsequent free updates.

System Requirements:

MacFamilyTree 5 requires Mac OS X 10.4.9 or higher, a PPC Macintosh with 512 megabytes of RAM (1024 recommended), ATI Radeon 7500 or NVidia GeForce 4 MX graphics chipset or better, and a minimum of 16 megabytes of video memory. All Macintosh computers with Intel processors and Intel's GMA 950 graphics chipset or better are supported. MacFamilyTree 5 is fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.

Pricing and Availability:

MacFamilyTree 5 can be purchased for $49.00 US. Present MacFamilyTree users may upgrade to the new release for $25 US. For customers who purchased MacFamilyTree 4 on or after August 14th, 2007, the upgrade to MacFamilyTree 5 is free. A free demo version is also available for download.

More information about MacFamilyTree 5 as well as the free demo download may be found at http://www.synium.de/products/macfamilytree. The same web site has many screen shots showing the program in operation.

Comments

[hslanham]

Are there any other genealogy programs compatible with the Mac?

[Dick Eastman]

Yes, there are several Macintosh genealogy programs. On the menus on the right side of this page, scroll until you see the "Search This Site" entry. Enter the word "Macintosh" in the space there and then click on "Search This Site." That will find many past articles I have written about genealogy on the Macintosh.

Thanks.
- Dick Eastman

[Colin C.]

Dick,
Do you know of any Mac program that could import gedcom's from the old Ultimate Family Tree program that was made for windows?

[Dick Eastman]

All current Macintosh programs import GEDCOM files. Any of them should be able to import your data.

- Dick Eastman

[Bev Anderson]

To hslanham:

http://www.leisterpro.com/

I don't know about the other genealogy programs compatible with Mac, but I use Reunion and I'm completely happy with it. I'm still using an earlier version, but the formatting mimics my family group sheets from 25+++ years ago, and there's the all-important Misc Notes section for each individual that is so important to me, and where I put my source data. Also, it makes an entire web site in under sixty seconds with two clicks on the menu, and after editing the home page you can upload the whole thing to your own ISPs web browser, no messing around with being forced to only upload a GEDCOM to the web site of the genealogy program-maker.

I suspect the newer version of Reunion has more bells and whistles, but I do like the version I have and it's easy to use. Another advantage is that I can make a family group sheet (with or without notes, as I program it) and copy and paste the whole thing into an email so the other researchers I work with can see what data I have on each individual (and their offspring), and I don't have to retype everything into an email.

I am aware of other Mac genealogy programs, but Reunion is the one I'd highly recommend based on my own experience with it.

[Steven W.]

Dick,
Do you know of any Mac software that could import genealogy into an iTouch?If I got an iTouch could I put my genealogy in it some how?

[theKiwi]

The only way to get your genealogy onto on iTouch is to put it on the internet somewhere, and then browse it using the iTouch.

You can't upload information to an iTouch as you can upload notes to an iPod.

Roger

[Gilbert Cantlin]

I have been trying to locate genealogy software that is compatible with Mac computers. I have been working for many, many years, long before computers, in developing my collection. I used My Family Tree for about 15 years, and last year, I switched to Roots Magic. I like Roots Magic much more than Family Tree. However, I am one of the many, many people who were exploited by Bill Gates with his Vista operating system last year. He never informed us that it would require more money than the investment in the new computer to buy new hardward and software that would be compatible with Vista. We have been badly, badly ripped off. Gates gets away with the very worst of capitalistic crimes! I want to go to Apple, but neither Family Tree or Roots Magic is compatible with Apple. Can you help me locate a genealogy software program that is compatible with Apple Mac, one to which I can transfer the 9000+ records I have now in my Roots Magic collection?

I would be very appreciative for any help you can give me.

Gilbert Cantlin

[Gilbert Cantlin]

Forget it. Don't bother.

G. Cantlin

[Dick Eastman]

---> I have been trying to locate genealogy software that is compatible with Mac computers.

There are several genealogy programs for the Macintosh. The article above describes one of them: MacFamilyTree . However, there are others.

On the menus on the right side of this page, scroll until you see the "Search This Site" entry. Enter the word "Macintosh" in the space there and then click on "Search This Site." That will find many past articles I have written about genealogy on the Macintosh.

Thanks.
- Dick Eastman

(This message was written on my Mac Mini.)

[Dick Eastman]

---> and last year, I switched to Roots Magic. I like Roots Magic much more...

You can run RootsMagic or any other Windows genealogy program on your Macintosh. I have RootsMagic installed on my MacBook and it works well.

You first have to install Parallels or VMware or VirtualBox, then install a copy of Windows. Once that is running, you can install almost any Windows program, including genealogy programs.

I recently wrote a Plus Edition article about that. See "(+) A Fourth Way to Run Windows Programs on Your Macintosh" at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/02/a-fourth-way--1.html

- Dick Eastman