RootsMagic Insider Announces RootsMagic Version 4

RootsMagic has joined the blogging world. The new blog is called the “Insider” and has exactly one article as of this time. However, that article is most interesting: it announces the upcoming release of RootsMagic version 4. This is perhaps the worst-kept secret in the genealogy world, but it is nice to see an official announcement from the company.

The “Insider" says (in part):

I will tell you that RootsMagic 4 is our biggest upgrade ever (yes, that means we haven’t been spending all our time on that one RootsMagic cruise).

As your faithful insider, I will show you all the new features coming in RootsMagic 4. And by “show you” I mean with real screen shots and descriptions.

You can read more about this user-friendly genealogy program for Windows on the RootsMagic blog at: http://blog.rootsmagic.com.

An RSS feed also available at the same address. Your RSS newsreader should be able to auto-detect it.

Comments

[Margaret]

Dick,

Can you or anyone else give a synopsis of what is good about RootsMagic vs Family Tree Maker, which I currently use? (My e-mail box is always full and I don't want to subscribe to yet another mailing list?)

Thanks in advance for any input you can provide.

[Phill]

My wife and I have used Roots Magic since it first came out and before that Family Origins, it's predecessor. We have also used several other Genealogy programs, including several versions of Family Tree Maker. FOR US Roots Magic is much more user friendly, with all the features most people desire. Roots Magic 4 will be available soon. Please try it with some of your database for a comparison. I believe you can download a trial version from Rootsmagic.com, but not all the features are included.

[ELI]

FTM stinks. ELI

[Gst]

I attended a demonstration of Roots Magic where they demonstrated a new feature they will be adding later this year. (not included in the RM4 release but a free upgrade later for RM4 owners) They were demonstrating a new feature where Roots Magic will interface with the new version of FamilySearch's database which is now being rolled out. Once the new FamilySearch databases are released to the general public Roots Magic will interface with FamilySearch and allow two way syncronizing capabilities. All the functions were very user friendly, and a lot of the searches were done in the background without preventing use of the program during searchs. The new system searched all the new FamilySearch databases for duplicates and for new information then presents matches to you for your review, you can then add the information to your database without retyping. It worked very efficently and was easy to use. I hope to see it in more detail when the new version and function is released. I saw demonstrations of two other programs which will interface with the new FamilySearch database and Roots Magic was the most user friendly. FamilySearch is consolidating many of their databases into one large database with the names all linked into pedigrees, it should be available to the general public sometime next year. It is available now in some controled groups while it is being developed.

[Cindy]

I've used roots magic and family origin for a number of years. What I really like is the ability to open two or more databases at one time and to drag and drop people between databases. FTM didn't have this ability in the versions I have owned, plus I spent lots of time looking for people with the FTM databases or old CDs and never found much.

[Jon P Czarowitz]

I used PAF for years and then switched to Family Tree Maker. When I became the National Genealogist for
Clan Cunningham USA, I found that FTM did not let me do the comparing of databases to match those researching the same lines. I began a search for a software program that would let me do that and the upgrades to FTM did not and PAF didn't have one. I tried several others with no luck.
My own research dealt with multiple lines and I had many cousins sending me GEDCOMs. Viewing these in comparison with my data was also hard.
I read a wonderful writeup on RootsMagic by a member of Collin County Genealogical Society and decided to give it a try. In less than 24 hours I had made the decision to buy the full version.
It allows me to view 2 databases on screen at the same time in readable form and as a bonus gives the ability to transfer data from one to the other.
It is not perfect, but gives me most of what I use most. Some of the views are not available in dual mode and there are some printing features that are not yet available. For the printing I use one of the old programs, but would not switch back just for that.
In addition I have not used all the features yet. The support is great. A good product for reasonable cost. I look forward to the version 4, but am happy with this version too.

[Debbie Stelmach]

I use Roots Magic and it's earlier version, family origins. I like it alot. Inexpensive, gets the job done, lots of functionality.

I also had a copy of FTM but really didn't like the look or feel. They seemed more intent on selling the useless companion cd's than improving their software.

[Doris]

is the picture problem solved with the updates. Right now the only problem with the old & this new version is that the pictures vanish if you move them to another location. Why can't when they are inserted into the program they sray there no matter where you put the picture on your computer.