Shrubs 2.0 for the Apple iPhone and iPOD Touch

Shrubs 2.0 is a genealogy program for the Apple iPhone and iPOD Touch. This program will allow you to carry your genealogy database in your pocket or purse.

The display of information in Shrubs 2.0 is mostly text-based; there are no pedigree charts or other graphics. However, it does seem to work well with rather quick display of data. The program creates indexes of individuals, indexes of marriages, and a list of individual and family events (with sources). You can display any of the indexes and touch any line of data. Shrubs 2.0 then displays the detailed information about that person, marriage, or event.

Shrubs 2.0 will work with most any modern genealogy program. You maintain your database in your favorite genealogy program but export the information as a GEDCOM file. All modern genealogy programs can create GEDCOM files.

Transferring the data to Shrubs 2.0 is a bit involved as you use the built-in Safari web browser in the iPhone/iTouch to import the GEDCOM file. There are essentially two different methods of performing the import:

1. You can upload the GEDCOM file to a web site that you have access to and then use the Safari web browser on the iPhone to download that file and import it into the iPhone.
2. If you have a wi-fi wireless network, you can place the GEDCOM file on a computer on that network and make it available to other systems on the same network. You then connect to that network with the iPhone or iPOD Touch and use Safari to open the GEDCOM file. Shrubs 2.0 will then import the information within that GEDCOM file.

Shrubs is limited to importing a 4-megabyte GEDCOM file.

Shrubs 2.0 sells for $9.99 and is available through the Apple App Store. To download it, open the App Store application on your iPhone or iPOD Touch, touch SEARCH, and then enter a search term at the top of the screen of SHRUBS (you can enter that in either upper or lower case). When I did that, the App Store found two applications named Shrubs: one about genealogy and one about the plants of the Santa Monica Mountains. Obviously, you need to select the genealogy program.

After reading the description, touch the price of $9.99 and then follow the instructions that appear on your screen. Shrubs 2.0 will then be downloaded and installed onto your device.

Shrubs is available in both English and French versions. It should be able to read a GEDCOM file created by any modern Windows, Macintosh, or Linux genealogy program.

Additional information can be found at the Apple App Store as well as at http://software.benoitbousquet.com/view.php?app=shrubs.

Comments

[Harris]

Before you buy this one, check out FamViewer and compare. I've had it installed on my iTouch for several months and am pleased with the utility. I got it from The Apps Store as well. It costs more, I think I paid 14.99 for it. It was easy to upload a GEDCOM file from my Laptop. There is an index feature with a list of all individuals. It only shows one family with parents and children at a time but it is easy to go forward or backward in the tree from that one screen. Big jumps in the tree can be done from the index.

[Claire]

I've tried Shrubs, FamViewer, MobileFamily Tree and Reunion for the iPhone. Reunion is by far the best. It's a fully functional genealogy program. It works well even with my Smith migration tree with more than 20K people.

FamViewer is next in terms of function and Shrubs is close behind, only limited by the 4 mb GEDCOM file size. I found MobileFamilyTree to be the worst of the four. Try Reunion for the iPhone/iPod Touch if you have Reunion on your Mac.

[Tim]

This may seem like a trivial thing, but please stop using the term "iTouch". There is no such device. It is called the iPod Touch. Yes, many people know what you are referring to, but there are many still who do not. Besides, just because people understand what you mean does not make it right.

This is the same kind of behavior that turned McDonalds into "Mickie D's". I have met people who grew up in St. Louis who didn't know the hockey team was called the Blue Notes, not just the Blues. Those who text all the time couldn't use proper grammar or spelling to save their lives.

Those who know better owe it to humanity to do better. Future generations will thank you, provided you can still understand them.

[Cathi Desmarais]

Do you have to have Reunion on your mac to run Reunion on your iPhone? Or can it stand alone (importing any gedcom)? Thanks.

[theKiwi]

Reunion for the iPhone requires Reunion for Macintosh (Version 9.08 minimum required) to be running on a Macintosh to handle the transfer back and forth between computer and iPhone.

http://www.leisterpro.com/iphone/

Roger

[Benoît Bousquet]

Just to clarify: the iPhone's built-in browser is not used to import files. Files can either be imported from a web server by entering the file's "http://..." address or by uploading a file from a computer through a web browser.

I actually wrote a file import guide and made it available as a PDF file on my support site:

http://software.benoitbousquet.com/support/shrubs_tutorial.pdf