Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

The Master Genealogist version 7.01

Wholly Genes Software has released an update to the powerful program, The Master Genealogist. The following is an excerpt from the free Wholly Genes Newsletter. (To subscribe to the newsletter, go to http://www.whollygenes.com/newsletter.htm.)

The Master Genealogist v7.01.0000 is now available. This free update adds a few new features and fixes a variety of issues that were brought to our attention by users.

NEW FEATURES

Convert Documents to PDF

It seems like every computer user needs a PDF reader sooner or later – and it’s no wonder. Adobe created its PDF (or Portable Document Format) in 1993, and today it is the standard file format for exchanging documents even amongst dissimilar computers. PDF files are essentially “print images.” You can view a PDF file on the screen or print it on your printer, and the document will look the same in both cases. All the correct fonts, colors, graphics and typesetting will be in place, even if you do not have those fonts installed on your computer. A PDF file is a true WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) document: whatever displays on the screen is what prints  out.

Perhaps the best feature for genealogists is the capability to exchange PDF files between different programs. That’s why some of today’s genealogy programs have built-in PDF converters that let you share the programs’ charts and reports with friends and family who do not have your program. However, this still leaves you with the question of how to share documents from programs that do not have this built-in conversion capability.

MacFamilyTree 5.1 Final

A few weeks ago I wrote about the beta releae of MacFamilyTree 5.1 at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/02/macfamilytree-5.html. Now Synium Software has released the final version. Here is the company's announcement:

Mainz, Germany - After less than a month and more than one release a week, MacFamilyTree 5.1 today makes it "out of beta"! Download the newest update to our popular genealogy application and enjoy the many new features and enhancements added to the user interface as well as to overall functionality.

AGES-online Releases New GEDCOM Export Process

The following announcement was written by AGES-online:

LENEXA, KANSAS (March 13, 2008) AGES-online has just released an all new Genealogical Data Communication (GEDCOM) file export process.  Subscribers can generate a GEDCOM file containing all of their own family data and transfer that file to their computer.

The new GEDCOM process can be accessed only by paying subscribers through their password protected account using the side File menu.  No one other than the password holder can access the subscribers' data or download that data to a GEDCOM file.

TMG Utility Version 7.0

John Cardinal has released a new version of his popular TMG Utilities, designed to work with The Master Genealogist (TMG). Here is the announcement:

This version is compatible with TMG v7, which is the only major new feature. The only other significant enhancement is the ability to modify Research Log fields using Find and Replace.

Legacy Charting Pre-Release Edition - Free Download

The following announcement was written by Millennia Corporation, the producer of Legacy Family Tree:

New family tree charting software now available for download. Create ancestor charts, descendant charts, mother’s trees, father’s trees, fan charts, hourglass charts, bow tie charts, and DNA charts.

Surprise, AZ – March 4, 2008 – All genealogists are invited to take a free test drive of the newest wall chart software. Compatible with Family Tree Maker, Personal Ancestral File (PAF), Legacy Family Tree, RootsMagic, and GEDCOM files, Legacy Charting takes publishing your family tree to a new level.

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.

Archon: A Free, Easy-to-Use Web Tool Kit for Archivists

Archivists at the University of Illinois Library believe they have built a better tool kit. Their new online collections management program called Archon has more than a few attractive features – not the least of which is that it was developed for “lone archivists with limited technological resources and knowledge,” said Scott Schwartz, one of the developers of the software program and the archivist for music and fine arts at Illinois.

Archon is a web-based tool for archivists and manuscript curators. It automatically publishes archival descriptive information and digital archival objects to a user-friendly website. With Archon, minimal web programming is needed.  Archon's powerful scripts will automatically make everything in the system searchable and browsable on your repository's website without writing style sheets or even HTML code.

Why Not Linux?

I am always amazed that Linux isn't more popular. It is a free operating system, is more reliable than Windows, and has many of the advantages of Macintosh. To be sure, Linux used to be more difficult to install and use than the other "big two" operating systems, but that is no longer true. Anyone who has used a recent version of Ubuntu Linux or Xandros Linux or Freespire will attest that those Linux distributions are even easier to use than Windows, especially when installing new programs. Installation is a breeze. For instance, Ubuntu Linux does a better job of discovering my networking and sound boards than does Windows. Ubuntu Linux is significantly faster and easier to install than Windows; it even asks fewer questions.

So what's the problem?

The Google Toolbar for Genealogists

Robert Ragan from Treasure Maps How-To Genealogy Site has produced an interesting video showing detailed instructions for using the Google Toolbar for genealogy searches. The Google Toolbar is a free tool that installs in your Firefox web browser on Windows, Macintosh, or Linux or in your Internet Explorer browser on Windows. The Google Toolbar simplifies web searches, blocks obnoxious pop-up ads, and does a lot more.