# Geneology: Family Tree software recommendation? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 2, 2002, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geneology-family-tree-software-recommendation/139971 "2002-12-02T16:20:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geneology-family-tree-software-recommendation/139971/1 "2002-12-02T16:20:47Z")
I’m looking for a recommendation for software that will track/chart a family tree. This Thanksgiving my mother gave me a pretty comprehensive list of my relatives, but it’s typewritten and poorly formatted. My wife says she can get her hands on a similar list for her relatives. I’d like to document all this for my children. All my grandparent’s have passed away, my wife’s parents are gone, and mine are in their 80s. Clearly I’ve waited too long to start, but better late than never. I need to get all the information I have into some intelligible format so I can more easily see what I’m missing. Then I can contact other relatives to fill in the blanks. Anyone have any recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geneology-family-tree-software-recommendation/139971/2 "2002-12-02T18:26:11Z")
From what I hear, Family Tree Maker is the best out there. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geneology-family-tree-software-recommendation/139971/3 "2002-12-02T18:41:02Z")
If you use a Macintosh computer, Leister Production’s **Reunion** is widely considered the best genealogy software available. I’ve used it for years and can vouch for its quality and ease of use. But there is no Windows version. One major brand of genealogy software is free: the LDS Church’s **Personal Ancestral File** (PAF). You can download it from their [website](http://www.ldscatalog.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&categoryId=7000000&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=100069&bcname=Software%20Downloads%20-%20Free&top=Y&resetCat=N&replBC=subcatlist100069). ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geneology-family-tree-software-recommendation/139971/4 "2002-12-02T19:38:16Z")
From an amateur geneologist: > [@](#): > > I use Family Tree Maker. Most of them are pretty good. At home I have a comparison of several, and if you can wait until tomorrow I can reread it. Also, the Mormons have a free program that can be downloaded from their site ([Familysearch.org](http://Familysearch.org)). It’s a pretty good program, but does not have a lot of “bells and whistles.” (I happen to be related to him. ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geneology-family-tree-software-recommendation/139971/5 "2002-12-02T19:52:32Z")
**dantheman** , I’d love to hear your relative’s thoughts about the various software packages. I’ve been taking a quick look at both the _Family Tree Maker_ and the Mormon’s _Personal Ancestral File_ software. I’m using Windows **Walloon** , so I can’t consider your recommendation for _Reunion_. Thanks to both of you for your suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geneology-family-tree-software-recommendation/139971/6 "2002-12-02T20:13:53Z")
Sure. If I get more info, I’ll let you know. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geneology-family-tree-software-recommendation/139971/7 "2002-12-02T21:13:25Z")
If this is your first venture into the addicitive hobby of family history, may I recommend a few things besides genealogy software: 1. A good beginner’s manual. The best I’ve seen is [The _Complete Idiot’s Guide to Genealogy_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0028619471/qid=1038863191/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-9301207-5793626?v=glance&s=books) by Christine Rose _et al._ For intermediate or advanced genealogists: [_The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0916489671/qid=1038863414/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-9301207-5793626) by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra H. Luebking. 2. [Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet](http://www.cyndislist.com) 3. And finally, **Algernon** , you in Milwaukee live only 90 minutes from one of the largest genealogy libraries in the U.S.A., [The Wisconsin Historical Society](http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geneology-family-tree-software-recommendation/139971/8 "2002-12-02T21:15:31Z")
Well, I wish I had thought to ask this question _before_ I ordered my father’s Christmas present. I ordered **Master Genealogist Silver Edition** off of Amazon. It had good reviews and sounded like it was fairly easy to use. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geneology-family-tree-software-recommendation/139971/9 "2002-12-02T21:19:49Z")
Another vote for Family Tree Maker. However, in the interest of fairness, I should point out that I haven’t upgraded in quite a while, and so the version I am using is quite old. Zev Steinhardt