ROOTSOFT.90A contains a digest of genealogical software reviews that have appeared in the ROOTS-L news list during the first half of 1990. ROOTS-L contains articles copied from the soc.roots news group. ROOTS-L articles are archived on the North Dakota Higher Education Network (HECN) host, vm1.nodak.edu, and may be obtained via anonymous ftp from the ROOTS-L.LOG* files of the LISTARCH directory. Vic Abell, abe@mace.cc.purdue.edu, July 5, 1990 Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 09:11:03 EST Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: ZAK@NIHCU.BITNET Subject: Genealogical Software I had a number of private requests for this software from two lists, so I thought I'd share it with everybody. The software is a HyperCard stack called HyperTree (you need a Macintosh and HyperCard to run it), and it's available as freeware from Budgetbytes P. O. Box 2248 Topeka, KS 66601 1-800-356-3551 to order by phone (M-F 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST) 1-913-266-2200 for software information and customer service 1-913-266-2288 for technical support (M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST) HyperTree is on disk B1014 and is described as follows: "Compiles genealogical information and generates various family trees. You can include narratives about your family members' lives, pertinent birth, death, marriage, and divorce information, and parental and sibling information." Also included on this 800K disk are Away From Home USA (a US travel guide) [shareware--$10] Software Inventory 1.0 Red Ryder Host BBSs Video Librarian 1.0 [shareware--$5] Note Book 1.5 To Do BBSs (keeps track of BBSs you use) Books 1.0 (to maintain your library) Diskbox (keeps track of where your original disks are stored) Right Triangle (trigonometry functions) [shareware--$3] Dec. Inch Ruler (translates inches to mm, agates, points, and picas) Shareware is noted above. All other stacks are apparently freeware. Not bad for $5.99 plus shipping and handling. Ask for their latest catalog (mine is the 8th edition, 160 pp.). ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jan 90 12:44:00 EST Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: CAROLYN RATCLIFFE Subject: Genealogy software In response to those requesting testimony on PAF and other computer programs: Unless you are a Morman, I would strongly recommend that you look at BROTHER'S KEEPER. It is a shareware program - you can become a registered user by sending $25 to its author: John Steed, 6907 Childadale, Rockford, MI 49341. PAF is an excellent program and certainly worth the price. BROTHER'S KEEPER is at least as good and has more features. It is flexible, easy to use, and does not include data entry, procedures, and reports that are of interest only to Mormons. There is a favorable write-up on BROTHER'S KEEPER in the Oct/Nov/Dec issue of Genealogical Computing. Lest there be any misunderstanding regarding my reference to the Mormons, I would like to say that we should all be extremely grateful that they have captured such a mass of genealogical information and should be most appreciative of their willingness to share it in such a gracious and reasonable manner. Clyde Ratcliffe Richmond, VA ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Feb 90 08:40:00 EST Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: CAROLYN RATCLIFFE Subject: Brother's Keeper This is in response to questions that were raised regarding my recommendation of Brother's Keeper, a software program. 1. Brother's Keeper will run on any MS-DOS machine with 384K RAM or more. 2. Two disk drives are recommended, but the program will run with one. Data files of up to 1,000 names can be stored on 360K floppies and up to 2,000 if you have 720K disks. If you have 512K RAM and a hard disk, the program will accept up to 15,000 names. 3. The program can be downloaded from CompuServe, GEnie, or a local BBS. 4. Brother's Keeper is in the GEDCOM format so data can be converted to/from PAF. 5. You can enter Scandanavian characters and any other accented character that is available in the IBM character set. I would be happy to mail you a copy of the article on Brother's Keeper from a recent issue of "Genealogical Computing" if you send a SASE to: Clyde Ratcliffe 8911 Tolman Road Richmond, VA 23229 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Feb 90 09:57:53 CST Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: Ed Mertes Subject: Re: Brother's Keeper >Hallo. How about us poor guys in Europe who can't contact Compuserve, Genie, >etc. Is there no kind person who can provide KINSERV so that we can download >puvlic domain stuff? >Norval Smith If you can't get Brothers Keeper any other way you might try writing to the author: John Steed, 6907 Childsdale Rd, Rockford, MI 49341 and request an evaluation copy. He will probably send you a copy of the most recent version (4.5) to try out. If you have access to a BBS that carries the NGS Echo, you can send a message to him there also. Regards, Ed Mertes mertes@stl-07sima.army.mil ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Feb 90 14:30:41 -0500 Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: PENNnet Oper/Planning Subject: "Genealogical Computing" and other resources - a reposting August 1989 The following information should be of assistance especially to those of you just starting out. It is a compilation of "stuff", which I basically have in my library. There is no intent to include or exclude any particular item. In fact, many of the items, especially the newsletters, are really the places to watch for current and more complete information. =============================================================================== Subject:A list of Genealogical Computing Resources: August 1989 National Genealogical Society Newsletter: NGS/CIG Digest (bimonthy) Computer Interest Group NGS/CIG Dues $5.00/year 4527 Seventeenth Street North NGS Dues: $30.00/year Arlington, VA 22207-2363 Membership in the NGS is required Genealogical Computing Association of Pennsylvania (GENCAP) Newsletter: GENCAP Newsletter c/o MICRODOC Dues $10.00/year 815 Carpenter Lane Philadelphia, PA 19119 The Genealogical Computer PIONEER Publication: PIONEER Posey International "Annual Membersip" $30.00 PO Box 338 6 issues per year Orem, UT. 84057 801/377-5504 Flooded out of business 9/89. Ancestry Research Club Newsletter: Ancestry PO Box 476 Bimonthly - $12.00 Salt Lake City, UT 84110 Dues - $24.95 includes newsletter 800/531-1790 Genealogical Computing Journal, Quarterly $25 /year PO Box 476 $8.00 discount for Salt Lake City, UT 84110 Ancestry Res. Club members [Publishes a "complete" CIG directory in J/F/M issue and a "complete" directory of Computerized Genealogical Databases in A/M/J issue.] National Genealogy Conference (see separate posting) A "Fido system" conference NGS/CIG BBS 703/528-2612 (109/302) GEnie See end of NGS/NGC listing Genealogy Roundtable CompuServe See end of NGS/NGC listing Genealogy Forum =============================================================================== A new entity is "Genformation Software Club". From their ad in J/A/S issue of "Genealogical Computing": Free software catalog > IBM shareware and public domain programs for genealogists > Family histories and genealogy sources on computer diskettes > GEDCOM files, Ahnentafels, Tiny Tafels and more for IBM, Apple, Macintosh and other popular formats Under $10/disk Find out how to receive major discounts when you contribute your own family data! Write to GENFORMATION Dept CG389 Box 161126 San Diego, CA 92116 . . . The June issue of the GENCAP Newsletter has the following "selected from a flyer so that you may decide if it is of interest to you. San Diego, CA - The Genformation Software Club is now forming to promote the worldwide exchange of genealgical data on computer diskettes. Membership is open to all those who use - or plan to use - microcomputers in their family history research and record keeping. "Now that genealgical software programs are actively supporting the GEDCOM standard, many more computing genealogists are finally able to exchange data diskettes - even with those who don't use the same type of software." said Cindy Conser, Genformation President. "There is an increasing need for a central 'bank' where family historians can deposit their GEDCOM files and withdraw files that were compiled by possible cousins," Ms. Conser said. "I believe the Genformation Software Club will fill that need". HOW IT WORKS Each diskette sent to Genformation is given a number. Then names and places contained in the file are added to master index files. These index files are then distribued as a quarterly Catalog-on-Disk to all Genformation Software Club Members. In addition to the quarterly catalog indexes on diskette, a cumulative index will be kept so members can query Genformation directly concerning possible matches. A report is sent to the member describing which, if any, diskette(s) contain the requested name(s). The database query service is included as part of the membership benefits. To become a member of the Genformation Software Club, applicants should send a copy of their genealogical data diskette(s), along with their name, address, a brief description of the diskette(s), information regarding the computer format they require, and $15 to Genformation. For a free catalog describing these diskettes, or for more information about Genformation Software Club, write to Genformation, P.O. Box 161126 San Diego, CA 92116 =============================================================================== Date: Mon, 19 Feb 90 16:26:48 CST Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: Ed Mertes Subject: Re: Brother's Keeper > I also would be interested in checking out BK. Maybe someone > could put it where everyone could get at it. Likewise, I have > PKXARC on a PC. Any ideas? Recently there have been a lot of messages like the above about how to exchange copies of a program. There is a program archive available at Simtel20. Since I'm on the Arpanet system I can just do a FTP to transfer programs I want to try. I am not familiar with Usenet, UUnet, and all the other methods that are used to reach this mailing list so about all I can do is post an information message that appears on a newsgroup from Simtel20. If someone with a current version of Brothers Keeper was to upload it to Simtel20 it would be available to most if not all of us. I don't have a copy of the list of available files here at home but I believe I got my 4.2 version of BK from Simtel20. .. I hope this information will be helpful to at least a few of the requesters. Incidently (sp?) my current index list of the Simtel20 archive just about fills a disk (331K uncompressed). Ed Mertes THE FOLLOWING COPIED FROM THE INFO-IBMPC NEWSGROUP......... Send Replies or notes for publication to: Send requests of an administrative nature (addition to, deletion from the distribution list, et al) to: The Lending Library is available from: WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL (see file PD1:AAAREAD.ME details on file directories and descriptions.) Archives of past issues of the Info-IBMPC Digest are available by FTP only from WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL in directory PD2:. WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL can be accessed using LISTSERV commands from BITNET via LISTSERV@NDSUVM1, LISTSERV@RPIECS, LISTSERV@FINTUVM and in Europe from EARN TRICKLE servers. Send commands to TRICKLE@ (example: TRICKLE@TREARN). The following TRICKLE servers are presently available: AWIWUW11 (Austria), BANUFS11 (Belgium), DKTC11 (Denmark), DB0FUB11 (Germany), IMIPOLI (Italy), EB0UB011 (Spain) TAUNIVM (Israel) and TREARN (Turkey). If you are unable to access SIMTEL20 via Internet FTP or through one of the BITNET/EARN file servers, most MSDOS SIMTEL20 files, including the PC-Blue collection, are available for downloading on the Detroit Download Central network at 313-885-3956. DDC is a networked system with multiple lines that support 300, 1200, 2400, and 9600 bps (HST) at a cost of 17 cents per hour. It is also accessable on Telenet via PC Pursuit and on Tymnet via StarLink outdial. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Feb 90 16:41:37 CST Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Comments: Resent-From: Roots-L List Operations Comments: Originally-From: psfales@cbnewsc.ATT.COM (Peter Fales) From: Roots-L List Operations Subject: Re: FHS vs others In article <3607ROOTS-OP@NDSUVM1>, SOGILLR@VCCSCENT.BITNET (Richard Gillette) writes: > I, too, have been using Family History System by Philip Brown, and would > be interested to know if any one has compared it to the many other > electronic genealogy software products. I also have been using FHS and have been very pleased with it. At one time I explored the possibility of converting to PAF (this was version 2.1). I exported my FHS with GEDCOM, and imported it into PAF, then tried using PAF for a while. I found it cumbersome to use after FHS and switched back after a short time. FHS just seemed much friendlier in terms of the information displayed on the screen, and minimizing the number of keystrokes and menus needed to accomplish anything. The GEDCOM export/import seemed to work fairly well. There are some FHS fields that could not be exported since there are no corresponding fields in PAF. Most of these were ones which I had not used much except for marriage notes: PAF allows you to make notes about an individual, but not about a marriage. (Where do you document a marriage date? Under the husband? the wife? both? Marriage notes seem like a logical place to do this and seems to be a major deficiency of PAF) -- Peter Fales AT&T, Room 5B-420 N9IYJ 2000 N. Naperville Rd. UUCP: ...att!ihlpb!psfales Naperville, IL 60566 Domain: psfales@ihlpb.att.com work: (708) 979-8031 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Mar 90 11:39:42 CST Reply-To: Teri Pettit Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Comments: Resent-From: Roots-L List Operations Comments: Originally-From: pettit@adobe.COM (Teri Pettit) From: Roots-L List Operations Subject: Re: Roots III In article <16528@well.sf.ca.us> tswift@well.UUCP (Theodore John Swift) writes: > >>Is Roots III avaliable for the Mac? >>If so is there a phone # and address for the place? > >I would like it to be, since I have and use a Mac, but as far as I've heard >there is no Mac version of Roots III. But the company is just down the >road from here in Mountain View, so I'll call and get back to y'all with >the results. From what I hear, Roots III (for IBM PC-compatibles) is the premiere program for genealogical publishing. It can generate fully indexed, numbered, and annotated genealogies in all the formats accepted by major genealogical journals. It is published by: CommSoft 2275 Old Middlefield Road Mountain View, CA 94039 (415) 967-1900 I haven't called them for a few months, but I tried last August and last December, and they were being very close-mouthed. They wouldn't say they were working on a Mac version, and they wouldn't say they weren't. If I had the nerve, I would call their personnel office instead of their customer support, and pretend to be looking for work as a Macintosh programmer. (I am a Macintosh programmer, but I'm quite happy here at Adobe, and I can't lie with a straight face for the life of me.) Ted, by saying "the company is just down the road from here in Mountain View", do you mean that you yourself are located in Mtn View and not in Sausalito as your Organization line would indicate, or are you speaking figuratively of Mountain View as being "just down the road" from Sausalito? (CommSoft headquarters is literally less than a mile from my office. I sometimes pass by on my way to lunch. But short of industrial espionage, I have no idea how to find out when we'll see Roots for the Macintosh.) Teri Pettit Adobe Systems 1585 Charleston Road Mountain View, CA 94039 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Apr 90 09:28:22 CDT Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Comments: Resent-From: Roots-L List Operations Comments: Originally-From: root@csoftec.csf.com (Cliff Manis (cmanis@csoftec)) From: Roots-L List Operations Subject: Brother's Keeper Genealogy Carol: Ref: your previous note: Well, on Thursday (12th) I got the Brother's Keeper from SIMTEL20, and you have been wanting to see what it does. Here is a GREAT short sample of Brother's Keeper using real Manis-Manes Genealogy. This file was made by my BROTHER'S KEEPER (Genealogy Program) which is shareware and available now from SIMTEL20 either via FTP or from the LISTSERV archive computer. This version 4.5 is his latest version. I only have about 60 names into now and am testing it, but it sure looks great. It will maintain up to 15,000 names on harddisk. It only cost $40.00 to register it, and it works on any MSDOS machine with 512k and 2 disk drives. It is very easy to have the LISTSERV computer send mail these to you as a UUENCODE'd file. There is a bytes per day limit so you might need to send for one file a day ! ! On SIMTEL20 you need two files: And can request the LISTSERV send it to you using the following short script: # /start of short script/ # simtel-get.sh # echo " /pdget mail pd1:bk1.zip uuencode /pdget mail pd1:bk2.zip uuencode " | mail listserv@vm1.nodak.edu exit 0 # /end of short script/ The idea behind the script is - that LISTSERV will send the stuff to the one who sends the msg to LISTSERV. Wow, is that too simple or not.... and maybe this will also show someone else how simple it is to grab a file from SIMTEL20. Hope this will help you, and others.... and yes, I am keeping a database of any and all Manis or Manes names and their current addresses. Thanks..cliff manis | INTERNET: cmanis@csoftec.csf.com UUCP:{swrinde|texbell}!csoftec!cmanis | ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 15 May 90 10:45:37 -0400 Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: "PennNet Tech. Services" Subject: Mac geneology software? > I'm looking for geneology software for the Macintosh. What I'd like is > something to help me record the information I've gathered and/or generate > charts. I've been focusing on all the siblings, cousins, etc., and the > branching can get pretty tricky. > I happen to use Quinsept's Family Roots on my MAC Plus and have been quite happy with it. It is a bit pricy, but has many features and, if Steve could hire decent Mac Programmer's, updated on a regular basis. He has pretty high standards and so far has had trouble finding Programmers capable of meeting his standards AND deadlines. There is an international users group (accross the various platforms) whith several local chapters and "expert support" volunteers. The "cheap" option is PAF from the Mormons. I say "cheap" because it only costs $35. It is a very good program, but oriented towards the generation of "Temple Ordinances" so it doesn't have quite the bells and whistles that one might desire. But then it does support GEDCOM NOW, while Family Roots will do so in the future. I happened to have gotten started with Family Roots when it was the ONLY option available for the MAC. I haven't done my own survey of the various "share-ware/beer-ware" etc, packages for the MAC, but the last time I looked (about 2 years ago) the stuff out there was pretty poor. "Genealogical Computing" is published quarterly by Ancestry out of Salt Lake City and does a periodic survey of software available for various platforms (Spring issue I think). The Computer Interest Group of the National Genalogical Society publishes a newsletter which also reviews software on a regular basis. If you are using computers in genealogy this organization is a MUST! dues are $30 for the NGS and $10 for the CIG. You get full NGS privs and their publications as well. From the current Quarterly Journal of the NGS. "Two things parents must do for their children... give them roots and give them wings." William H. Magill Manager, PennNet Technical Services Data Communications and Computing Services (DCCS) University of Pennsylvania Internet: magill@dccs.upenn.edu magill@eniac.seas.upenn.edu magill@upenn.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 21 May 90 20:24:46 CDT Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: Richard Lee Holbert Subject: Software Friend of mine sent me this info and I thought I might share it with all of you to see if it will help anyone. A good entry level genealogical program is Personal Ancestral File (PAF) now in release 2.2. aT ca. $40, it is inexpensive. It's easy to learn, and will do most, if not all of the things you will want to do for a long time in genealogy. Perhaps the most important thing about it is that it was the standard for the electronic exchange of genealogical information. You can rest assured that if you ever outgrow it, you will be able to chose from a large number of feature-rich, difficult, and expensive programs that adhere to the same standard. You then will be able to import all your PAF data into your new program without rekeying. In the meantime, you will be able to exchange data electronically with users of any of these programs. PAF is sold by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Their PAF information number is (801)240-2584. Another excellent package is 'Family Ties' which also saves in the PAF format. It is shareware; if you would like a copy, give me a call at 205-343-5272, and you can upload it from me (2400 baud and below) An excellent piece of software for recording genealogical history is Brother's Keeper. It's a rather long couple of files and works best with a hard drive. But, it's definitely worth the HD disk space and DL time. It can be found on the University of Illinois BBS in Normal, Illinois. The number is 1-309-438-7370. The board also has a findonet node solely on genealogy. I'm sure you could find a more local node to use. Richard Lee Holbert BITNET:X075RT@TAMVM1.BITNET INTERNET:X075RT@TAMVM1.TAMU.EDU =========================================================================