This file contains a digest of genealogical software reviews that have appeared in the ROOTS-L news list from November 3, 1990 through December 18, 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, Internet: LISTSERV@vm1.nodak.edu BITNET: LISTSERV@NDSUVM1 UUCP: ...!uunet!plains!vm1.nodak.edu!listserv and may be obtained via LISTSERV or anonymous ftp from the ROOTS-L.LOG* files of the ROOTS-L directory. Vic Abell, abe@mace.cc.purdue.edu, January 11, 1991 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Nov 90 15:45:43 -0500 Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: "Anthony R. Guillory 904 644-1452" Subject: Genealogy Software Survey Results, Part I Well, here are the results of the Survey of Genealogy Software used by the readers of ROOTS-L and soc.roots. **Percentages don't add up to 100%, thanks to rounding off. **Some people are using 2 or more packages (for DB and Reports), so they were counted for each package. IBM Compatibles (DOS): Software # of users % of users Surveyed (for this machine) -------- ---------- ------------------- 1. PAF 29 41 2. Brother's Keeper 13 18 3. Roots III 6 8 4. Family History System 4 6 5. Family Tree, ETC 3 4 Family Tree Maker 3 4 Homegrown 3 4 6. Genealogy on Display 2 3 7. GeneaLink 1 1 Family Reunion 1 1 Family Tree 1 1 MyRoots 1 1 Paradox 1 1 DISGEN 1 1 Mac (Mac OS): 1. PAF 11 52 2. MacDraw 3 15 3. Genealogy Database 1 5 HyperTree (for HyperCard) 1 5 Reunion 1 5 Filemaker 1 5 ASCII Files 1 5 Homegrown 1 5 Amiga: 1. Norgen 1 100 Apple: 1. ACEWriter 1 50 2. Family Roots 1 50 HP9000/370: 1. Geneal 1 100 Atari ST: 1. PAF (emulating MS-DOS) 1 100 Commodore (C128 native mode & CP/M): 1. Text Editors 1 100 VAX (VMS): 1. Homegrown 166 100 (obviously, DEC employees)  _______________________________________________________________________________ Anthony R. Guillory INTERNET: Guillory@Storm.dnet.nasa.gov UUCP: {ames,east,decwrl,ucbvax,uunet}!storm.dnet.nasa.gov!guillory CompuServe: 73427,2515 GEnie: A.GUILLORY FidoNet: Anthony Guillory @ 1:3605/46 DECNET/SPAN: STORM::GUILLORY or 723::GUILLORY o If practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, why practice? o The solution of this problem is trival and is left as an exercise for the reader. o Recursive,adj.; see recursive. _______________________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Nov 90 15:48:20 -0500 Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: "Anthony R. Guillory 904 644-1452" Subject: Genealogy Software Survey Results, Part II A Collection of Comments received. *NOTE: If I changed the context of anyone's comments, it was an accident and I'm sorry. PAF: * pleased, happy -- but need better searching (Mac version), only use PAF for file maintenance and some reports - use BK for reports, PAF good buy, Highly recommend., I would switch to ROOTS if they ever came out with a Mac version. The biggest drawback of PAF is that it has no publishing capabilities. I'm fairly happy with PAF, BK: * good but too many print options to answer every time you want to print, use BKBOX for Box Charts -- otherwise use PAF, use BK for Box and tree reports -- otherwise use PAF, excellent package -- user friendly. I'm extremely happy with PAF -- it suits all of my needs. Genealogy Database comment: * satisfied for the money ($20). Family Reunion: * Good software but with some major deficiencies -- maybe fixed in current version? Genealogy on Display: * Need a better package -- but also need one with ability to convert current data. [Editor's note: There are several Genealogy on Display to GEDCOM programs (on CompuServe & Genie), as well as BK has a conversion program.], Replacing with PAF 2.2 (soon). MacDraw: * used for graphics presentation -- but might be nice to have a database., Cumbersome but looks better than PAF or other programs. HyperTree: * downloaded from Online America. ACEWriter: * wants to upgrade but to what? Family Roots: * It's excellent for my purposes. It does many things and does them well. **From a non-Family Roots user ==> I also have version 1.6 of Quinsept's Family Roots, but it is far to poorly designed to use at present., I know that it is more expensive but I really like its flexibility. Personal Roots: * inexpensive and not very powerful. Family Tree Maker: * I don't like it. It's too difficult to change things once they have been entered. Paradox 3.0: * Allows me to have memo fields for pedigree charts. Homegrown -- Mac (HyperCard): * I love it! ROOTS III: * I've been very happy with ROOTS III. It does get a little slow on order-n-squared operations with that many (2700) names on an 8088. FHS (excerpt from a conversation I had with a respondent): >The main advantage I find in FHS, and not in others, is the ability to search >surnames or given names by any, case-sensitive, sequence of letters. Actually, I had been thinking that this was annoying. Now that you mention it, I guess it could be turned into an advantage for some. >The main disadvantages of FHS are : >1. the inability to extract all information, such as addresses and marriage > comments, into GEDCOM notes; I agree! >2. the soundex calculation, which may or may not match Knuth, but certainly > doesn't match the U.S. Census soundex codes Thanks, I had forgotten about this problem. >My main exasperation with FHS is the inability to save report formats; my >idea of a single family group sheet seems to be exactly the opposite of >Mr. Brown's defaults, and I have to change a dozen items every time. Me too! Here are my additions to the disadvantages: 1. Slow user interface 2. Awkward implementation of windows (e.g., sometimes you hit ESC to get out, other times it's F9) 3. Inability to produce Tiny Tafels. Yes, I know the FHS comments are the longest, but hey, it's my survey. :-> Here are a few prices for the top software: PAF ($35), BK ($40), FHS($35), Roots III (>$200), Family Roots (>$200) I hope everyone can get something out of this survey, especially those of you who said you weren't using a package but were interested in these results. For those of you who I didn't send a personal "Thanks" to for responding, THANKS!!! I had 93 actual respondents.  _______________________________________________________________________________ Anthony R. Guillory INTERNET: Guillory@Storm.dnet.nasa.gov UUCP: {ames,east,decwrl,ucbvax,uunet}!storm.dnet.nasa.gov!guillory CompuServe: 73427,2515 GEnie: A.GUILLORY FidoNet: Anthony Guillory @ 1:3605/46 DECNET/SPAN: STORM::GUILLORY or 723::GUILLORY o If practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, why practice? o The solution of this problem is trival and is left as an exercise for the reader. o Recursive,adj.; see recursive. _______________________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 22:53:57 CST Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: Cliff Manis Subject: A possible UUdecoding Solution This could be a UUdecoding solution ! ! Save this file ! ! ! Please read ! ! ! and send any comments to ROOTS-L@VM1.NoDak.EDU This note that all this c code and info was sent to me by an interested ROOTS-L reader, and I have compiled the programs on the csoftec machine and tested them. They both work fine on my machine. [Editor's note: Since this is a long article, already archived at VM1.NoDak.edu, it is not reproduced completely here. To obtain the entire article, send mail to: Internet: LISTSERV@vm1.nodak.edu BITNET: LISTSERV@NDSUVM1 UUCP: ...!uunet!plains!vm1.nodak.edu!listserv The letter should contain the single line: GET ROOTS-L.LOG9011B You may also obtain the article via anonymous ftp to the Internet address. The file is in the ROOTS-L directory, named ROOTS-L.LOG9010B.] ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 23:21:41 CST Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: Cliff Manis Subject: some help with uudecode Here are 4 help files for uudecode and accessing LISTSERV via FTP. Maybe this file will help several people, after this, anyone who is having problems in uudecoding files from GENEALOG, may contact me directly, and I will try to help you if possible.... I am working with several people to find a solution. // help 1 From a user who is using Bitnet on IBM mainframe 1. TELL LISTSERV AT NDSUVM1 GET GENEALOG QCHEROKE 2. (receive from reader and discover it is UUencoded) 3. edit, if necessary so that Begin is the first line 4. ARCUTIL UUD QCHEROKE 5. (determine whether it is text or zipped and proceed) (some public domain servers send files in parts so that the pieces have to be editted, put together and then uudecoded) ------------------------------------------ //help 2 (this is cut from the GENEALOG HELPFILE) Internet: LISTSERV@vm1.nodak.edu BITNET: LISTSERV@NDSUVM1 UUCP: ...!uunet!plains!vm1.nodak.edu!listserv with the one-line message: INDEX ROOTS-L Include no other text, and leave the subject line blank. The listserver will return the complete listing of all files currently available. HOW TO GET A FILE: To get a file: send mail to LISTSERV@VM1.NoDak.EDU and the following line as body of msg. GET GENEALOG filetype ^^^^^^^^ and you will get the filetype file via regular uucp mail... ^^^^^^^^ GET GENEALOG NGSTIPS and you will get the NGSTIPS file via regular uucp mail... ^^^^^^^ Note: The mail will be sent to you using the From: line of your request msg. (or) from BITNET use: tell listserv at ndsuvm1 get genealog [filetype] (or) use anonymous FTP to vm1.nodak.edu (134.129.111.1) and then CWD ROOTS-L then GET GENEALOG [filetype] to retrieve the file. ----------------------------- //help 3 This is from one of the ROOTS-L readers. Took a look at db3gen03 and it is indeed a bit non-standard. Your lines are padded out with blanks to (60 cols? 80 cols? -- didn't look). When I ran both my Unix based UUDECODE and my Mac based UUDECODE, I got "no end line" both times, although it's clearly there. When I stripped the trailing blanks, it resulted in a UUENCODEed file of 48K (down from the original 64k). It then decoded just fine on our Unix system into a .zip file. I downloaded the .zip via Kermit set for binary files transmission into my AT and it unZIPPED just fine. I'm sending a copy of the corrected UUENCODED file separately so you can compare, if you like. ------------------------------ //help 4 From a Roots-l reader Subject: Re: UUDECODE Programs & files I also downloaded files via anonymous ftp and found the same problem with the UUDECODE. The solution that worked for me was to put it in an editor (emacs) and replace all blanks with null. I had to go back and touch up the start line to place blanks between the 3 parameters. The UUDECODE worked fine after that. ..... and Good luck.. Cliff Manis ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Nov 90 18:47:02 GMT Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was NETNEWS@PSUVM From: Ellen Keyne Seebacher Subject: Re: Timeline plotting software In article <46456@sequent.UUCP> norsk@sequent.uucp (Doug Thompson) writes: > Is there any SHAREWARE newsgroup on the net? Yes. See: comp.binaries.{amiga,apple2,atari.st,ibm.pc,mac,os2}, comp.os.{your_favorite_operating_system}, and comp.sources.{amiga,atari.st,games,mac,sun,unix,x}. Those should be sufficient to get you started. :-) > If not, how many would like to see one? > If so, what is the process to start one? If you're really interested, there's a complete description in one of the monthly postings to news.announce.newusers. -- Ellen Keyne Seebacher I didn't say that I didn't say it. elle@midway.uchicago.edu I said that I didn't say that I said it. The University of Chicago I want to make that very clear. Academic/Public Computing --former Mich. gov. George Romney ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 2 Dec 90 10:23:42 CST Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: Cliff Manis Subject: Genealogy Files Available Researching Surnames: MANES MANIS MANESS MANNESS MANOUS MANER MANERS & MANE* X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4dev PL7] As a reminder of the Genealogy Programs available. The following files are available to anyone with either FTP privileges or uucp mail access, and those on BITNET. The IP is: 26.2.0.74 I have just uploaded a NEW Genealogy program (MSDOS) to SIMTEL20. This slekt02.zip program is in Norwegian. Directory PD1: SLEKT02.ZIP B 127275 901128 Norwegian language Genealogy program ......and the following genealogy programs in English are also available from Simtel20. This past week I got this listing of files from the area. > /pddir pd: 9999 11/27/90 1051 ASCII PD:00-INDEX.TXT 05/12/90 200935 binary PD:BK45BD1.ZIP 05/12/90 326317 binary PD:BK45BD2.ZIP 05/12/90 208568 binary PD:BK45BD3.ZIP 06/27/89 167398 binary PD:FHS1.ARC 06/27/89 258733 binary PD:FHS2.ARC 08/01/88 206212 binary PD:FT115.ARC 09/09/90 19584 binary PD:GBBS9009.ZIP 11/07/90 73472 binary PD:GED2T9.ZIP 11/18/90 61486 binary PD:GENKIT15.ZIP If you have an interest, then request any of the programs from Simtel20. Thanks.. Cliff Manis Standard Disclaimer: We are not associated with anyone. (PERIOD). (.) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Dec 90 17:25:04 LCL Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: EASTMAN@ANLEMC.BITNET Subject: HyperTree I played with Hypertree a bit a few months ago. I found it to be totally worthless. It was full of bugs. In principle the cards are linked together such that it knows that one card is the grandfather of another and the cousin of a third, etc... This feature did not work though, in my experience. Jeff Eastman ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Dec 90 20:44:18 GMT Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was NETNEWS@PSUVM From: Brian Bechtel Subject: Re: Mac Geneology www@sppy00.UUCP (Victor Shakapopolis) writes: >Quite awhile ago Brian Leverich posted to comp.sys.mac about a geneology >program called Roots III. He refered to it as... >}COMMSOFT up in the Bay Area somewhere publishes Roots III, which is ... >Well I've been searching high and low for a phone number or some sort of >reference to this company. Does it still exist? I'd love to get more >information on Roots III but I can't find anything. Roots III is published for the IBM PC by Commsoft of Mountain View, California. That should be enough to get you started. >What are some of the better Macintosh geneology programs? The best by far, IMHO, is PAF. It's available from the Mormon Church, but isn't Mormon specific (i.e. you can turn off the Mormon specific fields.) Most of the other programs are ports of MS-DOS programs and suffer from the usual horrible user interfaces, or are quick hacks by someone who didn't spend a lot of time doing it. PAF is $35 by phone by dialing 800-537-5950 in the US, or 801-240-2584. --Brian Bechtel blob@apple.com "My opinion, not Apple's" ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Dec 90 23:07:12 GMT Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was NETNEWS@PSUVM From: Carol Montrose Subject: Re: geneology software Dennis, Family Tree Journal (available on my bbs @ 614-855-0955) Brother's keeper, and Family Edge are all very good shareware genealogy programs. P.A.f. from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, is a wonderful program for only $35.00 and Roots 3 is supposed to be the "caddy" of them all. From Comsoft for c. $250. from Brian Harney, in Ky for considerably less. Good luck! Carol -- Carol Montrose via cmhGate - Net 226 fido<=>uucp gateway Col, OH UUCP: ...!osu-cis!n8emr!cmhgate!130!Carol.Montrose INET: Carol.Montrose@f130.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Dec 90 15:53:00 EST Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List From: "John R. Lewis, Ph.D." Subject: RE: Mac Geneology Roots III is produced by Commsoft, Inc. ($250) 2257 Old Middlefield Way Mountain View, CA 94043 (800) 327-6687 (415) 967-1900 Fax (415) 967-3693 Everything that I have heard indicates that Roots III is the top of the line both in function and cost. I was not aware of a Mac version of Roots III but that may not mean anything since my ignorance has always been more inpressive than my knowledge (obviously I am not connected with Commsoft in any way). I am using PAF on an IBM compatible and have found that the current version (2.2) is vastly improved over previous versions. I do not know if a comparable upgrade was made in the Mac version. I would recommend that you select a program that will read and produce GEDCOM files. GEDCOM is a communication standard that allows exchange of data between between programs. If you don't like the program you select or a better one comes along in a few years then you can switch without having to rekey most of your data. John R. Lewis ADP Project Manager Veterinary Teaching Hospital University of Tennessee ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Dec 90 19:08:54 GMT Reply-To: "Mark H. Nodine" Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was NETNEWS@PSUVM From: "Mark H. Nodine" Subject: Re: Mac Geneology I have been using Family Roots by Quinsept for a number of years. Until recently, I would not have recommended it, but they have made so many improvements both in user interface and speed that I now think it's competitive with other packages. The really great thing about it is that it is very customizable. And now it no longer betrays its PC ancestry so glaringly. --Mark ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Dec 90 21:07:38 GMT Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was NETNEWS@PSUVM From: David Magier Subject: Re: Roots III In article <9012150154.AA02441@cougar> Karen Isaacson writes: >Well, I've made it home, and no one has posted the Commsoft number, >so I will. They are at 800-32-ROOTS (ain't that cute?!?) > >Software apparently runs on machines besides the PC Just spoke with Commsoft on the phone. No Mac version of RootsIII is now avail. nor in the works. They are sending me, however, a brochure on a new product for the Mac (to be available next spring), which is described as a genealogical research helper... More later when I get the brochure. David Magier -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ ____________________ 304 International Affairs /// -- David Magier -- \\\ Columbia University ||| South Asia ||| New York, N.Y. 10027 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Dec 90 02:38:30 GMT Reply-To: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Sender: ROOTS-L Genealogy List Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was NETNEWS@PSUVM From: Theodore John Swift Subject: Re: Mac Geneology >Everything that I have heard indicates that Roots III is the top of the line >both in function and cost. I was not aware of a Mac version of Roots III... I think this is still true: Commsoft doesn't plan to come out with a Mac version of ROOTS III. However, they've been advertizing a new program called Sesame which is available for the Mac and for IBMs running Windows. I'll try to find out more, since I use a Mac and am always interested in what's available. PAF is perfectly servicable for now, but there's always something better on the other side of the hill. -- ---------------------- Ted Swift tswift@well.sf.ca.us "You bally well are informed, Jeeves! Do you know everything?" "I don't know, sir" ~P.G. Wodehouse