Genealogy Chat

Hi Sheila I've got FTM but found that for ''work in progress'' the one on GR printed and stuck together is great for seeing the gaps and where you need to go next! I stuck mine up in my 'office' (I know the script is a bit small) and this saves me time when I want to know where to start! Allie x

I have done most of my tree (so far anyway) in the way Margaret has descibed. I have written all my names out in Sepia ink in Calligraphy writing and it looks quite good.

I'd leave the tree creating to us Sheila, we're far more skilled at it and can use other programs to make it look even better. Family Tree Maker is a very good all round chart making program but the All in One Tree it creates is usually very poorly laid out. Ron www*genealogyprinters*com

So basically then I need to get something like Family Tree Maker, create the tree in that and then send it to Ron to get it printed.... OK - sounds good to me. Sheila

I use Family Historian it's very good there are one or two things I haven't got to grips with yet but the trees are good and the photos look good on the charts. I used to use Generation Grand Suite but when I converted to XP it wouldnt hold all information. I can still print trees and I still use it for small family groups that have no confirmed relationship with the main tree. I keep them in A4 polypropylene display books. They are nice & easy to look through. Eve

Have you not tried one of the professional packages yet? Compared to them the GR tree is absolutely horrible. Keith

Interesting comments. Does anyone use the tree facility available on GR? I have been using it and it seems okay. I printed my tree out for my 2nd cousin and, with the aid of scissors & sellotape, got something fairly usable. I wouldn't want to have a professional print just yet as it is still very much a work in progress.

Esta I use FTM version 17 (2006). It is really very simple to use, enter a name and details, enter parents names and details and away you go. I have used FTM since version 5 many years ago lol, they have all been easy to use.

Having read Rons reply ..........I'm leaning towards getting it printed. If it's reasonable cost wise I like the idea of some-one else doing the work ! Would have to figure out the gedcom file bit as most of what I want is on paper at the moment.. Esta

Thank you all for the recommendations folks. We print our large trees directly from family history programs so we have a very good knowledge of what each program will produce in the way of a family tree. As regards actually producing family trees on your computer. We have 37 different family history programs on our systems, not all of them will produce a tree, we have them because we need to convert customers files so that we can then use the data in another program that will make a nice looking tree. I'm afraid you gets what you pays for and most of the free programs available for download do not make trees and if they do they are usually very basic ones. If you want a program that will produce a nice looking tree where you can alter colours and layout there is a very restricted choice. I will list the programs that we use, they are not necessarily in any order of preference and there may be a couple of other programs that will produce a satisfactory result, it's just that we don't use them or have never heard of them. Family Tree Maker. Genbox. Family Historian. RootsMagic. Generations. I know for certain that the first 3 listed above have a free trial version available from a download, this will let you try each one and see what you think of it. Once you have created your tree you then have to print it, as Maureen already said if you print it yourself you end up with dozens pf pages which you have to trim and tape together, been there, done that, that's how we came to be in existance, nobody in this country printed family trees commercially at the time. So unless you have £3,500 to spend on a wide format printer capable of printing a tree on one sheet of paper :0)))) Ron www*genealogyprinters*com

My opinion - the best tree site that is free is on www.tribalpages*com Once you have established the tree get it printed by www.genealogyprinters*co*uk - only thing about having it printed is that it is assumed you have come to the end of the line OR within no time you will be adding another person and then you will need yet another print ! Once you have established a tree on a site you can then download it to desktop trees of your choice. The addresses I have given please delete the asterisks and insert a dot.

Hi All Isn't there a program that you can download from the Mormon site for free? if all you want to do is make a tree wouldn't it be a good idea to download that one put in all the information you have and then have it printed. I have never looked for the free one so I haven't a clue what it is like but most of them I should think are fine. Eve

HI Sheila, FTM 2005 is Family Tree Maker version 2005, a software package that will allow you to store your information and print off a tree. I believe that you can purchase this for about £10 in places. One drawback with it though (and any other programme) is that unless you have a printer/plotter you will only be able to print out on A4 size paper, if like me you have a large tree, that takes a lot of sheets! GEDCOM A gedcom file is a file produced by these programmes that enables you to transfer data between different family tree programmes. It tends to be smaller than the standard package files, so is easier to e-mail etc. Hope this helps Keith

nudge

So here we go - what is FTM 2005 and what is a GEDCOM? I really am at that level. Sheila

I would recommend contacting genealogyprinters. Can not fault the service I got from Ron from initial contact to receiving the finished article. He will provide a quote and let you view online the finished article. I had printed my Mums tree of 400 names and it was 9ft X 2ft. Very good value for money. Price does depend on how many in the tree and what extra info you ask to be included. Perhaps should mention that my tree was on FTM2005 so it just needed a GEDCOM sent to Ron. Maureen

Sheila, Although I've not got 20years of research I was wondering about how to go about getting a tree printed. I have the direct a line back to my 5xg grandparents on one side of the tree that I would love to see in print. Would it be best to get software or is having it printed a realistic option ( Cost being my main concern )...? I'll be interested in the replies Esta

Never done one despite 20 years of research. Now I really need to get some software and do a super duper tree. What software would people recommend. Don't want to do anything other than draw a tree. Thanks Sheila