Using online genealogy programs

Using Online Genealogy Programs

By Dick EastmanJan. 14, 2013

or

Genealogy Software in the Cloud

Today’s slides are available at:

http://www.eogn.com/handouts/online

Today’s Trend

• I am fortunate in that I am able to attend several genealogy conferences most years. After listening to presentations and talking with presenters and attendees, I often walk away with one phrase echoing in my mind: “the Cloud.”

Traditional programs to record your genealogy research

• Family Tree Maker• Legacy Family Tree• RootsMagic• Reunion• The Master Genealogist• MacFamilyTree• ...others

Traditional programs to record your genealogy research

• These programs all install on your computer's hard drive

Traditional programs to record your genealogy research

• Advantages– Easy to install and maintain– Totally under your control

Traditional programs to record your genealogy research

• Disadvantages– You need to install and maintain the

program(s)– High risk from hackers trying to access your

PC to steal your information– High risk from viruses and other "malware"– YOU must perform backups– YOU must install software upgrades– YOU must troubleshoot problems– Difficult to use in group collaboration

Traditional programs to record your genealogy research

• Disadvantages– If used in group collaboration, everyone must

use the same program on the same operating system.

– Windows vs. Macintosh– Windows 7 vs. Windows XP– May not be portable– No easy method to compare your research

with that of others

This is so 1980s!

We are in the midst of a computer revolution, both in genealogy and in almost all other uses of personal computers. For the past 25 years or so, home computers have exploded in use. During that time, almost all programs we have used were obtained on disk or possibly by download, then installed and executed directly on each computer, usually without connection to any other computer system. This has worked well although each home computer operated as an “island,” isolated from other computers in the neighborhood and around the world.

The Better(?) Way

• Place your data online in a genealogy program running on a Web server

• The data might be public or private… your choice

• Security may be BETTER than keeping data on your own computer at home where it is exposed to hackers around the world

The Better(?) Way

• Online Everywhere• Easy access all the time, from anywhere• Someone else installs and maintains the

program• Someone else performs backups• Someone else troubleshoots the problems• Easy to use in group collaboration• Easy to use with mixed operating systems

(Windows, Macintosh, iPhone, Android, etc.)• Easy to compare your research with that of

others

The Better(?) Way

• Think of Wikipedia– Content pages 3,541,058– Average edits per page 19.12– Registered users 13,834,623– Administrators 1,770– Reviewers 5,365

Online Genealogy Products

• Similar to traditional genealogy programs:– Family Tree Explorer (formerly PedigreeSoft)

• Install on a Web Server:– PhpGedView– WebTrees– The Next Generation

Online Genealogy Products

• Collaborative products:

– OneGreatFamily.com– New.FamilySearch.org– WeRelate.org– WikiTree

What Do These Web Sites Look Like?

• They vary widely, just like traditional genealogy programs!

• Let’s look at a few:

The Next Generation (TNG)

• One person (or organization) runs the web site as a private online service

• One person (or organization) installs the software

• One person (or organization) provides the maintenance

• One person or (optionally) multiple people provide the data

• Works great for group collaboration!

The Next Generation (TNG)

• Key Features:

• GEDCOM Import/Export: No need to retype everything.• Search: Easy lookup by name, or advanced search on dates,

places and more.• Dynamic Charts: Pedigree, descendants, relationship, timeline,

family group, etc.• Clean, Easy to Read: One person per page, sensible layout,

clear navigation.• Surname Lists: Quickly display your main lines alphabetically

and by popularity.• Customizeable: Choose from pre-built templates, or create

your own.

The Next Generation (TNG)

• Security: Create users with various rights, protect living/private data.

• Media: Upload and link photos, histories, videos, you name it.• Administration: Manage everything from a central admin menu.• Backup/Restore: Safeguard your data, recover from disaster.• Multiple Trees: Host more than one GEDCOM at a time.• Strong Support: Make use of a forum, a wiki and two mailing

lists, or ask the author.• Much More: Google Maps, LDS data supported, Cemeteries,

Dates & Anniversaries, "What's New", etc. etc.!

The Next Generation (TNG)

$32.99

Learn more at:

http://www.tngsitebuilding.com/

The Next Generation (TNG)

• $32.99

The Next Generation (TNG)

PhpGedView

• One person (or organization) runs the web site as a private online service

• One person (or organization) installs the software

• One person (or organization) provides the maintenance

• One person or (optionally) multiple people provide the data

• Works great for group collaboration!

PhpGedView

• Price: FREE!

• NOTE: Not as sophisticated as the other programs

• More information is available at:

http://www.phpgedview.net/

PhpGedView

Family Tree Explorer

• Available from FindMyPast.co.uk

• No software to install or maintain

• No hosting fees

• FREE!

Family Tree Explorer

With Family Tree Explorer you can:

Create 2 separate family trees

Add photos, images and scans of your records, photos and certificates

Store 5,000 individuals per family tree

See full ancestry, descendant and full family views

Family Tree Explorer

Instantly receive enhancements as they happen – never pay for upgrades

Enjoy full Windows, Mac OSX and Linux compatibility

Save your family tree on our secure servers.

Receive 200 mb media storage for scanned documents, certificates, photos, film and audio clips to be added to your family tree

Access your latest research from any computer with an internet connection

Family Tree Explorer

Shared Databases

These sites try to make one database containing records of all the people who ever lived and left records

Everyone can access all records

• WeRelate.org• New.FamilySearch.org• OneGreatFamily.com

WeRelate.org

WeRelate.org

WeRelate.org

WeRelate.org

WeRelate.org

Access your genealogy from

anywhereWith Windows, Macintosh,

iPhone, iPad tablet, Android, ANYTHING!

Share your information or not

As you wish

Is Your Family in the Cloud?

Today’s slides are available at:

http://www.eogn.com/handouts/online