Family Tree Maker 2008

BEST FOR DATA DISPLAY

This is available in two editions - Deluxe and Platinum. The Deluxe package includes a basic training DVD and a three-month subscription to Ancestry.co.uk. In the Platinum there's also a book and an extra three months of Ancestry access. Now in its 17th manifestation, Family Tree Maker 2008 was launched with several popular reports missing. However Ancestry (who owns the program) has published a 'patch' online, which allows you to restore these missing features for free (without which it's not a good deal). Family Tree Maker 2009 should be on the shelves early next year, with upgrades from this version available as a download.

Ancestral Quest 12

BEST FOR COLLABORATIVE FEATURES

The American program Ancestral Quest is less well-known in the UK, but it has some interesting features, including the ability to be used collaboratively so that several relatives can work together anywhere in the world. It is also particularly suitable for those interested in LDS data or researching Holocaust victims (there is a printable page of testimony for Holocaust victims. It's very versatile: you can attach sources to a whole event, or just to a date or a place. You can attach photos, sound and video files to individuals or sources. You can also organise your photos into timed, choreographed slide shows withmusic or narration accompaniment.

Family Historian 3

BEST FOR SOURCE MANAGEMENT

This program has two major features not found in other family history software: it uses GEDCOM as its native file format, which means no conversion (it can also correct GEDCOM errors introduced by other software); and you can link directly to each individual face in a picture without having to crop the pictures. As well as the usual charts, the program can create an 'Everyone' chart, showing everyone in your family tree file and all of their relationships. Charts can be saved as files, and you can work on them, add pictures to them, resize them and move them around at any time.

Legacy 7

BEST FOR VERSATILE REPORTING

American publisher Millennia offers Legacy in two editions. As well as Deluxe there's a free (restricted) Standard version - an excellent deal! Legacy's unique features include a research guide that reviews an ancestor's timeline and gives you a list of prioritised sources that will help you find connections to other researchers. There's a good selection of charts and a new SourceWriter that offers a series of source templates/ In addition to all the usual reports there's a unique 'Multiple Lines of Descent Report' (which builds a picture of your descendancy using several different lines) and a useful 'chronology view', which assembles an ancestor's events and puts them in context.

RootsMagic 3

BEST FOR CUSTOMISED CHARTING

RootsMagic is American software - the UK version available only from S&N Genealogy Supplies. It comes in three editions. The Platinum edition includes a number of UK data CDs and a free subscription to www.TheGenealogist.co.uk. The Standard edition includes two data CDs and £1,135-worth of S&N vouchers for money off data CDs. The Basic edition (listed below) has no bonus content. This program allows you to view multiple databases simultaneously and drag and drop data between them. Private notes and events can be suppressed when printing or exporting. Your friends and relatives can view your family history file in CD using a downloaded read-only edition of RootsMagic and you can also create six different types of website.