Anything better than PAF?

[[email protected]]

Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer. I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?

[Dave Hinz]

On 25 Feb 2005 05:10:03 -0800, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:

Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer.

Well, no, FTM doesn't force you to buy their service, but it's also
not superior to PAF, especially with PAF Companion. In my opinion, of
course.

I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?

You might want to look at Legacy. Similar to PAF, the basic package
is free, and the add-on is 30 bucks or so. Excellent, excellent support,
transfers well from PAF, and has some very nice featuers for merging
and collaboration.

If a Mac is in your future, Reunion beats any other app I've used.

Dave Hinz

[singhals]

[email protected] wrote:

Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer. I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?

Ummm, well, if you've used all the nooks and crannies of PAF5, you may
as well stick with the devil you know. If you haven't, then yes, GED
everything out and FTM should take it.

There could be some question whether FTM is better than PAF (and with
PAF5 that's a closer call than it was with PAF 2.31), but you really
don't have to subscribe to anything if you buy FTM. and if you can find
the newest version of FTM without the data CDs, it's a fair bargain.

Or, you could try Legacy, which also has a free basic package.

If you're looking to spend money, you could look at The Master
Genealogist, which is the world's finest data analysis tool. I happen
to not like anything else it does, or the way it insists on my doing
things its way, but it does do nifty stuff if you're willing to comply. (g)

If you're looking to swap OS, Reunion for MAC or GRAMPS for *ix are
reported good.

Cheryl

[J. Hugh Sullivan]

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 11:21:22 -0500, singhals <[email protected]>
wrote:

[email protected] wrote:

Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer. I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?


Ummm, well, if you've used all the nooks and crannies of PAF5, you may
as well stick with the devil you know. If you haven't, then yes, GED
everything out and FTM should take it.

The devil you say!

There could be some question whether FTM is better than PAF

[snip]

There could be some question whether FTM is better than pencil and
paper.

Hugh

[Jerald H. Mathews]

[email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:

Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer. I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?

Family Origins was a good product but the follow on product
"Roots Magic" that was developed by the same author es even better and
30 USD is a good price too.

http://www.rootsmagic.com
--
Regards,
Jerry M.

[f/fgeorge]

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 21:12:38 -0000, "Jerald H. Mathews"
<[email protected]> wrote:

[email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer. I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?

Family Origins was a good product but the follow on product
"Roots Magic" that was developed by the same author es even better and
30 USD is a good price too.

http://www.rootsmagic.com

The Master Genealogist is a VERY good program IMO.
It even has a demo version you can use to see if you like it.
http://www.whollygenes.com about center of the page it says "free trial", and
is a link to the trial version. The trial version is not crippled
except that you can only enter so many people into it.

[kat >^.]

"f/fgeorge" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 21:12:38 -0000, "Jerald H. Mathews"
[email protected]> wrote:

[email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer. I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?

Family Origins was a good product but the follow on product
"Roots Magic" that was developed by the same author es even better and
30 USD is a good price too.

http://www.rootsmagic.com

The Master Genealogist is a VERY good program IMO.
It even has a demo version you can use to see if you like it.
http://www.whollygenes.com about center of the page it says "free trial", and
is a link to the trial version. The trial version is not crippled
except that you can only enter so many people into it.

OK, I downloaded the sampler some weeks back because someone sent me a file
that I couldn't open without MG in some fashion. I haven't done anything
with it since then because I don't feel like spending the $$ yet. I was
concerned that it would be billed for after a specific time.
No?
Unless I start using it in earnest, I mean?
kat >^.^<

[[email protected]]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll just go on using PAF. No sense
switching.
[email protected]

[john]

[email protected] wrote:

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll just go on using PAF. No sense
switching.
[email protected]

Not sure I understood the logic in that decision.

You can transfer your data to any number of other genealogy programs by
exporting a GEDCOM file. Check out http://www.cyndislist.com/software.htm

As has been indicated, The Master Genealogist is possibly the most
comprehensive.

[Ray]

"[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...

Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer. I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?

I didn't see any replies from people who migrated data from PAF to any
other programs for the purposes of publishing using the modified
register format. I bought the silver edition of TMG for that purpose
and didn't have any trouble moving the GEDCOM over but found the task
of converting the existing notes, which come out satisfactorily in PAF
5.x to TMG was a horrendous task.

Reminds me of the earlier genealogy researcher who had her info in
WordPerfect v5.x and couldn't even consider moving it to a genealogy
database program. I'm in the same boat as she is. There's move to
moving the data than simply creating a GEDCOM. I'll let someone else
move it if they find the rationale, time....

Cheers, Ray

[Doug McDonald]

Ray wrote:

I didn't see any replies from people who migrated data from PAF to any
other programs for the purposes of publishing using the modified
register format. I bought the silver edition of TMG for that purpose

I am tyring the free trial of TMG, moving from Legacy 4.0 with
their "native" import.

As a bizarre twist, it imported Legacy's "notes" with the
title of "GEDCOM" [all caps sic]. This is not encouraging!

Doug McDonald

[Dave Hinz]

On 2 Mar 2005 14:02:27 -0800, Ray <[email protected]> wrote:

"[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer. I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?

I didn't see any replies from people who migrated data from PAF to any
other programs for the purposes of publishing using the modified
register format.

I like Legacy's reporting a bit better, for some things, and have done
exactly that path. They also have a nicer merge, but data entry seems
easier (more intuitive and better flow) in PAF.

I bought the silver edition of TMG for that purpose
and didn't have any trouble moving the GEDCOM over but found the task
of converting the existing notes, which come out satisfactorily in PAF
5.x to TMG was a horrendous task.

Hm. Did you ask TMG's support folks about it? Seems like something they'd
be able to help with.

Dave Hinz

[singhals]

Ray wrote:

I didn't see any replies from people who migrated data from PAF to any
other programs for the purposes of publishing using the modified
register format. I bought the silver edition of TMG for that purpose
and didn't have any trouble moving the GEDCOM over but found the task
of converting the existing notes, which come out satisfactorily in PAF
5.x to TMG was a horrendous task.

I used GEDCOM to get data from PAF into GenBook. I do not recommend
it...either the proceedings or GenBook. The pain has lessened to the
point where I'm no longer blasphemous when discussing it.

Cheryl

[J. Hugh Sullivan]

On 3 Mar 2005 15:31:57 GMT, Dave Hinz <[email protected]> wrote:

On 2 Mar 2005 14:02:27 -0800, Ray <[email protected]> wrote:
"[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer. I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?

I didn't see any replies from people who migrated data from PAF to any
other programs for the purposes of publishing using the modified
register format.

I like Legacy's reporting a bit better, for some things, and have done
exactly that path. They also have a nicer merge, but data entry seems
easier (more intuitive and better flow) in PAF.

You know someone on the Legacy User Group was dissing Legacy reports
and the need for "for a fee" add ons to improve reports. In my mind he
must have forgotten to take his pills that day because I like the
Descendant reports. Of course that's about all I use so my opinion is
limited.

I bought the silver edition of TMG for that purpose
and didn't have any trouble moving the GEDCOM over but found the task
of converting the existing notes, which come out satisfactorily in PAF
5.x to TMG was a horrendous task.

Hm. Did you ask TMG's support folks about it? Seems like something they'd
be able to help with.

Bob Velke is right here "listening" and I'll almost bet he has
contacted the man privately about the problem already.

That's another reason to recommend Legacy, RootsMagic and TMG -
support is as close as your fingertips to the keyboard.

Hugh

[Dave Hinz]

On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 21:27:09 GMT, J. Hugh Sullivan <[email protected]> wrote:

On 3 Mar 2005 15:31:57 GMT, Dave Hinz <[email protected]> wrote:

On 2 Mar 2005 14:02:27 -0800, Ray <[email protected]> wrote:
"[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
Considering upgrading to a "better" system than PAF. I have PAF v5.0
and Companion v2.1. All I have seen for sale is Family Tree and I am
suspicious that this system might tie a user into their $200 a year
subscription offer. I'm willing to consider it though if as a stand
alone piece of software it would be better, especially when it comes to
visually nicer reports. Also, would it allow the transfer of data from
PAF?

I didn't see any replies from people who migrated data from PAF to any
other programs for the purposes of publishing using the modified
register format.

I like Legacy's reporting a bit better, for some things, and have done
exactly that path. They also have a nicer merge, but data entry seems
easier (more intuitive and better flow) in PAF.

You know someone on the Legacy User Group was dissing Legacy reports
and the need for "for a fee" add ons to improve reports.

Well, I paid Legacy the 30 or 40 bucks for the "for a fee add-on", and
it was well worth it. It's always ...amusing... when people complain
about paying so little money for something as useful as good software.
Reunion for the Mac is 80 or 90 bucks, but it's worth every penny.

Then again, I make my living in software development, so ...

In my mind he
must have forgotten to take his pills that day because I like the
Descendant reports. Of course that's about all I use so my opinion is
limited.

I've bought the deluxe Legacy package, and PAF companion, both of which
are at trivial cost compared to what they get you. One custom report format
that you like is worth the 30 bucks, far as I'm concerned.

Hm. Did you ask TMG's support folks about it? Seems like something they'd
be able to help with.

Bob Velke is right here "listening" and I'll almost bet he has
contacted the man privately about the problem already.

He's good that way. If I'd stayed on the Windows platform, I probably
would have bought TMG.

That's another reason to recommend Legacy, RootsMagic and TMG -
support is as close as your fingertips to the keyboard.

Yes, and very active mailing lists for those and PAF (And Reunion)
with very helpful folks. Lots of resources no matter which tool you
choose, with a couple exceptions...

[J. Hugh Sullivan]

On 3 Mar 2005 21:33:23 GMT, Dave Hinz <[email protected]> wrote:

On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 21:27:09 GMT, J. Hugh Sullivan <[email protected]> wrote:
On 3 Mar 2005 15:31:57 GMT, Dave Hinz <[email protected]> wrote:

[snip}

I like Legacy's reporting a bit better, for some things, and have done
exactly that path. They also have a nicer merge, but data entry seems
easier (more intuitive and better flow) in PAF.

You know someone on the Legacy User Group was dissing Legacy reports
and the need for "for a fee" add ons to improve reports.

Well, I paid Legacy the 30 or 40 bucks for the "for a fee add-on", and
it was well worth it. It's always ...amusing... when people complain
about paying so little money for something as useful as good software.
Reunion for the Mac is 80 or 90 bucks, but it's worth every penny.

Then again, I make my living in software development, so ...

Years ago "trial period" was seldom an option. I paid for many a
program just to try it out and make the right decision for me. I also
don't view nickles and dimes as important to a decision. Fortunately
for my heirs my basic decision is made and "trial" became a marketing
inducement.

Back in the DOS days I had a friend who was expert in at least 10
self-taught languages. He was so competent in basic that I got him to
teach me - old dog, new tricks. I could program what I wanted as long
as he was available to get my ox out of the ditch - that was one
clumsy ox!

Hm. Did you ask TMG's support folks about it? Seems like something they'd
be able to help with.

Bob Velke is right here "listening" and I'll almost bet he has
contacted the man privately about the problem already.

He's good that way. If I'd stayed on the Windows platform, I probably
would have bought TMG.

I've thought about MAC several times but my oldest son is an MS
platform expert and my computer needs a crutch at times. My second
grandson has just loaded Unix on his XP Pro 64 bit system. They
ultimately plan to link sons (2) and grandsons (4) in KY, AL and TX.

I wish we had a programmer in the bunch. Maybe they avoided that
because I'm a low pay employer.

That's another reason to recommend Legacy, RootsMagic and TMG -
support is as close as your fingertips to the keyboard.

Yes, and very active mailing lists for those and PAF (And Reunion)
with very helpful folks. Lots of resources no matter which tool you
choose, with a couple exceptions...

I wonder why Reunion finally restricted to MAC - that was a good MS
program also.

Hugh

[J. Hugh Sullivan]

On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 15:42:26 -0500, singhals <[email protected]>
wrote:

Ray wrote:

I didn't see any replies from people who migrated data from PAF to any
other programs for the purposes of publishing using the modified
register format. I bought the silver edition of TMG for that purpose
and didn't have any trouble moving the GEDCOM over but found the task
of converting the existing notes, which come out satisfactorily in PAF
5.x to TMG was a horrendous task.

I used GEDCOM to get data from PAF into GenBook. I do not recommend
it...either the proceedings or GenBook. The pain has lessened to the
point where I'm no longer blasphemous when discussing it.

Cheryl

That deserves a ROTFLMAO except, dietetically speaking, it doesn't
work.

The programmier I go the confusider I get.

Hugh

[Dave Hinz]

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 15:34:47 GMT, J. Hugh Sullivan <[email protected]> wrote:

On 3 Mar 2005 21:33:23 GMT, Dave Hinz <[email protected]> wrote:

Yes, and very active mailing lists for those and PAF (And Reunion)
with very helpful folks. Lots of resources no matter which tool you
choose, with a couple exceptions...

I wonder why Reunion finally restricted to MAC - that was a good MS
program also.

They talk about that in their FAQ, I seem to recall. Basically, came
down to the added effort of maintaining two versions. Nearly everything
except for Windows can be compiled from the same source code; I wonder
if they'd spin a Linux version...

[Ron Parsons]

In article <[email protected]>,
Dave Hinz <[email protected]> wrote:

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 15:34:47 GMT, J. Hugh Sullivan <[email protected]
wrote:
On 3 Mar 2005 21:33:23 GMT, Dave Hinz <[email protected]> wrote:

Yes, and very active mailing lists for those and PAF (And Reunion)
with very helpful folks. Lots of resources no matter which tool you
choose, with a couple exceptions...

I wonder why Reunion finally restricted to MAC - that was a good MS
program also.

They talk about that in their FAQ, I seem to recall. Basically, came
down to the added effort of maintaining two versions. Nearly everything
except for Windows can be compiled from the same source code; I wonder
if they'd spin a Linux version...

The early Mac's had the entire Toolbox in ROM. Most programming was just
a series of calls to the toolbox routines. The toolbox routines were
well written, debugged and documented. Programs that were ported from
Windows usually used a translation program that simply changed each
Window's API call into a call to the Mac Toolbox. It was never done the
other way around for the fact then and now was if it could be done at
all in Windows, it could be done easily on a Mac, but the other way
around was almost impossible.

When Apple started the move to the modern development tools, they
provided a stepped upgrade path for programmers. They took all the old
Toolbox routines, and documented those which should be considered
obsolete and what should be used in their stead. They provided a new
dual purpose set which is called Carbon that functions equally well in
MacOS 9 and MacOS X. Perhaps too well, for many developer have not taken
advantage of the next level, Cocoa.

Reunion 8 is Carbon. I'd love to see a Cocoa version.