UpFront with NGS: RootsMagic Releases Free Genealogy and Family Tree Software

UpFront with NGS: RootsMagic Releases Free Genealogy and Family Tree Software

There are two reasons why this link might be of interest.

1. First, a free version of the genealogy program, RootsMagic, called RootsMagic Essentials is now available. The commercial version of RootsMagic is the genealogy program I currently use. An earlier version of the program was called FamilyOrigins. I also used that program, primarily to load GEDCOM files shared with me by others. In my opinion RootsMagic is an excellent genealogy program. If you are not ready to purchase the full-blown commercial version you may want to avail yourself of the free version.
2. The second reason this link is of interest is because it is the blog of the National Genealogical Society (NGS). Did you know the national headquarters is located in Virginia, near Washington, DC? The library collection of NGS has been located in St. Louis, MO for a number of years in the county library system.

Looking to the Future

I'm looking forward to getting a Verizon high-speed Internet connection and whatever website space they make available with the service. Ever since AOL dropped free website support I've been upset because all of the genealogy information I'd shared for years was no longer available on the Internet. It will be nice to again have a place for anything I want to share.

Yesterday I worked on a project to convert my genealogy files that were stored, at one time, in the file format of the Family Origins for Windows program to the file format of the program that replaced it, RootsMagic. The process was quite easy because the RootsMagic program has this capability built-in. I also created a "text" file where I listed the names of all of the genealogy files and other pertinent information. I needed to do this because I'm sure it won't be long before I forget what I have available. Once a file is stored in the RootsMagic format all of the powerful output capabilities of the program can be used to share the information. I wish this program had been available years ago when I was working on genealogy almost every day. As time goes by it will be interesting to see what comes out of my current efforts. Hopefully I can sustain the interest and energy to make good use of these expanded capabilities.

Watch this blog for further reports about my progress with the high-speed Internet connection and with RootsMagic.

Mr. Dickie