Software

The initial perception about family history is the family tree drawn out on a large sheet of paper.

Whist this still has a place and is a great way of representing your research you will reveal lots of data about your relatives.

Some people prefer to keep a card index where they make entries in relation to all of their relatives.

Given your use of the computer for research it makes sense in use software to record your findings.

A great byproduct is that most programs will allow the information to be produced in many methods to suit your varied needs and a push of a button converts your information into the Gedcom files which is the Internet standard for transferring genealogical information.

Which software is best for me?

The cheapest method is to use software such as Works or Office that may already be loaded onto your computer and adapting the spreadsheet or database to record details.

Adapting existing programmes are most suitable for those with expertise in computers and those people who only wish to records a small portion of their family tree ie the direct male lineage.

Specialised software for recording family history information is widely available and is the best course of action for those people who do not feel comfortable adapting their own software.

Which software to use depends on your budget as costs vary from freeware to £100+ .

The most popular choice is Family Tree Maker which is a middle price software package and is probably the best on the market. Certainly many data disks are available for use with FTM.

There are many other good software packages available.

Research what software is available and then check the specifications to see if it meets your needs.

The most expensive or the most features do not indicate that the software is best for you, Many programmes have so many features that the average user will only use a small percentage of the program.

The best software is the one which provides the features that you will need!

Where to buy software

Software can be purchased from High Street Computer shops although it is often  cheaper from online  discount stores or at budget prices from auction sites like E Bid.

One warning - If you buy from an auction or discount shop  beware of pirate copies- If the price seems too good to be true then it probably is so don't buy.

Pirate copies of software do not just defraud the software companies but it exposes your computer to the risk of importing malware or virus.

Most traders on E bid are reputable and will be happy to answer questions verifying their goods. Look for traders with high numbers of sales and satisfaction rates.

To see what is on offer put the name of the software into google and search. The result page will include entries from discount stores, auction sites and product listing sites.

Money saving tips

Money saving tip 1 - Software is updated regularly which means that many retailers are able to offer big discounts on a slightly older version of software.

If you are on a budget then buying Family Tree maker 2005 will probably be virtually as good to a beginner as the purchase of Family Tree maker 2007. If buying software make sure that it will be compatible for your computer.

Money saving tip 2 - Some software comes with offers of discounts on books, magazines and software.

An example is Family Tree Maker which often offers free membership of Ancestry for 3 to 6 months saving up to £50 which is often more than the software costs.

Check before you buy for the software with the best deal.