Genealogical Software Report Card
Basic Requirements Secondary Requirements Reviews Developer Links Glossary Contact The Genealogical Software Report Card © 2000 S W Mumford Last updated March 2005	A genealogical program is composed of two distinct components. The first can be defined as the basic requirements and is composed of those features related to the planning, recording, source documentation, and analysis. The second are those features associated with the data sharing aspects of the program and any other features the developer has seen fit to add to the program as a result of user requests or as a sales feature. In recent years some developers have reevaluated the need to include features that formerly were available in almost every program. This includes such items as photo editing, scrapbooks, word processors, web page creation, wall charts, etc. Today a full blown office suite can be obtained for little or no cost. Anyone who has purchased a scanner or digital camera found photo editing and album software included. Wall charts and web page design software are available from third party developers. Most developers of genealogical software have a small programming staff and to duplicate software that is readily available is a decision that must be taken with some thought. As a result of the above factors some developers have made the decision to not include some of these, what I would term, secondary features in their product. This makes any comparison that includes these features unrealistic. The comparison of the basic or primary features is also made more difficult by the need to take into account the differing requirements of the various researcher's goals and experience. The basic requirement comparison attempts to do this. The basic results documented here were complied using the latest versions of the 22 programs evaluated. The secondary results are based on the last version of the old report card and now display only the comparisons for each specific group. As I am no longer preparing software reviews for the National Genealogical Society's Newsletter I no longer have access to the latest versions of software. If you find I have missed crediting your favorite program with a feature or if you feel one should be added please contact me.

Genealogical Software Report Card

Basic Requirements

Secondary Requirements

Reviews

Developer Links

Glossary

Contact

The Genealogical Software Report Card
© 2000 S W Mumford
Last updated March 2005

A genealogical program is composed of two distinct components. The first can be defined as the basic requirements and is composed of those features related to the planning, recording, source documentation, and analysis. The second are those features associated with the data sharing aspects of the program and any other features the developer has seen fit to add to the program as a result of user requests or as a sales feature.

In recent years some developers have reevaluated the need to include features that formerly were available in almost every program. This includes such items as photo editing, scrapbooks, word processors, web page creation, wall charts, etc. Today a full blown office suite can be obtained for little or no cost. Anyone who has purchased a scanner or digital camera found photo editing and album software included. Wall charts and web page design software are available from third party developers. Most developers of genealogical software have a small programming staff and to duplicate software that is readily available is a decision that must be taken with some thought.

As a result of the above factors some developers have made the decision to not include some of these, what I would term, secondary features in their product. This makes any comparison that includes these features unrealistic. The comparison of the basic or primary features is also made more difficult by the need to take into account the differing requirements of the various researcher's goals and experience. The basic requirement comparison attempts to do this.

The basic results documented here were complied using the latest versions of the 22 programs evaluated. The secondary results are based on the last version of the old report card and now display only the comparisons for each specific group. As I am no longer preparing software reviews for the National Genealogical Society's Newsletter I no longer have access to the latest versions of software. If you find I have missed crediting your favorite program with a feature or if you feel one should be added please contact me.