{"id":902,"date":"2009-07-11T22:27:00","date_gmt":"2009-07-12T03:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/genealogy.julietarr.com\/blog\/weekly-genealogy-blogging-prompt-28\/"},"modified":"2013-07-18T19:45:51","modified_gmt":"2013-07-19T00:45:51","slug":"weekly-genealogy-blogging-prompt-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/genealogy.julietarr.com\/blog\/weekly-genealogy-blogging-prompt-28\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #28"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prompt:<\/strong>\u00a0 Write about the genealogy software you use. Comment on any tips, tricks or complaints you may have about the product.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I usually post these on Friday\u2019s, but I had a friend ask me about what program I use, so I thought I\u2019d post this one a little early.\u00a0 What impeccable timing for this topic to come up!<\/p>\n

Why I Love Legacy<\/strong><\/h6>\n

First, let me say this:\u00a0 You have to find the program that works best for you<\/em>, suits your<\/em> needs, and that you<\/em> are comfortable working in.\u00a0 I sampled a variety of programs, including some not-so-known ones until I found the perfect match for me.<\/p>\n

User Interface<\/strong><\/h6>\n

I chose Legacy Family Tree<\/a> for a number of reasons.\u00a0 First, I like the design of the interface better than all the other programs.\u00a0 It seems like many of the programs use a \u201ctree\u201d view, usually left-to-right, that is often hard to follow.\u00a0 While Legacy does have a tree view (Pedigree view), I work from the Family view.\u00a0 This is a top-to-bottom view: main person\/couple in the middle, parents for each at the top, children at the bottom.\u00a0 You can customize what data is displayed in the main screen.\u00a0 For example, the default was originally Birth, Baptism, Death, Burial, and (I think) RIN.\u00a0 I\u2019ve chosen to use Birth, Baptism, Death, User ID, and Updated.\u00a0 (The User ID is a field I use to note which overall family a person belongs to.\u00a0 It\u2019s just a way for me to keep track at a glance.)<\/p>\n

\"mainscreen\"<\/p>\n

In addition to the Family view and the Pedigree view, there is a wonderful Index view.\u00a0 Need to find someone quick?\u00a0 Simply go to the Index view and type in the Given or Surname to find them in the index.\u00a0 You can even customize what is displayed and in what order.<\/p>\n

\"index\"<\/p>\n

Sourcing<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Even before version 7 came out, the sourcing feature was pretty good.\u00a0 But with version 7 came the ability to cite sources using the correct format based on Evidence Explained<\/em><\/a> by Elizabeth Shown Mills.\u00a0 There are still a few kinks (not technical) that I\u2019m trying to work through and in some cases have found workarounds for them.\u00a0 For example, when you add a census as a Master Source, it wants you to include the county and state.\u00a0 That would create a HUGE list of Master Sources for me.\u00a0 Instead, I just add a Master for each of the years.\u00a0 Then, I add the city, county, and state all in the \u201cCity\u201d field of the source details when I use the source.\u00a0 It generates the source in the same way it would had I done a Master Source for each county\/state combination.<\/p>\n

Anyway, with SourceWriter, you simply select the type of source (through a series of 1-4 questions), input the information in the form for the Master Source (form generated based on type of source), and your Master Source is created.\u00a0 Additionally, following Evidence Explained<\/em>, it formats the source appropriately.\u00a0 Then, when you attach a source to a fact, you can fill in additional details, such as a page number.\u00a0 The written source is then formatted to include that information as well.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an example.\u00a0 The first image shows the Master Source input screen, with the written source at the right.\u00a0 The second image shows the Source Details.\u00a0 Notice how the page number has now been added to the source\u2019s output.<\/p>\n

\"mastersource\"<\/p>\n

\"details\"<\/p>\n

Reports & Such<\/strong><\/h6>\n

There are so many reports and things that you can generate with Legacy.\u00a0 The nice thing is that you can customize them as well.\u00a0 You can decide to include or exclude various types of information based on the type of report.\u00a0 For example, let\u2019s say I want to run a quick descendant report for someone that I don\u2019t know very well.\u00a0 I can chose to exclude all living people from the report.<\/p>\n

In addition to reports, you can create books.\u00a0 Legacy is set up to produce books that automatically place the details with preset (or customized) verbiage.<\/p>\n

Need to ask people for information?\u00a0 Run a Questionnaire form, which is a blank form that asks for various details.\u00a0 Need to interview someone?\u00a0 Run an Interview sheet.\u00a0 There are various types to choose from.\u00a0 What about a research log?\u00a0 There\u2019s a blank Research Log waiting to be printed.<\/p>\n

And of course, you can print charts and family group sheets.<\/p>\n

Customization<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Legacy offers various ways that you can customize the program to suit your needs.\u00a0 For example, my color scheme is red, which is not the default.\u00a0 You can choose the way information is displayed, such as date formats, and surname formats.<\/p>\n

Searches<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Legacy has a pretty good search tool.\u00a0 I say pretty good only because I wish it would allow for more conditions, as well as the rules for date ranges.\u00a0 But nonetheless, it\u2019s a good search tool.\u00a0 And what\u2019s really nice is that you can save your search criteria if you have a search that you frequently run.<\/p>\n

Related Posts<\/strong><\/h6>\n

I have written a few posts about Legacy in the past.\u00a0 Here are two that may be of help to others.<\/p>\n