OUR ROOTS Issue 3 (November 2000)
Hello Dexter Zenar, this is Dexter sending you your personal copy of OUR ROOTS. To un-subscribe follow the instructions below.
Dexter Zenar mailto:dexter@zenar.com
http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/
In This Issue
1. Note from The Editor
2. News
3. Article
4. Tips & Hints
5. Cool & Free Stuff
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1. Note from The Editor
The past month was very busy for me on both the private and business front. Major activity was dealing with search engine and directory ranking. As the result I am sharing some of the underlying theory with you.
Over 80% of people use search engines to find products and services on the Internet. This and links from sites they already know are by far the biggest new traffic drivers to most sites. The good thing for traffic from search engines is that it is free. The bad news is that we have to be positioned at the top 30 or so on any search to get any traffic from the engines. This is because most people do not look beyond top 30 results from a search. The good news is that search engines primarily rely on mathematics to figure out the ranking of the search results. This means that we can design pages that will come out on top.
The competition on the Internet is measured in terms of supply and demand much like anyplace in business. A simple way to look at the size of the competition for a site is to do a simple search on a leading search engine like AltaVista or Google Use a search phrase that people might use when looking for a product or service and see what comes back. As a basic rule-of-thumb: between 100 - 5,000 puts us in a low competition category. Between 5,001 - 25,000 puts us in a medium competition category. Between 25,001 - 250,000 puts us in a high competition category. Over 250,000 hits puts us in an extremely high competition category.
Depending on a competition category you find yourself in you will have to take different actions to place your site within top 30 matches.
Dexter Zenar mailto:dexter@zenar.com
http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/.
2. New This Month at http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/:
2.1 During the past month, I worked to improve our site's positioning with:
(2.1.1) Major Search Engines: Alta Vista, AOL Search, Excite, Fast Search, Go, Google, HotBot, Infoseek, Inktomi, Lycos, Magellan, MSN Search, Northern Lights and Web Crawler; and
(2.1.2) Important Directories: About, LookSmart, Snap and Yahoo.
This was a follow up activity to the submission made to the major serach engines and important directories over the pat two months.
The web site for now needed only a minor wording changes, no design changes were made.
The results are encouraging but we still have a long way to go. Tell your relatives and friends about the site that is designed specifically for the research of your family history.
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3. November Article: Genealogy Software Programs (Part 1/4)
I researched genealogy software programs for Windows, Mac, UNIX and DOS. I was able to identify a total of 44 programs, 35 of which are for Windows. The available information is stratified in the categories to make it easy to compare and identify programs that you may be interested in. This issue contains specifications of the first 11 programs (alphabetically). Over the next 3 issues I will bring to you complete information on all 44 programs.
3.1 Programs for Windows
3.1.1 Ages-Family Tree Database; VERSION: 1.10 BY: Daub EDV-Beratung
NEXT RELEASE: No recent announcements.
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Easy to use full-featured genealogy software. Start entering your data immediately. Prints multi-page trees. New in version 1.10 OLE support.
OTHER INFO: Intuitive User interface; multiple parents (adoptive, ...); any number of generations; integrated note-manager; integrated management of pictures and audio; complete set of events; flexible entry of dates i.e. "between 1794 and 1797"; highly compatible through direct usage of GEDCOM files; suitable for even large trees (tested with >5000 individuals); multi-page trees and reports
LANGUAGES SUPPORTED: English, German, Spanish, Dutch. More languages in development: Danish, Norwegian, French
LIST OF FEATURES FROM DEVELOPER (if available): http://www.daubnet.com/english/agesfeatures.html
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Windows 95/98, 1mb hard disk.
REVIEWS (Online):
REVIEWS (Offline):
WEB SITE: http://www.daubnet.com/english/ages.html
COST: $35.00
ORDERING INFORMATION: http://www.daubnet.com/english/ages.html
DOWNLOAD SHAREWARE: http download or ftp download
TECH SUPPORT: support@daubnet.com
MAILING LIST: Free! Update mailing list available on the Ages homepage of either language.
MAIN PHONE: +49 4109 2012-1
MAIN FAX: +49 4109 1986
3.1.2 Ancestors & Descendants; VERSION: 1.62 BY: Daniel W Hancock
NEXT RELEASE: Now shipping v1.62.
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: A powerful and sophisticated software system for serious genealogists. With uncluttered, easy-to-read, and consistent screens, A&D is a high-performance system that operates on Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 3.1, DOS, and OS/2.
LIST OF FEATURES FROM DEVELOPER (if available): http://www.AIA-AnD.com/features.html
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: A&D requires a 100% IBM®-compatible personal computer with a minimum of 512 kilobytes of electronic memory, one diskette drive (720 kilobytes or more), and one hard disk. The hard disk must have a minimum of one megabyte of free disk space. An additional five megabytes is required for each 10,000 individuals in your A&D databases. A&D works with DOS, OS/2®, and Windows® 3.x, 95, 98, or NT® . A mouse and Windows 3.x or higher are required to run A&D in dual-window mode. A mouse and Windows 95 or higher are required to run A&D in quad-window mode. (A&D may be run on Macintosh® computers in DOS-emulation mode; however, we cannot guarantee Macintosh usage.) You may install and use A&D on a second computer (desktop, notebook, or laptop), but you are prohibited from using A&D on two or more computers simultaneously and from installing, using, or distributing it on a network. A parallel printer is required to produce printed reports. It must be able to print 10, 12, and 17 characters per inch. A&D does not require a CD-ROM drive, a modem, or a color printer.
GEDCOM INFO: Import/Export v4.0 & v5.5
REVIEWS (Online):
REVIEWS (Offline):
WEB SITE: http://www.AIA-AnD.com
COST: $47.00
ORDERING INFORMATION: http://www.AIA-AnD.com/ordering.html
TECH SUPPORT: http://www.AIA-AnD.com/brochure.html
MAILING LIST:
MAIN PHONE: (310) 842-7442
FAX: (310) 842-7443
3.1.3 Ancestral Quest; VERSION: 3.0.22 (rel 4/14/00) 2 Versions 95/98/NT - 32 Bit; Win 3.1 - 16 Bit BY: The Hope Foundation
UPDATE AVAILABLE FOR 3.0 USERS: http://www.ancquest.com/releases.htm
NEXT RELEASE: No recent announcements
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Windows based. For beginner and more advanced genealogist. Easy data entry, keyboard shortcuts, super-fast mouse navigation, and sourcing capabilities.
LANGUAGES SUPPORTED: English
LIST OF FEATURES FROM DEVELOPER (if available): Ancestral Quest WebSite - Description
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Windows 3.1x, Win95/98, Win NT. EGA, Hercules or higher resolution display (VGA Recommended); Mouse or compatible pointing device (recommended); 2 MB RAM; 4.0 MB hard disk space; One 3.5" high density (1.44MB), or 5.25" high density (1.2MB) diskette drive; Optional for enhanced multimedia capabilities: scanner, sound card, speakers, microphone, video capture board; CD ROM version requires a CD ROM drive (the Hammond Maps program requires a Pentium processor and double-speed CD ROM drive)
REVIEWS (Online): http://www.ancestralquest.com/reviews.htm
REVIEWS (Offline):
WEB SITE: http://www.ancquest.com/aqindex.htm aqinfo@ancquest.com
COST: $37.95 Standard Edition Demo Download
ORDERING INFORMATION: Ancestral Quest WebSite - Ordering 1-801-816-1939 or 1-800-825-8864 orders@ancquest.com
INTERNET DISCUSSION GROUP: Ancestral Quest Internet Discussion Group
MAILING LIST:
TECH SUPPORT: 1-801-816-1939
aqtech@ancquest.com
MAIN PHONE: 1-800-825-8864
FAX: 1-801-280-9875
3.1.4 Behold - The Genealogist's Companion & Research Tool; (currently under development) VERSION: NOT APPLICABLE BY: Louis Kessler
NEXT RELEASE: Currently under development.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: This program will run under Windows 95/98/NT.
** Developer is taking a survey from online genealogy software users that will aid in the development of this program. Follow the link below to the website to enter your comments.
WEB SITE: www.lkessler.com
COST: Shareware.
3.1.5 BirthWrite; VERSION: 2.4.3 rel. 8/2000 BY: Richard McDonald
NEXT RELEASE: Upgrade package available that will migrate from release 2.4, 2.4.1, and 2.4.2 of BirthWrite
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Easy to use genealogy program. Features include: relationship calculator, multiple reports, very flexible html publishing, GEDCOM import/export.
OTHER INFO: Developer of BirthWrite also wrote Ilanot, a Jewish genealogy program available in English and Hebrew. Marketed as "shrink wrap" through Beth Hatefutsoth (Museum of the Jewish People) in Tel Aviv.
LANGUAGES SUPPORTED: English, Dutch, German, Italian.
LIST OF FEATURES FROM DEVELOPER (if available): http://www.interlog.com/~rmcd/BirthWrite/
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Win 98, Win 95, NT. Approx: 3.5MB to 6MB depending on Visual Basic files already installed.
GEDCOM INFO: Import/Export 5.0 & 5.5
WEB SITE CREATION ABILITY: Yes
REVIEWS (Online):
REVIEWS (Offline):
WEB SITE: http://www.interlog.com/~rmcd/BirthWrite/
COST: Shareware. $30 to Register.
ORDERING INFORMATION: Download program: http://www.winsite.com/info/pc/win95/pim/birthw21.exe Order/Register: http://www.interlog.com/~rmcd/BirthWrite/ Product Info send Email: rmcd@interlog.com
TECH SUPPORT: http://www.interlog.com/~rmcd/BirthWrite/ Email: rmcd@interlog.com
MAILING LIST:
3.1.6 Brothers Keeper - WIN; VERSION: 5.2G BY: John Steed
NEXT RELEASE: Version 6 in development. (click for info on v6.0) (beta version download) Updates released every 2 weeks.
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Brother's Keeper is a Windows genealogy shareware program that will help you organize your family history information and let you print a large variety of charts and reports. It works with Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 or 98 or NT with 8 megs RAM or more. There is no charge to download BK to try it out. A powerful and easy to use shareware program. Changes & enhancements continually provided.
LIST OF FEATURES FROM DEVELOPER (if available): Brothers Keeper Genealogy Program Features View Sample Reports
LANGUAGES SUPPORTED: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Czech, French, German, Dutch, Portuguese and English.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 or 98 or NT with 8 MEGS of RAM or more.
GEDCOM INFO: Reads 4.0 & most v5.5 GEDCOM files. Creates 4.0 GEDCOM files.
WEB SITE CREATION ABILITY: Not directly, however, it can convert many reports to text or RTF files and those can be converted to HTML by Word.
REVIEWS (Online):
REVIEWS (Offline):
WEB SITE: http://www.bkwin.net/index.html
COST: Shareware. $49 Register w/manual. Download Shareware Order From Online Store $49.00 Full Version, $20.00 Update
ORDERING INFORMATION: http://www.bkwin.net/download.htm
TECH SUPPORT: 75745.1371@compuserve.com 616-364-5503
MAIN PHONE: 616-364-5503 74774.650@compuserve.com
FAX: 616-866-3345
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3.1.7 Create Family Trees Quick & Easy; VERSION: ?? BY: Individual Software
NEXT RELEASE: Info Requested From Developer.
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Program creates elegant Family Trees and valuable family reports quickly.
OTHER INFO:
LANGUAGES SUPPORTED: Info Requested From Developer.
LIST OF FEATURES FROM DEVELOPER (if available): http://www.individualsoftware.com/consumer/conqnetr3.htm
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: 486, Pentium™ Based PC or Higher; Microsoft Windows 98, 95, or NT; 8 MB RAM; 6 MB Hard Drive Space Needed; 2x Speed CD-ROM Drive; 256 Color VGA or Higher Display; Mouse; SSDI PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: 16 MB RAM; 10 MB Hard Drive Space Needed; 4x Speed CD-ROM Drive
GEDCOM INFO: Info Requested From Developer.
WEB SITE CREATION ABILITY: Info Requested From Developer.
REVIEWS (Online):
REVIEWS (Offline):
WEB SITE: http://www.individualsoftware.com/consumer/conqnetr3.htm Email: messageto@individualsoftware.com
COST: $19.95
ORDERING INFORMATION: Purchase & Download program: http://www.individualsoftware.com/consumer/conqnetr3.htm Email: orders@individualsoftware.com
TECH SUPPORT: http://www.individualsoftware.com/service/techsupport.htm Email: techsupport@individualsoftware.com
MAIN PHONE: 800-822-3522
FAX: 925-734-6031
3.1.8 Cumberland Family Tree; VERSION: 3.0 rel. 8/29/2000 BY: Cumberland Family Software
NEXT RELEASE: No recent announcements. *For current users of any previous Cumberland Family Tree Versions, the upgrade to Version 3 is $20.00.
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Shareware program. "The major concept of CFT-Win centers around creating Your Own Family History Book" while still maintaining the capability of printing individual reports.
LIST OF FEATURES FROM DEVELOPER (if available): http://www.cf-software.com/cftwin.htm
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Info requested from developer.
GEDCOM INFO: 4.0 & 5.5
WEB SITE CREATION ABILITY: None
REVIEWS (Online):
REVIEWS (Offline):
WEB SITE: http://www.cf-software.com/
COST: Shareware CFT-Win (download) $45.00 CFT-Win + Bundle (download) $55.00 Bundle: UCC, C-Diary, FPA (download) $25.00 CD-ROM All programs (45-day trial) $10.00 For current users of any previous Cumberland Family Tree Versions, the upgrade to Version 3 is $20.00. $64 Register w/manual; $50 Register w/o Manual; $74 Register Deluxe w/Manual; $60 Register Deluxe w/o Manual.
ORDERING INFORMATION: Download Shareware: http://www.cf-software.com/ Download Upgrade: http://www.cf-software.com/cftwin.htm Download PDF Manual
TECH SUPPORT: Email: ira.lund@cf-software.com Mailing List at RootsWeb (developer monitors this list): To subscribe RootsWeb ML: CFT-WIN-L@rootsweb.com type SUBSCRIBE in subject. To subscribe RootsWeb ML digest mode: CFT-WIN-D@rootsweb.com Mailing List (Discussion Group): http://www.cf-software.com/maillist.htm Other Support Info:http://www.cf-software.com/support.htm
MAIN PHONE: 615-647-4012
FAX:
3.1.9 Dynas Tree; VERSION: 210 rel. 9/2/00 BY: GEB Software, Gerhard Bauch
NEXT RELEASE: v220 Due to be Released Nov. 1, 2000 Highlight : Generation of an entire private genealogical web-site. Betatest package available.
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The database for your genealogical research. True 32 bit software for Windows, German and English desktop.
LIST OF FEATURES FROM DEVELOPER (if available): http://www.dynas-tree.de/dynastree/gb/feaall.html
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: http://www.dynas-tree.de/dynastree/gb/sysreq.html
GEDCOM INFO: Version 210: v5)
WEB SITE CREATION ABILITY: Yes.
REVIEWS (Online): http://www.dynas-tree.de/dynastree/d/kundmund.html (majorly german)
REVIEWS (Offline):
WEB SITE: http://www.dynas-tree.de Email: GerdBauch@gmx.de
COST: US $49.50 Full Version, Upgrade $11.20 DM 89,- EUR 45,60-
Demo Download: http://www.dynas-tree.de/dynastree/gb/downl200.html
ORDERING INFORMATION: Ordering Information for v170, v210, full & upgrades
TECH SUPPORT: http://www.dynas-tree.de/dynastree/d/service.html (currently german only)
MAIN PHONE:
FAX:
3.1.10 Family Explorer; VERSION: 2.0 rel. ?? BY: Kin Ware
NEXT RELEASE: Requested info from developer.
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Designed to produce high quality standard reports for your word processor and the web.
OTHER INFO: Requested info from developer
LANGUAGES SUPPORTED: Requested info from developer.
LIST OF FEATURES FROM DEVELOPER (if available): http://www.kinware.com/features.html
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Requested info from developer.
GEDCOM INFO: Import/Export v5.5
REVIEWS (Online):
REVIEWS (Offline):
WEB SITE: http://www.kinware.com/software.html
COST: $25.00 to register.
ORDERING INFORMATION: Download 10 day fully functional demo at: http://www.kinware.com/software.html
TECH SUPPORT: Requested info from developer
USERS GROUP: Requested info from developer
MAIN PHONE: Requested info from developer
FAX: Requested info from developer
3.1.11 Family Matters 97; VERSION: 4.20e BY: MatterWare
NEXT RELEASE: As features added and improved.
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Family Matters 97 Genealogy Software is a Microsoft Access 97 application, written for use with Windows 95, 98, NT. Everything needed to run is included with the program whether or not you have Access 97. No limit to the number of persons, families, children, spouses, photographs, relationships, chronicles of the lives and times of your ancestors, data sources, and repositories. Free to download full version, evaluate, enter data for twenty families, import an unlimited GEDCOM, and build a genealogical web site of your ancestors.
LIST OF FEATURES FROM DEVELOPER (if available): http://www.matterware.com/index.html
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: http://www.matterware.com/index.html
GEDCOM INFO: Import/Export 5.0
PROVISION FOR SOURCES:
WEB SITE CREATION ABILITY: Y
REVIEWS (Online): http://www.matterware.com/reviews.html
REVIEWS (Offline):
WEB SITE: http://www.matterware.com
COST: $25 for registration. $5 S&H for CD in NA. $8 S&H for CD International.
ORDERING INFORMATION: http://members.aol.com/matterware/weborder.html
TECH SUPPORT: http://www.matterware.com/index.html
USERS GROUPS: Links to users of Family Matters software who have built web sites with it can be found at http://www.matterware.com/fmusers.html Visit the author's web site at http://members.aol.com/raynicklas
MAIN PHONE: 904-736-8030
FAX: 904-734-8674
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In thext issue I will bring you next 11 genealogy software programs.
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In Future Articles
Some of the subject we will cover in the coming issues of OUR ROOTS (your suggestions and contributions are welcome) include:
- Pedigree Charts
- Family Group Sheets
- Sources Checklists
- Research Log
- Interview Questions
- Genealogy Programs (parts 2, 3 & 4)
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4. Tips, Hints and Other Stuff about Your Surname Research
Use our site http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/ to store your family tree and transform your family research from a local affair to a global undertaking. Your relatives anywhere in the world can contribute to the research effort. It is easy. Just visit http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/ to find out how.
Visit http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/ take a look at the name assigned to your family tree, check it out and suggest one that is more appropriate.
If you have pictures of people that are or will be recorded in one of the GenoPro files send it to us for free scanning and inclusion in your family tree on the web site. To find out how to send paper and electronic pictures visit http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/. Snail-mailed photographs are returned after the processing. Read about another free picture scanning offer under "Cool and Free Stuff" (Section 5) .
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5. Cool and Free Stuff
Visit http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/ to find out how you can benefit from the booming global E-commerce. For example: you can get paid just to have a starting page for your browser or you can play million dollar lottery for free or you can get free space for your web site.
If you have a picture which you would like to be scanned, you can send it to Addr.com and they will scan it for you free of charge. You don't even need to be a customer of Addr.com to take advantage if this free service. Isn't that nice? Go to http://scanning.addr.com/
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You received OUR ROOTS because you either expressed interest in Family History Research or your surname is or was one of the ones listed on http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/.
The opinions expressed in this E-zine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of InfoMethods. InfoMethods makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, about the truth or accuracy of the contents of the OUR ROOTS or http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/.
We want this newsletter to be the best one around. If you have suggestions, ideas, or feedback about this newsletter, feel free to E-mail us mailto:dexter@zenar.com or go to http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/FeedBack.htm
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