I'm looking for some free software that I can use for mapping my family tree. Does anyone know of an application that does that kind of thing? The ones I keep finding are commercial or shareware only.
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I'm looking for some free software that I can use for mapping my family tree. Does anyone know of an application that does that kind of thing? The ones I keep finding are commercial or shareware only.
GRAMPS
If you are on Linux, have a look at Genealogical Research and Analysis Management Programming System (GRAMPS).
I'm not quite ready to pour in the family history material that I have collated so far, but I have been reading lots on the GRAMPS web site and wiki.
As well as information on how to use GRAMPS the wiki includes links to genealogy resources.
article at FSM
There's a very nice tutorial for GRAMPS here at the FSM:
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/genealogy_with_gramps
Again... what a response!
I can't believe it! FSM has already covered this software. That looks like a great article. Thanks jacqueline and Mauro I think this is the answer but I'll have to wait til I get Ubuntu installed.
no you don't
I wrote the article in question so glad it helps.
You don't have to wait to install Ubuntu before using GRAMPS, try the Linux Genealogy Desktop CD — an Ubuntu based Live CD which has GRAMPS, GeneWeb and Lifelines installed.
Ryan
used GRAMPS for about a year
Hi
I'm using GRAMPS now and have for about a year.... it does almost everything that commercial ones do.... the one thing that the commercial ones do is have some provided background images to use for things like the trees that you just click on and a wad of cds with things like death records....we discovered my dad...folks long divorced, in them..
My better half uses FTM...but she's beginning to look at GRAMPS with a new eye!
I'm always worried about
I'm always worried about using family tree software even though the chances are low what would happen if you saw two family members were related, would people start wondering how to save your marriage or start looking for counselors or lawyers.
There's always a risk
When you embark on family tree research (the software is largely secondary to this issue) there is always a risk of finding something you'd rather not know.
I know of a few cases where things like illegitimacy and "marriages" that were not in previous generations (who are still alive) have emerged following family tree research. Of course there's also the risk that you find out your are descended from unsavoury characters as well.
In my own family research we thought we had discovered that my great grand-parents married after the birth of my grandmother but further (lengthy) research revealed we were looking at two very similar but different families. The risk is there and as with anything you simply have to calculate how far you want go with it. It's also important to not react too quickly when you find something as I have indicated above.
With regards this:
Assuming you mean two married family members, then the legal issue is really only if they are siblings. In many countries anything more distant is still legal and only causes problems if it continues down many subsequent generations. Family tree research will not always be the catalyst to highlight this kind of occurrence anyway.