The Road to RootsMagic 8 (Part 1): Easier than Ever

Michael Booth Uncategorized

RootsMagic users have been patiently (and sometimes impatiently) awaiting news of our latest version- RootsMagic 8. While we aren’t quite ready for an official release, we want to start pulling back the curtain and share some of version 8’s exciting new features.

First of all, we know that this release has been a long-time coming. But we haven’t been sitting around, resting on our laurels. We’ve been rethinking, redesigning, and rebuilding the interface to address the most common questions and problems our users have shared with us. Our focus has been on these main ideas:

RM8-Win

  • Make the software easier-to-use. Fewer screens, fewer clicks, and less hunting around to find what you’re looking for and to do what you want to do.
  • Take advantage of more modern computers, operating systems, and devices. Technology has changed a lot in the 30 years that we’ve been making software. RootsMagic 8 supports better graphics, touch-screens, faster processors, and high-resolution displays. This ensures that RootsMagic will be useful and relevant for years to come.

And of course, there is “one more thing” that should make our fans of “fruit” happy:

RM8-Mac

And yes- your RootsMagic 8 license covers both the Windows and Mac versions!

How Do I Get RootsMagic 8?

While RootsMagic 8 is not yet available for purchase, every copy of RootsMagic 7 now comes with a free registration key for RootsMagic 8. Just a heads up- there will be a modest price increase for version 8. But you can buy RootsMagic 7 now (even if you already have it) and get your RootsMagic 8 at today’s lower prices!

 button_buy-at-todays-lower-price-get-free

Can I Be a Tester for RootsMagic 8?

Currently, Version 8 is being tested by a dedicated group of testers. As it becomes more stable, we gradually expand this group until we feel it is ready for official release. If you love trying out new things and are patient enough to work with us through the process of finding and fixing quirks and problems, we’d love to have you as a tester. To sign up, just fill out the form at www.rootsmagic8.com. Don’t worry if you don’t hear from us right away as we add testers over time.

button_apply-to-be-a-rootsmagic-tester

More Previews to Come

Watch this blog for regular articles describing more amazing new features in RootsMagic 8. Thanks to you, our users, for your support and feedback. We are very excited for this release and can’t wait to show you more!

72 thoughts to “The Road to RootsMagic 8 (Part 1): Easier than Ever”

  1. Currently for RM7: “New License $29.95”
    0. Buy a NEW license (NOT upgrade) now for RM7, get RM8 (when released) with it?
    1. The UPGRADE price to RM8 (after release, with increased price) will be more than $29.95??
    2. A NEW license (after release) for RM8 will be MORE than the NEW UPGRADE price (for current RM7 users)??

    Reply: Pricing details have not be announced.
    Renee, RootsMagic

  2. Looking forward to the new version – I have been using RM since V4 and currently on V7 – hoping it may be possible in the new version to include images stored against facts when producing reports.

  3. I am certain you don’t mean this to come across this way, but your “buy RM7 upgrade now even if you already have it and get the RM8 key free” sounds pretty close to a scam. I know you don’t operate that way, but you really should rethink the way you handle this one. Consumers are very wary these days.

  4. Will RM7 still be supported after RM 8 is released? I have an older computer running Windows 7 Pro and have no intention of getting a new computer at present. I despise win8 and 10!

    Reply: Older versions are no longer updated when a new version is released. Changes by third parties could break features. You can still use tech support with an older version.
    Renee, RootsMagic

  6. I’m leaning toward waiting for RM8 and then purchase that one. As I’m on a Mac, will I still have to deal with Crossover and WINE?

    Reply: No, this will be a native Mac version.
    Renee, RootsMagic

  7. Really looking forward to RM8. Have been a user back in the days of Parsons technology days. Maybe for my Christmas stocking? I am a pro genealogist, specality is Norwegian roots and I peomote RM to people visiting the Center as well as any classes I teach. If only the program could make the research as easy as it allows me to enter the data!

  10. Will RM8 work with the older versions of Windows? I am running RM7 on Vista with no problems. Should I stay with 7 or will 8 work? Thanks!

  11. I am disappointed with the lay out of the wall charts, relatives seem to be all over the place. The charts that I have attempted to do have been so hard and time consuming as the people have to be moved to be within the page borders. A few more options would be nice to have.

  13. MAYBE THIS WILL ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS: although I doubt many will read through 58 comments to find this. Many say that it isn’t clear about purchasing or upgrading RM7 now. When I purchased each of my last 4 upgrades, I either received a disk or was able to download the software and install it.

    Sometimes I purchased an upgrade as part of a larger package. For example, I already had the latest version of RM7 but I purchased a package deal that included the printed manual “Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic 7”, the printed manual “Personal Historian 2: The Companion Guide”, and the latest Personal Historian software.

    I DID NOT NEED the latest RM7 software again. However, by purchasing it I received a key that allows me to download and install RM8 when it is finally released. It’s not about the software. It’s all about the key that unlocks the software.

    Whether you purchase the latest version for download or request a CD, either way you get an email that includes the key as well as the name you used. You’ll need this name and key to unlock the software when Version 8 is released.

    All you have to do is wait. There’s no need to install anything you already installed.

    NEXT QUESTION: What if you purchase a copy for someone else. I did this once. The software went to the person I purchased it for but the email with the key came to me as did the name under which I purchased the software.

    Again, I say, you need to save this email in a safe place because you’ll need the name you used plus the key to unlock Version 8. The person to whom you gifted version 7 will not be able to download, install, and unlock RM8 without that name and key.

    That leaves you with 2 choices: 1) You could install the RM7 on the person’s computer and simply not tell them the key, or you could 2) email them the name and key and ask them to not use it more than once. That would allow you to use it when Version 8 is released. They keep the older Version 7, you get the new Version 8. RootsMagic, Inc. copyrights are not violated because you never installed more copies than they allow.

    The RM team allows you to do it anyway you want to get the newest version and it is both legal and ethical so long as you abide by their requests, pay for each purchase (or purchases), and honor their copyright restrictions. They’re really flexible. Just remember how much work they put into producing each new version and make sure you pay them what they require.

    Reply: If you gift RM to someone else they can register it under their own name and email. It will transfer ownership of the key.
    Renee, RootsMagic

  14. I was using RM 4 on my iMac until my Parallels died. Rather than buy a new Parallels, I uninstalled, waiting for RM8.

    Can I just buy the upgrade for $19.95 and receive the RM8 key when released? Or do I have to buy the full price version at $19.95?

    Reply: As a RM4 user you can purchase RM7 at the upgrade price and receive the free RM8 key. RM7 will run on your Mac without Parallels installed, so you don’t need to wait for RM8 to be released to begin using RootsMagic again.
    Renee, RootsMagic

  15. I have used RM7 for two years and my primary concern is that only one active window can be open at a time. Often as I am looking at a downloaded image, in RM7, of a document I want to simultaneously translate its text into a source note, in RM7, to capture details not necessary for a database but for personal use and I can’t.
    My second comment is the image viewer should operate like that in Family History in scrolling, zooming, and quality adjustment.
    Thank you for an opportunity to share my observations.
    L. Van Looveren

  16. I have used rootmagic since version 3 and always have a «little Problem« In Canada and also others countries i suppose, we allow same sex mariage (without personnal opinions) and was not able to enter such.
    Will there be options to register same sex mariage in Roosmagic 8 ??????

    Reply: RootsMagic has supported same-sex relationships since version 4. Just add a spouse and change the sex if needed.
    Renee, RootsMagic

  18. One thing that I hope for – that I don’t get now. When I merge or delete a name the RIN number becomes available but it does not get filled in with a new name like PAF did. So when someone asks me how many names I have in my program I can only tell them I don’t know. So there are numbers out there that are just floating around. Can’t you do something about this???

    Reply: Go to File>Properties to see the number of people in the database.
    Renee, RootsMagic

  19. I’ve tried RM7 as it had a direct import from TMG. I’ve since returned to TMG as it is still superior to RM7, FH, Legacy & FTM even after TMG support ceased 5 years ago. The ability to include witnesses in the same sentences with principals and vice versa is something I use extensively. There is also the matter with some functions only working for the sentence being output and not the other principal. I’m waiting for RM8 to give it another try. Is the direct import feature from TMG still a feature in RM8?

  20. After paying “out the nose” for new FTM programs, I find the 19.95 price I read on one of the comments to be refreshingly inexpensive. Thank you for keeping the prices so low. This will make a great Christmas present for my daughter and I can upgrade to 8 and still not have paid the amount for one FTM program.

  21. I despise updates that are only for the sake of change, without any real solid changes for the better. Will I still be able to use RM7 after RM8 comes out?

    Reply: Yes, older versions will continue to work to a point. If third parties break features no updates will be released to fix them. So that is always a consideration.
    Renee, RootsMagic

Comments are closed.