Comments on: RootsMagic 4 Unwrapped – Alternate names

By: Barbara Martin

Barbara Martin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:57:41 +0000

Guess I am old fashioned. With the exception of Family Search I really don’t want my genealogy program going anywhere to find my relatives. That is my job. It is hard enough to dig down to the REAL person that belongs with my data without my program snooping around too. I think it will introduce too many errors, people who really don’t fit but just seem to.

By: betty stout

betty stout — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:05:00 +0000

I am a retired librarian. You need to use some see and see also devices. an example is the way the names were spelled differntly according to the family. I put the surname I use in surname and on suffix line use see or see also. in
body of record use the otehr names that are referred to for this person and his family. If you are interested would be glad to explain further.

By: David

David — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:24:07 +0000

From what I’ve see just so far on the blog, RM4 looks terrific. Keep up the great improvements!

Have any of these genealogy software programs considered “printing” or creating a virtual wall chart of the family tree that can then be browsed with the cursor in a similar manner to the way one moves around a map, such as mapquest of google maps, etc. This would be a much more pleasant experience than the current process of following arrows and either side of the family tree where bofore very long it’s easy to become totally lost! – the solution I then resort to is to go to Find and locate an individual with whom I’m more familiar and start over. Of course, I know we can print a hard copy to do this, but I don’t like dealing with all that paper, and reprinting every time I make significant changes. Just wondering.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:15:03 +0000

Alternate names is a great idea. Great for “married” names, adoptees, and names of folks who changed (Americanized) names after coming to the US. I’m sure I’ll find more occasions to use this feature.

By: Ed Quade

Ed Quade — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:08:03 +0000

I think the addition of alternate names to the index is fantastic. But the wants of some of us are never satisfied. So a couple of thoughts or ideas that would enhance the name index beyond what the alternate names will do: 1. A check box to “Sort by soundex” to bring together or group the different spellings of names that sound the same. 2. Another check box for “Show married names” to dynamically expand the index with the Surname of spouse(s).

By: Penny Simms

Penny Simms — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:55:59 +0000

I’ve been a user from Family Origins to Roots Magic and just now using the alternate name feature. Family members get so caught up with the spelling of the name so I am not allowed to change names, but explaining why a name was spelled differently makes a lot of sense. And now with the ability to search for the alternate spelling makes a lot of sense. I use it especially when differnt branches of the family seem to change the spelling of the name.

By: Jon Oddvar Sellereite

Jon Oddvar Sellereite — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:34:54 +0000

Very welcomed to be able to show alternate names, but still I feel it is more important to have the option to order names by given names. Will this be possible in RM4? Maybe I sound very greedy, but I feel this ordering should be expected in any genealogy software. Rootsmagic is anyway the greatest genealogy software in market.

By: John James

John James — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:49:07 +0000

Bruce, I’m hoping you are not running out of steam with the last two revelations, I might be a greedy little boy but I am hoping there are a few biggies to come, just a matter of when eh!

I liked the idea of quickening the pace, I am getting to the stage where I can’t wait to get working with that People Tab.

By: Bruce Buzbee

Bruce Buzbee — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:24:39 +0000

David, Yes.

By: David Potter

David Potter — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:44:17 +0000

Hi Bruce
You’re certainly building up to a grand finale with all the good stuff on offer in RM4.

I have a question for you, I use the UK version of RM3, will the release of RM4 cater for us Brits also?

Kind regards

David