RootsMagic is one of those applications that allow keeping track of someone’s genealogy. It has multiple features and, as a result, its interface is rather complex, with lots of different windows. Therefore, it’s easy to get lost when you aren’t familiar enough with the program.
The tool can store varied information about a person and, luckily, it’s flexible enough as to allow adding relationships beyond those found in a nuclear family. For each person, it’s possible to save information related to multiple types of events, such as birth, marriages, divorces, adoptions, death and burial. Moreover, you can also create custom fields. This data can be entered manually, but it can also be copied or merged from other databases. Luckily, the program supports other formats apart from its own, particularly standard genealogy file types. Not only that, it lets you create separate databases for different families.
The tool supports searching online databases, like Ancestry, FamilySearch and MyHeritage. Besides, it can also find information using major search engines. Furthermore, it can use the stored information to create websites or print charts.
All in all, RootsMagic supports building huge family databases. Unfortunately, some of its features cannot be tested without payment. Moreover, the program is difficult to use. Personally, I forgot to add birth data about the people in my family and I couldn’t find a way to add the information at a later time.
v7.0 [Nov 26, 2014]
What's New in RootsMagic 7
These are the highlights of some of the great new features in RootsMagic 7:
WebHints
RootsMagic automatically searches your favorite genealogy records sites including FamilySearch and MyHeritage for possible matches to your data
As matches are found, a light bulb appears next to each person's name
Clicking on the light bulb opens up a web browser with the matching records (some records may require a subscription)
WebHints WebHints WebHints
DataClean
NameClean finds and corrects many common problems in personal names in your file
PlaceClean finds and corrects many common problems in place names in your file
NameClean NameClean PlaceClean PlaceClean
Compare Files
Compare any two RootsMagic files and display their differences
Share data between the compared files with the click of a button
Compare Files
Publish Online
Publish your family information to MyRootsMagic.com
Dynamic, database-driven sites with pedigree, family and individual views for each person
Can include notes, sources, and media for each person
Password protect your site to control access to your family data
See a sample website
Publish Online Sample Website
Import Lists
Like to customize your files? Import lists of fact types, media, places, and more from another RootsMagic file to save time and effort
Import Lists
Backup and Restore with Media
Optionally include your media when you backup or restore your database
Backup and Restore with Media
QuickGroups
See which groups a person belongs to with the click of a mouse
Check and uncheck a person's groups from a single screen
QuickGroups
Drag-and-Drop Media
Drag-and-drop pictures and other files right onto a person's media screen to add them quickly
You'll also enjoy these new features added in RootsMagic 6:
Problem Alerts
An icon next to a person's name on the main screen warns you of a potential error in their data
Find and fix problems with incorrect dates, unusual ages, and missing information
Problem Alerts Problem Alerts
Enhanced Timeline View
Shows a full timeline of the current person's events and those of their parents, siblings, spouses, and children
Shows a graphical timeline of the person's events
Edit events, names, directly from the timeline view (without having to open the edit screen)
Timeline View
CountyCheck Explorer
Lets you look up counties and states (US, Canada, UK, Australia) to view information about them
Access the FamilySearch Wiki page for counties and states
Access an interactive state map showing historical county boundaries
CountyCheck CountyCheck Map
WebTags
Attach links to websites to any person, source, citation, place, or research log item
Instantly jump to a web page tagged to a record
Print a list of WebTags you have added to your database
WebTags Edit WebTags
Find Everywhere
Find every record containing text you enter
Find people, families, events, notes, sources, places, to-do items, research logs, media items, and more
Edit any found record directly from the results screen
Find Everywhere
Enhanced searching and selecting
Search for people by the number of spouses, children, parents, or siblings that they have
Select people based on genetic lines (Y-STR and Mitochondrial)
Select by Number Genetic Options
Enhanced WebSearch
Create a WebTag directly from your search results
Optionally use an external browser for search results
WebSearch Create WebTag
Enhanced Place List
View place detail information directly from the place list
Edit place detail notes, media, etc. directly from the place list
You'll also enjoy these new features added in RootsMagic 5:
Research Manager
Create unlimited research logs to document your work and aid your research
Quickly search for any text in any research log
Research Log
CountyCheck
Automatically checks every county you enter (US, Canada, UK, Australia) to verify that it actually existed at the time of the event
Report gives you a list of all events in counties which didn't exist at the time
Lets you access maps and county histories for the US, Canada, UK, and Australia
CountyCheck CountyCheck Map
Database Tools
Test the integrity of the database file
Re-index the database
Compress deleted records from the database
"On This Day" List
Includes all family events on a date, as well as famous births and deaths and historical events for the day
"Who Was There" List
Shows who in your file was possibly in a given location on a given date
Enhanced People View
Filter to show any group of people
Mall Creeps
