Programs to Make Genealogy Books

Programs to Make Genealogy Books ~ Summary Comments

by Ora Flaningam ~ January 13th, 2004

Family Tree Maker, PAF and Gen-Book all have very nice "Genealogy Report" output that can be used as the foundation of a book.

Family Tree Maker has the most elaborate & interesting family charts. PAF has nice enough charts and they are word processor editable. Gen-Book has no chart ability.

Family Tree Maker and PAF have the same redundant sources reports. PAF will allow the final sources output to be edited. Gen-Book allows the source notes to be places In-Line, Foot-Note, or End-Note, and be edited by word processor.

The "Print to Files" of Family Tree Maker gives "PRN" files that are useless. PAF and Gen-Book give files that can be further edited by word processors.

There are ways to get Family Tree Maker to export its test files in a format that can be edited by word processor, (i.e. copy & paste). You just have to look for them.

The multiple "Defaults Lists" screens of Gen-Book are more flexible for getting the text output as you want it than Family Tree Maker or PAF.

The ability of Family Tree Maker 11 & 2005 to make PDF files is unique. The PDF file format allows the recipient of a PDF file to read it without having to have the program that originally generated the file. Both the text and the graphic files appear in a PDF output.

Family Tree Maker's having a unique data file format for each new version can be a problem when sending files to relatives that have different versions than yours. This must be remembered and taken into account.

PAF is a remarkable program for its price ~ FREE download or $5 CD-ROM.

Users of Genealogy Programs should be familiar with GED-Com file output with its ability to share data between programs. They should also be aware of the fact that not all GED-com files are equal.

Other genealogy programs other that Family Tree Maker, PAF, and Gen-Book have the same ability to make "Genealogy Reports" output that can be used as a foundation of a book. However, I am not familiar with them.

The possibility of having more than one genealogy program at hand to use to handle your data output in different way is a thought to keep in mind.

If you are serious about publishing a Family History book, KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN until you really know what you want. You will almost always find that you want to do some final editing of whatever genealogical report your genealogy program gives you.

	Family Tree Maker, PAF and Gen-Book all have very nice "Genealogy Report" output that can be used as the foundation of a book.
	Family Tree Maker has the most elaborate & interesting family charts. PAF has nice enough charts and they are word processor editable. Gen-Book has no chart ability.
	Family Tree Maker and PAF have the same redundant sources reports. PAF will allow the final sources output to be edited. Gen-Book allows the source notes to be places In-Line, Foot-Note, or End-Note, and be edited by word processor.
	The "Print to Files" of Family Tree Maker gives "PRN" files that are useless. PAF and Gen-Book give files that can be further edited by word processors.
	There are ways to get Family Tree Maker to export its test files in a format that can be edited by word processor, (i.e. copy & paste). You just have to look for them.
	The multiple "Defaults Lists" screens of Gen-Book are more flexible for getting the text output as you want it than Family Tree Maker or PAF.
	The ability of Family Tree Maker 11 & 2005 to make PDF files is unique. The PDF file format allows the recipient of a PDF file to read it without having to have the program that originally generated the file. Both the text and the graphic files appear in a PDF output.
	Family Tree Maker's having a unique data file format for each new version can be a problem when sending files to relatives that have different versions than yours. This must be remembered and taken into account.
	PAF is a remarkable program for its price ~ FREE download or $5 CD-ROM.
	Users of Genealogy Programs should be familiar with GED-Com file output with its ability to share data between programs. They should also be aware of the fact that not all GED-com files are equal.
	Other genealogy programs other that Family Tree Maker, PAF, and Gen-Book have the same ability to make "Genealogy Reports" output that can be used as a foundation of a book. However, I am not familiar with them.
	The possibility of having more than one genealogy program at hand to use to handle your data output in different way is a thought to keep in mind.
	If you are serious about publishing a Family History book, KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN until you really know what you want. You will almost always find that you want to do some final editing of whatever genealogical report your genealogy program gives you.