RootsMagic - Family History Software

RootsMagic is a software program for genealogists to use to create their own personal files for their family history findings and trees. I really like this program because it is able to communicate with www.familysearch.org and Tree Share for www.ancestry.com. I like this program too for the similar feel to the old PAF (Personal Ancestral File) program that I was taught on. I also like the program for the fact that it has a program download that is *FREE* with the option to purchase various packages or bundles depending on what features you plan to use.

✍TAKE NOTE: I use the free version and have been for several years and LOVE IT!

You can download RootsMagic Essentials and RootMagic for *FREE* at www.rootsmagic.com. You can also download or order CDs for RootsMagic bundles (accompanying programs) for $30-$75 depending on which bundle you choose. I don't know much about those cause I'm pleased with the basic version that I have.

Let's get started by walking through the downloading process.

Go to www.rootsmagic.com and from the main frame box in the center of the screen you can select either "RootsMagic" (first screen shot below) for free or purchase downoad or "RootsMagic Essentials" (second screen shot below) to download for free.

RootsMagic Purchase download or FREE option

RootsMagic Essentials free download

Once you have the program downloaded, you are ready to create your Family file. We will take a look at that step by step as well.

To create a file, click on the "File" tab and then click on "New".

Creating a new family file

I generally like to create a file name using the surname of the family and I include the month and year that I created it to keep track of my file. I back it up monthly on a flash drive so that if technology fails me, I have a recent source to restore from. But go with what makes sense to you.

Naming your family file and options you can view

At this point in creating your file you can also select the format of your dates (I prefer DD MM YYYY but there are several to choose from in the drop down menu). I also select the "LDS Support", "FamilySearch FamilyTree Support" and "Enable Webhints". The free download doesn't support all of these options but in the event that I upgrade or share the file with someone else, the features will already be selected. Click OK when you are satisfied with your file name and choices.

Now you have three options on how to get started creating your file and - YES - we are going to look at all of them!

MANUAL INPUT - this means that you take each individual in your family tree from whatever source you are getting your information from and adding them...one...by...one. If you know you have one in FamilySearch or Ancestry scroll down and read the next step. this step is a piece of cake! If you don't have a family tree anywhere else on the internet or in electronic format - get typing! Click on the blue square and start adding in the information. I begin with myself and my immediate family and move back each generation and add everyone that I know. It is easiest to start with yourself and what you know and work your way back, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. 

Manual input for family tree

FAMILYSEARCH - if you have a tree on FamilySearch we are going to walk through how to import (or download) it into your family file that you just created. To begin, click on the "FamilySearch" logo on your icon tool bar.

✍TAKE NOTE: If you can't find the button, which mine some how disappeared in the last few minutes, click on "Internet" and select "FamilySearch".

FamilySearch logo

FamilySearch button to connect with the website and gain access to your tree

You will be directed to a sign in screen so you will need to have your user id and login information.

Log in to FamilySearch with your username and password

You can choose at this point to stay logged in to FamilySearch so you don't have to type in your information each time - my personal preference - of you can leave these options blank and log in each time you want to access FamilySearch. Click "Sign In".

FamilySearch Sign in via RootsMagic

Click "Import" at the top of the FamilySearch Central box.

Importing will download your family tree from www.familysearch.org into your RootsMagic file.

💎GENEALOGY GEM: I recommend selecting yourself as the starting person. It gives me a better visual on where everyone I am related to falls in the family tree. If you want to start with someone else in the tree, select the FamilySearch ID and enter it in the box provided.

Families were big and if you are new to genealogy and unsure of how many offspring each family had - go big! I like to go back 15 generations and choose 15 descendants as well. The chances of me missing a child that is in the tree are smaller. If this overwhelms you, choose a smaller number of generations and you can always import more generations later.

Selecting your start person (I recommend starting with yourself) and the number of generations and descendants you would like to download from FamilySearch into your RootsMagic file

A feature that I truly appreciate and love in RootsMagic is how smart it is! If your computer happens to fall asleep during the process of importing or the program is interrupted it knows where it left off! When you click resume or start the import again it will ask if you want to resume from where it left off. Brilliant!!

Once the file has completed importing you can cruise around your family tree and view it in pedigree format or in family groups...but I don't want to get ahead of myself!

Congratulations! You have your family file ready to go! In a future post I will explain how to sync with FamilySearch and see ordinance work and gaps where research needs to be done.
From here you can see who’s work is in progress, who needs more information, who is “matched” to FamilySearch and who has work ready to be done. (LOVE THIS PROGRAM!) 

TREESHARE - a recent addition to RootsMagic is the ability to import your family tree from www.ancestry.com. How great is that?! The steps are similar to FamilySearch but we will walk through it just to be safe.

✍TAKE NOTE: If you can't find the button, click on the carrot at the end of the icon bar and click on "Add Button" and select the TreeShare for Ancestry button.

TreeShare for Ancestry logo

TreeShare from Ancestry allows members to import their tree from the website into RootsMagic

Because www.ancestry.com is a subscription site, you will need to login to access the tree(s) you want to import.

Sign-in for Ancestry to access TreeShare import

Just as with FamilySearch, you can choose to stay logged in to Ancestry via RootsMagic.

Ancestry Sign In allows you the option of remembering password and staying logged in just as with FamilySearch

Click Sign in.

Download and Connect to import your Tree from Ancestry

✍TAKE NOTE: if you have family files in RootsMagic that you would like to contribute and share with www.ancestry.com you can select "Upload and Connect".

Select which tree you would like to import and click "Download Ancestry Tree"

As with downloading any file, this can go at lightning speed and it can go slower than molasses in a snow storm so walk away if you don't like waiting.

Once it is complete your file will be saved to RootsMagic along with any media files that were attached to your tree.

Congratulations! You now have your own personal family history file to help you take the next step in research! YEAH!