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Genealogy Timeline software is reported to be the easiest way to the merge
historical events with the personal events of your ancestors. The
Program Guide, adequately, yet succinctly, walks you through the main areas
available. The program is a database that contains three major functions
- the Timeline, the Library Log and Reports.
The Genealogy Timeline complements your current genealogy
software. The purpose and function of these two programs (your
current genealogy software and The Genealogy Timeline software) are distinctly
different. The Genealogy Timeline traces your ancestors in the context
of time. It was not designed, nor does it pretend to organize your ancestors
in trees or outlines as you current genealogy software most probably does.
The Genealogy Timeline is a database application developed in the Microsoft
Office 2000 environment and runs on Microsoft Access 2000. When you install
The Genealogy Timeline, you receive a "Runtime" version of Access 2000
along with its associated Microsoft Office components. There is little
need to know how to use Access 2000 when using The Genealogy Timeline and
you will probably not even notice it is there. When you open The Genealogy
Timeline, screens automatically open to where you need to be and everything
is menu driven. When you exit The Genealogy Timeline, you will automatically
return to your desktop.
Program Guide
A 50 page Program Guide (users manual), written for the non-computer
user is included. The writer is kind and assumes you have just acquired
your "First" computer. Although some familiarity is assumed, the writer
tries to "just speak English," not computer. Refreshing! However, there
are tips to setting up the data you have that the user should read First.
For example, planning is the Key to Success. Before you start to enter
information in the Timeline, take some time to think about how you want
to organize your information. Each field in the Timeline has a corresponding
Report and how you enter information, affects your Reports. Points to consider
will have been included, along with some suggestions.
Naturally, everyone wants to jump right in there and start using the
new software. You can do that with The Genealogy Timeline. It is specifically
designed to be so user friendly that you need only minimal instruction
on how to use it.
I do recommend that everyone, new and experienced user alike, read through
the Users' Guide. It is intended to be helpful and informative. While the
program itself is easy to use, it is intended to help you organize vast
amounts of genealogical and historical information. The organizational
concepts described in the Guide are intended to assist you in attaining
this goal.
The Timeline
This feature is where you will record information concerning either
a personal or an Historical Event. (Over 300 Historical Events are included
in The Genealogy Timeline. They are provided to help give you ideas of
the types of things that can be included with your own family's history.
You can add to the Events listing, or you can delete any or all of them
if you want.) When you enter an Event into the Timeline, you will be asked
to answer the questions - who, what, when and where - about the Event.
Then there is a Memo field where you can describe the Event using as much
or as little detail as you want.
Library Log
Wouldn't it be nice to have a concise list of the sources that have
been reviewed? The Library Log provides a complete SYSTEM that, when
used, will keep you organized from beginning to end. It provides a concise
list of the sources you have already reviewed for reference when you are
researching in the field. In addition, the Library Log will help you organize
your files, enabling you to know where each of your documents are stored.
The Library Log System has been developed by the writer of "The Guide,"
over the past couple of years, based on numerous trips to various libraries,
archives and courthouses. This works especially well when more that one
person is working on gathering data.
Reports
Much of the information you enter is selected from "Lists." This eliminates
re-keying information and reduces the amount of time it takes to record
your information. And, there are over 60 standard Reports, designed to
extract your family's information in a variety of ways. These reports provide
comprehensive timelines, information on the Lists used by various fields,
document filing aids, indexes, a bibliography, and various ways to extract
your Timeline information for analysis purposes.
Reports are divided into categories. Select a category and the List
of Reports will change to reflect the Reports included in each category.
The description below assumes you have at least entered the Sources
you have already collected into the Library Log - even if you have not
had the time to do your Timeline entries:
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Preparing for a Library Trip
-
In order to know what you have already reviewed, print the Report:
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Library Log - List of Titles
You can print the Report with all Titles, or if you will be working
on records from a specific State, print the Report by the selected state.
-
Print several copies of the Report:
-
Blank Library Log
This will be used to log in the documents you review on your trip.
-
While at the Library
-
Refer to the Library Log - List of Titles as you gather your materials.
This will prevent you from reviewing the documents you have already looked
at on previous trips.
-
As you review documents at the library, log them in on the Blank Library
Log indicating whether you made copies, made notes, or whether no information
was found.
-
When making your copies, it is recommended to make a copy of the cover
page and to note the library name and date on this cover page. If the call
number is not on this cover page, you may want to include this information
also.
-
When you Return Home
The first thing you want to do is bundle your information together
by day. Pocket file folders are excellent for this as they secure all your
day's documents and you can label the front with the library name and the
date you collected the information. Be sure and include that day's Log
in the folder. Note: If you are on an extended trip and spend several days
in libraries, make a separate folder for each day.
System requirements
To use The Genealogy Timeline, you will need a PC or notebook computer:
With Pentium 75 MHz or higher processor; Windows 95 or Windows 98; CD-ROM
drive; VGA or higher resolution monitor (Super VGA recommended); 24 MB
of RAM; Maximum of 150 MB of hard disk space. (Less depending on
your computer's current configuration.)
| Note: |
These system requirements are the same as those
needed to run Microsoft Office or Microsoft Access 2000. The Runtime version
of Access 2000 includes many of the features in the Microsoft Office environment,
including Internet Explorer 5.0. |
Also, The Genealogy Timeline uses 24-bit color. And, it is recommended
that you create a "Shortcut" on your desktop to automatically open The
Genealogy Timeline.
Comments
If you want a timeline of the genealogical information you have, this
program should do the job nicely. If you want to build "trees," you will
have to use another program. If you want both, it requires entering
the information twice. Seem to me that the smart thing would be
to combine both capabilities in one program, or design each program so
that information can be "shared." Guess that is why I just do reviews —
I am not smart enough to do the job and reap the potential rewards! Maybe
someone out there can do the job and be "rewarded."
Bill
Klutz does consulting work, primarily in the areas of Management and Computer
Applications/Hardware/Software. |
