Last week I wrote about using latest versions of The Master Genealogist and Personal Ancestral File on Windows XP. Both worked well although one triggered a false warning message. This week I decided to try Genealogy.com’s latest version of Family Origins.

Family Origins has always been a powerful genealogy program that offers a very nice user interface. Even genealogy novices find the program easy to use, yet the long-time experts appreciate the program’s capabilities to record all the data found in research, along with appropriate source citations. Family Origins also has a wide variety of reports available. For a complete review of Family Origins version 10, read Pam Clark’s article published in the 12 September edition of this newsletter and still available at: www.ancestry.com/library/view/columns/eastman/4550.asp

The installation on Windows XP appeared to operate in exactly the same manner as my earlier installations on Windows 98 and on Windows 2000. Once installed, I fired up the program and used it for some time. In short, it worked perfectly. Here are the various tests that I used:

Create a new database: I created a new Family Origins database, a process that required about five seconds.

Data entry: I added information three people to the database: my father, my mother, and myself. Again, nothing abnormal was noted, and I was able to add these three records easily.

Enter source documentation: Source record information was entered in the same manner as on Windows 98 and Windows 2000, with no problems noted.

Import of a GEDCOM file: I imported a GEDCOM file containing information about more than three thousand individuals. The process was very fast, requiring less than one minute on my system with a 533-MHz Celeron processor and 128 megabytes of RAM memory. Again, nothing abnormal occurred.

Export of a GEDCOM file: Once again, the creation of a new GEDCOM file seemed to be entirely normal. I opened the new file with a competitive genealogy program and spent about two minutes looking at its data. This brief test did not show anything abnormal.

Search for a specific person in the database: Family Origins has a very easy search capability. I went looking for several of my ancestors, and every individual that I searched for was found.

Search for a source citation: I clicked on LISTS and then on SOURCE MANAGER. The searches I performed all worked well.

Attach a picture to a person’s record: I tried to import a GIF format photograph into the Family Origins database but hit the same limitation that I had earlier in Personal Ancestral File: neither program will import GIF images. I found that I had to convert it from GIF format to JPG format. Luckily, this exercise was easy to accomplish since Windows XP includes an excellent "paint" program at no additional charge. This graphics program will accomplish many tasks, including changing from one graphics format to another. I used this program to open the GIF file and convert it to JPG format. I then imported the JPG picture into the Family Origins database with no problem.

Print a pedigree chart, using graphics: Family Origins prints many different reports, including a pedigree chart and a Photo Pedigree Chart. The regular pedigree charts do not contain graphic images. The Photo Pedigree Charts include one picture per person along with the person’s name. I printed a Photo Pedigree Chart that included the photograph mentioned previously. Everything looked normal, the same as a similar printout on Windows 98.

Print a register-format report: Family Origins has an excellent Register Form Report that can create complete genealogy books. It has the capability to include photographs. I selected this report and found that it worked well, the same as on Windows 98 and Windows 2000.

Create a multimedia scrapbook: Same as above: everything worked well.

Generate a Web page in HTML format, suitable for uploading to a personal home page: This is one of Family Origins’ best features, in my opinion. The program generates excellent Web sites; the data is presented in a clear and easy-to-read manner, complete with facts, sources, and photographs. The default colors, fonts, and background are very pleasant to look at although the Family Origins user can modify them in an almost infinite variety of styles. The program will even automatically upload the resultant Web pages to the FamilyOrigins.com Web site. If you use a different Web hosting service, you have to copy the files to that hosting service with whatever tools they recommend. I generated all the required files and then used a Web browser to look at the results as stored on my hard drive. Again, everything worked as I expected.

In short, Family Origins version 10.0 seems to work well on Windows XP. I didn’t test each and every capability since such an exhaustive test would have required many hours. I did, however, test the features that I believe are most important to the majority of genealogists. I was pleased with the results.

The Family Origins Web site at www.familyorigins.com says that the program works with Microsoft Windows 95 or 98. In the past year I have also used Family Origins many times on the Windows 2000 operating system without any problems. I can report this week that the program also seems to work well on Windows XP. While the producers of Family Origins probably will not guarantee compatibility with Windows XP at this time, I would suggest that any Family Origins user thinking of upgrading to Windows XP should not be concerned.

For more information about Family Origins version 10.0, read Pam Clark’s review of the program at www.ancestry.com/library/view/columns/eastman/4550.asp as well as the Family Origins Web sites at: www.formalsoft.com and at www.FamilyOrigins.com.

For more information about Windows XP, look at: www.microsoft.com/windowsxp.

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