Family Historian 7 is a comprehensive genealogy application designed for researchers who demand precision and flexibility when documenting their ancestry. Unlike many family tree builders that force users into a strict lineal workflow, this software introduces a unique source-driven data entry method, allowing you to record information directly from historical documents like census records or marriage certificates. This approach mirrors the actual research process, ensuring that every fact in your tree is grounded in evidence while keeping your database organized and searchable.
Key Features
- Source-Driven Data Entry: Utilizes intelligent Data Entry Assistants to capture details directly from records and citations, automatically creating the necessary facts and links to individuals without manual repetition.
- Interactive Smart Trees: Enables you to browse, add, and modify records directly from the diagram view, with specialized charts like the "All Relatives" diagram that displays everyone connected to a root person, including indirect relations.
- Integrated Word Processing: Features a full-featured text editor for adding rich formatting, tables, and web links to your research notes and source transcriptions, ensuring your family stories are as detailed as the data behind them.
- Automatic Internet Data Matching: Runs in the background to find potential matches for your ancestors in major online databases like Findmypast and MyHeritage, providing on-screen hints to help expand your research.
- Native GEDCOM Support: Stores your family tree data directly in the industry-standard GEDCOM format rather than a proprietary file type, ensuring maximum compatibility and easy data transfer between different genealogy tools.
- Dynamic Mapping Tools: visualizing your ancestors' movements over time with a dedicated Map Window that geocodes locations and plots life events on interactive maps, helping you spot migration patterns.
Use Cases
This software is ideal for dedicated family historians and professional genealogists who require rigorous citation management and want to produce high-quality narrative reports or books. It also serves users migrating from discontinued tools like Legacy Family Tree, offering specific import capabilities to preserve existing research investments on Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8 systems.
Family Historian distinguishes itself by combining the depth of a database manager with the visual appeal of highly customizable charts, making it a reliable choice for anyone serious about preserving their heritage for future generations.
Version 7.0.24.1 — October 2024
- Enhanced the Direct Import from Legacy feature to include medical notes and research notes for individuals.
- Resolved an issue during Legacy import where alternative names were occasionally excluded.
- Expanded source citation imports from Legacy to cover citations for names, marriage events, and record-level details.
- Adjusted the handling of Legacy source citation notes and surety levels to align better with standard GEDCOM interpretation.
- Fixed a display bug in "All Relatives" diagrams that could cause boxes to be positioned incorrectly.
- Corrected an issue where reports would be truncated if they contained missing or corrupt image files.
- Added a new warning when labels or expressions in the Individual Summary Report or Family Group Sheet exceed supported lengths.
- Rectified display errors in the Media Report affecting the visibility of Title, Format, and File fields.
