What now?

I wasn't sure where I wanted to go next. Do I start with researching or database. I've decided a database maybe the best choice. Why? Why not have somewhere to enter the information before you have some much information that it would take a long time to enter?



When talking about a database and genealogy, you may wonder why you might need this. Basically, it is where you can keep the information together. It is especially useful to when sharing with others. In sharing, you want to be able to create and add gedcoms.



What is a gedcom? Well, I think Cyndi says it best, but its a in short a way to share information in a generic way. Below is a link to Cyndi's List for information on gedcoms and also on different gedcom programs, including some free ones.



http://www.cyndislist.com/gedcom.htm



When you talk about purchased programs, one is probably best know. That is Family Treemaker. Family Treemaker is a product of ancestry.com. It runs $39.95. This isn't the program I use, so I can't tell you much about it.



http://store.ancestry.com/ProductDetail.aspx?P=mfsku4751(shops)



What I use is RootsMagic. I have use it for many years. In fact, I basically used this product before it was RootsMagic. If I remember correctly, the makers of it had it under the name of FamilyOrigins. When FamilyOrigins wasn't available, I temporarily moved to another product before finding RootsMagic. It runs $29.95. I think it has all the necessary features and is still fairly user friendly (their last big update I bought had numerous changes that I'm not used to).



http://www.rootsmagic.com/RootsMagic/

Once you have a gedcom, you can share your information in many ways. You can email your gedcom to others. There are several online locations that you can upload your gedcom or you can develop your own website.

When entering the information, you will want to add the sources. This is not only to give credit where credit is due, but also someone else (or even you) begins to question information, you know where you found the information in order rate its reliability (in fact my program allows you to rate the reliability of sources when you enter them).

All and all, a good database is necessary in order to keep your research organized and make receiving and sharing information easier.