MacFamilyTree
The only program in this round-up that’s not available for Windows, MacFamilyTree threatens to be the best of them all
User Interface
MacFamilyTree wins hands down for its logical, easy-to-navigate interface, with everything clearly labelled and a series of vertical collapsible sidebars serving as an effective form of breadcrumbs for navigating the program. It’s clean and uncluttered, and jumping between sections, never mind adding and editing information, is as painless as it could possibly be.
Media Management
Photos and other images can be attached to the usual elements, and managed from the delightful Media index, which provides easily navigable thumbnails organised by person, family or place. Tagging faces works seamlessly, and the program even features several photoenhancement tools, including colouring tools for monochrome snaps. Better still, these are nondestructive, so you can easily undo any unwanted changes.
Charts And Reports
MacFamilyTree overhauled its charting and reporting tools for version 9, making them snappier and more responsive to user tweaks. You have a choice of 15 chart types, 11 reports, 13 lists and a publishing section for both creating books and uploading your site to the web using MacFamilyTree’s own free hosting service. Everything is customisable – almost infinitely so in the case of charts and reports, but you shouldn’t need to perform much surgery to get results that are pleasing to the eye.
Mapping Tools
MacFamilyTree boasts a places index with search tool and map to help pinpoint geocoordinates, in addition to two interesting views: a globe pinpointing the events of selected relations, plus statistic maps that enable you to compare interesting trivia like average age or name distribution. You can also find (and merge) duplicate or similar place names.
Online And Mobile Integration
MacFamilyTree’s integration with FamilySearch is best in class by some distance. It proactively
‘Integration with FamilySearch is best in class by some distance’
searches for potential matches with everyone in your tree, then displays the results in such a way as to make it easy to review and match individuals (and their immediate family) quickly. Sadly, that’s it as far as integration with other sites go, other than a cursory web-search tool.
Access on your mobile device will cost you an eye-watering £29 for the MobileFamilyTree app (iOS only), but your money buys you an app that’s practically identical to MacFamilyTree, so it’s both familiar and fully featured. Thanks to recent improvements to the program’s CloudSync feature, it’s quick and easy keeping your research in sync between desktop and mobile too.