Reunion Limitations in "Genealogical Computing" Magazine

[Pete Cook]

The latest issue of "Genealogical Computing," Jan/Feb/Mar 2006, attempts to show the specs for all genealogy software. It lists the following for Reunion 8.04, even though 8.06 has been out for almost a year now. (My references to the Manual are added in parens.)

-- 64,000 characters of notes per person and 5 user-definable fields. ("New Features in Reunion 5" added 64,000 characters, 100 user-defined notes fields.)

-- 16 date formats. ("Dates" lists 16 ways to display a date, but "New Features in Reunion 5" added custom dates.)

-- 30,000 individuals per family file in Reunion, 250,000 in Family Tree Maker 2006. ("Limits and Capabilities" says unlimited.)

-- 20 children per couple in Reunion, 99 in FTM. ("New Features in Reunion 5" added 50 children per couple. "New Features in Reunion 6 says for more than 20 children, a pop-up menu appears.)

-- 26 spouses per individual in Reunion, 99 in FTM. ("New Features in Reunion 5" added 50 spouses per person.)

-- Graphic tree charts up to 36 x 36 inches, up to 99 generations. ("New Features in Reunion 5" added unlimited dimensions and 99 generations.)

It looks like they are using old specs. Perhaps Leister should send a letter to the editor, correcting these misconceptions...

[David G. Kanter]

Originally Posted by Pete Cook

The latest issue of "Genealogical Computing," Jan/Feb/Mar 2006, attempts to show the specs for all genealogy software. It lists the following for Reunion 8.04, even though 8.06 has been out for almost a year now. . .It looks like they are using old specs. Perhaps Leister should send a letter to the editor, correcting these misconceptions...

As a fanatical supporter of Reunion—because it's so damn good and makes my genealogical efforts so much more efficient & productive than any other software I've tried—misinformation like that "makes my blood boil". Beyond anything that the Leister folks can do, I feel that if the subscribers would gang up on the publisher with Letters to the Editor that set the record straight, that's likely to have the best effect.

A Web search revealed, if I found the publication to which Pete refers, "Genealogical Computing" is a product of Ancestry.com. I went to their Web site and found a page offering a subscription to that magazine, but the page that link took me to didn't include that magazine. I just called Ancestry.com (1-800-262-3787) and was told they no longer offer subscriptions, are only fulfilling the existing subscriptions, don't sell single copies, and don't know why there's any mention of subscriptions still on the Web site.

So, if I've gotten the correct information on the publisher and the magazine status, I'd urge all those with subscriptions to the magazine or to any of the Ancestry.com services, to let Ancestry.com know of their displeasure with such erroneous information having been published and "demand" a correction be published. (If I were a subscriber to the magazine or to any Ancestry.com service, I'd willingly do that, but as I am not, I can only urge those who are to do so.)

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Pete Cook

It looks like they are using old specs...

Although I wasn't able to see the latest article, the Reunion specs in their directory from 2004 seem to be nearly identical to what you've described above. Many of the items listed seem to refer to limitations in Reunion 4 or even version 3 from over 10 years ago.

It's instructive to note that the parent company of Family Tree Maker also owns Ancestry.com & Genealogy.com among other sites. In fact, their Genealogical Computing magazine ran a review of Reunion 7 back in 2001...

http://www.ancestry.com/learn/librar...x?article=4400 & http://www.leisterpro.com/doc/Reviews/2001/GC0101.html

I wonder if they read their own magazine.

[Pete Cook]

Originally Posted by David G. Kanter

...I'd urge all those with subscriptions to the magazine or to any of the Ancestry.com services, to let Ancestry.com know...

David, I have sent an email to the editor of Genealogical Computing magazine, saying "you have made this program look far inferior to Family Tree Maker." The address is:

editorgc@ancestry.com

The Executive Editor is Loretto Dennis Szucs (co-editor of the book The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, published by Ancestry).

The Managing Editor is Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens, CGRS, CGL (she writes the editorial page of the magazine).

[WilliamTaber]

Originally Posted by David G. Kanter

A Web search revealed, if I found the publication to which Pete refers, "Genealogical Computing" is a product of Ancestry.com. I went to their Web site and found a page offering a subscription to that magazine, but the page that link took me to didn't include that magazine. I just called Ancestry.com (1-800-262-3787) and was told they no longer offer subscriptions, are only fulfilling the existing subscriptions, don't sell single copies, and don't know why there's any mention of subscriptions still on the Web site.

David,
You've done your research and revealed the truth...this magazine is on the way out due to rapidly declining subscriptions. And as a result, they have little incentive to do the research they SHOULD be doing to write a proper article. We can be somewhat content in knowing that very few subscribers are left to read the shoddy work of this magazine.

[David G. Kanter]

Originally Posted by WilliamTaber

We can be somewhat content in knowing that very few subscribers are left to read the shoddy work of this magazine.

True, but I gather this was not the last issue, so some subscriber trying to get a "Correction" or "Letter to the Editor" published is still worthwhile—not to mention subscribers to Ancestry.com services still having a "voice" to that company. Ancestry.com shouldn't be let off the hook just because this most-recent action on their part is in a dying "service". Perhaps prodding them over what you properly characterize as shoddy work will have some influence over how much effort they put into getting their next "service" correct. (Just my 2¢ worth.)

[Bob White]

Originally Posted by WilliamTaber

David,
You've done your research and revealed the truth...this magazine is on the way out due to rapidly declining subscriptions. And as a result, they have little incentive to do the research they SHOULD be doing to write a proper article. We can be somewhat content in knowing that very few subscribers are left to read the shoddy work of this magazine.

It's always sad to see something good go bad --- whether it's a magazine, a football team or a favorite restaurant. GC has been around for a long time; I have a Volume 11 issue from 1991. I quit subscribing to it in the late 1990's due to the writing quality going downhill. I don't know exactly when Ancestry bought GC. And, gentle people, way back then, it was very friendly to Mac's!

[taxed.genie]

I have been a subscriber to "Genealogical Computing" for many years. In 2005 they had a similar (remarkably similar !!) article with all the software reviews summarized. As was noted, they are part of Ancestry which sells Family Tree Maker. The reviews in both issues for Family Tree Maker and Reunion are 'dated' as has been noted in regards to Reunion. Surprisingly, the Family Tree Maker review has only one sentence added, everything else is the same. I compared several other items and they all have similar minimal updates in the current article. I am not familiar with the author, but the article is likely due for a really big update.
I also checked the website to subscribe to "Ancestry" and "Genealogical Computing". The results were the same, it sent me to the Ancestry shops, but no magazine subscription.

I subscribed to 4 gen magazines and find Genealogical Computing to be the favorite. There are almost no advertisements, and, more importantly, the articles are more 'cutting edge'. They also have a Mac section is most every issue now, thanks to Laura Prescott, who writes quality articles for them. I certainly hope they will continue to publish this magazine. I think all gen magazine publishers are having a hard time, with production costs and mail costs increasing. (P.S. - I don't work for any Gen company or know of the people who do work at them.)

[juadro]

Originally Posted by Pete Cook

The address is:

editorgc@ancestry.com

Since you made the mailto link so available, I sent my 2¢, too.

[Pete Cook]

Just spoke with Ancestry.com, to upgrade to their World Deluxe membership. Asked them not to renew my subscription to Genealogical Computing. They said current subscriptions are being allowed to expire and won't be renewed, because the magazine will cease production at the end of this year. Similar content will be added to Ancestry magazine instead.