Is this a dead product? I recently read about it somewhere and downloaded the trial version, but both the discussion forums at their Web site and here look abandoned. Does anybody know anything about this? It looks like it could be a nice tool.
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I have used this for several years and still find value in it. I had inquired some time ago about updates and the developer/owner said that updates happen when we reload the data? Not really sure about that, but for the 1 time cost - to me has a lot of value.
I would encourage that tool continue to be enhanced. One part I like is that if you are going to a genealogy library, it gives you hints as to where to research that is unique to your database and the library.
Steve Reed
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I'm still undecided about whether to buy it or not. I can see value in it but I'd really like more understanding of how it makes the decisions it does. I've exchanged a couple of emails with the developer and he seems a bit abrasive and snarky when questioned about the software's functionality. For example, I couldn't get a straight answer as to why the software estimated that one of my family members died in 1949 based on two pieces of data: that he was born in 1894 and resided in a particular place in 1900. By what convoluted logic does that indicate in any way that he probably died in 1949? I also notice that it also tends to tell me to search for WWII draft registrations for people who would've been in their 50s and 60s at the time. Again, not a very logical piece of advice. These are the types of things that make me hesitant about spending any money on it, especially if the revenue is not going to fund any further development. I don't even know how accurate its sources are or when the last time any update was made. I don't know. I like the idea very much but I just haven't been hit with the 'wow' factor yet.
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The software is not for everyone. Like other software tools, such as Ancestry, it can make recommendations that dont make sense. One thing I like about it is that it does advise to look into other areas both online and offline that can be taken to a library for research.
I admit I dont use all parts of the tool, maybe because I dont understand them, but the parts I do use, have provided some results that might have been difficult with out it.
Good luck.
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Would you be willing to give some examples of how you have used the tool? There is a lot of data thrown at you at once and I'm not really quite sure of what approach to take. I will probably buy it after experimenting with it for a few more days. I appreciate the effort that went into making something like this.
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"WWII draft registrations for people who would've been in their 50s and 60s"
That's probably the "Old Man's" Draft in the early 1940's. Off the top of my head... the age range on that one was like males age 45 to 65. Not sure a link is allowed here, but if you google "Old Man's Draft" you'll find it easily.
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It can be a little intimidating if you have a large file. When you start out and connect your database - I use FTM, it does an initial analysis and comes up with a "ToDo" list. In my case, there are over 50,000 suggestions. the first thing I do is to narrow the list down using "Research To Do List" drop down list. Under this you can narrow it down by Online Suggestions, Online that you have a subscription to, search by a particular name or family name, or the one I use the most is the custom filter that gives you a lot of flexibility.
Example is that I look at Online suggestions for my Direct Ancestors. You can declare yourself or someone else as Direct Ancestor Root under "My Genealogy File" tab on the home page of ToDo List. GenSmarts also keeps track of who you have researched so you can declare to look only for those who you have not researched before.
Another use is if you go to the "Research Locations" tab at it gives you a list of research libraries. If you click on a particular library it will give you a list of possible people to research, then if you click on that person, on the right it will give you the specific reference book, etc, including call number for that person. while it might not have your relative in that volume, it can help you focus your library research.
The nice thing, is that the tool does not require you to be online if you take your laptop to the library, it just looks at your database when you start the tool. It is also dynamic in that if you make any changes to your data - the next time you open the tool, it reanalyzes the data.
the third feature I sometimes use is the "Data Cleanup". It is useful, but takes a little getting used to.
Check it out, and let me know if you have any other questions.
I also agree with you that the developer can be a little testy - but I like the tool.
steve reed
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Thanks for all the input! It sounds really good. I've been testing it with just an exported GED from Ancestry.com. But now that I'm back at home I'm going to try having GenSmarts work directly with my Family Tree Maker 2014 file. Unfortunately, in attempting to do so I ran into an error of some sort that won't let me open and analyze the file with GenSmarts. I've emailed support and hope that he can help me. Did you have any trouble getting it to work with FTM? The error has something to do with the database access, as follows:
Error opening file FTM=[22.0.0.1260- (VDBException) [Error code: 204 Newer VistaDB database format detected. Update the VistaDB engine before proceeding. Error code: 176 Incorrect decryption key entered Error code: 104 Database connection error
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Works ok for me with my 2014. GenSmarts.com has a download on their website for FTM2014, so maybe you need to apply an update or something.
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Yeah, I found that update but it only works for the licensed version. The developer said that he is hoping to have a fixed trial version out next week. The other option, I suppose, is that I just go ahead and buy the software.
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