The Master Genealogist is a career genealogist’s tool offering more built-in functions and links to online sources than other genealogy software. The layout is intuitive and there are plenty of useful icons, but be prepared to learn the technical language of genealogy and be thoroughly comfortable with manipulating multiple databases. If you’re tackling family history with the discipline of a statistician, The Master Genealogist is your genealogy software.

The Master Genealogist genealogy software is designed to manage volumes of research data, photos, and sources. As you enter family members, you can assign tags to each. In other genealogy software these are facts or events. You’ll find over 100 Source Types to choose and edit.

Once you have entered the information you have, the real work begins. Look under Web, Other Sites and The Master Genealogist genealogy software links to nine research sites.

Over time, add your own to this list. The Master Genealogist genealogy software does not have an integrated database like some of the other genealogy software.

Customize searches within your tree by using a variety of filters. Picklist is the quick search method for finding a specified person and Project Explorer will perform more complex searches for groups of people.

See your ancestors in the context of history. The Master Genealogist genealogy software includes a grab bag of historical events contributed by users. Overlay Cheyenne History, Composers from Mediaeval to Modern and World-Wide Epidemics. You can edit any of the timelines and add your own. It can be really fascinating to see your family’s important events right alongside the world’s.

This is a complex program, which relies on outdated design. Simple modifications like using conversational labels and language, and providing preview narratives in source code edits rather than the computer coding, would make The Master Genealogist much easier to use without sacrificing its power.

The Master Genealogist genealogy software has one of the most extensive report menus available. Experts will be happy to see Ahnentafel charts, Kinship Reports, Fan Charts and all of the standard reports and charts. The Book Manager will generate a compilation of specific reports. Output is limited: printer or save to disk.

One pretty cool bonus feature in this genealogy software was a comparison tool. You can run a statistical report to compare any group within your family to another group, males versus females or one family to another. You’ll see average age at first marriage, first and last child, and death. It’s pretty interesting how things change over time.

The Master Genealogist genealogy software includes an extensive help section searchable by topic and word. It is as technical as the program. You’ll also find Tips and Hints, a link to an online guided tour and FAQs. Technical support is available online through email or telephone.