Beta versions of New FamilySearch utilities starting to appear
David May 13th, 2008
John Finlay, founder of the popular PhpGedview open source web genealogy application, has launched GedLynk, an open source Java based desktop utility to synchronize and merge genealogy data with New FamilySearch (NFS) as well as PhpGedview web sites. It is still in early beta, but it already looks promising. I saw a demonstration of this utility at the NFS API Conference in March 2007, while the GedLynk site has launched this past week (May 8).
Without using a NFS utility, a person has limited options for adding data to New FamilySearch. These include manually adding each individual record using the forms on the web site itself, searching for existing or duplicate data which represent the same individual, or uploading a GEDCOM file with this data included. By synchronizing data using an NFS utility, the selected record in your personal data file will be compared with the data available at NFS. New online information available can be downloaded and while missing online data can be uploaded to NFS. Utilities which can synchronize entire files of data will not be available for some time.
The following individuals and organizations are currently listed as Web Service Affiliates with New FamilySearch, suggesting that they are actively working on products or services which will interface with NFS: FamilyPursuit, Generation Maps, Incline Software (Ancestral Quest), Bungee Labs, Bruce Rogers (Kin2Me), Millennia (Legacy Family Tree), Progeny Software, RootsMagic, US FamilyTree, Ohana Software, World Vital Records / Family Link, One Great Family, nGenisis, LLC, RedBugz Software, Living Genealogy, R.C. Martin, Peter Ivie, US Family Tree, Universital, and Walter Sorenson.
I haven’t heard if any of these companies or individuals are also releasing beta versions of their software, so please post a reply to this post if you happen to know about any beta software that is available which supports the New FamilySearch.
We have a beta version of our New FamilySearch searching utility. Go to http://www.treeseek.com to check it out.
@Matt
Tree Seek looks like a great utility to search multiple sites (powered by Bungee Connect). It is asking for a FamilySearch username and password, but I’m guessing that this is not the current FamilySearch login but New FamilySearch login.
There is a Beta version of Charting Companion that can be downloaded.
If you are interested in trying it, send your name in an email to:
lcampbell [at] progenysoftware [dot] com
We will reply with the location of the download, and an unlock code.
Thank you.
Pierre Cloutier
Progeny Software
Can any LDS Church member get access to NFS? I have LDS relatives complaining that they cannot get access.
@Roland
No, most LDS Church members don’t have access yet. The Family History Department has been slowly rolling out access to each temple district separately. Each temple has to make computer upgrades to work with the new system.
Here is a custom Google map that someone put together to keep track of which areas have access to NFS: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=117993081669345064182.00043eae4063e16fb349f&ll=40.313043,-85.078125&spn=58.78889,119.53125&t=h&z=3&om=1
David,
The link to USFamilyTree should be https://usfamilytree.com.
The third-party products are going to add some great value to the FamilySearch platform. I’m very excited for the products to make it into the market place.
–
Jimmy
@Jimmy
Thanks for the updated link. I fixed the post to reference this URL for USFamilyTree.
I am new here. I have my site on genealogy.