A few days ago I went to a genealogy seminar. A lot of the people there were using RootsMagic. It seems to be better then the software I have been using for years. I had a few questions. They could answer some of them but here are some they couldn’t answer:
#1 If I want to use RootsMagic on two different computers, do I have to buy it twice? I ask because I now use my program on a desktop where I do all the work. I also have a tablet computer that I take to family events like reunions, weddings, funerals, etc. They are great places to gather more information. I am aware that I can use it in read only mode but that won’t let me add new information.
#2 For a given person, can I have multiple images shown or slide through?
#3 If I transfer my data base (535 persons) can I also transfer the images and maintain the links?
YOUR two different computers will be fine for that same product registration key
There’s a media library that can be loaded with images and attached to people/events/sources/places/etc. BUT the reports/charts are “templated” to provide their designated function instead of being fancy photo-laden free-form creations. So, a single image is an option in some cases. There’s a Publish system, that allows for putting together scrapbooks assembled from the various reports, charts and lists that can be combined with image printouts to approximate a book that can be saved to .DOCX format for further editing/publishing.
Via Ancestry TreeShare, GEDCOM or if your database is from Family Tree Maker, The Master Genealogist or PAF
The pathname would have to identical for the links to be maintained. You could use Search and Replace to fix just the part of the pathname that is different. If you are restoring a backup with media included it would automatically fix the links. You have to careful restoring if you already had media on the other computer because it would put it in the same media folder with a (2), (3) on the filename. Before a restore just rename the media folder so it creates a new one to put the media in.
Just a “heads-up” that RootsMagic Essentials is FREE and gives a fair taste of some of the features. If you download, install and try it… You can EASILY activate that copy later if/when you buy a product key. Try RootsMagic
Folks, thank you! Things are looking good. I installed the essentials version, exported the 573 person file from the other program as a GED file and imported it into RootsMagic. They all seem to be there in the Pedigree.
Now, here is what I couldn’t check out. In my other program I can have many images associated with a person. Here is a crop of the area equivalent to the area in the upper right of RootsMagic where the image appears.
See the <,> along the sides of the image. I can use them to move between the images I have associated with this person.
Unfortunately the essentials version does not include the Media album panel. If I buy the full version, will I be able to move between the many images that I have associated with the persons? I assume those associations survived the Export>Import process.
Note, I will use the same image (media) folder(s) for both programs so I shouldn’t run into any broken links.
You’ll be able to move through thumbnails of your actual media items that RootsMagic stores in the database alongside their full filepath (at the time they were added). This channel video is old, but generally covers the individual’s media approach. I’m sure the other more recent videos have some mentions of the overall media capability: The New Media Album in RootsMagic 9
I note the response to the two computers question relates to licensing but I have been trying to locate information on how the RM software works on two computers when using the TreeShare feature. I do all my work on Ancestry, but have been trying to learn how to use RM. I have updated my tree in Ancestry substantially since my last back up file in December 2025. I am working on two or more computers most of the time. The last computer I worked on the RM file was a Mac. I now have a new PC laptop. My RM default folder is on a Drop box folder that I have access to across all devices (not local drive). I’ve opened up the most recent RM file from that folder which is dated December 25. I’ve clicked the Ancestry button and the sync has taken place. I am then presented with a screen which appears to be all the changes I have made in the Ancestry file. My Questions are:
Do I have to manually accept every new change I have made (e.g. added children to a person seems to require me to manually click “add new person in RM”) or is there some way to bulk accept all new people and only approve the modification of data (like changing a date, for example).
If I leave the Tree Share window mid process of comparison (by simply clicking “close”, will I be able to come back to it later to finish this enormous task of manual approvals?
How does RM handle the RM file across devices? Do I have to save the file to the dropbox folder before moving to another computer and then open the newly saved file on each new computer following the process above?
Lastly, somewhat unrelated to this thread but I have had no response to my support email, I am having trouble using roots magic on my iPad because it wont complete the process as per the instructions described in the user manual. Who can I contact or where can I raise a support ticket for this please?
Well, I do most of my stuff on a desktop but travel with a tablet. I just installed RM on the desktop and exported a GED file from the program I was using and imported it into RM on the desktop. I emailed the GED to myself and saved it on the tablet. I installed RM on the tablet and imported the GED.
It seems that everything worked. I have 318 images (pictures) and the links were maintained.
I am not really familiar with TreeShare (don’t use it), BUT am wondering why, instead of opening an old database file (from before your many updates at Ancestry) that You don’t instead:
just download your fully-updated Ancestry Tree into a fresh new database on that new PC (instead of have to confirm all those changes)
or make a copy of that presumably “synched” .RMTREE database on your Mac and open that copy on the new PC and run Tools>Database Tools to change the Mac-collation sequence to a Windows-collation sequence and it will be synched to Ancestry and all up-to-date?
there is no bulk update, so yes to acknowledging each individual separately
don’t know about the finish later options, but presume it is likely iterative or changes are very quickly regenerated
Everybody here (except username rzamor1) are just program users. Searching the forum (magnifying glass top right of forums) will definitely yield some discussions about how DropBox can be successfully used to “iPad-ify” your database.
Turn off Dropbox sync while you work in RM so no data corruption occurs.
1 - since your database is several months out of data, you may just want to use TreeShare and download a current database. Otherwise it is a manual change (no bulk). Do a Backup first.
2- Yes, once you do an update you can move on. Click on the “Show Only Changes” to help you.
3 - since your database is already in Dropbox, no need to save it there. You probably don’t want to be using 2 different devices at the same time to edit. Meaning don’t have 2 people working on it at the same time.
I just replied to your support ticket this morning on FamilySearch. We are closed over the weekend. The ticket prior to that was in July 2024 on the Ancestry login. The agent answered that 2 days later, also on a Monday. I didn’t see any tickets on the RM app for iOS, though technically a free app and we usually don’t provide support on it.
