Is there a book that goes along with RootsMagic8 or how can I get LOTS of help learning the new program?
No, no book yet! I don’t know if there is plans for a book however I wouldn’t expect it for sometime yet as it is not likely to appear before they get all the core bits working in RM8.
It might be worth watching the webinars https://www.rootsmagic.com/webinars/. They should give you an overview of how to use it, followed by more detail on the various major aspects of the program.
Along with watching the webinairs (as JP1 suggested) there’s also the Wiki documentation. If you go to the Home tab in RM8, the link is under the “Help and Support” section (although the only downside is that internet access is required). Once you’re on the Wiki simply navigate to the section that you need assistance with.
And you can always ask questions here - there’s lots of helpful and good minded souls who know their stuff and who provide lots of support to us all!
The quickest way to access the Wiki is [F1] if you are using Windows. Not sure what the equivalent is on a Mac.
Buy the RM7 print manual on amazon or the pdf version from Bruce.
The wiki is incomplete, inaccurate and a clumsy excuse for a well organized user guide which was a strength of RM7.
…and you forsee the RM7 manual being accurate for RM8???
Helpful yes if new to rootmagic or a tyro on RM7 who has never used that guide. Both RM7 and 8 have a similar basic structure and terminology that users need to grasp.
I find a good user manual essential to understand what a complex program can do and how it works. The wiki is definitely not that although it has some utility like a badly done dictionary with lots of errors.
Terminology maybe, however the examples given and explanations as to how to accomplish them have absolutely nothing to offer someone if they are trying to figure out RM8. If someone is asking how to learn a new program(which the OP was) referring them to an old version with a completely different layout is going to do nothing but cause annoyance and confusion. Don’t believe me, try doing software tech support sometime.
You can access F1 and other Function keys from a Mac to access the Wiki etc. The following Apple guidance explains how to set it up.
Use the function keys on MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
Press and hold the Fn (Function) key to see F1 through F12 in your Touch Bar.
Show the function keys
Press and hold the Fn (Function) key on your keyboard to see F1 through F12 in the Touch Bar.
You can also make the function keys appear automatically when you use specific apps:
- Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Keyboard.
- Click Shortcuts at the top of the window, then select Function Keys from the list on the left.
- Click the add button (+), then select an app and click Add. For each app that you add, the function keys will automatically appear in the Touch Bar whenever you’re using that app.
Or use the onscreen keyboard
As an alternative to showing the function keys in the Touch Bar, you can use the function keys in the onscreen keyboard.
- Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Keyboard and complete one of these steps:
- If you’re using macOS Big Sur, select “Show Input menu in menu bar” in the Input Sources pane.
- If you’re using macOS Catalina or earlier, select ”Show Keyboard and emoji viewers in menu bar” in the Keyboard pane.
- Click the viewer icon in the menu bar, then choose Show Keyboard Viewer.
- Click the Fn key in the onscreen keyboard to make it show all function keys.
the mac touch bar, a universally dislike feature, is now gone from all current macs (M1) replaced by real function keys again.
simply bookmark the wiki in safari and flip back and forth between safari and RM8 with Command-Tab.
Ask Uncle Google any question you have for immediate, current relevant answers.
It’s been 1 1/2 years since RM 8 came out. Is there any word on the users guide for RM 8 yet?
My freinds in rual Nevada are having hard time tring to figuring out RootsMagic 8. Here in rual Nevada you’re in a broadband internet dessert. You need to drive 10 to 75 mile to find a WiFi hot spot that the Nevada School Districts have setup around the state for the school kids. What is need is a users manual, leaflet or something to help these people to understand RM 8 when you don’t have broadband internet.
Thanks, TJ