Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic 12

The complete guide to RootsMagic 12, written by its creator.

RootsMagic is powerful yet easy-to-use software for researching, organizing, and sharing your family history. Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic 12 shows you step by step how to use all of it, from adding your first ancestor to publishing a finished family history book. This guide runs to nearly 400 pages, with clear screenshots and practical tips for both Windows and Mac users.

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New in RootsMagic 12, and covered in this edition

• The new Tree view, where ancestors and descendants branch out from one person
• Simpler sources: 18 built-in templates based on the fourth edition of Evidence Explained, plus “Help me choose” to find the right one
• AI Prompt Builder for people, families, places, sources, citations, and media
• Bow-tie charts and hourglass fan charts
• A Life Summary you can customize, and a new note editor with live spell check
• Save reports as RTF, EPUB, Markdown, and more

Inside, you’ll learn how to

• Add and edit individuals, families, events, and shared facts
• Record photos, documents, health history, DNA matches, and associations
• Find anyone fast with Advanced Search and Find Everywhere
• Document sources and citations, and rate the quality of your evidence
• Map your places, and use CountyCheck to see whether a county, state, or country existed on a given date
• Sort your DNA matches into family lines with the Leeds Method
• Print pedigree charts, family group sheets, narrative reports, and wall charts as large as you need
• Design custom reports and publish a complete family history book
• Share your tree online with MyRootsMagic, or on a shareable drive
• Work with FamilySearch Family Tree and Ancestry TreeShare, and get WebHints from FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Findmypast
• Import your data from Family Tree Maker, Legacy, PAF, TMG, or GEDCOM
• Merge duplicates and clean up names, places, and facts

Whether you’re entering your first family or managing a tree of thousands, this book will help you get the most out of RootsMagic 12 and bring your family’s story to life.

About the author

Bruce Buzbee is the founder and president of RootsMagic, Inc. He has been writing genealogy software for almost 40 years. He created the popular Family Origins software and then the award-winning RootsMagic, which has helped thousands of genealogists worldwide discover, organize, and share their family history.