RootsMagic Mobile App

Your family tree at your fingertips! Now you can easily take and show off your family history with you wherever you go. RootsMagic lets you carry your genealogy on your iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch) device!
It's fast, easy, and free!

Features

This viewer is designed as a companion product to RootsMagic, the award-winning desktop genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history easy.

If you don't own RootsMagic for the desktop but would like to use the free viewer app, be sure to download our free version and take it for a spin. See for yourself why Family Tree Magazine called RootsMagic, "Probably the best all-around genealogy program, RootsMagic offers a winning combination of features for both casual and serious genealogists."

Files:

Uses your actual RootsMagic files- no conversion needed
Easily put your family history files on your device through DropBox (or iTunes for iOS)
Keep as many files as you want right on your device
Use the free desktop software to convert other genealogy files including PAF, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, and GEDCOM into viewable RootsMagic files.

Views:

Pedigree, Family, Descendant, and Individual Views to quickly explore your family tree
Browse people by surname and given names
Search ancestors by name or record number
View media, notes, and sources for people, families, events, and facts

Lists:

Source list
To-do lists
Research Logs
Media Lists
Address Book
Repository List
Correspondence List
Place List

Tools:

Perpetual calendar
Date calculator
Relationship calculator
Soundex calculator

Frequently-asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I get support for the App?
In order to provide this app free of charge, we are unable to provide phone or email support for it. Besides this knowledge base, we also provide an online community where you can ask questions and discuss the app with other users.
How do I install the RootsMagic App?
1. Open the App Store (iOS) on your device
2. In the search box type "rootsmagic" (without the quotes)
3. RootsMagic will appear in the results.
  1. On an iOS device, click the "FREE" button, then click "INSTALL APP"
How do I copy RootsMagic data files onto my device?
The RootsMagic app works directly with your RootsMagic file (no conversion needed). The easiest way to copy your RootsMagic data file to your device is using Dropbox. If your device is iOS (iPhone, iPad, iTouch) you can also use iTunes to copy your RootsMagic file to your device. When you start the app the first time, it will give you instructions on how to copy the file. These instructions are also provided in the next two questions.
How do I copy my data to my device using Dropbox?
There are 2 steps to copying your file to your device: 1) copying your file from the computer to Dropbox, and 2) copying your file from Dropbox to your device.
- Copying your file from your computer to Dropbox
  1. Open your file in RootsMagic on your computer
  2. Do "File > Save to Dropbox for Apps" from the RootsMagic menu
  3. Sign in to Dropbox and give it permission to upload your file
- Copying your file from Dropbox to your device
  1. Select the "File" option at the bottom of the app, then select the "Dropbox" option that appears.
  2. If you haven't previously connected to Dropbox from the RootsMagic app:
    1. You will be directed to Dropbox to sign in
    2. Dropbox will ask you to authorize the RootsMagic app. Click the "Allow" button to authorize the RootsMagic app.
    3. A folder called "Apps" will be created in the root of your Dropbox Folder. Inside of the "Apps" folder will be created a "RootsMagic" directory.
  3. Select your file from the list. Depending on the size of the file it may take a minute or two to download the database to your device. A message will pop up when the file is finished downloading to let you know you are ready to use the database
  4. The file should now show up under the "On Device" tab in the RootsMagic app. This means it has been copied to your device and doesn't need to be reloaded from Dropbox unless you change the file on your computer.
  5. If you edit the database on your computer (and re-save it to Dropbox as above), the app will let you know that the files have been modified and need to be re-downloaded to your device. After a file has been downloaded you can then access the file from the "On Device" tab.
How do I copy my data to my device using iTunes (iOS only)?
1. Make sure you are running the current version of iTunes
2. Plug your device into your computer
3. Select your device at the top of iTunes
4. Select the Apps Tab at the top of iTunes
5. Select the RootsMagic app in the list of apps under "File Sharing" (you may need to scroll down to see it)
6. Click the "Add..." button and navigate to the file on your computer
7. Hit the "Sync" button to sync your device
8. The file should now show up under the "On Device" tab in the RootsMagic app
9. Select the database from the "On Device" list (in the "Files" area of the app) and you are now ready to use the RootsMagic app.
Do I need to be connected to the internet to access my database?
You only need to be connected to the internet to initially download your database (through Dropbox or iTunes). Once you have downloaded your data file, it remains on your device and you can access it without being connected to the internet.
Can I add or edit data in the app?
Not at this time. The RootsMagic app is a "reader" which allows you to take and view your data.
Are my pictures available in the app?
The app will display thumbnails of your images (which are stored in your RM database), but doesn't have access to the full resolution copies of your images.
What version of RootsMagic files does the app support?
The app should work with files created by RootsMagic 4, 5, and 6. It will not work with files created by RootsMagic 3 or older. The "File > Save to Dropbox for Apps" menu item is only available in version 6 though.
Will the app open RootsMagic backup files or GEDCOM files?
No. The app works directly with the RootsMagic data file (*.RMGC) without any conversion. Since it doesn't convert files it won't convert (open) RootsMagic backup files, GEDCOM files, or files from other genealogy programs. If you want to use any of those types of files, import them into the RootsMagic desktop program and then copy that RootsMagic *.RMGC file onto your device.
What should I do if I can't get my database uploaded to the app?
1. Make sure you are using the .RMGC file and *not* a backup (.RMGB) or GEDCOM file