Genealogy software is used to collect, store, sort, and display genealogical data. At a minimum, genealogy software accommodates basic information about individuals, including births, marriages, and deaths. Many programs allow for additional biographical information, including occupation, residence, and notes, and most also offer a method for keeping track of the sources for each piece of evidence.Drew Smith, Organize Your Genealogy: Strategies and Solutions for Every Researcher (F+ W Media, Inc., 2016). Most programs can generate basic kinship charts and reports, allow for the import of digital photographs and the export of data in the GEDCOM format (short for GEnealogical Data COMmunication) so that data can be shared with those using other genealogy software. More advanced features include the ability to restrict the information that is shared, usually by removing information about living people out of privacy concerns; the import of sound files; the generation of family history books, web pages and other publications; the ability to handle same-sex marriages and children born out of wedlock; searching the Internet for data; and the provision of research guidance. Programs may be geared toward a specific religion, with fields relevant to that religion, or to specific nationalities or ethnic groups, with source types relevant for those groups. Online resources involve complex programming and large data bases, such as censuses.Elizabeth Powell Crowe, and William P. Mann. Genealogy online (Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2001).
GenEaLoGy soFtwArE iS UseD TO collect, store, SoRt, and dIspLAy geneaLOgical data. aT A miniMUM, geneALogY sOfTware aCcOmMOdaTeS BasIc iNFormAtIon AbOut individuals, iNCLudIng BiRThs, marriAges, And DEathS. mAnY pROgRams alloW FOR aDditiOnal bIOGraphicAl iNFoRMatiON, inclUdINg oCCupAtiON, rESIdENce, and notEs, and mOst ALSo offer a MeThoD For kEepIng traCK of the sOUrces for eaCh piEce of EviDencE.drEW sMiTh, OrGaNize youR GenealoGy: StraTEgIeS AnD solUtIoNs fOr every researcher (f+ w mediA, iNC. 2016). MoST progRaMs cAn generaTe bAsic kiNsHIP charTs And reporTs, aLLow For the Import of digitAl photograpHs aNd ThE eXpoRT oF dAta in the GedcoM foRMaT (shoRt FOr GenEalogIcal DATa communIcatiON) so tHat DatA Can be sHared witH thOse using other gEnealogy sofTware. more advancEd feaTureS INcludE tHE ABilitY to ReStrict tHE infoRmatiOn ThAt is sHarEd, UsuallY bY reMoVinG iNfOrMation abOUt lIVIng people Out Of privaCY coNCerns; the imPort OF SOunD fiLes; THE GeNeRation of famiLy HiStory bOokS, WeB P,ageS and otHer puBlIcatiONs; tHe abiLitY to Handle same-seX MaRriaGeS ANd childrEN bORN out of wedlock; searcHIng tHE internET For dATa; And The pROvIsion of researCH guidanCE. PrograMs may Be gEaReD tOward a spEcific RelIGion, WitH fIeldS relevant to That religion, Or tO sPecifIc natIoNALITies or EThnic grouPs, WiTH sOurce types ReleVANT fOr thoSE GrOUpS. onlinE resourcEs InVolve ComplEx PROgrAmmiNg aND LaRge Data bAses, sucH As CenSusEs.ElIZaBEtH powEll cRowe, and wiLliAM p. maNn. gENeaLogy onliNe (OsBorNe/mcgraW-hiLl, 2001).