Introduction

Navigation: RootsMagic 8 > Getting Started >

The topics in this section provide some basic information about Rootsmagic, what it is for, and what you can do with it.

How to get started

Review the section The RootsMagic Interface to familiarize yourself with the program.
If you are importing data from other programs (like RootsMagic 1-7, GEDCOM, PAF, Legacy, FTM, TMG, or Family Origins) see the topic Importing Files.
See Setting up RootsMagic Your Way for setting database and program options

When you exit RootsMagic, you are prompted to backup the current database or all open databases. However, if you close a database from within RootsMagic, the program does not automatically backup the database before closing it. Therefore, before you close a database from within RootsMagic, you must initiate the backup yourself by selecting "File, Backup" from the main menu, if you want to create a backup (and you should.)

Learning more

See Using RootsMagic for a list of topics grouped in broad categories.
See Tools for a list of tools to help you get more out of RootsMagic
See LDS Features for a list of features geared towards the LDS community
See the Working With People section for detailed instructions on adding, editing, unlinking, and deleting people to/from your RootsMagic database.
See the Working With Facts section for detailed instructions on adding, editing, and sharing facts, as well creating default sentences and customizing individual sentences.
See the Working With Places section for detailed instructions on using Places and Place Details.
See the Working with Notes section for detailed instructions on using notes.
See the Sources and Addresses and Repositories section for detailed instructions on adding source documentation to support your facts that you enter into your RootsMagic database.

The Basics – Working with databases

Creating a new database
Opening a database
Searching for a database
Renaming a database
Deleting a database
Copying a database
Database Tools
Backing up a database
Copying people between databases

The Display – What everything on the screen is for

Main screen
Main menu
Home Page
File Page
People Page
Places Page
Sources Page
Media Page
Tasks Page
Addresses Page
Publish Page
Settings Page

People – Adding, editing, and manipulating them

Adding people to your database
Editing people
Deleting people
Deleting families
Unlinking people
Arranging the order of spouses
Arranging the order of children
Swapping spouses

Searching – How to find people and other information

RootsMagic Explorer
Family list
Find Everywhere
Bookmarks
History
WebSearch

Notes – Supplementing your information

Notes
Note editor

Sources – Documenting your information

Sources
Source list
Creating Source templates

Pictures – Working with multimedia

Media Gallery
Editing Media

Printing – Creating reports, lists, and charts

Pedigree chart
Family group sheet
Narrative reports
Box chart reports
Individual summary
Lists
Wall charts
Timeline chart
Relationship chart
Calendar
Address Labels

Lists

Address list
Birthday and Anniversary list
Correspondence list
Descendant list
Fact type list
Individual list
Kinship list
Marriage list
Multimedia list
Place list
Repository list
Source list
To-Do list
Timeline list

Sharing data – Transferring data between different programs

Importing files from other programs
Importing a GEDCOM file
Creating a GEDCOM file

Tools

Find problems in your data
Date calculator
Relationship calculator
Soundex calculator
Spell checker
Search and replace
Count trees in database
DataClean

Research Tools

To-Do List
Research Logs
Research Notes Report
Finding information about counties and states
Tagging people, sources, etc. to online websites

Other features

Publishing your family online
Setting program options
Merging duplicate people

LDS Support

Entering LDS information
Printing LDS information
Accessing FamilySearch Central
Finding Matches on FamilySearch
Viewing and reserving ordinances
Copying info between RootsMagic and FamilySearch