Introduction

Navigation: RootsMagic 8 > Getting Started >

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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.)

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

• [[RM8:x|Pedigree chart
• [[RM8:x|Family group sheet
• [[RM8:x|Narrative reports
• [[RM8:x|Box chart reports
• [[RM8:x|Individual summary
• [[RM8:x|Lists
• [[RM8:x|Wall charts
• [[RM8:x|Relationship chart
• [[RM8:x|Calendar
• [[RM8:x|Address Labels

Lists

• [[RM8:x|Address list
• [[RM8:x|Birthday and Anniversary list
• [[RM8:x|Correspondence list
• [[RM8:x|Descendant list
• [[RM8:x|Fact type list
• [[RM8:x|Individual list
• [[RM8:x|Kinship list
• [[RM8:x|Marriage list
• [[RM8:x|Multimedia list
• [[RM8:x|Place list
• [[RM8:x|Repository list
• [[RM8:x|Source list
• [[RM8:x|To-Do list
• [[RM8:x|Timeline list

Sharing data – Transferring data between different programs

• [[RM8:x|Importing files from other programs
• [[RM8:x|Importing a GEDCOM file
• [[RM8:x|Creating a GEDCOM file

Tools

• [[RM8:x|Find problems in your data
• [[RM8:x|Date calculator
• [[RM8:x|Relationship calculator
• [[RM8:x|Soundex calculator
• [[RM8:x|Search and replace
• [[RM8:x|Count trees in database
• [[RM8:x|DataClean

Research Tools

• [[RM8:x|To-Do List
• [[RM8:x|Research Logs
• [[RM8:x|Research Notes Report
• [[RM8:x|Tagging people, sources, etc. to online websites

Other features

• [[RM8:x|Publishing your family online
• [[RM8:x|Setting program options
• [[RM8:x|Merging duplicate people

LDS Support

• [[RM8:x|Entering LDS information
• [[RM8:x|Printing LDS information
• [[RM8:x|Accessing FamilySearch Central
• [[RM8:x|Finding Matches on FamilySearch
• [[RM8:x|Viewing and reserving ordinances
• [[RM8:x|Copying info between RootsMagic and FamilySearch