| First a little background to this product as the | | | | FREE one-month subscription to Genealogy |
| existence of Generations family tree software | | | | Library, an online collection of hundreds of |
| has had an unstable history of ownership and | | | | thousands of names for census, birth, marriage, |
| name. It was first marketed by Leister | | | | death, land, military and other records. |
| Productions as Reunion and developed for both | | | | Negative Features |
| Mac and Windows. Then in 1997 the windows | | | | As a result of the constant changes in ownership |
| version was sold to Sierra Online, which later | | | | there has not been a consistent investment and |
| changed its name to Sierra Home. The product | | | | direction in the product, and that has lead to |
| had considerable time and effort invested in | | | | minor bugs occurring and features such as the |
| developing the product and was renamed | | | | verification of source data that do not function as |
| Generations. Around 2001, it was sold to | | | | fully as expected. |
| Broderbund that later renamed itself to | | | | If you go to the website you will not see any |
| Even though Generations family tree has now | | | | reference to their second tier genealogy |
| been added to the software stable of | | | | programs of Family Origins or Generations. |
| genealogy.com, the publisher of Family Tree | | | | Generations is a reasonable entry level program |
| Maker and Family Origins, it is still distributed by | | | | to Genealogy and Family History, and will always |
| Broderbund under the Broderbund label. It would | | | | come second to their main product, Family Tree |
| appear that it is not actively promoted by like its | | | | Maker. |
| stable mate Family Tree Maker. It can still be | | | | Is Generations Family Tree Still Good Value? |
| purchased nationwide, or online at | | | | Generations is no longer as popular or common as |
| broderbund.com, but the product technical support | | | | it once was, and there are better options available |
| is provided by It looks like it is heading the same | | | | free, and with more features. If you are just |
| way as Family Origins that is not even referenced | | | | starting out and have access to it, then you will |
| on the site. | | | | find it a good option, but as you become an |
| Positive Features | | | | intermediate and advanced user, you will find |
| Generations Family Tree is easy to install, setup | | | | features that you require are insufficiently catered |
| and use. The easy to use features allow you to | | | | for. It is not a product I would recommend. |
| add audio and video files to your charts with a | | | | Better options would be Legacy Family Tree |
| simple drag and drop. Editing is also an easy | | | | Standard Edition from (free), or Family Tree |
| process to make quick changes to your charts | | | | Builder from (a paid version). These and other |
| with a few clicks. Another feature allows you to | | | | products should give you a level of comfort in the |
| create family tree charts ranging in size from | | | | knowledge that they will be around for years, |
| letter-sized to a full-sized wall charts and can be | | | | provide a good level of support and you will be |
| achieved easily by the beginner. | | | | able get upgrades in the future. |
| Included with some versions of the software is a | | | | |