The Master Genealogist

The Master Genealogist (TMG) was genealogy software for Microsoft Windows first released in 1993[1] by Bob Velke. Data entry was customized through the use of user-defined events, names, and relationship types. Official support for TMG ceased at the end of 2014.[2]

The Master Genealogist
Original author(s)Bob Velke
Developer(s)Wholly Genes Software
Initial releaseJuly 1993 (1993-07)
(Pre-release: 1991 (1991))
Final release
9.05.0000 / 3 December 2014 (2014-12-03)
Written inVisual FoxPro
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
Available in10 languages
List of languages
English (US), English (UK), German, Dutch, French, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Swedish, Italian, and Afrikaans
TypeGenealogy software
LicenseProprietary
Websitewhollygenes.com

Features
  • Designed for both normal users and genealogy professionals
  • Flexibly displays information
  • Has elaborate database-oriented support for source and citation information
  • Supports the inclusion of media files
  • Supports DNA information
  • Allows the user to record conflicting evidence
  • Allows a "Surety" of a given piece of evidence to be recorded
  • Supports elaborate chart-making
  • Supports smart importing of genealogy files. Its GenBridge recognizes many common genealogy data format files from other programs and imports genealogical data directly into TMG. This minimizes the loss of data when transferred from other software and avoids some of the problems caused by transferring files through the limited but universal GEDCOM format.[3]

Source types

The default source types in the standard edition are based on Wholly Genes' interpretation of Elizabeth Shown Mills's Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian.[4] Source templates based upon Wholly Genes' interpretation of the source types in Richard S. Lackey's Cite Your Sources[5] are also provided. The source templates in the UK edition are based on designs by Caroline Gurney for sources commonly encountered in the United Kingdom.[6]

Platforms

TMG was designed to run on the Windows platform but can be run on Macintosh and Linux machines using a Windows emulator.[7][8]

Limitations
  • TMG did not support Unicode, which limits data entry to the Western European (Latin) character set.
  • Before TMG version 8, reports generated on computers with 64-bit operating systems (only) were limited to "txt", HTML, and PDF output, although popular word processor reporting formats were supported on 32-bit platforms. The print routine was rewritten for the current version of the program eliminating this restriction.
  • Some users have complained about the limitations in the program's multilingual support in narratives. This issue is focused on personal pronoun and other individual word replacement resulting in output that may have minor grammar errors.

TMG version history

Please press show for more information on past versions.

TMG version history
Meaning
Red Not supported
Yellow Still supported (Update to the last patch for that version)
Green Current version
Blue Public beta version
Edition/s From v3.5 TMG was separated into a Gold and Silver version.
From v5 TMG was separated into: Gold (U.S.A), Gold UK, Silver (U.S.A), Silver UK.
VersionRelease dateEdition/sNotes
TMG v.XX 1991[9] pre-release -
TMG v.99 Feb, 1993[10] pre-release -
TMG v1.0 Jul 1993 [10][11] DOS -
TMG v1.1 Nov 1994[10] DOS Upgrade/Patch
TMG v1.1b Feb 1994[10] DOS Upgrade/Patch
TMG v1.2 21 Apr 1995[10][12] DOS Upgrade/Patch
TMG v1.2a Nov 1995[10] DOS Upgrade/Patch
TMGW v2.0 Oct 1996[10] Windows 3.1 -
TMGW v2.3 Feb 1997[10] Windows 3.1 Upgrade/Patch
TMG/Win v3.0 Gold Edition May 1997[10][13] Windows 3.1 -
v3.5 Windows April 1998[10][13][14] Split into separate Gold and Silver Editions. Upgrade/Patch. GenBridge Introduced.[15]
v3.6 Windows Aug 1998[10] Upgrade/Patch
v3.6a Windows Sep 1998[10] Upgrade/Patch
v3.7 Windows Dec 1998[10] Upgrade/Patch
v4.0 May 1999[10] Windows 95 Ancestral Genealogical Reference Library supplied on the second CD-ROM. Based on FoxPro v2.6.[16] Visual Chartform v1 introduced.[17]
v4.0a 15 Aug 2000[18] - Upgrade/Patch
v4.0b (UK edition) 2000[19] - Upgrade/Patch. First British edition.
v4.0c 3 Nov 2000[20] - Upgrade/Patch. TMG v4.0a version updated directly to v4.0c
v4.0d 20 Feb 2001[21] - Upgrade/Patch. Visual Chartform (VCF) v1.2[22]
v5.00 22 May 2002[23][24] Split into separate USA and UK versions. Based on Visual FoxPro v6.[16][25]
v5.01.000 25 May 2002[26] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.02.000 15 Jun 2002[27] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.03.000 22 Aug 2002[28] - Upgrade/Patch. Visual Chartform (VCF) v2.1.[29]
v5.04.000 09 Nov 2002[30] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.05.000 04 Mar 2003[31] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.06.000 08 Apr 2003[32] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.07.000 28 Apr 2003[33] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.08.000 15 Jul 2003[34] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.09.000 12 Aug 2003[35] - Upgrade/Patch. Visual Chartform (VCF) v2.1.0.592 [36]
v5.10.000 21 Nov 2003[37] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.11.000 05 Dec 2003[38] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.12.000 21 Apr 2004[39] - Upgrade/Patch. Visual Chartform (VCF) v3.0[40]
v5.13.000 17 May 2004[41] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.14.000 07 Jun 2004[42] - Upgrade/Patch.
v5.15.000 25 Jul 2004[43] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.00 21 Dec 2004[44][45] - Based on Visual FoxPro v7[46]
v6.01.000 28 May 2005[47] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.02.000 11 Aug 2005[48] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.03.000 02 Sep 2005[49] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.04.000 27 Sep 2005[50] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.05.000 30 Oct 2005[51] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.06.000 04 Nov 2005[52] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.07.000 04 Nov 2005[53] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.08.000 24 Mar 2006[54] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.09.000 3 May 2006[55] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.10.000 09 Oct 2006[56] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.11.000 15 Oct 2006[57] - Upgrade/Patch.
v6.12.000 04 Nov 2006[58] TMG updated to run as a legacy application under Windows Vista[59] Upgrade/Patch. Visual Chartform (VCF) v3.2.0.2 (Note:VCF uses http://freeimage.sourceforge.net freeimage.sf.net])
v7.00 28 Dec 2007[60][61] Windows Vista (Support for 98, NT dropped) Based on Visual FoxPro v9.[62] CD-ROM version of TMG includes a free copy of The Universal British Directory of Great Britain 1791.
v7.01.000 18 April 2008[63] - Upgrade/Patch. Visual Chartform (VCF) v3.2.0.13 (Build date:1 Sep 2007).
v7.02.000 24 May 2008[64] - Upgrade/Patch.
v7.03.000 28 Jun 2008[65] - Upgrade/Patch.
v7.04.000 13 Feb 2009[66] - Upgrade/Patch.
v8.00.000 21 Dec 2011[67] Support for: Windows 7, 64-bit
v8.01.000 19 Jan 2012[68] Upgrade/Patch.
v8.02.000 2 Mar 2012[69] Released, withdrawn,[70] and re-released.[69] Upgrade/Patch.
v8.03.000 1 May 2012[71] Upgrade/Patch, Add Swedish language
v8.04.000 3 May 2012[72] Upgrade/Patch, Add Dutch language support files
v8.05.000 22 March 2013[72] - Upgrade/Patch. Major redesign of how Roles are stored in the database,[73] Add support for WordPerfect, Add search in Subfolders
v8.06.000 28 Mar 2013[72] Upgrade/Patch.
v8.07.000 19 April 2013[72] Upgrade/Patch.
v8.08.000 22 April 2013[72] Upgrade/Patch.
v9.00.000 7 February 2014[72]
v9.01.000 26 February 2014[72] Upgrade/Patch.
v9.02.000 10 Jul 2014[72] Upgrade/Patch.
v9.03.000 17 Jul 2014[72] Upgrade/Patch.
v9.04.000 24 Sep 2014[72] Upgrade/Patch. A new GEDCOM export option has been added to facilitate transferring TMG data to other programs.
v9.05.000 3 Dec 2014[72] Upgrade/Patch.

Migration from TMG

GEDCOM

TMG has elaborate and detailed support for sources in a database format where a source can be referred to by any other record. In the GEDCOM database specification, sources can only refer to either a single individual or single family. Because of GEDCOM's limitation, exporting a TMG database involves duplicating the sources into each place where a given source is used. All of the information is exported, but the structure of each source is lost permanently.

An example of this limitation of GEDCOM is when there is a census or ship's record that lists many members of an extended family. TMG allows each individual's entry to refer to a common source record, which can itself have an elaborate description. The structure of GEDCOM forces the user to duplicate all mention of and information contained in that source. The duplication of records, makes the source information in the exported GEDCOM file (and all GEDCOM files) hard to maintain.

Non GEDCOM exports of TMG

The following options allow for some form of direct transfer of TMG files, possibly limited, apart from GEDCOM.

  • tmg2gramps Converts TMG 6 datafiles to a GRAMPS v2.2.6 XML - by Anne Jessel.[74]
  • Forays Into Genealogy Data Base Modelling - Details how Leif Biberg Kristensen moved his data out of TMG into a program of his own creation .
  • History Research Environment - This community project is creating a free and open source platform-independent application for the serious or professional historical researcher. It is designed to provide an onward path for genealogists who currently use the now-discontinued program The Master Genealogist (TMG).[75]
  • RootsMagic - RootsMagic can now directly import files from TMG 7.04, 8.08, or later.[76][77]

File format

TMG's underlying database engine is Visual FoxPro v9 and does not support Unicode.

  1. File Structures for (TMG) for v9 - Last updated July, 2014
  2. TMG File Structure - Applicable to TMG v3.x, v4.x, v5.x, v6.x, v7.x

Companion products

Several software developers have created companion products specifically for TMG that enhance its functionality. These products include:

  • Second Site, advanced web publishing and data review application for TMG - by John Cardinal
  • PathWiz!, TMG exhibit file management product - by BeeSoft
  • GedStar Pro, for Android smartphones display application - by GHCS Software.
  • GenSmarts, research advisor that analyzes users' genealogical data and offers suggestions

TMG data output is compatible with a range of geographical mapping and genealogical reporting applications that support the GEDCOM format.

Significant freeware and shareware utility applications, as well as independently published user guides and manuals, also support TMG's installed user base.[78][79][80]

References
  1. "Ancestry - Genealogical Computing - Innovators: Bob Velke". 7 January 2002.
  2. Velke, Bob (29 July 2014). "TMG to be discontinued". Wholly Genes Newsletter.
  3. "GenBridge Update". Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter. 30 August 2004.
  4. Elizabeth Shown Mills. Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1997.ISBN 0-8063-1543-1
  5. Richard S Lackey, Cite Your Sources: a manual for documenting Family Histories and Genealogical Records, Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi, 1980.ISBN 0-87805-286-0
  6. "Terry's TMG Tips - A Source Tutorial".
  7. RootsWeb: TMG-L Re: [TMG] TMG on a Mac - 21 June 2008
  8. "TMG Setup on Wine - Wine Application Database (AppDB)".
  9. Wholly Genes Community: Chat Transcripts - 23 Aug 2008
  10. RootsWeb: TMG-L Re: [TMG] TMG puchase (sic) - "TMG's update history off the top of my head <g>:" From: Bob Velke - 23 July 2000
  11. Product announcement from 1993 when TMG v1.0 - Laura's Minimalist Home Page
  12. Product announcement for TMG v1.2 - Laura's Minimalist Home Page
  13. TMG Demo - Laura's Minimalist Home Page
  14. Downloading TMG/Win v3.5, Laura's Minimalist Home Page
  15. "GenBridge". Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter - Vol. 3 No. 5. 2 February 1998.
  16. RootsWeb: TMG-L Re: [TMG] Version of FoxPro ?? - 30 April 2002
  17. "The Master Genealogist version 4.0". Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter - Vol. 4 No. 24. 12 June 1999.
  18. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v4.0a is available now! - From: Bob Velke - 15 August 2000
  19. RootsWeb: TMG-L Re: [TMG] Re: Ver. 4 Report Problem - 15 February 2003
  20. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] The Master Genealogist v4.0c now available - From: Bob Velke - 3 November 2000
  21. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v4.0d released - From: Bob Velke - 20 February 2001
  22. Which Software Should I Buy?
  23. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] Release of TMG v5.0 - From: Bob Velke - 12 May 2002
  24. TMG 5 Release Date, PRESS RELEASE
  25. RootsWeb: TMG-L RE: [TMG] Visual FoxPro 6.0 security warning (TMG 5) - From: Bob Velke - 6 September 2002
  26. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.01 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 25 May 2002
  27. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.02 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 15 June 2002
  28. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.03 update is now available. - From: Bob Velke - 22 August 2002
  29. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] Accents in Visual Chartform 2.1 (TMG 5.03) - 2 September 2002
  30. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.04 has been released - From: Bob Velke - 9 November 2002
  31. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.05.000 is now available - From: Bob Velke - 4 March 2003
  32. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.06.000 is now available - From: Bob Velke - 10 April 2003
  33. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.07.000 is now available - From: Bob Velke - 28 April 2003
  34. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.08.000 is now available - From: Bob Velke - 14 July 2003
  35. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.09.000 is now available - From: Bob Velke - 12 August 2003
  36. VCF Chart, Second Site requires version 2.1.0.592 or greater of VCF.EXE. If you are using TMG v5.09 or greater you should have a supported version of VCF.EXE., John Cardinal's Home Page
  37. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.10 has been released - From: Bob Velke - 21 November 2003
  38. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v5.11 (CD Version!) has been released - From: Bob Velke - 5 December 2003
  39. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v5.12.000 is now available - From: Bob Velke - 21 April 2004
  40. RootsWeb: TMG-L Re: [TMG] TMG, FTST, and VCF - 29 May 2004
  41. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v5.13.000 is now available - From: Bob Velke - 17 May 2004
  42. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v5.14.000 is now available - From: Bob Velke - 7 June 2004
  43. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v5.15.000 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 25 July 2004
  44. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v6.00 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 21 December 2004
  45. New Features in TMG Version 6
  46. Anti-spyware removing VFP7r.dll (MS Visual FoxPro v7 Support Library) issue
  47. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v6.01 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 28 May 2005
  48. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v6.02 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 11 August 2005
  49. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v6.03 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 2 September 2005
  50. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v6.04 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 27 September 2005
  51. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v6.05 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 30 October 2005
  52. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v6.06 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 4 November 2005
  53. TMG v6.07 is now available
  54. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v6.08 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 24 March 2006
  55. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v6.09 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 3 May 2006
  56. RootsWeb: TMG-L TMG v6.10 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 9 October 2006
  57. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v6.11 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 15 October 2006
  58. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v6.12 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 4 November 2006
  59. TMG 6 and Windows Vista.pdf
  60. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v7.0 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 28 December 2007
  61. New Features in TMG v7
  62. RootsWeb: TMG-L Re: [TMG] TMG 7 & GenSmarts Problem - 11 January 2008
  63. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v7.01 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 18 April 2008
  64. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v7.02 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 24 May 2008
  65. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v7.03 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 28 June 2008
  66. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v7.04 is now available! - From: Bob Velke - 14 February 2009
  67. "The Master Genealogist version 8 Has Been Released". Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter. 22 December 2011.
  68. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v8.01 is now available - From: Bob Velke - 19 January 2012
  69. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v8.02 is now available (again) - From: Bob Velke - 2 March 2012
  70. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v8.02 is now available - stand by - From: Bob Velke - 5 February 2012
  71. RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] TMG v8.03 is now available - From: Bob Velke - 1 May 2012
  72. Wholly Genes Forum, The Master Genealogist v8.x Change Log, Date: regularly updated
  73. Wholly Genes Forum, TMG v8.05 and the changed Role Design by Jim Bryam, 22 February 2013
  74. Modified versions of the script to use with TMG v8 and v9 databases
  75. "HRE for users of The Master Genealogist". History Research Environment. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  76. "RootsMagic for TMG Users". RootsMagic. RootsMagic, Inc. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  77. "Moving Data from TMG to RootsMagic" (PDF). RootsMagic. RootsMagic, Inc. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  78. John Cardinal, TMG Utility, downloaded 8 January 2012
  79. ReigelRidge Press, A Primer for The Master Genealogist, downloaded 8 January 2012
  80. Wholly Genes, Companion products, downloaded 8 January 2012

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