Family Historian User Group

I am surprised that the Ipad has not been discussed on here. With what little I have seen of it, it would appear ideal for us both in the research situation or to display to relatives what you have discovered. Does anyone use one for these purposes?
You can load pdf files into it's library, so presumably you could make a pdf of your tree and then display it on the Ipad. Likewise any reports etc. I assume FH cannot run on an Ipad but how about the CD or website version from FH? I have never made a CD or website from FH so I have no idea.

I am tempted to get one just for note taking at research libraries etc, they look much more convenient than a laptop.

As I say I know very little about them so I would need to find out a lot more before taking the plunge. Hopefully there will be some on here already using them.

Regards
Keith

ID:4668

A while ago there was some discussion of an application for the iPhone, namely Gedview, which, I believe, also works well on the iPad.  I certainly find it works well on my iPhone with an import of my GEDCOM file from FH.

I use Gedview on my iPod Touch and very useful it is too.

As an experiment I did a (trivial) addition in Gedview and then exported the gedcom file which I then imported into FH4. The result was pretty awful, frankly, so the outcome is that I only use Gedview for viewing my geedcom file and not for making changes/updates/aditions etc.

I assume that similar considerations would apply to Gedview on the iPad, the only difference being the larger display available.

Having said that it is very useful to be able to refer to my family tree wherever I am. I don't really miss the ability to do instant updates.

Gerry

capnkeith said:
I am surprised that the Ipad has not been discussed ....

I am tempted to get one just for note taking at research libraries etc, they look much more convenient than a laptop.

I would ask yourself very carefully how long your notes are. The only method of input is a virtual keyboard on the screen. It's clear that this is only suitable for short inputs and even then people make more errors simply because there's no feedback. (I think you can connect a real keyboard but then the result is a lot more cumbersome than a laptop.)

So, the iPad would be slower and less accurate - I believe - in note taking. The advantages would appear to be the instant turn-on and a slightly smaller package - though I cringe at the thought of a glass screen next to all the lumpy things in my bag. If you are dealing with lots of graphics, it would be a different matter but I don't see that being the case here.

My view of a useful tablet / slate would be one that permitted handwriting input. They exist - scribble the notes in, put them through hand-writing recognition, et voila. Unfortunately manufacturers and customers seem seduced by gestures as inputs and the 2 types of input (hand-writing and gestures) require (currently) 2 different forms of screen and consumer-level devices don't do handwriting.

Oh - and since S Jobs Esq has set his face against Flash, the iPad is useless for accessing huge numbers of FH sites on the web - no FamilySearch Pilot site for instance, bits of Ancestry wouldn't work, nor FindMyPast. [frown]

Thanks for your replies. I hoped there would have been an Ipad user as well, perhaps one will turn up later.
I have now made a CD of my FH file, what I want to know now is, does the CD only work on windows operating PCs. It works using an internet browser, so perhaps it will work on an Ipad assuming you can download it onto an Ipad. Does anybody know?
What you get on the CD (Family Group sheets) is exactly what I now take, in A4 ring binders, with me to the records office or to show relatives. Often I don't have all that I need, too much to carry. With this I could have everything on something that could almost go in a pocket and is still large enough to read!
I hope I could also put all the graphics, photos and scans on their as well. They come up as thumb nails on the CD not sure if I can link to the full size image or perhaps just make them larger yet.
Another good thing is you can download your PDF files such as Family Trees on to it.
I don't know about the accuracy of typing notes as I have never used one. I have used touch screen to type in on a palm pilot though without difficulty.
Regards
Keith

I have an ipad, and the user saying about problems typing has obviously never used one or is to used to touch typing, there is no problems with typing anything on the screen keyboard.

I have two FH applicatons, FamViewer & 'Ancestry.com Tree to Go', which i origionaly used on the iphone.
The ancestry app access your online ancestry tree, and give all the information and realtime updates back to the tree on your account, the only issue is that this has never been updated for the ipad so is limited to the iphone screen size.
The FamViewer app has recently been updated an supports the full screem size of the ipad screen. The dsiplay is still basic, but it is very good for displaying a local copy of your whole GEDCOM file (minus multimedia). I have not tried the update, download facility yet so can't comment on that.

The ipad itself has all the useful features for a researcher of the note pad program, and voice recording programs to enable you to record data. As you say you can down load PDF's into the ibook app, and the program does display them very well. So anything you produce from FH as a pdf is easily readable to show relatives, and like the iphone you can connect to a TV to get a bigger display if you want.

Richard

Thanks Richard, I am glad to find someone who has actually used an Ipad and interested in FH.

I wonder if I could ask you to try making the CD with FH. You don't need to do everyone on your tree, just a few will do to see if it works. Instead of burning a cd try downloading the resulting files onto the Ipad. You might then find that you don't need the other software. I would very much appreciate if you could do this for me, it will help make my mind up in getting one.

Have you tried a pdf of your 'All Relatives' tree on the Ipad, are you able to drag / scroll the screen to find particular people?

Thanks very much for your help.

Regards
Keith

Keith, You can't just download load any old file to an ipad. It's not like a computer with drives. You can only 'import' data into applications like the ibooks or itunes.

I have not tried creating a pdf of a diagram and loading it into ibooks, i have just done various reports which seem to work ok.

Richard

Last night I managed to download the CD files onto my phone. They would not run in auto like using an App. But using the phone's file manager I found the files clicked on the index and it opened. I could then select the files and link between them just as I would with the the CD. If my phone (Nokia N97mini)was larger I would be happy with that but it's a bit too small and fiddly, about a 1/10th the size of an Ipad.

The pages created for the CD by FH are like web pages so they will work with any web browser. I don't use Itunes so I do not know how it handles downloading files to the Ipad, but if it cannot or will not download them another method of file transfer is needed like using windows explorer.
From what I can make out from the Ipad web sites there is no File Manager on the Ipad, but there are Apps available such as 'ReaddleDocs' from Readdle.

I feel reasonably certain now that it would be possible to read and use the links between pages of the CD files on an Ipad, but at the price of an Ipad I want to try and make certain first.

Keith

I love my iPad. It's absolutely perfect for field research and note taking etc. So Calico, here's a challenge for you. What chance of an iPAd version of FH? That would be the ultimate tool in my opinion.

Regards
Roger[wink]

Or - what about the HTC Desire. Does anyone know of any apps for this, with any recommendations?

HTC is an Android device, a quick google provided links to a couple of programs for Android

a Dick Eastman Review of Family Bee

Jane, thanks for that but I was wondering if anyone had personal experience of these programs?   Jeremy

I love using my Ipad and you can buy applications which allow you to transfer files across, but not all file types are supported.
I'll have a try with the CD or website version but the website should work.

I have noticed this application for those who use Reunion software http://www.leisterpro.com/ipad/ which looks really good.

It would be great if Family Historian could be ported across!!

Is an Ipad version something that can be legitimately added to the 'Wish List' or it that just for new features?

Why not just add it to the wish list they can only say no. However in the meantime the CD method in FH might be the better option rather than investing in another genealogy package.

I would be very interested to hear how you get on with the CD option, if I can be of any help send me a message or email.

For anyone that may be wondering what I ended up with, I eventually purchased a NetBook.
Mine was less than half the cost of an Ipad, will run Family Historian & AS, plus MS Onenote which I now use if I don't want to input direct into FH. The battery lasts all day doesn't need charging or even taking a mains lead to the records office and it takes up very little space. I don't need to take any files with me or books to make notes, as everything is already on the netbook. When I get home the netbook automatically sync's with my desktop PC.

Regards

I don't (currently) have an iPad but I have used an iPhone for a while now. If you are interested in carrying around copies of documents could I heartily suggest two services that make use of 'cloud storage', namely Evernote and Dropbox. Both are designed to give you access to documents almost anywhere. You can copy files into the Dropbox application on your PC and read them on any other PC you use, any time. I use it for Word and Excel documents and am able to read both easily on my iPhone. Evernote allows you to take notes, photos, web clippings and audio clips and sync them across any computer you use, as well as read them on the web. Both are free, both are (in my opinion) invaluable and are worth a serious look if you don't want to lug around case loads of CDs wherever you go.

Let us not forget about the Android phones, which are getting ever more popular. My own phone is an HTC Desire and I use Family Bee, which is good but does not give you the link to the media items included within FH.

capnkeith said:
I am surprised that the Ipad has not been discussed on ipad2 keyboard cases
here. With what little I have seen of it, it would appear ideal for us both in the research situation or to display to relatives what you have discovered. Does anyone use one for these purposes?
You can load ipad 2 stand case pdf files into it's library, so presumably you could make a pdf of your tree and then display it on the Ipad. Likewise any reports etc. I assume FH cannot run on an Ipad butipad2 stand how about the CD or website version from FH? I have never made a CD or website from FH so I have no idea.

I am tempted to get one just for note taking at research libraries etc, they look much more convenient than a laptop.

As I say I know very little about them so I would need to find out a lot more before taking the plunge. Hopefully there will be some on here already using them.

Regards
Keith

As an experiment I did a (trivial) addition in Gedview and then exported the gedcom file which I then imported into FH4. The result was pretty awful, frankly, so the outcome is that I only use Gedview for viewing my geedcom file and not for making changes/updates/aditions etc.

I've used an iPad in libraries for taking notes. Sadly mine's not an iPad2 so I had also to use my phone camera and manually sync photos with notes. Nevertheless, it's an ideal tool for note taking as it's quite convenient to keep around at all times.

There is an iPad Ancestry app that's quite good, but does not allow you to amend your tree, only to display it. Assuming, of course, that you've put your tree on Ancestry anyway. Gedview works quite well on the iPad too, and at least allows you to import the FH Gedcom files.

It would be really nice if there could be a native FH app, though

I use an Ipad when out and about.

Any pdf files I want to use with it I place in a Dropbox folder and use QuickOffice to retrieve them.

I also use Gedview to view my FH gedcom file (also kept in a Dropbox folder)

I find the on-screen keyboard OK for small data entry but on those rare occasions I anticipate wanting to load a lot of data I use a Bluetooth keyboard.

There are many cases to protect the screen and I have not yet managed to damage mine.

I use an iPad3 and have GedView which is a handy viewer for seeing my GEDcom when I am out and about at record offices and the like. Also, and I never thought I'd say this, I use the Ancestry app with which I am deeply impressed. After initial misgivings, I posted a private tree up on the UK site which I can also access on my iPad (the two are synchronised). When I look at the tree I get hints which direct me to online records for census, BMDs &c. The hit rate is astonishing, despite the usual transcription errors, and images load very, very fast compared to using the website on the PC. I have even found a few records that I hadn't already found by traditional methods so it is worth it. I couldn't imagine anything better than being able to properly input data to a FH5 app and synch it with my desktop version through the iCloud but I think that it would be a huge ask from any developer frankly.

Cheers, Karen  

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It is also useful for photographing a screen shot from a microfilm viewer (provided that is permitted of course)