The Master Genealogist

The Master Genealogist

Original author(s)	Bob Velke
Developer(s)	Wholly Genes Software
Initial release	July 1993 (Pre-release: 1991)
Stable release	9.05.0000 / 3 December 2014
Development status	Discontinued December 31, 2014
Written in	Visual FoxPro
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Available in	10 languages
List of languages English (US), English (UK), German, Dutch, French, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Swedish, Italian, and Afrikaans
Type	Genealogy software
License	Proprietary
Website	www.whollygenes.com

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]

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 recognises 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.

Version	Release date	Edition/s	Notes
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.

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

Migration from TMG

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 advanced options, apart from GEDCOM transfer are available:

• 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 .

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.^[75][76][77]

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. John Cardinal, TMG Utility, downloaded 8 January 2012
76. ReigelRidge Press, A Primer for The Master Genealogist, downloaded 8 January 2012
77. Wholly Genes, Companion products, downloaded 8 January 2012

External links

• Wholly Genes
• Lee Hoffman's TMG Tips
• Terry's TMG Tips
• Customizing TMG™ Using It My Way, On-Line Book by ©MJH
• Installers for Older TMG Versions, Alternate location for downloads by The ROOTS Users Group of Arlington, VA.

Reviews

• Version 7 Review
• Version 7 Review
• Version 6 Review