Ancestral Quest
Ancestral Quest or AQ is a genealogy software application for Windows, developed by Incline Software, LC. It features data entry with sourcing capabilities and scrapbook extensions; a print engine for standard or custom charts and reports; a web page creator; a collaboration engine; and an extension tool for other genealogy databases.
Ancestral Quest was the first desktop genealogy software program to be certified to access, update, and synchronize with New FamilySearch (nFS).[2]
Languages
Developed in English, AQ allows for translation to other languages using language modules. These user-created files allow Ancestral Quest screens and reports to be translated or customized. A user can create his or her own language module, or leverage the module of someone else. A Danish language module is currently available.
Features
- Creates a family tree, documenting sources and adding scrapbook items
- Researches the Internet with search engine interfaces
- Prints standard and custom charts, reports or books
- Creates web pages
- Imports and exports GEDCOM files
- Extends the use of other databases, such as Personal Ancestral File or FamilySearch
- Can be used on a flash drive
- Collaborate [3] with other researchers, using a single master database
History
Version history [4]
- Ancestral Quest 1.0: 1994.
- Ancestral Quest 1.1: 1995.
- Ancestral Quest 2.0: 1996.
- Ancestral Quest 2.1: 1997.
- Ancestral Quest 3.0: 1999.
- Ancestral Quest 10.0: 2002 - collaboration, research manager, global find/replace, PAF5.x support, fan charts, enhanced reporting
- Ancestral Quest 11.0: 2003 - memorize source citations, detailed change log, print to PDF, drop line charts, online IGI lookups
- Ancestral Quest 12.0: 2007 - individual summary screen, language translation, UNICODE
- Ancestral Quest 12.1: 2008 - link and sync with new FamilySearch, flash drive support
- Ancestral Quest 12.1: 2010 - Build 23 - Switched to FamilyTree API Version 2 for nFS, display age at marriage/death on family view, added ghost lines between children on family view, minor bug fixes
- Ancestral Quest 12.1: 2010 - Build 26 - Allows use of external viewer for photos, Improved Check/Repair, Assorted Bug Fixes
AQ technology in other products
In 1998, AQ was licensed for resale through Individual Software, and has been sold by them under the names of "Family Ties",[5] "Family Trees Quick & Easy",[6] "Heritage Family Tree Deluxe",[7] and "Family Tree Heritage"[8]. In 1999, the AQ code was licensed to the LDS Church and became the base of the Windows versions of Personal Ancestral File. Millions of copies of PAF have been distributed.[9][10][11] In 2001, the AQ code was licensed to Ancestry.com, and became the base of Ancestry Family Tree.[12].Nearly a million copies of AFT were distributed.
Company history
In 1998, Incline Software merged with The Hope Foundation. In 2001, this merger ended [13] and Incline Software again became the custodian of AQ.
References
- ^ a b Gaylon Findlay, Gaylon Findlay is the president of Incline Software, the company that creates Ancestral Quest. Incline Software is based in South Jordan, Utah. Gaylon has been developing genealogy software since 1993, and is the primary author of both Ancestral Quest and Personal Ancestral File. Prior to his work in genealogy, he spent his High School years in Frankfurt, Germany, served an LDS mission in Finland, graduated from Brigham Young University and spent 12 years in the San Francisco Bay Area as a computer consultant. He is married to Gale Johnson of Westminster, California, and they are the parents of 5 children., Logan Utah Regional Family History Center
- ^ "Current Certified Software Affiliates". FamilySearch. https://devnet.familysearch.org/certification/affiliate-program/AffiliateCertfied. Retrieved 18 Dec 2009.
- ^ "Collaborate with NetFamTM". Ancestral Quest. http://www.ancquest.com/aq_collab.htm.
- ^ "Version History". Ancestral Quest. http://www.ancquest.com/VersionHist.htm. Retrieved 18 Dec 2009.
- ^ "Genealogical Software Report Card". National Genealogical Society. http://www.mumford.ca/reportcard/developerlinks.htm. "Family Ties - Program is a licensed version of Ancestral Quest 3"
- ^ "Family Trees Quick & Easy 5.0". PCMAG.COM. 17 September 2002. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,481999,00.asp. "Family Trees Quick & Easy licenses its software from Incline Software"
- ^ "Reviews from the NGS Newsmagazine and its Predecessors". National Genealogical Society. http://www.mumford.ca/reportcard/review.htm. "Heritage Family Tree Deluxe - Ancestral Quest 2002 under license to Individual Software"
- ^ Gaylon Findlay (29 September 2009). "Eastman's Online Geneaolgy Newsletter - Ancestral Quest Receives 2009 FamilySearch Software Awards". Dick Eastman. http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2009/03/ancestral-quest-receives-2009-familysearch-software-awards.html. ""Family Tree Heritage", which is essentially Ancestral Quest 12.0 under a different name"
- ^ "Genealogical Software Report Card". National Genealoical Society. http://www.mumford.ca/reportcard/developerlinks.htm. "PAF - Based on early Ancestral Quest 3 code."
- ^ "PAF Compatibility". Ancestral Quest. http://www.ancquest.com/aqpaf.htm.
- ^ "FAQS - "Is there a relationship between PAF and Ancestral Quest?". Ancestral Quest. http://www.ancquest.com/faqs.htm#PAFRelAQ.
- ^ "Reviews from the NGS Newsmagazine and its Predecessors". National Genealogical Society. http://www.mumford.ca/reportcard/review.htm. "Ancestry Family Tree - Modified version of Ancestral Quest 3"
- ^ "Incline Software Reclaims Ownership of Ancestral Quest". Genealogy Today. 10 May 2001. http://www.genealogytoday.com/roots/xweb20.mv?xc=RootsDocument&xo=rescms&xr=2729&xz=gtblog4.
External links