CompuServe Thread

Lowell, thanks for your note. Actually, I'm basing my comparison on the original commercial version of Origins. I hadn't realized they had brought out a newer version – would have expected to be informed, as I'm a registered user. However – having used both YFT and Origins I, I found that I wasn't particularly comfortable with the user interface in Origins. Also found that installing it (for a novice) was rather complicated. One of the major things I disliked about it was the limitation (only numeric) on the "Code" field, aside from not being a long-enough field. I happen to use an alpha-numeric numbering system for my individuals and marriages, separating generations with colons (:), and Origins wouldn't allow that. While YFT has a limitation on the length of the field, I can get around that by substituting a shorter code, and having recently spoken to Mike Pasterik, the author of YFT, he tells me that as soon as he's finished the Windows version of YFT, he'll be upgrading the Amiga version and one of the changes will be to allow a 40-character I.D. (Code) field. Another thing I didn't like about Origins is that _it_ assigns an I.D. to each individual (as opposed to a Code, which is the I.D. you've assigned). YFT doesn't assign I.D.'s unless you specifically tell it to – which gives much more flexibility, in my opinion. YFT has more printout capabilities as well, which makes it more useful to me. Origins does have the capability of including notes and sources separately, which is a nice feature, but YFT also has a feature which allows notes and pictures for both individuals and families. The work-around is to use the note file for sources as well. YFT now has GEDCOM Import and Export as well as Tiny Tafel facility, which gave Origins the edge at the time I bought it. All in all, I much prefer YFT, and have scratched Origins from my HD, as I don't anticipate using it. Remember, though, that I haven't seen Origins II – these comparisons are based on my experience with Origins I. Good luck with your search, and if I can be of further help, please let me know.