Comparing Ancestry and Family Search

One of the things I did at the conference was to use my iPhone for snapping PowerPoint slides.  This saved me so much time and allowed me to give my full attention to the presenter without frantic note taking.  I am including the slides to show you how although the pictures are far from perfect they did capture what I needed.  This first one is on Primary Purposes of the 2 websites.

Primary Purposes

 Ancestry

 Share Data

Research Support

Preserve Data
Collaborate

Family Search FamilyTrees

Do Temple Work

  Avoid Duplications 

The Universal Tree

Collaborate

Research

Ancestry

Encourages research through hints

Direct link to Ancestry Documents

Stories and other items included

Large non-LDS participation

Sources not mandated

FSFT

No research emphasis beyond sources

Direct links to Family Search documents

No stories but possible through URLs

Primarily LDS participation

Display Functionality:

Ancestry

Compact Data Display

Easier to go deep in a couple of clicks

Source and photo attachment can be complicated

FSFT

Lots of white space

Several Clicks to go deeper

Source attachment is simple

Compatibility With Other Programs:

Ancestry

GEDCOM compatible but no ability to 

add a GEDCOM file to an existing tree.

No LDS Temple work capacity

Family /tree Maker 2012 for Tree Sync

FSFT

GEDCOM compatible

No ability to add a GEDCOM file to an existing tree (?)

Full LDS Temple Work Capacity coming soon!

Integrated with affiliate programs

Sharing:

Ancestry

 Able to share or not (Public or Private Options)

Makes available photos and documents 

System set up to contact all submitters

(although not all people answer)

FSFT 

Shared and edited by everyone

No images

Contacts on FT but email not mandated 

There is no contact information on AF (Ancestral File)

or the PRF (Pedigree Resource File) 
Found under Trees on the home page not family trees

 

Sourcing:

Ancestry

Source Citations

URL links

Direct link to Ancestry Records

Document and photo upload

FSFT

Source Citations

URL links

Direct link to Family Search records

Document and photo upload

Which Program Should You Use?
Both!

This presentation was given at the Genealogy
 and Family History Conference

by Br. George Ryskamp on August 3, 2012

I thought it was very helpful in recognizing that the two programs have different mission statements and purposes.   Each has decided advantages and disadvantages.  Both are still being developed on a regular on-going basis.  As we use them together we will minimize the disadvantages and advantages of both.