README.TXT October 29, 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GenDesigner Shareware Version 2.0 BETA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- " The unique, powerful and easy-to-use tool to create, edit and distribute family trees on the Internet " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GenDesigner is an easy-to-use application for creating, editing, and distributing family trees. You may include additional text and pictures for each person as well as distribute your genealogical tree on the Internet. A family tree example comes with the application. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- File: gendes20_b2.zip (540K) Version: 2.0 BETA (build 2) Status: Shareware Distribution: Freely distributable "as-is" Last updated: October 29, 1998 Minimum requirements: Windows 95 / 98 / NT Installation: Use winzip or pkunzip to unpack the file Author: Morten Salthe Web site: http://www.gendesigner.com Discussion Forum: http://www.gendesigner.com/forum.html ================================================================================ TABLE OF CONTENTS ================================================================================ 1 - ABOUT GENDESIGNER -The purpose -Easy to use 2 - UPDATES -Updated in 1.5.2 -Updated in 1.5.3 -Updated in 2.0 BETA 3 - UPCOMING FEATURES -Currently under construction -Coming in the full version -Future plans 4 - KNOWN BUGS -Known disadvantages in 2.0 BETA 5 - REGISTERING INFORMATION 6 - CONTACT GENDESIGNER ================================================================================ 1 - ABOUT GENDESIGNER ================================================================================ > The purpose The purpose of this program is to make it easy for anyone to distribute their genealogy tree on the internet. Simply click once - and your tree will be presented in nice, graphical web-pages, including any pictures and additional information you have supplied. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Easy to use The tree editor is very easy to use. Just right-click anywhere, and you will get a menu of the most common tasks. You can zoom in and out of your tree, navigate, create items, connect children to their parents and much more, using only your mouse. ================================================================================ 2 - UPDATES ================================================================================ > Updated in 1.5.2 This update makes it easier to move around in your tree: * Hand-cursor dragging: Click Alt + your left mouse-button, and drag the tree canvas to any direction. * Easier to zoom in and out: Click Ctrl + your left mouse-button, and mark the area you want to zoom in to. You can also zoom in/out by clicking Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+X. A bug in the "Make this home" function have been removed. Please keep reporting any bugs or problems you are having. All questions regarding the application will be answered. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Updated in 1.5.3 * Added a "Person Browser" (menu: View/Browser, or press f10) All person names are listed alphabetically in this browser. Double-click on a name, and the application will focus the particular person in the tree. * You will now have the ability to open a .gd2 file just by double-clicking it in the Windows Explorer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Updated in 2.0 BETA * GEDCOM import: You can import information from several kinds of GEDCOM files. (See chapter 3 for more information) * Print tree: You decide if you want to print the whole tree or just a selection of items. Choose print size from 1 page to 7x7 = 49 pages (should be enough for anyone?) * Multiple marriages: You can create 8 marriages per item, which equals to 16 per person if you count in the "alias" as well. * Arrange items: You can select a group of items and arrange them horizontally or vertically, a great advantage if you like to line up generations. * Color codes: This feature makes it easier to keep control of all the information in your tree. Choose to see item color codes based on gender, connected pictures or text. * Customizable HTML pages: Stylize the pages your own way by choosing background images, colors, fonts, frames and contents. * Up to 40% "faster" HTML pages: The new way GenDesigner creates pages actually saves disk space AND makes your genealogy pages a lot faster to load from the internet. The secret is GIF boxes instead of JPEG. * Support for international charsets: Now GenDesigner can be used to create HTML pages all over the world, just choose your country and go ahead. * Bugs fixed If you discovered any bugs in the previous version, see if you can spot them now. A few "hidden" bugs has been removed - thanks to a lot of kind users who spotted them. Please keep reporting bugs if you find any! * Upgrade your old GenDesigner 1.0 / 1.5.x files to version 2.0 (gd3) ================================================================================ 3 - UPCOMING FEATURES ================================================================================ > Currently under construction * After the first BETA version of 2.0 with "full" GEDCOM import I eventually realized that I had to redo the whole GEDCOM compability code. Thanks to a panel of smart BETA testers I have now figured out how to create the GEDCOM features without using a lot of RAM and computer resources. Since so many of you anxiously have waited for this version, I decided to release a working version for you. So I removed all the stuff that didn't work properly, just give me some time to redo it. With this BETA you are able to import GEDCOM files, but it only supports ordinary tags like name, birth, death, occupation, marriage and source/reference codes. Sorry to keep you waiting, the full version will be available soon. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Coming in the full version: * You will have the ability to fill in a lot more individual information, represented on a unique information treeview. * Full GEDCOM import * Full GEDCOM export -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Future plans: - More reports - Different HTML exports - Better auto-organization of items - More print options - "Family cronicle" printouts - Support for huge trees ================================================================================ 4 - KNOWN BUGS ================================================================================ > Known disadvantages in 2.0 BETA: * Trees containing a large number of persons will slow down your computer. This depends on your computer RAM and CPU speed. * GenDesigner is unable to read certain GEDCOM files. This will be improved for the next version. (TIP: You could try importing extracts from different applications) * The auto-organization of items after an import does not always look good. Some trees will need manual adjustments. ================================================================================ 5 - REGISTERING INFORMATION ================================================================================ Shareware means you get a chance to "try before you buy". If you continue to use the unregistered shareware version of GenDesigner, you must register it. The registration fee is US$ 29.99 for a single user license. Registered users are entitled to FREE upgrades for one year by downloading the latest versions. When you have registered GenDesigner, you may use the registered version freely on one computer. You may not distribute the registered version of the software nor the authorization key to any other third party. If you wish to use several copies, you will need to either register each copy, or obtain a multi-user license (see below). How to register: Please complete the registration form provided with the shareware, send the form to the author by mail or email and pay the registration fee. You will receive an authorization key by mail or email shortly after payment has been executed. Expect to get the registration key 5-15 days from date of order, depending on the mail / air mail handling. If you use email, the registration process will be faster. NOTE: The registration payment method will hopefully be changed to a more convenient way for international citizens within short time. Please sign up to the GenDesigner mailing list from the GenDesigner home page to receive more info about this progress. A multi-user license is required by an organization, company or government agency to use GenDesigner. To use GenDesigner within your organization, company, educational or government agency, please contact email to gendesigner@gendesigner.com. All licenses are non-transferable. See Licensee Agreement under the "Help" menu in the application for more info. ================================================================================ 6 - CONTACT GENDESIGNER ================================================================================ - Check http://www.gendesigner.com for updates or more information. If you experience any trouble, discover bugs in the application, or if you have suggestions/improvement tips, please feel free to send emails. Sincerely, Morten Salthe (salthe@gendesigner.com) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------