Tech Forum

Define "using". nFS only accepts GEDCOMs, so it's not like you can upload your Reunion database in native form. And I'd strongly advise against any uploads right away. nFS is not a blank slate. To the extent that temple work has been done for your ancestors, or submitted to Ancestral File or Pedigree Resource File, they are already in the system - you just need to put the pieces together.

Some software will be coming out with a new version that will sync with nFS using nFS's API. Unfortunately I haven't seen Reunion on that list. You'll have to talk to Leister Productions about that.

Is there a Mac genealogy software that IS on the list of those that are working on syncing with newFS?

jensenfa wrote:Is there a Mac genealogy software that IS on the list of those that are working on syncing with newFS?

None that I know of.

I seriously doubt that it's an issue on the church's side, but that the companies just have to be willing to join up.

You don't need a desktop program to use newFamilySearch, it is web based. All you need is access to the internet. The nFS API will allow comercial software vendors to interface their desktop programs with nFS, I am sure some company will eventually create an interface with a Mac software program.

There is really not a need to interface your personal files with nFS if all your files contain names which have already had Temple Work done for them because those names are already in nFS. You can submit names to nFS that have not had Temple work done for them and are not in nFS using a GEDCOM file or by entering them in directly online.

The biggest advantage to a desktop program that will interface with nFS will be the ability to download from nFS the information you do not have in you own files. But even then that information is available to you at any time online without the need for a desktop program. Desktop programs offer more functions than the online program provides but more functions are being added all the time so that will not be so important in the future.

GarysTurn wrote:The biggest advantage to a desktop program that will interface with nFS will be the ability to download from nFS the information you do not have in you own files. But even then that information is available to you at any time online without the need for a desktop program. Desktop programs offer more functions than the online program provides but more functions are being added all the time so that will not be so important in the future.

Until Internet access is readily available at every conceiveable place you will do research, desktop programs will be very useful. It is very handy to have your genealogical data on a laptop while you are doing research, as you never know just what information you will come across and how it will connect to your existing data.

But I certainly agree with Gary's big point (if I understood him properly ) that we need to change our thinking and treat the common nFS data as our repository of information, rather than millions of isolated data sets on individuals' desktops.

I hope Gramps will soon be able to sync using the API. If I can get some other projects done, I might help make it happen. ( http://www.gramps-project.org/)

I'm working on some Mac software that will sync with nFS, unfortunately it's still in the early stages so not much to see yet.

I'm hoping once that FSKit gets stable, it should make it easy for other Mac applications to add nFS support.

Here's a screenshot of the first partially-working demo app in FSKit.