Ancestral Quest

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by Incline Software (Gaylon Findlay)
This is the program on which the Windows version PAF was based. It uses the same database structure as PAF (Personal Ancestral File). This program has continued to develop and is a very widely used program. PAF users who want to retain their current database but use a supported program might want to try this out. There is also a free version available called Ancestral Quest Basics.

Free • Purchase • Windows • Full Featured • Builds Website
http://www.ancquest.com/
16 Reviews, latest Jan 19, 2013
Overall164.96 out of 54.96 out of 54.96 out of 54.96 out of 54.96 out of 5 4.96
201325 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 5.00
201235 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 5.00
Earlier114.89 out of 54.89 out of 54.89 out of 54.89 out of 54.89 out of 5 4.89
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16 Reviews of Ancestral Quest     RSS 2.0 RSS                   Add Your Review

Ancestral Quest Review by Dan Garnitz,  Jan 19, 2013

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

This is a great program for most genealogist. It has all the bells and whistles most genealogist want. Developed originally as an addon for PAF, it is know a full blown stand alone package, that can use your PAF data files, and give you the new features you may need, such as new Family Tree access (formerly new FamilySearch), web searches (Ancestry.com) and more. Numerous reports, including a few special reports.

Biggest Pro: Updated regularly to keep current.
Biggest Con: none

Ancestral Quest Review by Brent,  Jan 7, 2013

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

Solid, solid program (which in the end, is what we really want). Not overly flashy but powerful - it looks on the surface like PAF with color. But under the hood there are tons of powerful new features.

I have used lots of other programs. This one is the best.

With a free basic version, there is no reason not to start with this program.

Biggest Pro: Continually updated with the features that I use and need.
Biggest Con: Can’t think of one.

Ancestral Quest Review by Chris,  Apr 13, 2012

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

Have tried most ancestrial programs, this is the best

Ancestral Quest Review by D. L. Johnson,  Mar 31, 2012

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

This does not produce “3-D” singing, dancing flower borders, but it is the gold standard for professional, airtight programming. It is clear that these guys care about the customers’ ultimate goals of reliability, clarity, and capacity. These program does exactly what it says it will do. I have yet to find another one that does.
Others have more decoration on the screens and reports, but I’m more entertained by something I can trust my 4,800 family records to.
After 20 years of family history research, this is the one I trust.

Biggest Pro: Conservative, airtight programming
Biggest Con: None

Ancestral Quest Review by Leroy Carlson,  Jan 3, 2012

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

I have been using it since Version 1 and have never had any problems. It is intuitive and easy to use. It has immense capability in its features, much more than most could use. Support is the best I have ever seen from any software vendor. It is inexpensive and has a free version. A real buy!

Biggest Pro: Ease of use and product support
Biggest Con: none

Ancestral Quest Review by Dona Thorpe,  Sep 22, 2011

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

It is great, I love it.

Biggest Pro: Professional help is just a phone call or an Email away.
Biggest Con: Once I link to an individual in Family search, other records with the same name are not available to me.

Ancestral Quest Review by Björn Hansson,  Sep 16, 2011

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

Ett av dom bästa släktforskningsprogrammen

(translation from Swedish: “One of the best genealogy programs”)

Biggest Pro: Lätt att arbeta med (Easy to work with)
Biggest Con: non (no)

Ancestral Quest Review by Margaret,  Sep 15, 2011

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

The developers are excellent at keeping on top of changes to nFS and any other issues found by users. Updates are frequent and free.

Biggest Pro: Ease of use and frequent updates
Biggest Con: none

Ancestral Quest Review by Pete Smee,  Mar 23, 2011

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

An excellent program which allows considerable felxibility in usage, Excellent support available from program Creator and very active user forum

Biggest Pro: ease of use, level of reporting
Biggest Con: lack of templating for events

Ancestral Quest Review by Richard Wolff,  Dec 19, 2009

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

I converted from PAF when they didn’t bring out a Windows version. I have absolutely loved AQ. I also like that the program is continually updated and improved. The user community asks for changes and they happen.

Biggest Pro: Sources and images
Biggest Con: Not enough people use it

Ancestral Quest Review by Billie Fogarty,  Apr 10, 2009

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

Easy to learn and use. Intuitive and easy source documentation process, which should be one of the criteria to be rated. I have installed and used many of the popular genealogy software programs and always come back to Ancestral Quest because of its straightforward data entry process, research manager, and wide range of features that do not distract the reader with eye-catching add-ons that add little to the substance.

Biggest Pro: Ease of entering source information.

Ancestral Quest Review by Charles Hansen,  Oct 3, 2008

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

I started using Ancestral Quest with version 1, and really liked version 2 which I still use. I tried version 3 and it ran so slow on the computer I had then, that I uninstalled version 3 and kept using version 2. Recently I installed version 12, still learning all the new features but it still is a lot like version 2 which I like. I still don’t like not to be able to use more than one picture in the notes or to resize the pictures in the notes. Before I switched to windows I had a program that allowed as many picturs as you wanted in the notes and you could size them individually, so a group picture could be large to see everyone, and a close up could be small.

Charles

Biggest Pro: Ease of use
Biggest Con: Having nearly all the pictures in the scrapbook

Ancestral Quest Review by M Trexler,  Sep 28, 2008

1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

I am a long time user of Ancestral Quest and until 12 weeks ago all of my ratings would have been 5’s, however I have found a bug in my program and cannot get a answer from Customer Service. I have emailed 5 times and called 3 times, as well as copying and sending my program to them, at their request, for review, but still no response. The problem is when entering new sources and documentation. When entering new documentation that information is added to all people in the program who also have the same source deleting the previous documentation.

Biggest Con: Customer Service

Ancestral Quest Review by Tim West,  Sep 27, 2008

Not Rated

There seems to be an error in the description for Ancestral Quest. Ancestral Quest is based on PAF not the other way round as said, “This is the program on which PAF was based.” I was using PAF in the early 1980’s long before Ancestral Quest was released.

Editor’s note: Thank you for the correction. The Windows version of PAF was based on Ancestral Quest.

Ancestral Quest Review by Everett Butler,  Sep 27, 2008

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

Although rich in features, it is simple to use.
Bugs are handled promptly after reporting.

Biggest Pro: Research Manager makes it easy to plan and implement research strategies

Ancestral Quest Review by L.A. Nelson,  Sep 26, 2008

5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

I’m a long-term user of Ancestral Quest. It’s intuitive and easy to use with robust reporting and well-designed reports that can also be customized. Source citations are well organized and allow for streamlined data entry. Documents, photos/images, and audio/video clips can be easily attached to a person or a source. The program will search selected online databases with a single click. Customer support is outstanding; the software designer participates in an online user group at Yahoo and provides timely feedback, fixes and answers.

Biggest Pro: Easy to use, but still full-functioned
Biggest Con: can’t think of one