The Next Generation (TNG)

by Darrin Lythgoe
Produces really nice looking dynamically creating web pages from information stored in mySQL database tables using PHP scripting on the Web site.

Purchase • Windows • Utility • Builds Website
http://lythgoes.net/genealogy/software.php
28 Reviews, latest Jun 11, 2010
Enjoy Using It4.71 out of 54.71 out of 54.71 out of 54.71 out of 54.71 out of 5 4.71
Use It Often4.59 out of 54.59 out of 54.59 out of 54.59 out of 54.59 out of 5 4.59
Easy Input4.25 out of 54.25 out of 54.25 out of 54.25 out of 54.25 out of 5 4.25
Useful Output4.79 out of 54.79 out of 54.79 out of 54.79 out of 54.79 out of 5 4.79
Overall Rating4.68 out of 54.68 out of 54.68 out of 54.68 out of 54.68 out of 5 4.68
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28 Reviews of The Next Generation (TNG)     RSS 2.0 RSS     Showing 1 - 20

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Bob Hutchins,  Jun 11, 2010

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I have been using TNG for many years I have it installed on my computer (Linux Mint O$) and on my webhosting and I just upload backups media etc each week. I used to just use the wbesite for adding etc, until my site was hacked so I do recommend having it on your local host.

It’s easy to use and dispite what John Dungan remarks about SEO, names from my database often come up on the first or second page on google.

Despite this being something Darrin produces in his spare time, his customer service is outstanding, when as a “newbie” I had installation or server problems and emailed for advise, his replies and help was so quick that I was up and running in no time.

The only thing on my wish list would be able to link an album to an event rather than just the person.

Biggest Pro: Darrin Lythgoe - The mans a genius
Biggest Con: None

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by GenMayle.com,  May 15, 2010

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We’ve been extremely pleased with our online genealogy Web site built around TNG. It does what it’s supposed to do, and does it very well.

It might be good to keep in mind, however, that TNG is a Web application built in PHP. This being the case, you’ll need some basic knowledge of how to set up Web sites and how to manage them. If you know HTML, CSS and maybe a little PHP, you’ll be able to tweak the software and your site’s design to your heart’s content. If not, you’ll still be able to download and install different templates to customize your site.

The developer, Darrin Lythgoe, has always been very responsive to any question that I’ve written to him about, and that alone makes a huge difference.

As to one of the comments here regarding TNG not being SEO (search engine optimization) friendly: TNG does not rewrite URLs to a simpler form, yoursite.com/file.html as opposed to yoursite.com/directory/showmedia.php?mediaID=7912, for example. However, search engines, like Google, have long ago developed to the point where they’re able to handle difficult URLs, so really, this just isn’t the problem that it might once have been. Checking our own TNG site, the search engines have done an excellent job of indexing most everything — despite the complex URLs. If search engine rankings and thorough indexing of your site are important to you, fine-tuning the wording and structure of your front page, plus getting your site linked to from other sites on the Internet is far more important than optimized internal URLs. Perform a Google search on “search engine optimization” or “SEO” for more information and tips on how to go about doing this.

Cory

Biggest Pro: Full-featured, very stable, actively being developed and maintained, plus great customer support
Biggest Con: Customizing it can be a bit technical

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Lawrence Dillard,  Feb 10, 2010

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I have been using TNG since 2004 and I would not use anything else. I tried many times before to create a Genealogy website on my own. It was not until I installed TNG that I finally had something that worked. It is easy to use, easy to install and easy to maintain. It is fully customizable so if you wish you can make it completly your own. It is fast and efficient. I have over 36,000 individuals and the page loads are quick. I would not even consider anything else. With TNG you can go from gedcom to full site in less than an hour. I love it and would recomend it it to everyone no matter how ittle or much you know about building wesites.

Biggest Pro: Ease of use
Biggest Con: None

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Peter Thomsen, DK,  Jan 10, 2010

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I’ve tried several genealogy programs, since I would like to be able to create a simpel tree outside the TNG program, but I haven’t succeded yet.
Everytime I try another program i go back using TNG. It’s well looking, fairly easy to use and has most of the features I need.

Biggest Pro: Internet based program
Biggest Con: Not easy for non users to walk around in the trees

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Andreas,  Jan 6, 2010

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After testing almost all available genealogy (windows) programs, my choice since 2 years is TNG. Great program to manage and share my data.

Biggest Pro: Support (thnx to Darrin and the community) and flexibility
Biggest Con: more detailled user-permission system

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Brett,  Nov 24, 2009

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Great as stand alone or web site supplement to other programs.

Biggest Pro: Dynamic web display.

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Vladek Komorek,  Nov 14, 2009

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Excellent software. Very flexible and very powerful.

Biggest Pro: flexibility

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Bob Craycroft,  May 28, 2009

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I’ve been using TNG since version 2.0 and have found it extremely useful and easy to use for posting my genealogy results online. The capability to attach photos, documents and text files to individuals and families is a great help. The geocoding feature allows my visitors to see where their ancestors lived their lives.

But the best feature is the customer support from Darrin. He is quick to respond to e-mails for assistance and tries to add features suggested by his users from around the world.

Biggest Pro: Customer support, ease of use

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Myron M. Felckowski,  May 8, 2009

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TNG is the best software in presenting a families history on a website. You can create web pages with the basic information about your family or have a very detailed history.

Is John Dungan an employee or sales representative for Family Tree Maker and Ancestry.com ? = During the early 1990s I started using FTM and was satisfied with the program for 15+ years. After FTM 2009 was released, I had to switch programs because some of the options are no longer available and you are required to use Ancestry.com in placing your family history online. Other genealogists that I exchange information with were avid users of FTM but have recently switched to other programs. Six+ hours for the software to create web pages is not acceptable for any user unless you enjoy watching a snail. The feature of creating web pages in Family Historian and Legacy was less than two hours for 100,000+ individuals.

TNG was created for the purpose of building web pages which are pleasant to view and maneuver for most users of the internet. It is not perfect, but I do not know of any computer software program that is, with plenty of them on the market that exist because of advertizing clout.

Since my family history has been online using TNG created web pages, many individuals have found the families which are included without the need of SEO which John Dungan claims is necessary.

TNG can be used by a newbie or an experienced computer software user. The support for someone just starting is excellent plus the software is being improved to make it easier and more versatile.

Biggest Pro: The BEST for building web pages
Biggest Con: None

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by John Dungan,  Apr 25, 2009

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Like other reviewers here I have used many of the commercial software available for genealogical research and lets face it Family Tree Maker is head and shoulders above the rest if your a serious genealogist. The feature set leaves all others far behind. TNG however does have 2 features that make it unique. Those are that it can be installed on the internet and accessed remotely anytime. Second because of feature one you can collaborate with other genealogist online.

Where TNG fails is in its use as a serious online genealogy website. TNG is not search engine friendly. I recently asked the developer about SEO and making the software search engine friendly and Mr. Lythgoe very arrogantly replied…

“I really can’t guess what each individual site owner had in mind when he or she assigned folder names on his or her site. I therefore don’t think it’s the software’s place to change or massage the URLs.”

So if your looking to develop a genealogy website and wish to generate a high level of traffic this software is simply not a viable solution. It appears to me Mr. Lythgoe has no intention of making the software search engine friendly. I told Mr. Lythgoe I thought it sad he was not interested in seo as it is now essential these days. Mr. Lythgoe angrily replied…

“If I was running a subscription service database, like Ancestry or Footnote, I would set up a nice friendly URL rewrite system, and it would be perfect because I would be in complete control of the server.”

So I suppose that means that Mr. Lythgoe would certainly incorporate seo if the software were for his own use but since its not he doesn’t care. For myself the software is useless without seo features like search engine friendly urls. I suppose it could be a useful tool for others who just want an online database and who don’t care about a serious web presence.

Biggest Pro: Online Installation
Biggest Con: NO SEO

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Chris R.,  Mar 2, 2009

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I’ve used Family Tree Maker and The Master Genealogist on a PC and Reunion on a Mac. I’ve tried Clooz and Bygones as genealogy databases on the PC. All have left me unsatisfied. My goal has always been universal access to my genealogy data from anywhere on the Internet. In addition, I wanted to be able to collaborate with other researchers in a single database that I controlled (Ancestry.com is convenient, but out of my control). I finally found that software in TNG.

TNG is easy to install by following the included readme file. I host my site using GoDaddy.com on Linux, but any hosting supporting Apache, MySQL, and PHP should work. I especially enjoy being able to access my data from my Blackberry, PC, or Mac. Sharing data is simple — collaborators fill out a form to request an account and you decide what level of access they can have.

There are bridges available or under development with popular content management systems and collaboration tools like Joomla! so you can create a totally integrated Web site including discussion forums and blogging to supplement TNG. I’m impressed with the ability to generate PDF files from the graphics and reports for sharing and printing.

Biggest Pro: Does almost everything a local genealogy program does, but accessible from anywhere
Biggest Con: Requires a hosted domain and some extra effort to set up and maintain (well worth it, in my opinion)

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Michael,  Feb 8, 2009

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I am a recent convert to TNG from TMG. Ideeally i would like to see a programme that uses the best of both of them. TNG has an excellent interface (output) whereas TMG has by the best input system and cant be equalledd. Both have very powerfull search facilites. On price TNG score over TMG. Both provided excellent support. TNG is easier to use on a web site. TMG does have god web capabliites but needs an add on (secondsite) for best results. Both have been developed by individuals passionate about genealogy who know their stuff.

Biggest Pro: Web site capabilty and ‘good’ clean outputs. No Gedcom problems
Biggest Con: Limited interface for entering records manually (inputs) but

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Brett,  Jan 17, 2009

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A great genealogy web site can be made within minutes, no programming, no mistakes. But only after it has been installed correctly. It is easy to maintain, has great support from both developer and users. If CSS and PHP are known, this program can do whatever you want it to.

Biggest Pro: Upload Gedcom and site is live and useful.
Biggest Con: Requires server access to install and upgrade or host that will do it. Can be scary if never done that before.

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Alonzo,  Jan 13, 2009

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We began using a competitors program (Open Source), but quickly switched to TNG because it has a far better presentation in the web pages, and the Templates offer superior looking web pages. In agreement with all the other reviews, the output is fantastic, and gives one pretty much anything you would want.

Our application is for a Family Association where we are attempting to combine all the best information from an extensive network of family genealogists. They contribute genealogy, family histories, individual photos, headstone pictures, document images and so forth.

One downside is that if you try to input information one person or family at a time, the screens intimidate most of our family members who are used to PAF and similar programs. So we load most everything from a GEDCOM from the members personal genealogy program. This creates a lot of merging work for the admin.

Biggest Pro: Input once, output in many ways.
Biggest Con: Ease of inputing through Person or Family data entry screens.

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Bruce Roy,  Jan 12, 2009

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An attractive (choice of templates) and easy-to-maintain (just upload a gedcom, full or part) presentation that is protected by user registration and granting of access privileges. Visitors can find it; family members granted access can follow family tree links. A very helpful creator, user group and forum for tweaking the site, adding extras, etc.

Biggest Pro: presentation and security
Biggest Con: need to come to terms with php for full benefits

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Steven Willingale,  Jan 12, 2009

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Set up can be tricky although the support forums are very helpful. As it’s coded in php those of an adventurous nature can create their own add-ons / enhancements or install one of the many that have been created by other users. However, ‘out of the box’ the software does pretty much everything you would want. This has brought our family tree to life and allows us to share it, and all the photos and documents we have, with other family members.

Biggest Pro: Online display is the best I’ve seen, searching facilities are excellent
Biggest Con: Setup can be difficult for a beginner

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Alfred Lyman,  Jan 12, 2009

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I have used TNG since version 3. It is great for uploading and displaying a GEDCOM on the internet. But the interface for entering Individual and family date online is cumbersome compared to a desktop genealogy program such as PAF.

Installation may be challenging for users not familiar with installing complex web scripts such as forums, blogs, or content management systems.

The biggest drawback is the lack of a fine-grained user permission system. Each user can only be assigned to one tree and branch. No control over which trees and branches a user is allowed to view.

Biggest Pro: Uploading and displaying a GEDCOM online.
Biggest Con: Lacks a fine-grained user permission system.

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Kumungi,  Jan 12, 2009

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The best software available for displaying your family tree on the web, nothing even comes close.

Initial setup can be a little overwhelming at first for the not so computer savy, but if you are like me and like to tinker this is the software for you.

Great user group support and the program author is second to none in providing support and assistance.

I put a copy on a usb drive and presented it at a family reunion, it was a ‘knockout’.

One of the best investments I have made in over 20 years of genealogical research.

Biggest Pro: Price, support, web display, customisation, data entry, reporting
Biggest Con: Just one…..we need more templates!

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Rush,  Jan 11, 2009

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This is simply the best program for displaying and managing your genealogy information on the Internet.
GEDCOMs can be imported from a variety of local genealogy software.

You can write custom SQL reports with TNG’s ‘Report Builder’, import photographs and documents and TNG can be integrate with other CMS like e107, Wordpress, and Joomla.

Support is outstanding and Darrin is always quick to respond to any technical issue… I’m not sure when, if ever, he sleeps. TNG is also supported by a forum and a mailing list.

Biggest Pro: simple, clean, easy to setup, full featured, imports GEDCOMs
Biggest Con: Not a big deal, but customizing your layout on the web may take a little bit of work

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