The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Klaus Cook,  Jan 5, 2012

The program displays my data from a SQL data base in a very organized fashion. Appearance can be changed at a moment’s notice through a template system. The best customer support I have ever encountered.

Biggest Pro: Ease of use, easy customization, and a very active and knowledgeable support group.
Biggest Con: Can’t think of any.

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by HR Mitchell,  Dec 31, 2011

I’ve been using this package since somewhere around Version 3 (version 9 will be released in 2012). I came from using PAF and early versions of Family Tree Maker and having a static website with no real control over how the data was displayed.
Since then, I have largely moved to using TNG as my primary genealogy package - my data is available to me anywhere I have internet connectivity, and I rarely have to be concerned if my computer crashes, or my hard drive fails - and having lost all of my data at one point for those two reasons, you may appreciate why I like having it on the web.
Site members can be assigned a number of levels of access, they can be restricted to only their branch or tree for that access, site visitors may be able to suggest additions or corrections via built-in capability, and there are a number of bridges to allow TNG to be used in a number of content management systems, such as Joomal, WordPress and others.
While its most common deployment is live on the web, it is also possible to set it up for a local use on your own computer using SQL and PHO packages available elsewhere. It can present a learning curve, but between the Wiki, the forums and the support list, any questions can usually be resolved in a short amount of time. Darrin and those assisting him are friendly and very helpful.

Biggest Pro: Always available, can present your data in a number of presentation styles, constantly being upgraded and improved for better security, privacy and functionality.
Biggest Con: Can present a learning curve, especially if you are not familiar with SQL and PHP, but this is not that huge a process.

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by eu - europe,  Dec 28, 2011

Different from any other genealogy softwere I ever have used. Difficult to say if this approach is ground breaking or not. I don’t feel quite comfortable.

Biggest Pro: Fast!
Biggest Con: Very different from other genealogy SW

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Paul Lauryssens,  Dec 1, 2011

TNG is the most powerfull online sofware for genealogy I have ever come across.
it has about 8 standard templates, a good forum and a wiki page where every answer to almost every question can be found.
http://www.lauryssens.info/stamboom

Biggest Pro: Good support group, continuously new development
Biggest Con: none

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Brett,  Nov 30, 2011

TNG gets better with each release. Vs. 9 will be out in 2012 and indications are that it will again have numerous improvements.

Biggest Pro: Online so viewable by any. No requirement to send GEDCOM, PDF etc.
Biggest Con: As it is online, you do require a web prescence.

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by michael,  Nov 29, 2011

Excellent program with excellent support. Would give it 5 stars were it not for some limitations for sourcing.

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Fred Berardi,  Sep 11, 2011

Without a doubt, I am a supporter of this program. Besides the ability to render all my content and charts in a GREAT way on the web, this program also addresses security and PRIVACY of individuals while allowing granular control for family members.

Darrin and his team are the VERY best at supporting users and making changes to improve this program. I don’t know another program that provides the support and features that this one do. If you don’t use it…get it!!!

Biggest Pro: Constantly improving security and PRIVACY while providing a superior interface for the users and administrators.
Biggest Con: No 3D interface…just kidding..there ARE no cons!!!

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Brett,  Aug 8, 2011

Best online Genealogy program available.

Biggest Pro: Runs fast, customisable, great support, runs from PC as well.
Biggest Con: None

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Mark Stanton,  Feb 18, 2011

I’ve been using TNG since 2005 and I think it’s fantastic!

I started out not knowing anything about websites, databases etc… and to be honest I’m still a complete novice. But with some patience and perseverence (and a little support from Darrin and my excellent hosting provider SimplyHosting), I got it up and running no problem.

I use Family Tree Maker on my local laptop as my main database to capture data, create reports, manage sources etc. But I then use TNG to share all my research on the web. It is simple to export a Gedcom file from Family Tree Maker and then upload it to TNG, so updating the website with all the latest research is easy.

I’ve had lots of contact from people around the world who are related to me - much easier when they come to you rather than you having to find them

Also I don’t agree with earlier comments regarding whether TNG is friendly to Search Engines - if you put “Stanton Genealogy” into Google, my TNG website (www.stantonetal.com/genealogy) comes top of the list. And a Google search on many of the ancestor names in my database will usually get my website link on the first set of search results.

In short, can’t recommend TNG highly enough. The price is sensible, the updates are regular, the support is responsive, and you don’t need to be a technical genius to get up and running.

Biggest Pro: Simple to set up and get your genealogy data noticed by search engines.
Biggest Con: You need some patience and be prepared to learn a little to get up and running.

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Amber,  Feb 6, 2011

I have been using this program for several years. I also use Roots Magic. I love the dynamic aspect of TNG. I struggle a lot with the installation and I am not able to customize the site as easily as I could with my html site. I LOVE the way the site works and Darin as always responsive. There are web hosting companies that set the site up for you. That is the only way I was able to get mine going. I would love to see an install package that puts it all together for you easily. For anyone that has PHP experience, you will manage file. Newbies- get hep.

Biggest Pro: Great program. Best I have found on the market yet.
Biggest Con: Not easy to install and customize unless you know PHP.

The Next Generation (TNG) Review by Doug Couch,  Sep 11, 2010

I spent many years using early versions of FamilyTreeMaker. In 2008, I finally upgraded to that version, and immediately discovered RootsMagic. RootsMagic is much easier to use that FTM08 and particularly has a nice feature of allowing you to open multiple databases simultaneously and tile them. Not long after this, I discovered The Next Generation (TNG) of Web Site Building and installed v7.0.3.

Installation is a bit of a booger bear, even with their automated routines to assist setting it up. Mostly that is from lack of information and expertise written for the non-techie. I am somewhat of a programmer and still found it difficult. But…help was available, they put up with my whining, and shortly after my database-driven dynamic database was up and running.

Also, the varied ways of entering data was not like I was used to, so finding out where and how to enter, edit, delete and relink people and images, put in notes, etc., was difficult for me. But again…help was available, and in a short time, I found it easy and rather intuitive. I just needed to face the learning curve.

I absolutely LOVE TNG for all my genealogy needs except certain types of data review for GEDCOM comparison purposes (for which I use RootsMagic4). After over 2 years, I’m still in love with it, and really haven’t learned all there is to learn, and am starting to explore even more features I’d neglected.

If you have ever had a static website with no control over page layout other than generating page sets, doing manual HTML modification, etc., you know how horrible that can be to keep updated!!! For every new piece of data or change, you either have to regenerate the page set and upload, or you have to nav around, find the related pages, and manually modify them. I hated it…but did it.

Today, with TNG, when I make any change, it changes in the database, from which all pages related to that person, family, media, etc. are drawn…all with the updated information. Not only can I use its many many features, but I can modify the code in the files to change how it works, what it displays (or doesn’t). But more than that, I can use basic HTML, Javascript and other cool helps to make notes and other areas do great things, like display an iframe with a bio or relevant Wiki page right along with the text. Or for text which is longer but in groups or categories, I can create expandable/collapsible paragraphs, and let people click and view only the portions they are interested in. I can add a carousel, add a photo gallery wall, add Flash programming to headers, add additional functions and features, add a music system, add Google Maps (using basic functionality already available built-in and/or customized however I want it to be)…the list goes on and on, limited mainly by one’s imagination and programming skills (and a LOT can be done with very basic skills). A fun thing I did was to create a basic FAQ set of How To informational pages, and place them in the header that appears on almost all pages, allowing visitors to open help in an expandable paragraph, inside of which is an “iframe” displaying the home page of the FAQ page set. People can nav around in the help pages without ever leaving the page they’re working with, can open and close it at will. AND I’M A NOVICE AT PROGRAMMING AND DO NOT KNOW HTML COMPLETELY, DO NOT KNOW JAVASCRIPT, DO NOT KNOW PHP, etc., etc.

Then you can put the database and program on a CD or DVD or Flash Drive. If ever there was a direction for genealogy recording and programmatic display, TNG “is” that direction. Could it be better? Yeah…and that’s the beauty of it. It will get better and is getting better in big ways, and you or I can contribute to the progress if we choose to by creating Mods for it and testing them, and sharing them with others…and some eventually becoming features of TNG itself.

Biggest Pro: Dynamic Online Worldwide Availability, with Single Updates Used Throughout the Web Pages
Biggest Con: I had to learn how to use it!!! Bummer - and oh yeah, it doesn’t bring my snacks and drinks to my computer station (yet)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excellent software. Very flexible and very powerful.

Biggest Pro: flexibility

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

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