Genealogy Timeline Tools
Software Programs can Help You Create Helpful Timeline Charts
Timelines can help you put all the events in your family tree into a historical and chronological format, giving you a great view of how your family fits into history.
Timelines are a great visual way to put all your historical research into perspective. By lining up the various events and dates in your family tree chronologically, you are able to really get a look at the flow of your history. Add in other major historical events, and you can place your family history right among the happenings of the era.
You will likely find that your genealogy software program offers some timeline features, but not all do. Some are quite limited, also. And of course, if you are not using software to store your genealogy research, then it doesn't matter anyway.
If you want to have a timeline chart for your family tree, you may want to get a separate utility program. There are programs that are designed to work with specific genealogy software programs, so make sure you don't accidentally buy a timeline program that doesn't match your main software package.
The safest bet is to find a timeline program that works directly from your GEDCOM file, so that it won't matter what main genealogy program you are using. Here are some good choices to look into.
Progeny software offers a few variations on the Genelines program, but the Universal model is the one that will work with any GEDCOM file. There are 7 customizable charts to choose from in Genelines, each that might serve a different research purpose. You can also download historical timelines to include in your charts, at no extra cost. The program costs $30 to download, or $35 for a shipped CD. There doesn't seem to be any free trial offers available.
A very professional timeline creation program, not specifically designed for genealogy, though many do use it for that. You can't import your GEDCOM files, but the software can import text files. You will have to see the various export features that your main genealogy program offers. Technically, a GEDCOM file is plain text, so there is a good chance it will work. Timeline Maker Basic is likely suitable for any hobby or genealogical purpose, and they do offer a free trial download so you can try it first. The cost is $50, plus an extra $5 if you want a CD shipped to you.
If you are more curious about a quick timeline look, without really needing an ongoing tool, you could check out this online timeline creator. It doesn't let you include your own ancestors, but is a very neat way to see how various events fit in with the lifespans of famous people.
