What does database mean in rootsmagic?

RootsMagic will create the database for you. It is an integral part of the program. I am still using 4.5, but here is the Help screen when I entered 'new database':

To create a new database:

1.Choose "File, New" from the main menu, or click the "New database" button on the toolbar.

2. In the Create a New File dialog

o New file name – Enter the New file name you want to use. For example, if you are tracing the genealogy of the John Brown family, you may want to name the file Brown. The program adds the .rmgc extension automatically.

o FIle Location – Confirm the file location in which to create the file. The default folder (drive and directory path) are shown. If a different location is desired, click the File location button to navigate to the desired location. You can create a new folder if required.

o Date format – Select the format you want to use for displaying dates in the database. As you enter dates in the program, you can enter them in any form you wish, and they will convert to the format you indicate here.

o Number to display after name – Lets you choose which number to display after the person’s name in the info view on the main screen. You can choose between the record number (which RootsMagic assigns), the reference number (REFN, which you can add as a fact), or no number.

o Display surnames uppercase – Check this option to display last names (surnames) in capital letters, regardless of the way you enter them. If no check mark appears in this box, the surnames will display as you enter them.

o LDS Support – Check this option to enable LDS support. This will enable printing of LDS information, and will enable the LDS ordinance template. Any LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) references will appear on the Pedigree screen or the Family Group screen if this option is checked.

o "new" FamilySearch Support – Check this option to enable the new FamilySearch support.

o What do you want to do after creating the new file? provides two options

o Begin typing my information – Select this option if you are going to enter the data by hand

o Import information from another program – Select this option if you are going to import data from another program

3. Click the "OK" button on the dialog and RootsMagic will create the new database. Click Cancel to abort the creation of a new database.

4. If you already have another database open, RootsMagic will open the new database in another window and place them side by side (unless you have changed the way you want new databases opened in the Program Options).

If you selected Import Information from another program, RootsMagic will open the Import File from another program dialog.

A database is a type of program, where it stores data (Information). All genealogy programs ie rootsmagic, etc, are databases, specifically designed to hold names, dates, or other facts about individual persons..and especially, how they are related to each other.

The program does not come with your persons... it is the framework to store them. On the main menu, it generally offers "create a database". For instance, you can use the program for several databases..one for your Smith relatives, another for the Jones family, so forth.

You create the database..then start entering your data... a person, facts about that person. Next, you add the relatives of that person.

Eventually, when you have many persons in there, it allows you to show charts such as family group (husband/wife/children) or ancestors (direct ancestry back).

It just needs to you create a new file named Jones, which is your Jones family research facts.

Marci is right, Wendy has the right idea but the wrong word. A database is a collection of files which a program uses. In this case, there are about 22 of them per database. There is a file for locations, another for individuals, another for sources and some others. It would be reasonable to have four different databases, one for each of your grandparents; or eight, if you were married, one for each of your grandparents and another for each of your spouse's grandparents.

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