37 replies to this topic

[Bonnie3033]

We are told that RM is now working on a native version for MAC. What I want to know is will the native version be essentially the same as the Windows version as in features, how it navigates? As comprehensive? 

 

As a MAC person, I actually bought a PC to run RM as the current MAC bridged product just does not compare nor does it function reliably. 

 

Thanks

[Renee Zamora]

Yes, the Windows and native Mac version will be the same.

[Robert-Leigh:Pritchett]

I understand the current bugs and have work-arounds using my MacBookPro. Most of my time is used in consolidating data between RootsMagic and FamilySearch.

[Bonnie3033]

Yes, the Windows and native Mac version will be the same.

Terrific! Really looking forward to it. Thank you.

[Marina Garrison]

The MAC bridged version isn't the same??? I didn't know that.... 

[zhangrau]

The bridged version is the same code as the PC version. Unfortunately, the bridging programs like Parallels do not support keyboard shortcuts and certain other features of PC-compliant code. (I don't use them, since I'm not a Mac user, so I can't remember all of the bridge program names).

 

Once the common code base for the native PC and Mac versions of RM is complete, it would seem that those variations should be resolved.

[Rooty]

The current mac bridged version is the windows program running inside a crossover windows xp "bottle" and lacks several features. It does not function like a normal mac program but is fairly useable. It avoids buying windows and parallels and the serious strain and malware exposure of virtualization software on your mac.

 

A native mac version would be much better but seems a distant hope. It would also not resolve the difficulties of ancestry sync since these are due to the different data structures of RM7 and Ancestry.

 

My wife happily uses the bridged version but I switched to family tree maker 2017 which handles sync and merge quite well and is a native mac program.

[Bonnie3033]

While the prospect of a native RM version for MAC is very exciting, a question came up about/what if Apple changes their OS system - will Apple's upgrades create headaches for those on the native version? Not being a tech person, not quite understanding this aspect. fortunately I'm ok working on RM on a pc....mostly. 

[mjashby]

Both MacOS and Windows changes with each new major Operating System release, at roughly 6-9month intervals. Software developers in general are well used to having to adapt their software where necessary, so I doubt that there is very much to fear as, without the continuing supply of functional software from 3rd-Party developers, any future Operating System release would be useless.

 

If in doubt, prevent the major Operating System updates until any glitches are sorted out.  That is currently easier with full MacOS updates than with Windows 10, because those major updates to MacOS are not made automatically, but have to be user initiated.

[zhangrau]

Both MacOS and Windows changes with each new major Operating System release, at roughly 6-9month intervals. Software developers in general are well used to having to adapt their software where necessary, so I doubt that there is very much to fear as, without the continuing supply of functional software from 3rd-Party developers, any future Operating System release would be useless.

 

If in doubt, prevent the major Operating System updates until any glitches are sorted out.  That is currently easier with full MacOS updates than with Windows 10, because those major updates to MacOS are not made automatically, but have to be user initiated.

 

Windows updates can also be set to manual control.

 

In Win7, go to Control Panel > Windows Updates > (left pane) Change settings > set the dropdown under Important updates

[Rooty]

Windows changes their OS once in 5 years if that. Every Tuesday they have bug and security patches which often misfire.

 

Macs get a new OS every 18 months with patches 2 to 3 times a year. These changes are relatively benign and mac apps get updated as needed for free by their developers. Apple forces adherence to their software and hardware standards which is why everything tends to work so well.

 

Worry about Windows, not about Macs. Macs also do not yet need virus and malware protection since the OS is pretty secure. This is not due to Apple's smaller market share but to proactive software/hardware design.

[mjashby]

To clarify my earlier comments:

 

Significant Operating System Updates:

 

MacOS (Major Releases)

 

10.7 - Lion - Released 20 Oct 2010

10.8 - Mountain Lion - Released 18 Feb 2012

10.9 - Mavericks - Released 10 Jun 2013

10.10 - Yosemite - Released 02 Jun 2014

10.11 - El Capitan - Released 08 Jun 2015

10.12 - Sierra - Released 13 Jun 2016

10.13 - High Sierra - Released - 5 Jun 2017

 

All of these have required a significant range of software updates for a wide range of Apple and 3rd-Party software, usually resulting from Apple’s enhanced security requirements. Fortunately the vast majority of those updates have been provided by developers at ’no direct cost’. 

 

Windows 7

 

Mainstream Microsoft support for Windows 7 officially ended on 13 Jan 2015, but security updates are due to continue until 14 Jan 2020, after which Windows 7 will go the way of XP.

 

Windows 10 (Major Releases)

 

1507 - Threshold 1 - Released 29 Jul 2015

1511 - Theshold 2 - Released 10 Nov 2015

1607 - Redstone 1 Anniversary Update - Released 02 Aug 2016

1703 - Redstone 2 Creators Update - Released 5 April 2017

1709 - Redstone 3 Fall Creators Update - Due 17 Oct 2017

1803 - Redstone 4 Due Early 2018

 

Each of these has been a full operating system update; i.e. the installation process is that the old system is completely removed (and temporarily archived) and the new release fully installed in its place.  Software applications (if determined as still compatible) and User Data is then automatically restored (or should be), so this is not a 'simple' update of Windows 10 in the traditional sense, but a 'new' Operating System installation.  In reality, some 3rd-party software problems have been widely reported after each major update.

 

I would however add that Family History/Genealogy software is rarely mentioned as having problems with MacOS or Windows where users have up-to-date releases installed, which don't try to store their settings or data in protected areas of the system, but follow Apple's/Microsoft's design guidelines as intended.  Software that is affected is more frequently applications that interact with the Operating System more directly.

 

Mervyn

[HermanduPlooy]

Will it be ready for Christmas, excellent present?

[Malcolm Perrins]

Christmas is far too many sleeps away. Is there a release date?

[Renee Zamora]

RootsMagic doesn't give release dates. It will only be released when stable and ready.

[Albert9463]

RootsMagic doesn't give release dates. It will only be released when stable and ready.

I have tried every solution that I can find on these forums (fora?) to get RootsMagic 7 working on my MacBook Pro with High Sierra. I have even performed a clean instal of High Sierra and RM7 with no other non-Apple apps installed and I am still being told I need Windows Vista or better to use TreeSearch. I am also (in an average 2 hour session) having to force quit RM7 at least twice. I would be fine with this if there was any rhyme or reason as to why RM7 locks itself up (or HS locks it up). I am not blaming RM for my issues. As per other sites (MyHeritage being one) there still appears to be a problem with CrossOver and High Sierra with quite a few ported apps/programs. Anyway, until RM releases their stable and ready Mac version, I'm out. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long. Thanks

Al

[J P]

I have tried every solution that I can find on these forums (fora?) to get RootsMagic 7 working on my MacBook Pro with High Sierra. I have even performed a clean instal of High Sierra and RM7 with no other non-Apple apps installed and I am still being told I need Windows Vista or better to use TreeSearch. I am also (in an average 2 hour session) having to force quit RM7 at least twice. I would be fine with this if there was any rhyme or reason as to why RM7 locks itself up (or HS locks it up). I am not blaming RM for my issues. As per other sites (MyHeritage being one) there still appears to be a problem with CrossOver and High Sierra with quite a few ported apps/programs. Anyway, until RM releases their stable and ready Mac version, I'm out. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long. Thanks
Al

Well, I am quite happily using RM7 on High Sierra, but admittedly under full Crossover rather than the stripped down version shipped with RM for Mac. I upgraded Crossover to the latest version via in app update before upgrading to HS, but otherwise just did the OS install. I did nothing to RM. Note that I am using an iMac with a fusion drive, so have not been upgraded to the new file system - APFS - that is automatically done if one has a pure solid state (SSD) Drive. The suggestions seem to be that that is what causes HS issues.

I do not use Tree Share, but have been a heavy user of the FSFT interface over the last few days with no problems or hangs. Though I do have a very slow internet connection and the odd time RM seemed to have hung, but I survived cancelling the open panel, possibly because there had been a response coming in at about the time I cancelled.

So, this issue seems to afflict some and not others.

[RWells1938]

I am also using RM7 with the full Crossover. RM had run great until I installed the latest version of Crossover (17) then I had problems with printing. I worked with Crossover Support and they finally said there was a problem and suggested I revert back to the older release which I did.

 

In the process I lost all of the custom web search strings and will have to rekey them in. This caused lots of hair pulling on my part. So I took my annual look at alternatives but could not find any.

 

So I guess I will wait 

 

Roger

[Renee Zamora]

You said TreeSearch so it that TreeShare or WebSearch that your using?

[Albert9463]

You said TreeSearch so it that TreeShare or WebSearch that your using?

Sorry Renee, I meant TreeShare. I have a horrible habit of combining two terms to create a totally unrelated term.

@JP - I have an SSD in my MacBook Pro. I didn't think at all about the new APFS causing issues. As I said above, I currently only have RM 7 on a clean instal of HS, so I will have a go at reformatting as HFS+ and see how I go. If that doesn't work I might even try buying CrossOver (older version as suggested by @RWells1938) if I can convince the Minister For Finance to let me spend some money. I really want to stay with RM. Its so much better than the other apps/programs I have tried.

 

Thanks to @JP and @RWells1938 for the hints.

 

Al