Blog

Charting Companion for Apple “Macs”; FTM 2019

We are hard at work converting Charting Companion 7 to Apple’s macOS operating system. When the conversion is completed, Charting Companion will run on MacBooks and iMacs. We still have a fair bit of work to do. We will notify all our customers when the new version is ready. Here are “work-in-progress” screen shots of the Family…
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DNA Matrix: Snatching A Century-Old Secret From the Grave

When my cousins and I tested our DNA, we were not prepared for the surprise revealed by Charting Companion’s DNA Matrix chart. Note the red centiMorgans (DNA Units) at the intersection below the boxes. The red indicates that the amount of DNA shared is too low for “first cousins”. Also, the yellow-highlighted DNA shared by the…
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DNA CSV Match Files: How to Define Your Own Format

DNA CSV Match Files: How to Define Your Own Format When you get your DNA test done, you can upload your raw DNA file to a matching service such as GEDMatch, or use DNAGedcom to retrieve your match results from Ancestry, 23andMe, or Family Tree DNA. When the matching process is complete, you can download a CSV (Comma…
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New Box Corner Styles and Background Images

Charting Companion 7 introduces new box styles, to improve Ancestor and Descendant charts: rounded, notched or octagon. You can also add a background image or color to enhance your charts: If you have an earlier version of Charting Companion, our upgrade policy is: If you purchased after June 2018 (ver. 7), you get a free upgrade. If you…
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DNA Simulation – Automatically Building Your Family Tree

Charting Companion 7 features a new technology to help place adoptees and orphans in a family tree: the DNA Simulation. Based on the DNA Matrix , the DNA Simulation will construct a Descendant tree, then will systematically try to link the “orphan” to every person in the tree, one at a time. Charting Companion will validate the tree by calculating…
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DNA Matrix: Supported CSV File Formats

Last March Charting Companion announced a new chart: the DNA Matrix . The DNA Matrix is available as a free upgrade to all customers who are using ver. 6 of Charting Companion. The DNA Matrix helps you by showing an overview of DNA matches in a clear, simple chart. Charting Companion can also “validate” your tree by comparing actual…
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Charting Companion Announces New DNA Matrix Chart

Charting Companion announces a new chart: the DNA Matrix (aka “McGuire Method“). Genetic research offers new ways for genealogists to build their family tree, where conventional records and sources are not available. Genealogists are submitting DNA samples to testing companies who can identify distinctive patterns in the DNA, and match the genealogist to millions of other participants….
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The Open Source mirage

It seems to me there are a few types of Open Source Software (OSS) contributors. The corporate employee whose employer uses OSS, and will gladly pay him/her a salary to contribute and enhance the software. Particularly to implement features required by the company. Ex: Red Hat; Linus Torvalds/TransMeta. The consultant who gives away free software,…
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Trellis: the Chart With Everyone In It

One of the innovations Progeny has introduced to genealogy is the Trellis chart, “the chart with everyone in it”. The Trellis chart is a brand new way to tell the story of your family. It shows everyone in your family, in a way that no traditional box chart can do. Based on research by a…
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