A Smart Match is a pointer to another researcher's tree, not a record. How the feature works, how Ancestry, FamilySearch and Findmypast compare, the real dangers, and a method for using matches without wrecking your tree.
Which finish suits which person, how the design-proof-print timeline adds up, and the last dates to order a chart for Christmas 2026: prints by Monday 30 November, digital files by Monday 14 December.
Why six generations is the sweet spot for a printed family tree, how to count yours the way a chart counts, what to do about the gaps, and how adopted and blended families fit.
Every family tree file carries errors the tree view hides. The free in-browser GEDCOM Checker finds them in seconds, whatever program you use, without uploading anything, and shows how to fix the common ones.
What the free directory covers across England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and beyond, how every link was checked, and a five-step route through it for a beginner.
A quick read on Irish genealogy: which records survived the 1922 fire, the free civil, census and parish sources, and the ten websites to open first.
A quick read on Scottish genealogy: why records from 1855 are the best in Britain, what ScotlandsPeople charges for, and the ten websites to open first.
A quick read on English genealogy: the records before and after 1837, the free indexes to open first, and why the county record office matters more than the big platforms.
A quick read on Welsh genealogy: how to cope with a handful of surnames, where the chapel records are, and the ten websites to open first.
A quick read on Northern Ireland genealogy: which records are at PRONI and GRONI, what the Dublin sites still cover, and the ten websites to open first.
A quick read on the UK-wide genealogy websites: The National Archives, the free record projects, the military and newspaper sources, and the tools that make sense of old records.
A quick read on the worldwide genealogy websites: the free and subscription platforms, the DNA tools, the software, and the archives of the countries British and Irish emigrants went to.
Sixteen genealogy platforms compared—updated in October 2026 for Family Historian 8 (with Live AI Connector), RootsMagic 12, Gramps 6.0, MacFamilyTree 11, Heredis 2026, Goldie May, and KleioBase.
Exact export steps for Ancestry, MyHeritage, Findmypast, FamilySearch, RootsMagic and Family Tree Maker, plus what to check before you send the file.
Learn the simple steps to export your family tree data from Ancestry so you can create a beautiful physical chart.
Discover why traditional family tree shapes fail in print, the fascinating history behind the Ahnentafel numbering system, and how circular charts solve the exponential growth problem.
I recently received the first physical proofs of my 16x16" white and black framed ancestral charts. Seeing the high-resolution typography and motifs in person validates the entire design process.
markdmillican.co.uk is officially sponsoring the web design and hosting for Belfast Star Basketball Club from July 2026 until September 2028, powering their new digital home at belfaststar1964.org.