Does your family history comprise stacks of printouts from Web sites, handwritten charts, piles of old photos and scraps of paper? If so, it's time to invest in a genealogy software program. Not only can these programs help you get organized, but they also can turn those scraps of paper into attractive charts and family albums you can show off to kith and kin. What's more, the latest genealogy technology lets you put your research on the Web, so you can share data with other researchers, using GEDCOM files (the universal file format for exchanging family trees). And even if you're not a computer whiz, these programs make entering and displaying data a breeze.

Already have family tree ware? Consider upgrading: We got the scoop on all the latest versions of your favorite software. 

• Ancestral Quest 11