This page explains the key software tools used in the Gray One-Name Study — how they work, why they were chosen, and how they fit together in the research workflow.
The Master Genealogist (TMG)
All individual and family research conducted as part of this study is recorded in The Master Genealogist (TMG) — specifically the Gold UK Edition, version 9.05, produced by Wholly Genes Software. The UK edition was designed with British genealogical records and conventions in mind, making it well suited to a study focused primarily on British surnames.
TMG was originally created by Bob Velke for MS-DOS in 1993, with a Windows version following in 1996. It became one of the most powerful and flexible genealogy applications available, offering user-defined events, names and relationship types that allowed researchers to record data with a level of precision and customisation that many simpler tools do not match.
Official support for TMG ceased at the end of 2014, and no new versions have been released since. However the software continues to run reliably on Windows 11 and remains the tool of choice for this study.
Why TMG?
The short answer is history and familiarity. Family history research here began in the 1990s using Reunion, a well-regarded genealogy application of that era. When Reunion migrated to Mac-only, a replacement was needed — one with a similar look and feel but a wider range of functions. TMG fitted that description well, and having used it for many years it remains a familiar and reliable research tool.
That said, the risks of continuing with unsupported software are acknowledged. Should TMG cease to function on a future version of Windows, migration to another tool will become necessary. The GEDCOM format — a widely supported standard for exchanging genealogical data — provides a practical migration path when that time comes, as TMG can export data in GEDCOM format which most modern genealogy applications can import.
SecondSite
Research recorded in TMG is published online using SecondSite, developed and maintained by John Cardinal. SecondSite reads the TMG database and generates a complete website from it — including narrative or grid-style person pages, a master index, a surname index and source pages. The generated site can be reviewed locally before publication and then uploaded to the web.
The Gray One-Name Study database is published at:
- gray-ons.org/secondsite — browse individuals and families researched as part of this study
SecondSite is actively maintained by John Cardinal, with a 2024 copyright date confirming ongoing development. Further information is available at secondsite8.com.
The research workflow
The tools work together in a straightforward sequence:
- Research and data entry — individuals and families are researched using online sources and recorded in TMG, with sources cited for every fact entered.
- Review and verification — the TMG database is reviewed locally to check for errors, inconsistencies or missing sources before publication.
- Publication via SecondSite — SecondSite reads the TMG database and generates the web pages, which are then uploaded to this site.
- Sharing results — when research is conducted on behalf of someone who has contacted the study, the relevant SecondSite URL is sent to them directly so they can browse the findings.
Supporting tools
Several smaller utilities support the research workflow, primarily for data quality and verification:
- TMGutility — a utility for checking and editing the TMG database, helping to maintain data quality and consistency. Further description to be added.
- FTAnalyzer — a powerful analysis tool for
genealogical data. As its description puts it: “Use FTAnalyzer to
investigate your family tree in new and interesting ways, see where
your ancestors lived and moved over time on the new maps feature.
Find errors in your tree eg: children’s birthdates before parent
was born. See lists of who is missing from census searches then
click their name to automatically search on Ancestry, Find My Past,
Familysearch etc.”
FTAnalyzer is used in two ways in this study. First, as a quality check on the study’s own data — a GEDCOM is exported from TMG and analysed in FTAnalyzer to identify errors or inconsistencies before publication. Second, as a verification tool for GEDCOMs supplied by members of the public — either when requesting research help or when contributing data to the study. This ensures that incoming data meets a basic quality standard before it is incorporated into the database.
Further tools will be added to this list as the documentation of the research workflow is completed.
Future tools
The long-term future of TMG on evolving versions of Windows is uncertain. When migration becomes necessary, the most likely path is to export the TMG database in GEDCOM format and import it into a modern application. One candidate under consideration is The Next Generation (TNG), a PHP-based genealogy application that can be installed alongside WordPress and accessed via the site’s menus — offering better integration with this website than the current SecondSite approach.
Any migration will be planned carefully to ensure no data is lost and existing SecondSite URLs referenced elsewhere on the site remain accessible.
Questions about the tools or workflow? If you are a fellow researcher interested in how this study is managed, or are considering similar tools for your own work, I am happy to discuss it. Get in touch →