ZephyrSystems
GenQuery

GenQuery

Uncover everything hidden in your RootsMagic database —gaps, inconsistencies, and records your reports never showed you.

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Free and open source · Works with RootsMagic 8, 9 & 10 · Windows, macOS & Linux

Ask in plain English

You don't need to know any special commands. Just describe what you're looking for the way you'd say it to a colleague — GenQuery understands your research intent and searches your entire database to find the answer.

  • No coding or technical knowledge required
  • Understands genealogical questions and terminology
  • Trained on Evidence Explained citation standards and the Genealogy Proof Standard
  • Included free — no subscription or add-on fees
GenQuery — plain English
Ask:"Show me everyone born in Virginia with no birth certificate cited"
Found 23 people matching your question:
Mary Ann Johnson (b. ~1847, Augusta Co., VA)
Thomas William Smith (b. ~1872, Rockingham Co., VA)
Sarah Elizabeth Cooper (b. ~1831, Shenandoah Co., VA)
James Madison Watkins (b. ~1855, Clarke Co., VA)
+ 19 more — ask "show all" to see the full list

Find what's missing in your research

RootsMagic's reports show you what you have. GenQuery shows you what you're still missing — uncited events, incomplete dates, people with no parents, and data gaps across your entire tree.

  • List every event with no source citation attached
  • Find people with incomplete birth, marriage, or death records
  • Identify branches with missing parents or children
  • Spot entries that may be duplicates
GenQuery — data quality
Ask:"How complete is my research?"
Your database quality summary:
Events with no citation: 42 of 1,204
People with no birth date: 137 of 892
People with no parents: 89 of 892
Possible duplicate names: 11 pairs
Ask "show uncited events" to see the full list

See every record your database holds

RootsMagic's built-in reports only show a fraction of what's in your database. GenQuery gives you direct access to every person, event, source, citation, and relationship — all in one place, all searchable.

  • Access every field RootsMagic stores, not just report-visible ones
  • Search across people, sources, citations, and media at once
  • Filter by any combination of names, dates, places, or relationships
  • Works with your existing RootsMagic 8, 9, or 10 database — no data migration
GenQuery — full access
Ask:"Find all my Revolutionary War ancestors with pension records"
Found 7 people with pension record sources:
Ebenezer Whitfield — S.12847, pension approved 1820
Caleb Hutchinson — W.3291, widow pension 1838
Moses Alderman — R.142, rejected claim
+ 4 more · sources include Fold3 & Ancestry citations

Share and export your findings

Once you find what you're looking for, get it out in the format that works for you — a spreadsheet for your genealogy society, structured notes for your research journal, or a shareable report.

  • Export any results to a spreadsheet (Excel or Google Sheets)
  • Generate structured notes for Obsidian or other research journals
  • Create plain-text or HTML reports to share with family
  • Your data, your format — no reformatting required
GenQuery — export
Ask:"Export my Virginia ancestors to a spreadsheet"
Exported 156 people → virginia-ancestors.csv
Ready for Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers
Ask:"Create Obsidian notes for my direct ancestors"
Generated 84 research notes → /vault/ancestors/
Each note includes birth, death, marriage, and sources

Download & get started

Two steps and you're ready to explore your family history.

macOS — setup
# Step 1 — Install via Homebrew
$brew tap miams/genq && brew install genq
# Step 2 — Point GenQuery to your RootsMagic file
$genq init

Need more detail? Peeking under the Hood →

Start free. Upgrade when you're ready.

GenQuery is free and open source — including plain English queries.
Pro and Enterprise add personal support for when you need a hand.

Community

The full power of GenQuery, free forever — including plain English queries.

Free
  • Complete access to all your RootsMagic data
  • Plain English question interface
  • Data quality & completeness reports
  • Obsidian notes export
  • CSV / spreadsheet export
  • Windows, macOS & Linux
  • GPL-3.0 open source
Download Free
Most Popular

Pro Support

Priority support and guided setup for serious researchers.

$49/year
  • Everything in Community
  • Priority email support
  • Guided setup & onboarding
  • Early access to new features
  • Custom query consultation (1/yr)
  • Installation troubleshooting
  • Quarterly tips & newsletter

Enterprise

Dedicated support and custom integrations for organizations.

$199/year
  • Everything in Pro Support
  • Dedicated support channel
  • Custom report development
  • Multiple database support
  • Organization licensing
  • Quarterly review sessions
  • SLA-backed response times
GenQuery

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/* Free and open source forever. Support keeps it growing. */

Common questions

What is RootsMagic?

RootsMagic is a popular genealogy software for Windows and macOS. GenQuery works with RootsMagic version 8 and above, including the latest version 11.1.

Do I need to know how to code?

No. GenQuery's plain English interface lets you ask questions just like you'd describe your research to a colleague. For those who want more control, advanced query options are also available.

Will GenQuery change my database?

Never. GenQuery works from a read-only copy of your database and never touches your original RootsMagic file. Your research is always safe.

Does the plain English feature cost extra?

No — it is included in the free Community version. There are no subscription fees or add-on charges.

Can I import a GEDCOM file?

Yes, but not directly. GenQuery prefers reading data straight from a RootsMagic database — frankly, the GEDCOM standard is a relic of the 1990s. The good news is that RootsMagic imports GEDCOM files easily, and if you're not yet a RootsMagic user, there is a free RootsMagic Essentials version that includes GEDCOM import.

I keep my tree on Ancestry.com. Can I use GenQuery?

Yes. RootsMagic gives you two options: export a GEDCOM from Ancestry and import it into RootsMagic, or use RootsMagic's fully licensed two-way bridge with Ancestry to both download your data and push updates back. Either way, once your tree is in RootsMagic, GenQuery has a full view of everything.

I keep my tree in FamilySearch's FamilyTree. Can I use GenQuery?

Yes. RootsMagic's two-way bridge with FamilySearch FamilyTree lets you download your family data and push updates back. Once the data is in RootsMagic, GenQuery gives you an unlimited number of ways to analyze and explore it.

I have data in Excel. Can I analyze it alongside my genealogy database?

Absolutely. GenQuery can ingest a wide variety of formats alongside your RootsMagic data — including XLSX, CSV, JSON, XML, YAML, Markdown, and HTML.

Is there a Windows installer?

Yes. GenQuery installs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The setup guide walks you through each step. For full installation details, see the Peeking under the Hood page.

What formats can I export to?

GenQuery exports to CSV (for Excel or Google Sheets), plain text, Obsidian notes with structured fields, JSON, and HTML tables.

Curious about the technical details? Peeking under the Hood →