Genealogy Chat

I currently use an old version of Family Tree Maker to hold all my information on the computer. It has a few annoying quirks and I am thinking it could be time to upgrade or change completely. What do you recommend?

I have FTM2005. Haven't really played with it much though, although generally I like it. Next issue of Your Family Tree has the standard edition of FTM 2006 on the free disc with it.

Thanks, FTM 2006 free disk sounds worth testing. I assume it's a sample rather than the full version? Does anyone use anything else, or does Family Tree Maker have the monopoly?

I had the 2005 one last year from the magazine and it was pretty good. It's the one you pay £9.95 for in the shops. Think it's generally meaning you wouldn't be able to access all the features on it such as the different tree types. I believe before when they did it you got a 14 day trial of it all though, plus you could sign up for the Ancestry 14 day free trial too. Well worth a go. Diane

hi RW, As I replied to a similar query some weeks ago, FTM and similar software programmes have two aspects to them: 1 - drawing family trees, 2 - saving archival info in individual files. The problems with any generic software are: 1- the tree will only display a very limited amount of information and they tell you what this is and how it will be presented, 2- The layout and content of information files is also prescribed and limited. Using the 'borders' button in MS Excel you can create your own family tree that looks like any that FTM will draw but contains as much information in a box of any size that you care to make it. You can colour code boxes AND fonts, show relationships in the way that shows what YOU mean, rather than somebody elses software dictating how or even IF the relationship you want can be shown at all. Your trees can be as large or small in dimensions as required and navigation is as simple as using the scroll bars, up and down buttons, etc. You can also create your own template individual info file in Excel, expandable to any size and with ALL the information on a single screen. Excel files can be hyper-linked so that a name on your tree can be hyper-linked to that individual's info file, thus you can go straight from a complete surname tree to a complete individual file at a click of your mouse. Best of all its already on your computer and it's FREE for all time...J.

I'm using FTM v10 and find it very easy to use, but usually what you start with is what you base other opinions on. Regards MS Excel, not all computers come with microsoft office, some only come with Works or just MS word. Ros.

Ros, I hear what you say but unless a system is really old or deliberately limited most computers have for some years now come with Office suite as standard. Probabilitywise it makes more sense to assume its existence than pretend otherwise. Clearly if one's computer does not have Excel you don't have Excel to use, so I am somewhat confused as to the utility of your response to the suggestion. Although the question was about buying FT software, it could be that the questioner HAS Excel but is unaware of its flexibility. If Excel is NOT available then updating the basic sofware might be a more sensible alternative to buying FT software with a specific and very limited function. My task, like yours and the other helpers on these boards, is to place alternative answers to queries such as these....J.

You can download some family tree programs for free. Have a look at the Free Genealogy Software thread. There is a URL for FTM2005. If I remember correctly YFM have the full FTM2006 on disk but I don't recall any mention of it being a trial.

It's not a trial for the software, but I believe you get the full use of it, including all the tree desings and extra features for 14 days or so, if it's the same as they did last time. The other 14 day trial is for Ancestry. The standard edition is still a good one to use.

The FMT 15th Edition you get with Step by step Family tree is the full version with a 30 day subscription to anscestry.co.uk.

The most comprehensive is probably The Master Genealogist, a trial version of which is available at http://www(.)whollygenes(.)com