Genealogy Chat

Well now - I'm still using version 7 (1998) and it runs perfectly even after upgrading/downgrading to Vista. I don't like these 'new, improved' things that are usually a hassle to come to grips with.
Off to hunt a sabretooth tiger for tea.
Bernie

I think that the Next question to ask is

IF you only had, say, the Who Do You Think You Are? version(2005) and were satisfied,
Would you go out and BUY a newer one?


dont larf,

BUT on my pc I have the 2005,
my Lappy has version 11
and my wife is still trundling along on Version 6!!

Bob
edited.......now the only reason I have the 2005 version was to get the web search facility which appears to be a bit naff, As I dont subscribe to ancestry I very rarely get any useful info out......I seem to get more results if I search through "dogpile"......

Bob

n

Interesting to hear peoples experiences.

I installed 2010 recently having received a copy at Christmas.

The installation was completely straightforward and the conversion of my old 2006 data file took about 30 minutes in all - over 10,000 names. Again, no problems, everything where it should be.

It does have a different look and feel to 2006 - I suppose it is more mouse oriented - but fine once you get used to it. I spent a couple of hours finding the differences in the basic operations and after that there is no turning back.

Interesting, Ian.....and after reading of all the hassle, I think I'll stick with my FTM 2006!!

K.

We had FTM 2006 and liked it.
I got my wife the 2009 version for Christmas last year, and it wouldn't load on our computer, which was an old P3-660 mhz with Win XP. The P3 was too old for it. IN October we finally upgraded and got a P4, and loaded FTM 2009, and relinked with Ancestry etc.

Then I went to import the database from the old program...well...it crashed. It crashed a second time. It froze.

I did other things for a month, and tried again, and this time, it loaded, and took nearly two hours to import and compile its file. Maybe I'm dumb, but I would have thought it would have just picked up where the old program left off.

There wasn't a great deal of media (photos etc) in it- perhaps 80 jpgs. The rest were names & families- sure there were about 55 000 of them, but still, the version 2006 only took a moment to boot up.

The 2009 version, I do like now, but is shifted the data in many 'facts' to the wrong place compared with that which the 2009 version expects. There's a lot of sense in the new way, but still, it wasn't an easy crossover process for us. Still a lot of editing to do.

When creating reports, it took a long while to work out how to 'add' certain facts. I created a few reports, and much data was missing. I didn't find it as intuitive as version 2006 was.

In summary, yes, I'm glad version 2009 is loaded & running, and I wouldn't go back, but it wasn't a smooth conversion with a huge database to begin with; and no, I won't be getting version 2010, no matter how good it sounds! We'll stick with this one- I don't like the planned obsolescence some things seem to exhibit (I'm not saying FTM does that, but I''m not for upgrading unnecessarily, or to keep up with the neighbours, that's all!)

NIce program. Previously we used PAF, back in the days of DOS, before we ever got Windows 3.0.
Also used Brother's Keeper- the shareware version. It was useful, but FTM was great, in comparison.

All programs have the ability to import & export GEDCOM files which are universally exchangeable with other programs, albeit with limited but important details attached.

Thank you Margaret, seems like a trip to Tesco is on the agenda.

I've still got FTM2006 version and I find it great - it's also very nice to be able to print out sheets (ones which you've decorated yourself) to show/send to family members so they can see their branch .
Wouldn't be without it.

K

Hi Linda

FTM is short for Family Tree Maker which is a package that provides the facility to record your family tree information. It will enable you to add people, and show you their relationships, produce reports and lists, produce all sorts of stuff that you might want such as family group sheets (mum, dad, kids), and most also let you add census images, photos, you name it, so that all your information is stored on them instead of in piles of papers. Mind you, most of us have the piles of papers as well.

There are some free ones available online such as PAF and Legacy, but there are loads you can buy too. Family Tree Maker seems to be the most popular. I can't tell you why as my version is so old it is not worth mentioning.

Hope this helps a bit.

Margaret

Hi, can someone tell me what FTM is please, it sounds like I'm missing something very worthwhile.
Linda

nudge for Christine
Father Christmas bought me FTM 2010 with 3 months free Ancestry
Jill

n

Thats my 2010 up and running now.
Thanks to Gail and my OH.

I'll just have to plutter about now and see how it all works.


Marion

Hi everyone

Can I just say thank you to all who have replied. It definitly seems worthwhile reading your comments.
I'm on a mission now to sort computer & then FTM. Thank goodness the nights are closing in as I don't then feel so guilty spending time researching etc rather than in the garden with hubby etc!

As always, the help received from other members is much appreciated.

Thats good of them then.

No, I think they are doing the right thing by their customers by supplying the latest version.

I wondered if they ran out of the 2009 and the demand was so high,thanks to us lot on here lol

Other members have also confirmed that Tesco are shipping the 2010 version, which is good, from their point of view.

Heather...I ordered the Tesco deal one for £15, the 2010 not the 2009 as advertised. came ;))

Getting it sorted out tomorrow.

Marion

I have just recently bought Family Tree Maker, and PC World have them at a reasonable price. When we put it on, Ancestry, gave me another three months on my Subscription, which I had only just paid, so now I have this until Jan 2011. Good value there.

Can really recommend it, especially with the 3 months subscription.