Genealogy Chat

I am currently using a free downloaded program from the LDS site which has suited me fine until now. However, I am tempted t buy one of the above but would appreciate any feedback from existing users before I decide which one I want. Thanks Sophie

Hi Sophie,most of the GR members use FTM. It does quite a bit,including allowing you to include the dreaded marriage of cousins without any problems,import/export gedcom files and create family group reports,different tree charts etc. You can also have a web site too,it is pretty good value,certainly cheaper than Family Historian. One thing to watch though if you do plump for FTM,just get the standard version (not the basic or deluxe) The basic version doesn't have all the features and the deluxe has extra discs which quite frankly aren't worth the plastic they are made of. Glen

I use Family Historian but I have a 'free sample' of FTM. They are both good and do most of the same things in slightly different ways. I chose Family Historian because it was UK authoured and therefore has less Americanisms. Nothing against the US - its just that non of my family ever went there! I think you can find free sample programs of each of them on the Web - certainly FH does a free sample of the full program so you can try it out. The only difference to the real thing is that you can't save anything! Anne

If you want a cheap programme the 'Who do you think you are' disc is the 2005 version of Ftm and has most of the features of 2006. I have seen it for about £10.00. Ftm is linked to ancestry and usually comes with a trial subscription. The disc links to the web for census look ups which is very useful

I've just bought the WDYTUA version of FTM from the book club that comes into work for £5, couldn't resist it!! I've been using GSP family tree, but it prints the tree on one page, so if you've got the children on it's SO small (especially as myggrandfather had 19), what has annoyed me aboutFTM so far has been, I can't spot unrelated individuals, it won't link straight to Ancestry if you are using vouchers, not full mebership, even if you are in credit, and you can't filter out American census, so I haven't found the direct weblink very useful.

I like Family Historian 3. I find it easy to use and have been able to do all the things I want to (so far). I haven't used FTM so can't compare them both. John

I also went for Family Historian and am really enjoying using it - still have a lot to learn, though!! Jay

The websearch facility can be customized,to exclude the american results if needed,and to even exlude say the 1881 and 1891 or whatever you wish. The 2005 version won't take account of a female surname after marriage,so would only search in the maiden name,the 2006 version does allow for the change in name. To be honest i never merge the web results,as the list of sources is just a heap of repeated references to ancestry,and doesn't show any piece or folio numbers. I tend to copy and paste the results page in the notes for the individual,or copy the household to show the family group over the years. Glen

Thanks Glen, never thought of copying & pasting to get the details into the notes. (The simplest solutions are still the best!)

I moved from FTM to Family Historian a few years ago. FH uses Gedcom as its native file format so no conversions are required, and is probably the only software that fully supports the Gedcom 5.5 standard 100%. It is fully customizable, put in as much or as little info as you like. The free programme Gedcom Census ties in with FH and makes entering census data really quick and easy. Download the trial version of FH to see if it suits you. There is a really friendly Users Group at www.fhug.org.uk. You can even request any features you would like to see in future versions. Derek

Thank you for al these observations.I think I have now made up my mind. The cost was never an issue, rather that I wanted something that I would find easy to use and that could display my information in a useful way. Sophie

SSSSSSSSooooooooooooooo Sophie??? Don't keep us in suspense - which one is it to be ????? Dea x

I found this web link (see below), it seems to show comparisons between Family Historian 3.0, Roots Magic 3.0.3 and Family Tree Maker 2006. www(.)family-historian(.)co(.)uk/compare/index.htm Remove the brackets. John

I downloaded last night a free demo of the Calico Pie family historian, but to be honest dont know if I like it, cant seem to get my head around it. Love my FTM as it seems to be easier (im a bit thick when it comes to experimenting as I like to play safe) Yvonne

I have only ever used FTM and find it really good. I got it from Morrisons supermarket for £5.99 Sylvia

Thanks for all your replies. I bought Family Historian, and whilst it is easy to use, and the charts/diagrams are excellent, I am not so sure about it!! At the moment I am using both PAF and FH to see which I prefer. Cheers Sophie

As you've gone for Family Historian, I would repeat the recomendation above. The user group web page is very useful. Also, if you are entering census information you really should download and use Gedcom census 5.1 as it makes it all so easy. Also, get into flags! I use them to mark on my tree diagrams who are my direct ancestors, who are my wife's, and which census years I have entered for each person. Paul

I can't judge family historian as I have never used it, I use FTM and am very happy with it. It is user friendly and the descendency reports are great - there are loads of bits to uncover and only the other day i 'discovered' a notebook where you can put all the things you want to do and how much of a priority to make them. tom,

Tom I hope you don't mind my asking but how do I find the notebook you mention on FTM it sounds really useful. Thanks Caz

Clive - what a brilliant piece of trivia. NO ONE claimed the cash reward. Amazing! Ozi. Update: Just in case Caz reads this. I think Tom was referring to the Notes tab in the Edit window for an individual.