Family Tree Maker Version 16 Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If the "free" Ancestry.com subscription is a consideration in your decision to purchase Family Tree Maker, you might want to know there are strings attached. Even though the 9 months are free, Ancestry.com requires a credit card number along with your name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address. Why would they want that information unless they intend to automatically bill you and extend the subscription at the end of 9 months? No information is provided on how to to cancel the subscription at the end of the free period.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker Version 16 Deluxe

Family Tree Maker Deluxe Edition v16 is the #1 bestselling resource to create your family tree. It takes just three steps. First, use information you already know. With access to over 5 billion records, you'll be able to find all the details. Next organize and design your family tree. Import photos and documents to professionally designed templates to create a unique keepsake. Share your findings with family and friends. Print out professional quality family albums.

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Family Tree Maker Version 16 Essentials Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)(updated 09/20/2008)
I am an experienced family researcher and currently have just under 25,000 names in my database. I have been a Family Tree Maker (FTM) user since 1998 and have purchased every upgrade since that time. I administer two surname DNA projects and routinely help others with their family research.
*FTM v16 is currently, without question, my genealogy software of choice
Like many others in the faithful legions of FTM users, I routinely ordered FTM 2008 before it even came out on blind fath that each new version had been even better than before. Like so many other FTM 2008 users, I was truly shocked to find they had dropped approximately 39 core functions from the previous version, FTM v16, and found that I could no longer do many of the very basic reports that experienced researchers do so often. I quickly returned my copy of FTM 2008 in total disgust and went back to FTM v16 which now continues to fully meet my many needs. Not learning my lesson, I recently installed the new FTM 2009 on blind faith that surely, given a "do-over", they would restore the full functionality of FTM v16, and it's predecessor FTM 2006. They didn't.
*I heartily recommend FTM v16 as your "go back" version for anyone who ordered FTM 2008 or FTM 2009, returned either version in total disgust, and are now looking for a fully-featured version of Family Tree Maker. (Some users had "upgraded" directly from FTM 2005 to FTM 2008, for example, and had missed the fully-featured FTM v16 version in the process)
*I also believe that FTM v16 compares very favorably with RootsMagic, Legacy, and other comparable genealogy softwares.
* If you are a Vista user, all you need to do is download a patch from FTM to make FTM v16 fully "Vista compatible."
*I also strongly recommend FTM v16 to novice researchers who are purchasing genealogy software for the very first time. It is very intuitive, starts you out very gently in a guided fashion, but then also has the more sophisticated functions you will find very useful as your experience grows.
There are more sophisticated softwares out there, but in some cases, their learning curves are just not worth the trouble. I want a software that works for me, rather than me having the feeling I am instead working for the software.
*Bottom line, I was loyal to FTM v16 before "upgrading" to FTM 2008 and then trying again with FTM 2009, and now that I have returned back to FTM v16, I truly appreciate it's simple, clean, reliable, straightforward performance even more than ever before.
*Without hesitation, I fully recommend FTM v16 to family researchers of all experience levels.
CHT in Virginia

Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker Version 16 Essentials

Family Tree Maker Essentials Edition v16 is the #1 bestselling resource to create your family tree. It takes just three steps. First, use information you already know. With access to over 5 billion records, you'll be able to find all the details. Next organize and design your family tree. Import photos and documents to professionally designed templates to create a unique keepsake. Share your findings with family and friends. Print out professional quality family albums. Enjoy bonuses ($150 Value) with an Ancestry.com Subscription, a 30 Minute Genealogy Consultation, the Monthly NewsletterAnd more!

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Family Tree Maker 2010 Essentials Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been conducting family research for some eight years, with the help of the Family Tree Maker program (and subscription [...].) I have purchased each new version at its release, always curious to see what had been added. While I have usually been pleased with the program features, I must admit that the last couple of versions have been disappointing to me. The interface had become more complicated and I missed being able to see a more complete screen of family detail.
The Family Tree Maker 2010 is, (IMHO) the finest version of the Family Tree Maker program to date. [...]
The installation is smooth and easy. No obstacles. I had the program up and running within minutes after receiving it.
The interface is the friendliest yet, and has even incorporated a special personal touch ... enhancing the individual name labels in family view with photos of the individuals. (I had not known that this was a new feature, so when I first opened my primary tree file, I was suddenly staring at familiar family faces instead of simply text ... What a warm feeling!) Of course, the photos must be available on your hard drive and associated to those files. Or, you can uncheck the "enhanced" feature if you wish (perhaps there are relatives you would rather not see).
The new interface is reminiscent of the more friendly versions of the past (somewhat like Version 16, I think) that we have missed (they listened to us!) and adds some amazing new features. The navigation is much simpler, more intuitive than recent versions. The program now denotes one's direct line of ascent/descent by a highlighted arrow designation that is most helpful when navigating through pages of generations. The toolbars are simple and clear with an emphasis on quick navigation to help in your workflow. Of course, the little green leaves are there again to prompt the user to check out the relevant information that is available at a mere click.
No more need to take notes or to check back and forth to look up a forgotten detail about an individual while searching for more information: There is now a layered box that contains all of the subject's entered data right there in view while you are engaged at the research/merge site.
Merging is a breeze! Recording sources is refreshingly simple. Click on "Places" on the toolbar, and you'll find all the lands and seas of the globe to help you in your research, interactive, (Bing Maps), and accompanied by user-friendly lists of your ancestry-related locations. (I, being geography-challenged, have especially enjoyed this feature.) No more Googling and printing of maps in the middle of researching. Love it!
I think that the best thing about the 2010 version of FTM is that it truly is a warm and friendly program ... making it a real pleasure to discover and record your family's history. The program is packed full of wonderful features. I believe that most genealogy enthusiasts will find that this is the best version ever of a tremendous program. With this program, they've put the fun back into family history research! Enjoy!
(BTW: This is the first review I've ever submitted - Because I really am genuinely impressed with this product ... enough to take the time to review it for other consumers. Furthermore, I am in no way affiliated with FTM or Ancestry.com or any of their employees.)


Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2010 Essentials

Family Tree Maker makes it easy to discover your story, preserve your legacy and share your unique heritage as you explore your family tree on your personal computer. Family Tree Maker 2010 introduces even more rich storytelling and organization tools that can add new life to your family history.

Once you've started your tree, you can add photos, video, audio and more. You can also create and print a variety of interactive maps, timelines, charts and reports.Family Tree Maker 2010 also includes a subscription to Ancestry.com--the world's largest online collection of family history resources, featuring more than 4 billion historical records. Search for your ancestors and use what you discover on Ancestry.com in your tree.
Family Tree Maker 2010 lets you easily:
Organize your family story privately and conveniently on your personal computer.
Create charts and reports in a variety of formats to share with friends and family.
Discover new information anywhere on the web and add it to your tree instantly.
Integrate with the 4 billion names in historical records on Ancestry.com. Even receive hints linking you to matching records.
Incorporate photos, documents and audio, video and other files into your tree.
View timelines and interactive maps.

What's new in Family Tree maker 2010?
New tools and charts that help you tell a richer story
Better ways to organize photos and other media
Create slideshows from the images in your tree
Family books made from your tree
Standard source templates that help you reference the right information
A view of your relation to everyone in your tree
Extended family birthday calendars
Images scanned directly into your tree
Family migration paths over time
Easy family tree download from Ancestry.com

And don't forget the features you've come to rely on:
Dynamic user interface that lets you quickly switch between important features
The ability to import data from other genealogy programs, including Personal Ancestral File
Powerful sourcing tools that let you document AND rate each of your citations
Interactive maps and lists that give you a bird's-eye view of where members of your family come from
Place authority database of more than 3 million names that helps you standardize your place entries
Photo AND file management features so you can easily incorporate all types of media files into your charts and reports
Timelines that highlight personal, family and world events
Easy-to-use tools for merging duplicate individuals, calculating dates, creating to-do lists and more

How can you make the most of Ancestry.com?
Family Tree Maker 2010 comes with a subscription to Ancestry.com, the world's largest online collection of family history resources.
Your software works seamlessly with Ancestry.com so you can easily search for your ancestors and add the information you discover to your tree.
You could find missing facts about your family in census records, draft cards, passenger lists, image collections and other historical resources.

Use Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker together. Get the most from both.
Search the extensive record collections at Ancestry.com without ever leaving your family tree. Quickly merge new records you find into your tree.
Take advantage of Ancestry Hints. Family Tree Maker automatically suggests records that may match people in your tree.
Share heirloom-quality books and attractive posters that you create with the self-publishing tool at Ancestry.com.

Your Family Tree Maker 2010 Essentials software includes: Interactive Training Tutorial for Family Tree Maker 2010 (included on Family Tree Maker disk)
Get step-by-step instructions and tips that will help you easily build and grow your family tree.

The Getting Started Guide to Family Tree Maker
Follow simple directions to begin a project and master the program's basic features

The Family Tree Maker Little Book of Answers
Read short sections that will tell you how Family Tree Maker can work best for you.

Click here for more information about Family Tree Maker 2010 Essentials

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Reunion 9 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've used Reunion since version 6, I think, and it is the best genealogy software I've ever used. I've tried Family Tree Maker on Windows and Reunion blows it away. FTM is just ugly, where Reunion has a nice interface and is easy to use. You can export your family tree to the GEDCOM standard and upload it to Geni.com, or import your old Windows family tree file into Reunion, though you'll have to import all the media files separately, as GEDCOM doesn't seem to support media.
I considered other Mac genealogy programs, but decided to stick with Reunion. One of the great things about this software is the fantastic personal support that leister.com gives you. BTW, this is a universal app, in case you're wondering. A lot of genealogy applications seem to be lagging behind in that respect.
All in all, I consider this the best genealogy software available, on mac or Windoze. You can't go wrong with Reunion!
It's 2009 now, and I've owned this application for quite some time, and I still agree with my review. Get this software! You won't regret it!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Reunion 9

Reunion is a genealogy software program -- a "family tree program" -- for the Macintosh.Reunion received the highest rating for genealogy software in MacWorld, MacAddict, and Mac Home Journal magazines.Reunion helps you to document, store, and display information about your family -- your ancestors, descendants, cousins, etc. It records names, dates, places, facts, plenty of notes, sources of information, pictures, sounds, and videos. It shows family relationships in an elegant, graphic form -- people and families are linked in an easy-to-understand fashion.Reunion makes it easy to publish your family tree information -- even if you want to share it on the Web or carry it on your iPod. You can automatically create common genealogy reports, charts, and forms, as well as birthday calendars, mailing lists, questionnaires, indexes, and other lists. Reunion even creates slideshows, calculates relationships, ages, life expectancies, and statistics.Reunion also creates large, graphic tree charts allowing complete on-screen editing of boxes, lines, fonts, and colors. Wall charts for family reunions are one of its specialties.

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Generations Family Tree Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a good product. It is very simple and easy to use. It is very good if you want to make a simple record of your family's history. You can add pictures to the charts and even add borders and colors to the text. Though sometimes it is annoying to have to get your own pictures because there is no clip art, on the whole, it is a great product.

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Generations Family Tree Plus Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The side of the box stated it works for XP, however, it totally messed up my system and I had to restore my system.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Generations Family Tree Plus

Celebrate your family by discovering the reward of genealogical research. Generations Family Tree Plus makes it easy to sort, archive, and share your family history. Explore the Titanic passenger list, or search for records dating back to the Revolutionary War. Find clues to your history in the World Immigration Database. Fascinating facts about your ancestry are just a few clicks away. Whether you're preparing for a family reunion, anticipating a new baby, or wanting to research family ancestry, creating a family tree honors your family's past and enriches its future.
Get started with easy-to-use tutorials. Print family trees as well as descendant and pedigree charts with photos, documents, and captions. Track birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates with the built-in family calendar. Store family addresses and create mail merge files--great for reunions and holidays. Plus, jump-start your research with a free one-month subscription to Genealogy Library, an online collection of census, birth, marriage, death, land, military, and other genealogical records containing hundreds of thousands of names.

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Family Tree Maker 2008 Essentials Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Any run-of-the-mill genealogy software should be able to do at least the basic reports family researchers and professional genealogists use to some degree during almost every major session:
*register reports (descendant-ordered reports - "all descendants of")
*ahnentafel reports (ancestor-ordered reports - "your ascending line"')
Family Tree Maker 2008 has now dropped these core reports they had supported throughout the past 16 versions of their software. The usefulness of the other core reports FTM 2008 still does provide, such as pedigree and descendancy charts, is significantly chilled by the near total removal of user options in designing what data elements to include in these remaining reports. Many other key features which longtime FTM users have enjoyed have also fallen by the wayside.
*Instead, FTM 2008 offers a lot of new fluff charts and reports, some of which are interesting for occasional analytical use, and some I don't even see a real-world practical use for.
Another major show-stopper for me was that FTM 2008 has dropped the popular feature that allowed the user to produce "family books" on their own home computer, but now instead requires that such information first be uploaded to the parent company (Ancestry) with the option of then (for an additional design fee) eventually downloading and printing it out either on your own printer or through their professional press. In either case, you must first execute a waiver essentially allowing Ancestry to use your research information as they see fit. Many users may find these requirements as highly objectionable.
*Regardless, with the loss of the key reports mentioned above, I am not sure how much is left to put in a "family book" even if you could still produce one on your home computer.
*Also, all of your family books produced with previous FTM versions will now be lost.
* As for all those expensive CDs you have accumulated over the years, FTM 2008 will no longer read any CDs.
The final show-stopper for me was exceptionally poor performance:
*My copy of FTM 2008 crashed about every 8 minutes or so, requiring a cold boot to get started again. Slow install, slow loading, slow running -- a perfect trifecta of poor performance.
*Even more importantly, and truly the "last straw," was I could never get a clean upload of data from my previous version of FTM v16 to FTM 2008. Data would often be corrupted, or even missing altogether. A very large number of users have reported this same problem. I also noticed that if I did successfully do any work in FTM 2008, I could never be sure I could export it back out to a previous version so that I could do the basic reports and such which are missing in FTM 2008.
With regard to the radical new look of FTM 2008, the gee-whiz cluttered and complex new screen displays could be construed by some as a mark of sophistication or power computing, but this is all only a hollow shell if this genealogy software won't even do the most basic register and ahnentafel genealogy reports many experienced researchers use so often.
*To be able to then effectively summarize your family research for yourself and others is the true end game of doing family research in the first place.
I view this release not as an upgrade to a new and improved FTM, but instead a very sad downward departure from the core functions FTM had consistently done so very well over the previous 16 releases. I have been an FTM user since 1998.
*Video-gamers will love this new software, but many experienced researchers will find many major disappointments.
I was so deeply disappointed that I uninstalled FTM 2008 so I could go back to FTM version 16 and once again be able to do basic genealogy reports summarizing my ongoing research.
That is why I buy genealogy software in the first place.
CHT in Virginia

Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2008 Essentials

Discover how easy it is to explore and preserve your family history. The Family Tree Maker 2008 Essentials Edition is designed to help beginners find results fast.Windows XP (Home and Pro) SP2/Vista, Pentium II 500 MHz processor or equivalent (recommended Pentium III 1 GHz or equivalent), 256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended), 400 MB free hard-disk space (additional space required for data files), 2X CD-ROM drive or faster & DVD-ROM drive for bonus content [recommended 32X CD/CD-R (CD-R required for the Backup to CD Feature)], Monitor with 800 x 600 resolution (recommended Monitor with 1024 x 768 resolution), Keyboard and mouse, Note: ALL online features require internet access. Administrator privileges are required to properly install the program on Windows XP and Windows Vista. User is responsible for internet service provider account, all internet access fees, and phone charges.

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Family Tree Maker 2010 Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Have been using FTM for 15 years and the last 2 years have been very disappointing. I have issues with the Calendar.
Some of these issues are:

Can't change fonts.
Does not print all names even though they are entered correctly. (Previous versions printed 2 pages of the same month when names or anniversaries overflowed the date.) 2009 and 2010 versions print one page only and drops any names and anniversaries that don't fit. Try and figure that out when you have over 3000 names.
When you go to save the calendar it won't save it properly. I only wanted to have certain names and anniversaries on my calendar and I saved each month separately. When I went back into the calendar it reverted to the default which is to include every name and anniversary (living people only). I have had to go to "legal" size paper to make the names fit and I am not sure they all are there even doing that.
When you try and exclude someone from the calendar it is very time consuming and some of the functions do not work at all.
Some anniversaries show up even though one spouse is deceased and the proper box is checked on the options.
Occasionally a maiden name will print rather than a married name even though the proper box is checked on the options.
I had most of these issue with the 2009 version and I was unable to get them resolved through emails with customer service. I wrongly assumed that the 2010 version would correct at least some of these flaws.
I told the customer service person that I though they had a disgruntled programmer.
I am now looking for any other software that will let me download my information without having to re-enter the over 3000 names and other information I have.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2010 Deluxe

Family Tree Maker makes it easy to discover your story, preserve your legacy and share your unique heritage as you explore your family tree on your personal computer. Family Tree Maker 2010 introduces even more rich storytelling and organization tools that can add new life to your family history.

Once you've started your tree, you can add photos, video, audio and more. You can also create and print a variety of interactive maps, timelines, charts and reports.
Family Tree Maker 2010 also includes a subscription to Ancestry.com--the world's largest online collection of family history resources, featuring more than 7 billion historical records. Search for your ancestors and use what you discover on Ancestry.com in your tree.
Family Tree Maker 2010 lets you easily:
Organize your family story privately and conveniently on your personal computer.
Create charts and reports in a variety of formats to share with friends and family.
Discover new information anywhere on the web and add it to your tree instantly.
Integrate with the 7 billion names in historical records on Ancestry.com. Even receive hints linking you to matching records.
Incorporate photos, documents and audio, video and other files into your tree.
View timelines and interactive maps.

What's new in Family Tree maker 2010?
New tools and charts that help you tell a richer story
Better ways to organize photos and other media
Create slideshows from the images in your tree
Family books made from your tree
Standard source templates that help you reference the right information
A view of your relation to everyone in your tree
Extended family birthday calendars
Images scanned directly into your tree
Family migration paths over time
Easy family tree download from Ancestry.com

And don't forget the features you've come to rely on:
Dynamic user interface that lets you quickly switch between important features
The ability to import data from other genealogy programs, including Personal Ancestral File
Powerful sourcing tools that let you document AND rate each of your citations
Interactive maps and lists that give you a bird's-eye view of where members of your family come from
Place authority database of more than 3 million names that helps you standardize your place entries
Photo AND file management features so you can easily incorporate all types of media files into your charts and reports
Timelines that highlight personal, family and world events
Easy-to-use tools for merging duplicate individuals, calculating dates, creating to-do lists and more

How can you make the most of Ancestry.com?
Family Tree Maker 2010 comes with a subscription to Ancestry.com, the world's largest online collection of family history resources.
Your software works seamlessly with Ancestry.com so you can easily search for your ancestors and add the information you discover to your tree.
You could find missing facts about your family in census records, draft cards, passenger lists, image collections and other historical resources.

Use Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker together. Get the most from both.
Search the extensive record collections at Ancestry.com without ever leaving your family tree. Quickly merge new records you find into your tree.
Take advantage of Ancestry Hints. Family Tree Maker automatically suggests records that may match people in your tree.
Share heirloom-quality books and attractive posters that you create with the self-publishing tool at Ancestry.com.

Your Family Tree Maker 2010 Deluxe software includes: Interactive Training Tutorial for Family Tree Maker 2010 (included on Family Tree Maker disk)
Get step-by-step instructions and tips that will help you easily build and grow your family tree.

The Getting Started Guide to Family Tree Maker
Follow simple directions to begin a project and master the program's basic features

The Family Tree Maker Little Book of Answers
Read short sections that will tell you how Family Tree Maker can work best for you.

Discounts on Ancestry.com Products
Save 20% on a subscription to Ancestry Magazine and 20% on DNA testing.

The Standard Ancestry.com Reference Library--Access to 10 invaluable family history reference books, compiled and indexed on one DVD.
The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy
The Red Book: American State, Country, and Town Sources
The Ancestry Family Historian's Address Book
Ancestry's Concise Genealogy Dictionary
They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins
Finding Answers in the U.S. Census
U.S. Military Records
Military Records at Ancestry.com
Library of Congress: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research
The Archives: A Guide to the National Archives Field Branches (Out of Print)

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Family Tree Maker 2009 Essentials Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The faithful legions of Family Tree Maker users will find FTM 2009 to be a major improvement over their previous 2008 release and will welcome the improved operating performance and a number of the new search and sourcing features. Experienced users will still miss a number of the FTM v16 features, but we have been assured that continued improvements are on the way.
Before I go on, I am an experienced family researcher, have used every version of Family Tree Maker since 1998, routinely help others with their research, and I have about 25,300 names in my database. I also administer two DNA projects. I have a very clear idea of what I need, what I am used to getting, and exactly what people are expecting when they request my assistance.
Among the challenges for experienced users will be making a successful transition from earlier versions to FTM 2009. When I first tested this product for my own use and then attempted a review, I missed several key features regarding user controls specifying desired data elements for certain reports and charts...I simply could not find them. Another user reading my initial review verified that he could not find the user controls either. Helpful comments by an FTM product manager helped resolve the problem and a number of apparently missing features are actually there. The lesson learned is that this new interface will take some patience to find your way through. In many cases, this patience will be rewarded with a very robust and versatile software with many new capabilities.
However, for those of us who are most focused on final output, such as the ability to design and produce fully indexed Family Books on your own desktop without having to go online, this product has not yet realized it's full potential. This feature was offered in FTM v16 and previous versions, but was discontinued in FTM 2008 in favor of directing users to go on line (Ancestry press) instead of allowing full desktop-based user control.
*As Family Tree Maker continues to tweak this release, efforts need to continue in the area of fully restoring features and user controls from FTM v16, and just as importantly, educating experienced users on how to find and use the features they had enjoyed for so many years.
*A side by side explanation of features for FTM v16 and FTM 2009 would be very useful in the transition process, particularly in the area of output (reports, charts, etc.)
At this time, without the previously offered Family Book features being fully restored, FTM 2009 simply does not yet meet my personal needs, and I have returned to FTM v16. I need to continue to update the many previous Family Books (about 18) that I have produced for individuals and organizations, and I also need to continue to produce new fully indexed Family Books for pending projects I have committed to. I also have an ongoing need to have FTM read various CDs in my large collection, and unless I have missed it, FTM 2009 simply won't do this.

*3-Star Rating - I am very bottom line oriented - if I do not have in my hand exactly what I need when I am done working, and I -still- have to go back to previous software (FTM v16) to get it - then the "new" software fails my test and, for the time being, is not up to my own personal requirements. All the improved performance and various new features just do not yet matter if it cannot deliver in my hand what I expect and need when I am done.
I would encourage the FTM product design team to continue to restore features from FTM v16 and previous versions, and only then will FTM 2009 realize it's full potential.
CHT in Virginia

Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2009 Essentials

Family Tree Maker 2009 by Ancestry.com, the #1 selling family history software, can help you easily discover, preserve and share your family history. It can help you build your family tree, gather stories and photos and create charts and books to share with your family. The Essentials Edition includes a one-month subscription to Ancestry.com the worlds largest online collection of family history records with more than 7 billion ancestors names. Youll also receive an interactive training tutorial and The Family Tree Maker Little Book of Answers.

Get 77% OFF

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Family Tree Maker 2010 Platinum Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This product is wonderful! I have been struggling to build my tree in [...], and have so many duplicates, much less difficulties navigating (I have over 4000 names in my tree), and this is the first version of Family Tree Maker that I have used that actually INTERFACES with Ancestry, and allows me to clean up duplicates, and update my tree in virtual time! I no longer have to build my tree, then upload it, because it is working on my actual tree at the same time I am...can't say enough about this product!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2010 Platinum

Family Tree Maker makes it easy to discover your story, preserve your legacy and share your unique heritage as you explore your family tree on your personal computer. Family Tree Maker 2010 introduces even more rich storytelling and organization tools that can add new life to your family history.

Once you've started your tree, you can add photos, video, audio and more. You can also create and print a variety of interactive maps, timelines, charts and reports.
Family Tree Maker 2010 also includes a subscription to Ancestry.com--the world's largest online collection of family history resources, featuring more than 7 billion historical records. Search for your ancestors and use what you discover on Ancestry.com in your tree.
Family Tree Maker 2010 lets you easily:
Organize your family story privately and conveniently on your personal computer.
Create charts and reports in a variety of formats to share with friends and family.
Discover new information anywhere on the web and add it to your tree instantly.
Integrate with the 7 billion names in historical records on Ancestry.com. Even receive hints linking you to matching records.
Incorporate photos, documents and audio, video and other files into your tree.
View timelines and interactive maps.

What's new in Family Tree maker 2010?
New tools and charts that help you tell a richer story
Better ways to organize photos and other media
Create slideshows from the images in your tree
Family books made from your tree
Standard source templates that help you reference the right information
A view of your relation to everyone in your tree
Extended family birthday calendars
Images scanned directly into your tree
Family migration paths over time
Easy family tree download from Ancestry.com

And don't forget the features you've come to rely on:
Dynamic user interface that lets you quickly switch between important features
The ability to import data from other genealogy programs, including Personal Ancestral File
Powerful sourcing tools that let you document AND rate each of your citations
Interactive maps and lists that give you a bird's-eye view of where members of your family come from
Place authority database of more than 3 million names that helps you standardize your place entries
Photo AND file management features so you can easily incorporate all types of media files into your charts and reports
Timelines that highlight personal, family and world events
Easy-to-use tools for merging duplicate individuals, calculating dates, creating to-do lists and more

How can you make the most of Ancestry.com?
Family Tree Maker 2010 comes with a subscription to Ancestry.com, the world's largest online collection of family history resources.
Your software works seamlessly with Ancestry.com so you can easily search for your ancestors and add the information you discover to your tree.
You could find missing facts about your family in census records, draft cards, passenger lists, image collections and other historical resources.

Use Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker together. Get the most from both.
Search the extensive record collections at Ancestry.com without ever leaving your family tree. Quickly merge new records you find into your tree.
Take advantage of Ancestry Hints. Family Tree Maker automatically suggests records that may match people in your tree.
Share heirloom-quality books and attractive posters that you create with the self-publishing tool at Ancestry.com.

Your Family Tree Maker 2010 Platinum software includes: Interactive Training Tutorial for Family Tree Maker 2010 (included on Family Tree Maker disk)
Get step-by-step instructions and tips that will help you easily build and grow your family tree.

The Getting Started Guide to Family Tree Maker
Follow simple directions to begin a project and master the program's basic features

The Family Tree Maker Little Book of Answers
Read short sections that will tell you how Family Tree Maker can work best for you.

Discounts on Ancestry.com Products
Save 20% on a subscription to Ancestry Magazine and 20% on DNA testing.

The Deluxe Ancestry.com Reference Library--Access to 15 invaluable family history reference books, compiled and indexed on one DVD.
The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy
The Red Book: American State, Country, and Town Sources
The Ancestry Family Historian's Address Book
Ancestry's Concise Genealogy Dictionary
They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins
Finding Answers in the U.S. Census
U.S. Military Records
Military Records at Ancestry.com
The Official Guide to Ancestry.com
The Official Guide to RootsWeb.com
Abbreviations and Acronyms: A Guide for Family Historians
Hidden Sources: Family History in Unlikely Places
Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records
Library of Congress: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research
The Archives: A Guide to the National Archives Field Branches (Out of Print)

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Family Tree Maker 2009 Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Family Tree Maker 2009 EssentialsFamily Tree Maker 2009 PlatinumFamily Tree Maker 2009 DeluxeI was surprised that I don't hate it. From the reviews, I thought I would. I have been using this program since the DOS days, because I am averse to change. When the new one came out, it lost most of what I used it for, so I stayed with the old one. This is my first try at the new one.
I was very pleased that it didn't try to overwrite the old one, or store files in the same place. It meant I could try it without worrying about losing my data,
It is not user-friendly. That is the first thing I noticed. I realized that because it is a new program, it doesn't have sixteen ways to do something, the way older programs do. It only has one, and you have to learn what that one way is. Just like the DOS version I started with. The print is vey small and hard to read, and I just today found out how to change it.
It is a good data-base. It has helped me find a number of errors I never knew I had, and to regularize entries, so the same thing is always written the same way. It has helped a lot with place names, for instance. That said, there are problems with default place names. They are alphabetical. For instance, Portland is in Multnomah County. The default is Clackamas County, because it is first in the alphabet. I looked for Iowa City, and found one in every county in Iowa, with no way to tell which was right. I can look straight at a town on the map, and find the program doesn't recognize it.
The program has gone into a partnership with Microsoft on some of it's features. With all the new software out there, much of it better, that might be a bad choice. There is a note that those features may drop without notice.
It is a space hog, and does crash. I could probably solve that with a new computer, but then my old program wouldn't be available to me, and the new one just isn't up to snuff yet. The thing I really use, regularly, is the book function. I print books almost yearly for family. This one says I can build the book on line, and still print it myself, so it is not as useless as I thought when I read that it had to be done on line, but I dno't know how they are going to get the program on line to print the accurate index, which is essential in a family book. And, because it is only a data base, there is no place in the new program for the essays on family history, family homeland, stories, recipes, and so forth that make such books more than a list of names. The old program could keep everything together, which was nice.
I am a suspicious sort. When I saw that it would no longer work with the disks we own, but is made to work with data that they expect you to pay monthly or yearly fees for, and that they want you to pay them large amounts to publish a book, I think "greed". After seeing the program, it is possible that it just doesn't have space for those features. I want to be able to print a descendant chart, with a photograph of each person, the information, and then the next person. I have not yet been able to find a way to do that. It should be an obvious option.
This is not a bad program, but I think it is finally time for me to seriously investigate all the other ones out there.
I can't run the new program satisfactorally on my current machine, and I can't run version 16 on a new machine, so if I atick with this program, I am stuck.


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Family Tree Maker 2009 by Ancestry.com, the #1 selling family history software, can help you easily discover, preserve and share your family history. It can help you build your family tree, gather stories and photos and create charts and books to share with your family. The Deluxe Edition includes a three-month subscription to Ancestry.com — the world's largest online collection of family history records with more than 7 billion ancestors' names. You'll also receive an interactive training tutorial, The Family Tree Maker Little Book of Answers, a 25% off coupon for Ancestry DNA and a 10% discount on a professionally printed family history book or poster.

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Ultimate Family Tree Deluxe Review

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(More customer reviews)Ultimate Family Tree is a great genealogy program which lets you do almost everything you could think of, even write reports in languages other than English. To me, this is THE genealogy program... While, for example, Family Tree Maker is a good program, too, it lacks a lot of the data entering capabilities of the Ultimate Family Tree.
However, I would like to point out to potential buyers that its manufacturer "The Learning Company" has recently discontinued this software. They've decided to only sell Family Tree Maker instead of offering both programs. So buyers should think very carefully if they want to buy arguably one of the best programs on the market knowing support will probably be very limited if not nonexistant in the future.

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Ultimate Family Tree Deluxe is a powerful software genealogy program to assist you in discovering your family's history!It provides you with step-by-step instructions that make it easy to get started and will save you hours, even weeks, of research time.Ultimate Family Tree Deluxe is quite simply a family tree program that offers exclusive features.

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Family Tree Maker 2008 Platinum Review

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(More customer reviews)Despite the name, this product bears no relation to previous versions of the Family Tree Maker product line. It is a brand new product, written from scratch, and does not utilize any of the old code.
Much of the functionality that was present in the previous version (FTM 16) is missing in this one, including pretty much all of the genealogy reports. Without these reports, the product is only good for data entry, and publishing on [...]. Other omissions include the ability to read the family tree CD's that have sold alongside previous versions, and the ability to create books from your genealogy on your own computer.
To create a genealogy book, you now have to upload your data onto the [...] servers, giving them the rights to share the data as they choose, and use the new web based Ancestry Press functionality to generate your book (for an additional fee). Ancestry Press, also being new, is extremely limited and does not contain a fraction of the functionality of the old, local book creation software.
So, buyer beware. This is NOT Family Tree Maker as you know it. I would recommend treating it as a 1.0 version of a new product, and holding off on buying it until they complete the implementation of the basic functionality which is missing.

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Whether you're new to family history or a seasoned genealogist, Family Tree Maker 2008 makes it easy for you to discover, preserve and share your family history.Windows XP (Home and Pro) SP2/Vista, Pentium II 500 MHz processor or equivalent (recommended Pentium III 1 GHz or equivalent), 256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended), 400 MB free hard-disk space (additional space required for data files), 2X CD-ROM drive or faster & DVD-ROM drive for bonus content [recommended 32X CD/CD-R (CD-R required for the Backup to CD Feature)], Monitor with 800 x 600 resolution (recommended Monitor with 1024 x 768 resolution), Keyboard and mouse, Note: ALL online features require internet access. Administrator privileges are required to properly install the program on Windows XP and Windows Vista. User is responsible for internet service provider account, all internet access fees, and phone charges.

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Family Tree Maker 2008 Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Today, I received an email from the makers of FTM who are hosting a webinare to try and get people more familiar with the FTM 2008 program. I also received a first - a survey to ask me what I liked and disliked about the program. Evidently FTM 2008 is not being embraced by enough people. For me it has been an unpleasant program to work with and I have removed it from my computer and have reverted to a much earlier version. I am not a Luddite - but if a program like FTM 2008 doesn't work easily or make my hobby easier, then I have no time to fuss with it.
FTM 2008 is for me the Edsel of genealogy programs for two reasons. First, the developers have created a program for genealogy beginners, one that is very tightly tied to Ancestry.com's fee based product lines accessible through their web site, and two, the developers have completely forgotten how advanced hobbyists approach family groups.
And like the dashboard of the 1958 Edsel, the user interface of FTM 2008 is full of lots of clutter, distractions and commands which seem to be counter intuitive. I would assume that for older users, this clutter would make it not only difficult to add data, but would also make those who use it yearn for Version 11, the last "plain Jane" version of the program.
What I wanted to see on this program was greater functionality in its report generator area and its ability (when exporting *.rtf reports) to better interface with standardized office productivity suites (MSWORD, etc.) - which is an issue with the core program not being updated to work with non-ancestry fee based services.
It just seems to me that with all the advances in data manipulation available today that the people behind FTM could do a better job at charting marriage between families and within families, but they seem to have a finite skill set and think that enough tinkering will distract people from the lack of innovation that their products feature.
In my personal opinion, this version of this program is not only unnecessarily complicated, and makes no real strives beyond what previous versions accomplished.


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Whether you're new to family history or a seasoned genealogist, Family Tree Maker 2008 makes it easy for you to discover, preserve and share your family history.Windows XP (Home and Pro) SP2/Vista, Pentium II 500 MHz processor or equivalent (recommended Pentium III 1 GHz or equivalent), 256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended), 400 MB free hard-disk space (additional space required for data files), 2X CD-ROM drive or faster & DVD-ROM drive for bonus content [recommended 32X CD/CD-R (CD-R required for the Backup to CD Feature)], Monitor with 800 x 600 resolution (recommended Monitor with 1024 x 768 resolution), Keyboard and mouse, Note: ALL online features require internet access. Administrator privileges are required to properly install the program on Windows XP and Windows Vista. User is responsible for internet service provider account, all internet access fees, and phone charges.

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Family Tree Heritage Deluxe V7.0 Review

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(More customer reviews)Family Tree Heritage Deluxe 7.0 is the latest version of the venerable Heritage Family Tree. As such, it has all the features of the solid earlier version plus some welcome additions including a field for recording DNA information, a useful individual summary page, the ability to print family books, and links to on-line resources. Although FTH 7.0 may not be as glitzy as more expensive packages, it is full-featured, has many useful tools and is a great value. FTH 7.0's data can be imported/exported to most popular genealogy programs so there is no need to be concerned if one of the more pricey programs catches your eye in the future.
I have only one quibble with FHT 7.0. Individual Sofware's package and the on-line brochure for the product indicate that one can create multi-media presentations and burn them to DVD to share with family or bring to reunions. While Passages Express is indeed bundled with the installation CD, it is the limited Standard Edition. In order to access advanced features, including DVD burning, one needs to upgrade to Passages Express Deluxe--at an additional cost of $19.95 for the "Deluxe license." There is no indication anywhere on the box or in the included matter that you must pay more to burn DVDs--a glaring oversight, especially since the claim that the program will burn DVDs appears in three different places on the box. This sort of marketing technique makes one wonder if there are any other features that are limited or not included. Individual Software should correct their packaging or include the upgrade at no charge.
While the over-stated claim about DVD burning is annoying, the Family Tree Heritage itself does everything a good genealogy program should do and does it well. FTH 7.0's flawlessly organizes scapbook items such as scanned documents; Word and text files; images; PDF files; and sound and video files within individual records.
Beginners should learn the basics of genealogy terminology and data gathering before diving in, but with program's editing features, mistakes and mis-steps are easily corrected.
FTH 7.0's low list price is attractive and some retail packages currently (December 2008) include a $10 mail-in rebate.

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Family Tree Heritage 7
Build Your Family Tree. Preserve Your Heritage!

Every family has unique stories and precious memories. Now you can discover the rich and exciting tales from your history and preserve your family heritage as a record for future generations. Whether you are new to genealogy or an experienced researcher, Family Tree Heritage makes it easy to preserve your family heritage and share your research with friends and family.

Preserve Your Family Heritage Easily organize impressive scrapbooks chronologically and along family lines.

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RootsMagic Family Tree Genealogy Software Review

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(More customer reviews)I discovered RootsMagic (v3.0) fairly recently. First, some background... I'm working with roughly 2000 names, and my goal is to research and publish the data, along with personal stories. I started with Family Tree Maker several years ago, but I didn't like the lack of citation capabilities with that earlier version. So, I switched to The Master Genealogist (TMG) which provides great source management but has a clumsy interface. The newer release of TMG has not improved this. Because you spend a lot of time entering information, the interface needs to be fairly painless and transparent. So, then I looked at Legacy, GenBox and RootsMagic, which have the necessary functionality but are also easy to use. It was a difficult choice between Legacy and RootsMagic, but I chose RootsMagic because I felt that it had a slight edge in its source management and that this feature was comparable to The Master Genealogist.
Installation was easy. After I exported my old TMG database files to a single .gedcom file, I used RootsMagic to import it. It was fast and the data loaded quite cleanly. RootsMagic lets you import GEDCOM files, Family Origins database and backup files, and PAF database files. Also, for anyone working with LDS, you can create and read TempleReady files and handle ordinances.
The interface is easy to use and it provides three views: Pedigree, Family and Descendants. You can access an individual or family by selecting the name from a list and loading it into the views. To modify an individual's data or relationships, you can right-click on the name (in any view or list) to access options from the popup menu. RootsMagic provides master lists for Sources, To-Do, Addresses, Repository, Correspondence, Places, and Fact types. Also, you can modify places, which contain addresses/locations, to include Latitude and Longitude coordinates, describe the history of the place, and include multimedia files (e.g., maps and photos).
Of course, this tool's major advantage is its source management capabilities. You can assign one or more sources to an individual, a family, or an event. Whenever you create a new source, you can define the information through a Source dialog box that has multiple tabs (Source, Text, Multimedia, and Respository), and link multiple media assets to the source (e.g., photos, files, sound, and video). Also, each time you assign the source to something, you can enter descriptive text for just that specific assignment.
As you enter data into RootsMagic, the application writes to an .rmg file for which you can create multiple backups. You can also export to the GEDCOM format for easy importing into other genealogy applications. When you export, you can define what will be exported and manage privacy options. You can generate books and reports (in many different formats). You can also publish to a web format (although I don't like the way RootsMagic outputs this). Also, I found some search capabilities to be better when they're done through the Reporting functions. Other RootsMagic options include calculators (relationship, Soundex and Date), shareable CD creation, timelines, color-coding of individuals, and charts (including wall-sized ones).
In conclusion, do not let the lower price or the easy-to-use interface dissuade you. This application has some serious citation/source capabilities that makes it competitive with The Master Genealogist and ahead of some other similar applications.

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Awarded "Editor's Choice" by Heritage Quest Magazine. RootsMagic is an easy to use family tree program with extensive family history reports, multiple navigation views, photos, publishing, and website creation features. RootsMagic supports unlimited people, families, events, notes, and photos. Users can print complete books (where the program writes the sentences for each event), spectacular charts, forms, lists, and even create custom reports. RootsMagic program also provides multiple database support (with drag and drop), SourceWizard, todo lists, powerful merge features, and more. Full GEDCOM support allows users to easily share their data with others, or to easily import their data from other programs. Import directly from Family Tree Maker (v16 and earlier), PAF, Legacy, or Family Origins. Create shareable CDs of your data and photos to send to your family and friends.

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Family Tree Maker 2011 Essentials Review

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(More customer reviews)Okay, so I've bought and used v16 then 2008, 2009, 2010 and now 2011. With this latest incarnation they did put some much needed features back into FTM but they also made it less functional. [edited after emails with Duff] Few things to be aware of - First - DO NOT rely on FTMs Auto Backups to save your media items - it won't. You have to manually backup your work. So before you exit always have to save your work and if yours crashes as much as mine does then I'd recommend saving frequently while working. Second - if you save lots of two part images like ships manifests, WWII Draft Cards, census records over 2 pages, military records, passport applications, or any other 2+ image sets (and there are a lot of them) FTM will only save THE FIRST IMAGE in the set, which means that you will have to manually save the rest of the pages and then manually add them to FTM - and yes, according to Duff they are aware of this, but it apparently is not a big deal for them. Right.

In the end I think I'm done with FTM. This version is the prettiest yet, but still way too many issues to be resolved. Yes, this works great with Ancestry and now you can download your family tree from the website; however, the hassles of trying to get all of your documents and pictures from one version to the next is ridiculous. FTM tells you its all automatic, however I haven't had a new version take me less than 3 days to get back to the way it should be, and for the price, EVERY YEAR, this is unacceptable. When they start releasing upgrades instead of whole new programs every year, I might start purchasing Family Tree Maker again.

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Ancestry.com Family Tree Maker gives you 100+ new and exciting ways to discover your story. Plus, your free one-month Ancestry.com membership provides access to three billion U.S. historical records including immigration and census data that could document your family's story. You'll even find photos, news stories, other family trees, and a helpful community of members that you might be related to.
Brand-new user interface plus more than 100 software enhancements makes it easier than ever to discover your family's story.

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