Family Tree Legends is a powerful Windows genealogy program produced by Pearl Street Software. While the program is noted for its power, it also features ease of use. In addition, it contains an excellent online matching system that compares the genealogy data you enter into your own database with millions of records stored on Pearl Street Software's servers. Finally, it has the best automated backup system I have ever seen in a genealogy program. Backups are made constantly without user intervention.
Pearl Street Software has just announced the release of a major update to Family Tree Legends (FTL). Version 5 is available now and adds a number of new features. I have reviewed previous versions of this program in the past and have been very impressed with its power and ease of use. This week I used the newest version and am now even more impressed. Pearl Street Software has made a first-class program even better.
Family Tree Legends is now available in three versions:
" Standard Edition - $29.95 (regularly $49.95)
" Deluxe Edition - $49.95 (regularly $69.95) includes everything in the Standard Edition plus:
o Adds the capability to copy your genealogy to a handheld computer. Family Tree Legends version 5 Deluxe Edition includes versions of both GedStar for Palm handheld devices and Pocket Genealogist for the Pocket PC devices.
o 6-month subscription to Family Tree Magazine.
o 1-year subscription to the FTL Records Collection - More than 400 million records, including the most powerful Social Security Death Index, over 1000 books, and exclusive vital records databases.
" Premium Edition - $79.95 (regularly $99.95) includes everything in the Standard Edition plus:
o Free upgrades to Family Tree Legends for a full year.
o Priority Support - Support questions answered the same business day.
o Priority Updates - Receive new features before they are released to other users. As they are developed, you will receive several features from the next version of FTL entirely for free.
o Priority File Handling - SmartMatches are re-calculated every day to make sure that the individuals you've just added get SmartMatches as soon as possible.
o 1-year subscription to Family Tree Magazine (a $22 value!).
o 1-year subscription to the FTL Records Collection - More than 400 million records, including the most powerful Social Security Death Index, over 1000 books, and exclusive vital records databases.
o Adds the capability to copy your genealogy to a handheld computer. Family Tree Legends version 5 Premium Edition includes versions of both GedStar for Palm handheld devices and Pocket Genealogist for the Pocket PC devices.
Owners of Family Tree Legends version 4 may upgrade to version 5 Standard Edition for $19.95. All prices are in U.S. dollars.
When buying the version of choice directly from the program's web site via a safe and secure shopping cart system, purchasers have the option of either downloading the program online immediately or having it shipped on a CD-ROM disk via standard mail. Shipment on CD costs an extra $5.00 to cover the added production and shipping costs.
This week I used the Standard Edition of Family Tree Legends version 5.
Upon first launching the program, I didn't notice any changes from the previous version. The main screen looked the same as before with the intuitive user interface. Anyone who has used earlier versions of Family Tree Legends will immediately feel "at home" with version 5. However, as I started looking at the various menus, I noticed a number of new additions.
Family Tree Legends is aimed at all levels of genealogists. It can handle the needs of demanding, experienced genealogists; yet, its user interface and liberal use of icons results in one of the easiest to use genealogy programs I have seen. Even inexperienced computer users can get up to speed with this program rather easily. Family Tree Legends, also commonly called "FTL," seems to be always intuitive.
Anyone who is familiar with a number of different genealogy programs will soon realize that Family Tree Legends is designed to be a direct competitor to Family Tree Maker, another popular genealogy program. Family Tree Legends has screens that look somewhat like those that have been used in past versions of Family Tree Maker. However, Family Tree Maker 2005 and the later 2006 version changed those screens, much to the chagrin of many experienced users of the program. As a result, several people have pointed out that Family Tree Legends' user interface looks more like the traditional Family Tree Maker interface than do the later versions of Family Tree Maker! However, Family Tree Legends' source citations database, automated backups, and automated online database matching system are all superior to its competitor.
One can expect that any genealogy program will record data, retrieve it, and produce reports. Family Tree Legends is no exception; it does all that very nicely. However, the program also has numerous features that are not found in most other genealogy programs. For one thing, FTL has a tightly integrated online capability that constantly makes backups. To be sure, other programs will make backups, either manually or automatically. A couple of genealogy programs will even make backups online. However, I have never seen another genealogy program that creates backups as painlessly as does Family Tree Legends. The program has the capability to produce and constantly update a backup copy of your database, automatically storing it on Pearl Street Software's servers. If connected to the Internet via an always-on broadband connection, the automated backups are made constantly as you add new data. If connecting via dial-up, the updated data is "batched;" that is, data is written to a file on the local hard drive and stored there until an Internet connection is made at a later time. Once connected, the data is then sent to Pearl Street Software's servers, all without user intervention. (You can disable the automatic backups, if you wish.)
If you ever lose all or part of your database due to hardware problems or human error, you can easily retrieve a full backup copy at any time. This same process will also work if you purchase a new computer: install the latest version of Family Tree Legends, and then begin an Internet connection. Your entire genealogy database will be retrieved from Pearl Street Software's servers and made available to you on the new computer within minutes. You do not need to copy data from your old computer to the new one. Pearl Street Software will handle that for you. All of this is done at no extra cost to the user; automated backups and rental of the required file space is included in Family Tree Legends' basic price.
All backup copies are encrypted with a 128-bit encryption key before being sent across the Internet and saved on Pearl Street Software's servers. Backups are visible to you alone unless you specify otherwise.
The automated storage of your genealogy data on centralized servers opens other possibilities as well. If you so choose, Pearl Street Software will display your data as Web pages. In other words, you can automatically publish your data on the Web as your personal home page. You don't even need to upload a separate copy since the data was already transferred as a backup copy during the data entry process. Pearl Street Software's servers can use your backup data to create Web pages for you and will even automatically update the pages if you add more data in the future. If you make a minor change to your database, such as adding one person or correcting a single date, your changes are reflected on your personal Web page for everyone to see shortly thereafter.
Again, the publishing of data on the Web is optional. The user can specify to never publish the data. Should he or she decide to publish, the user also can specify several different levels of privatization: show data about living individuals or not, show names but not places or dates, and so forth.
Family Tree Legends also has the capability to backup data to a floppy disk. Version 5 adds the capability to backup data to writeable or re-writeable CD-ROM or DVD-ROM disks.
I also noticed another new option: Create a Shareable CD-ROM disk. This new feature allows you to create a fully-working version of Family Tree Legends on a CD or DVD disk. Scrapbook items may be included or not, at the user's discretion. The process is simple as Family Tree Legends handles the process with minimal manual intervention.
The shareable CD-ROM contains all your data in read-only mode. Even copying the CD to a regular hard disk leaves the data in read-only mode. The software contained on the shareable CD is incapable of writing. The recipient can read all the data, display it on-screen in several formats, and even print reports.
You can legally give this shareable disk to others. The software license from Pearl Street Software allows the program owner to give the shareable CD-ROM disks away, free of charge. The recipient simply inserts the CD or DVD disk into a Windows computer and runs it. No software installation is required.
While writing this article in one window, I had Family Tree Legends running in a second window. I switched to the second window, told Family Tree Legends to make a shareable CD-ROM, and then I switched back to the first window to continue writing about other features. A few minutes later, the CD was finished. I removed it and inserted it into my Windows XP laptop computer that does not have Family Tree Legends installed. The new CD automatically started up and displayed its first menu. I was then able to move around the complete database as I wished. I could look at scrapbook items, listen to the scrapbook's audio files, and print all the reports. In short, this is a great way to share your data with others who use Windows.
I think the shareable CD-ROM feature is going to be VERY popular. I suspect that some people will purchase Family Tree Legends just for this one feature. Regardless of what genealogy program you use as your primary program, you can import your existing genealogy database into Family Tree Legends via a GEDCOM file or directly from a Family Tree Maker database, then create a shareable CD to give to others.
Version 5 of Family Tree Legends contains another feature that I suspect will be very popular: a handheld computer interface. Palm and PocketPC computers are exploding in popularity. I see these things everywhere. Now it is no longer necessary to print out reams of paper before visiting a genealogy library or other repository of records. You can carry all that information in a tiny pocket computer that weighs only a few ounces. While laptop PCs have been popular amongst genealogists for some time because of their portability, you can now transfer your data to even smaller and more convenient devices.
Family Tree Legends version 5 includes slightly limited versions of GedStar Pro for Palm handhelds and of Pocket Genealogist for PocketPC handhelds. Both of the handheld computer applications included with Family Tree Legends are slightly limited "trial versions" of the programs, but with nag-free screens. You can copy your data directly from Family Tree Legends to a Palm or PocketPC handheld computer, slip that handheld into a pocket or purse, and then have all your genealogy data with you at all times.
The best part of Family Tree Legends, however, may be its SmartMatching technology. This isn't new as SmartMatching has always been an integral part of Family Tree Legends. The program compares data in its local database with millions of records stored on GenCircles' web servers and displays listings for those individuals who exist both in your database and on GenCircles' servers. If you click on an individual in your local database, Family Tree Legends queries the GenCircles web site and returns all the details of potential matches from the SmartMatches to the Selected Individual field. The SmartMatches by Individual window allows you to view potential matches from other genealogical sources posted on the GenCircles web site.
To decide whether or not to merge an individual into your file, you can do either of the following:
" Double click on the individual, or
" Select the individual and click the Merge Individuals button.
Both of these methods will bring up the Compare Individuals window. At this point, the user has several options. One is to do nothing. Another is to automatically accept all data about this individual from GenCircles and add the information to your local database. I wouldn't recommend that until you have verified the accuracy of the new information. A more prudent option, you can also choose what GenCircles information you want to add to your database.
The merge process also contains several options for merging source citations. I would suggest that you select the option to copy all source citations from the GenCircles.com database along with the words, "via GenCircles," to each of those citations. This makes it easy to identify and verify those citations later. (I never believe anyone else's citations; I always want to verify them for myself.)
Family Tree Legends seems to do a better job of finding people than most of the other online databases. It really shines when searching for common surnames. Other online databases search for names, and most of them will also try to identify the years. However, it is common to search online for John Smith in Arkansas in 1840 and then find men of the same name 40 or 50 years later in Oregon, Alaska, or Massachusetts. Sure, they might be the same person, but how do you pick out the right one from the hundreds of records displayed on the screen?
FTL's SmartMatching does not display hundreds of hits for one person. Instead, it shows one occurrence of the name and then has links to sources of the information. These links are sorted in a manner defined by supporting evidence in other records. Family Tree Legends "votes" on matching records. First, it finds matching bits of information in other records. For instance, it may find a name and birth date in your database and then look for matching records. Some of those records may have the same name and birth date, as well as a death date that you do not know. It is assumed that these new records match. Then these newly-found records are compared against the entire database. Now, perhaps a person with the same name and the same death date is found in still more records that also show the names of parents. Again, this data is a match, even though it contains still more data not found in your database. This is a form of intelligent linking. The search algorithms also handle conflicting data by two methods: (1.) by voting to see if there are additional records that corroborate the data, and (2.) by showing both of the conflicting items to the user for his or her decision. In the case of conflicting data, the user may choose to ignore the new data, replace the old data with the new data, or else add the new data as a secondary record that is subservient to the older data. That last option is a good method of recording "possibilities" that need further investigation.
Users of previous versions of Family Tree Legends will note that version 5 also adds:
" Ancestor and Descendant Fan charts with 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 pie styles.
" Improved Scrapbook Printing - More options, easier to use, and better than ever.
" Correspondence Tracker - Track all your correspondence with other researchers in one convenient manager. Manage all of your contacts as well with easy links to emailing and more.
" Named Custom Reports - You can add as many custom reports to the actual Reports menu as you'd like. There's never been more control over what reports matter most to you.
" Full Record ID Support - Now you can choose to see Record ID's throughout the program. This is the greatest way to tell the difference between those two John Smiths.
" Improved Scrapbook Printing - More options, easier to use, and better than ever.
All in all, I am delighted with Family Tree Legends version 5. The program maintains its power, ease of use, and excellent SmartMatching technology. The latest version adds the capability to create shareable CD-ROM disks and also adds tight integration with handheld computers. Several other, smaller improvements have also been added. Family Tree Legends is firmly established in the mainstream of top-notch genealogy programs.
Family Tree Legends version 5 requires:
" Windows 95, 98, 98 SE, ME, 2000, or XP operating system
" 166 MHz processor or faster
" 30 megabytes or more of disk space
" 32 megabytes or more of RAM memory
Most Windows computers sold in the past 5 years meet these requirements.
To read more about Family Tree Legends 5 or to order the program via a safe and secure online shopping cart system, go to http://www.familytreelegends.com. I would especially recommend that you take the "Guided Tour" that is available on that page.
