Family Tree Maker 2008 Beta is Released

I do not remember the last time a genealogy software producer  released a free public beta test of a new version to the general public. Most betas are run behind closed doors by a closely-kit group of "friends of the company." This one is different: it is open to everyone. I haven't had a chance to download this yet as I just received this news. However, I believe it is supposed to be an all-new program, a total rewrite.

This beta test is free but please note the warning, "The beta will stop functioning on August 24th." I assume that you will need to purchase the released version by then if you wish to continue with the program. Also please note that Windows either XP or Vista is required. The program will not work on older operating systems, such as Windows 98 or ME.

The beta test version is a 164-megabyte download. You can download it on a 56k dial-up connection but that will take a long time. Broadband users should be able to download it in a few minutes.

The following is the announcement:

Announcing Family Tree Maker 2008, the next generation of the world's best-selling genealogy program. Family Tree Maker 2008 is coming this August, but you can give it a try now by downloading and installing a beta of the program. Simply click the link [at http://beta.familytreemaker.com] to download the beta.

Before you continue please note the following:

• This is a beta program; therefore there are no guarantees that the program will perform correctly, nor are there any warranties of any kind.
• Since this beta version is still in development it may crash or fail to function correctly. Though unlikely, installing the program may also negatively affect the operation of your computer.
• Files created in this beta may not open in the release version of the product. Always keep a backup of your data in another genealogy program (such as Family Tree Maker 16).
• The beta will stop functioning on August 24th. If you have entered information into the program that you would like to preserve please be sure to create a GEDCOM export before the 24th of August.
• The minimum system requirements for running the program are:

Operating System:     Windows XP/Vista
Processor:     500 MHz Intel Pentium II or equivalent (1 GHz or faster processor recommended)
Hard Disk:     400 MB for installation. Additional space required for data files.
Memory:     256 MB of RAM (512 MB of RAM recommended)
Monitor:     800x600 resolution (1024x768 resolution recommended)
Internet:     All online features require internet access

You can learn more at http://beta.familytreemaker.com.

Comments

[Happy Dae]

Family Tree Maker is an excellent software for genealogy beginners. There is much to recommend it, such as the following:
. Sourcing for each field of information
. Notes for "things that don't fit"
. Notes for medical history and cause of death
. Specialized tag assignments
. Export to Word or Adobe Acrobat

On the other hand, there are several things that are less delightful:
. Same, unchanged reports
. No specialized reports for specific research projects or trips
. No report writer to create something a user might need
. Lacks an import from Word or Adobe Acrobat
. Lacks methodology to repair a corrupted index

And what's this business of all the version numbers? Is it a year or a number? Confusing.

I think it is a good product that could be much better.

Happy Dae
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com/ssg1.htm

[BIll Bienia]

I tried downloading the beta this morning (July 10th) and it was not available. The download link (http://beta.familytreemaker.com/#) was a dead-end.

Bill Bienia

[Jane Ward]

I'm always uneasy about Family Tree Maker. I tried a "free trial version" once that changed all my files to their new version, which I didn't like, but was stuck with because the older version wouldn't open the new "old" files - and I hadn't been sensible enough to prepare a GEDCOM!
Older people that I help with genealogy really like their original version. Since many are converting from paper files, the old "file tabs" really help them understand the system. Once they feel confident, then the newer system begins to make sense.
Jane

[Dee Kermode]

Shoestring...which product do you recommend then? If FTM is for beginners...is Master's much better for experienced?

Thanks,
Dee

[Edward Fields]

I too am using FTM ver 16, and find it useful, but wonder if there is something better out there.
What are the heavy hitters using for genealogy software today?
thanks

[Bob Lackey]

A great beginning for FTM 2008 -- the download link doesn't work as of 9:30 AM EST on July 10!!! I'm curious as to whether they have finally enabled formating (bold, italics, underlining, etc.) in the Notes Section as Legacy 6 has done.

[Pat Walker]

I was really hyped to download, but when I went to the URL posted in your link above and clicked on the "download" link--nothing happened--it just jumped to the top of the page. Is there another download location? There should be for such a large download. Not much foresight on their part to have it inoperative the first day after it comes out.

[Ron Fedele]

The link on the page for the download is a place filler (it goes nowhere).

[David Frazier]

The download link doesn't seem to work. It just reloads the page.

[Brenda]

It says: click here to download on the site the above link takes one to and it does not dl .. check out the url of the link~ ;)

[critcial reader]

"However, I believe it is supposed to be an all-new program, a total rewrite."

Just why do you believe that?
Past experience with their "upgrades" suggests it will be the same much-advertised program as six years ago, but with new icons.....

[Jon]

Anybody else notice that the download URL doesnt work? Just seems to refresh the main page... wonder if its not actually released yet...

[Dick Eastman]

---> "However, I believe it is supposed to be an all-new program, a total rewrite." Just why do you believe that?

Because that is what the programmers writing the program told me several months ago. I believe them.

Last winter I sat in a conference room at Ancestry.com's headquarters in Provo, Utah as three of the their programmers who were writing the code gave me a demonstration of the program as it existed at that time. Many modules were not yet finished at the time but the "look and feel" and most of the core functions were operational then. I know that reports were not finished and Internet search did not work at that time and there were probably other pieces not ready at the time.

In short, they told me it was all new code and said they were forced to re-write it as the previous code had been modified and patched by different programmers over the years. The code was almost impossible to maintain the previous code so it was simpler and better to re-write everything new.

I believe them.

One of the fun things about writing this newsletter is that I get to see a lot of things before they are ready for announcement, such as Family Tree Maker. I usually have to sign a non-disclosure announcement (NDA) which I take seriously. I typically am not allowed to write anything about a product in development until the producing company makes its own announcement. At that time, the NDA is lifted and I am free to write about it and tell of my experience with the product.

As a long-time techie and genealogist, I must admit that I really love getting the "inside view" months before most other people!

- Dick Eastman

[Dick Eastman]

I just clicked on the link and downloaded the file. In short, it worked for me. I can believe that it was down all day, however. Things like that happen frequently with beta test software. I wouldn't be surprised to see the downloadable software yanked off the site several times as new bugs are discovered, fixed and then the fixed versions are re-uploaded to the site.

While you can download the beta test version at this moment, don't be surprised if it disappears again several times in the future.

- Dick Eastman

[Norman Henke]

The link is now working. I just downloaded the 164MB ftm_beta.exe. I am going to install it on a separate computer. I will post later on how it goes.

[Happy Dae]

Dee:

Yes, The Master Genealogist (TMG) is wonderful, but not for the faint of heart. Also, if you are a beginning or intermediate genealogist it can open your eyes to other established practices and other research avenues. It is for the serious genealogist. It is not perfect either, but continues to evolve, nonetheless.

For those who are simply collecting names, TMG is not for you. Save your money.

Happy Dae.
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com/ssg1.htm

[Norman Henke]

I installed the beta on my spare notebook computer, a Dell Inspiron 8500. It took a few minutes to setup because the file is so big. No problems with the install. When you first start the program it asks if you want to start a new file or import an existing file. It will read a GEDCOM and any earlier version of FTM among a couple of other formats. I pointed it at my FTM 16 data file of about 1000 people and it created a new file in My Documents\Family Tree Maker\ in under a minute.

The Main screen is a combination of Family and Pedigree Views which seemed strange to me at first but quickly grew on me. The program looks completely different from FTM 16 but I think I like it. Lots of new stuff that will take some time to figure out.

[Mal]

I'm impressed by the few tests I did with it so far once I figured out the new interface and where things had moved to.

I have a major problem in that I can't import my main FTM file from the current version - it just gets an error before it even starts processing. I'm able to import a GEDCOM version of the data but this strips off the best feature in recent versions - the ability to save original census image scans files into sources. I need to look at this more to see if I can figure out a workaround and to report it formally.

The integration of Ancestry searches in the last few versions is wonderful even though it has some flaws. It is the main reason I've kept buying upgrades - the bundled Ancestry.com access is sometimes cheaper than a regular subscription depending on which version/bundle you get.

It would be nice if they were more actively soliciting feature requests and feedback.

For example, the custom search option currently makes it very difficult to page through the many databases to choose which to include. The ability to save multiple custom search settings would be nice, and having a way to search the databases and select multiple ones from a list of results would be nice.

Also, the way they integrate GEDCOM merges from Rootsweb's Worldconnect is a bit dodgy in the old version and I think still in the beta, making it very hard to download a full tree and forcing you to do parts of a family at a time, then search for each offspring's spouses and children. If I'm not mistaken they strip notes off these also, and don't really credit the source and instead add their own source citation.

Anyway, it's essential software to me, and I've been hoping it would evolve more. It looks like we're getting some major changes in the look and feel. Hopefully we'll get better reporting and more ability to customize reports.

Overall I think the software has come a long way from versions of it I used years ago. I've always had a bit of love/hate relationship with it as a software tool, and only in the last two versions I've come to appreciate it more than it annoys me. It looks like I might even consider upgrading before my current Ancestry subscription expires if they get this polished.

[Mary D. Taffet]

If you had trouble importing your file from FTM Version 16, try the following, which those of us die hards on the FTM-TECH mailing list have been discussing:

1) Compact your original FTM 16 file and try again.

2) If that doesn't work, then try the following with a copy of your FTM 16 file:

-- Remove all To-do items
-- Remove all Saved views
-- Remove all Books

Removing those items allowed me to import my FTM 16 file that I couldn't import with those items still present.

The FTM-TECH mailing list is now hosted by Rootsweb for those in search of it.

-- Mary

[Dino (All Dino, All the Time)]

Thanks for the heads-up on the new version, Dick.

Since this a a total re-write (with all new code) it is, basically, a version 1.0 release.

And I will treat it like I do all 1.0 releases; Wait until version 1.1 is released, but probably version 2.0.

Nonetheless, I applaud the programmers and product managers for taking the steps necessary to bring FTM into the 21st century.

[Cathy]

I've never been impressed by what I saw in Family Tree Maker (FTM). Since using Legacy Family Tree by Millennia a couple of years ago, I've become a die-hard fan of it. It has the scale and versatility of The Master Genealogist (TMG) but more user friendly and more intuitive than any of the past versions of FTM. Legacy is also inexpensive. Thanks but I'll stick with Legacy.

[Geoff GILLIGAN]

Hi, FTW has been at the forefront of the genealogy programs that I use, with stating with 4.3 And over the years I have upgraded and helped many people from all walks of life & computer levels with slide shows, a easy to use basic book and classes. As with all good things they can be made bigger & better.

Beta FTW 2008.
Dose have some great improvements in it, however I think playing with it a lot more before I give the thumbs up and would buy it in August is another thing. Going on line to creat a Book is this a add-on? I would have liked the new fomatt better if all the old plus new things were added. In the last few upgrades the powers at be have spent more time with getting the WWW perfect. People in our genealogy groups etc... Like it as it is easyer on the eyes and not so cluttered. like some of the other programs that are avible to day.

Don't get me wrong I think in some parts this 2008 ver is so much better.

I made a new folder within the 2008 folder called it Family test. copied one of my files from ver16 into it and callred test. Everything imported ok photos sound files Notes facts the lot.

Just a Note: check the backup it backups to my Doc.. by defalt so change the backup desination if you don't won't this to happen.

Will post another note to let you all know how I get on.

Cheers Geoff GILLIGAN

[Allen Prunty]

Can someone please e-mail me at allen at alprunty.com

I have a file with 92,000 people in it that would give it a thrashing... I would love to test it out with my big file.

The link is not working for me and if someone could please e-mail me when it's working or help me to get the file I would be greatful.

Thanks

Allen

[Athena]

I downloaded the FTM2008 (aka FTM17) Beta about a week ago and I can't see any reason for someone who is running FTM 13/16 to upgrade. FTM2008 appears to have been designed to run in full screen mode on a widescreen monitor. Good Luck if that doesn't apply to you.

My greatest dislike is the integration with online sources. In older versions, online searches of Ancestry resulted in an easy to use hit list with the option to display the actual record in a separate windwo. In FTM2008, you just get the standard Ancestry web page opening in an unusably small window within the application itself. Yes, you can opt to open it in a separate window but you have to do that each and every time you want to see a something. In the older versions, the hitlist indicated when something had already been merged, now they've gone to cluttering up the basic display with a leaf to indicate that something on the web may apply -- whether or not you have already merged the item. The whole thing is cluttered and more difficult to use.

There are some welcome additions to managing and presenting media files but the chart reporting is still too basic and FTM stopped including the Charting Companion a while ago so I don't know how people are supposed to get decent charts. The minor improvements I have seen so far don't really cut it.

The User Interface is messed up in other ways too -- there are giant iconic buttons above the menu (they should be below) but no HELP icon. There are lots of extra panes that cannot be closed (again making it hard to work with on a standard aspect monitor). Basically, they decided to expose everything all the time (probably because a lot of users never realized what was possible) and in the process they have created a cumbersome application.

From what I can see, FTM 17 is a rewrite of what was there before and not a evolution into something better. I have used many of the other programs mentioned here -- Legacy, TMG, and Roots Magic to mention a few. I have stayed with FTM because of the web integration but I was hoping to see more *functional* enhancements this time around and am sadly disappointed. All I really see is a rearrangement of what was already there. I won't be spending any money on an upgrade to this version.

FWIW, you don't really have to do anything to avoid corrupting your current installation. I did backup my database before I started but the installation program didn't change anything in my main directory; it created a separate folder and created a converted copy of the database all on its own.

[Carmen Johnson]

I have a large file with about 74,000 people. I will say that it took a long time to import the file. It seems a little slow manuevering between individuals...but since I am using a beta, that does not surprise me. I have not found where the Register reports are. As for Charting, that isn't really a big deal for me. Now for the good sutff, it will take while to get used to the interface, but I can see that it could really be great when you are working with complicated lines. Essentially the pedigree and family interface are combined. Once I was able to figure out how to customize the interface for the person...I was very happy with the look. I haven't yet figured out if the old keyboard shortcuts will work. When I have more time...I will check. As with anything different, there will have to be a lot of adjustments. If you don't like to make those changes, then don't try the new 2008...however, if you are open to some new things - keep a backup and try it out!