Family Tree Maker 2008 Service Packs

A The recent release of Family Tree Maker 2008 has created a lot of discussion about the all-new program, especially what is or is not included within the new release. You can see much of that discussion in the 80+ comments at the end of my earlier article at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/08/family-tree-mak.html.

Now The Generations Network, producers of Family Tree Maker 2008, has sent an e-mail to all purchasers of the program mapping the company's plans to continually add new features and fix bugs:

Essential Upgrades to Family Tree Maker 2008

Dear Family Tree Maker Customer:

Thank you for your recent purchase of Family Tree Maker 2008. We are continually working to improve the product and wanted to let you know about some upcoming enhancements.

Free Program Updates

Service Pack 1: We just released a program update that resolves some performance issues that have been brought to our attention. If you have registered your Family Tree Maker software, the next time you open the program you will automatically receive a message prompting you to install the program update (you must be connected to the Internet to receive the automatic notification). The installation process is quick and secure. We urge you to take advantage of this program update, which will improve your experience using the software.

Service Pack 2: In mid-October we will enhance the program’s Publish capabilities. In particular, this release reintroduces several popular reports from previous versions of Family Tree Maker. Again, if you have registered your software, you will be automatically notified when the program update becomes available. You can also access up-to-date information about program enhancements by visiting the Program Updates page on the Family Tree Maker website.

Book Publishing
Many of you have asked about our plans for expanding the program’s book publishing capabilities. Some Family Tree Maker customers have already explored Ancestry Press, our new online self-publishing application, and are excited by the possibilities it offers for creating customized family history books. Other customers have contacted us to say they would feel more comfortable using a desktop book building tool. Our goal is to offer an integrated solution that combines the advantages of both an online application and a desktop application.

Ancestry Press: In the coming months we will be adding many new features and templates to the Ancestry Press book building tool. We are also working to improve the integration between Family Tree Maker and Ancestry Press. Next month you will receive a coupon for 50% off your first professionally printed Ancestry Press book.

Desktop Tool: We are developing a desktop book building tool that we will provide free of charge to all Family Tree Maker 2008 customers next summer. This tool will allow you to print your book from home or, if you prefer, create a PDF that you can have professionally printed and bound through the Ancestry Press book printing service or another vendor of your choice.

Customer Feedback

Family Tree Maker 2008 represents a new strategic direction for the software and provides a robust platform for future development. While we are excited about the program’s many new features and the opportunities to extend its functionality, we recognize that the new approach is a departure from previous versions of the software and that some of our loyal customers have concerns about switching to the new version.

For information about specific features that have changed, please visit the Knowledge Base on the Family Tree Maker website. If you don’t find an answer to your question, please let us know. You can use the enhancement request form to submit questions and comments as well as suggestions for new features. While we cannot respond personally to each message, we do consider all suggestions and will post answers to frequently asked questions on the Knowledge Base for the benefit of the whole community.

Thank you for your patience and support as we work to offer an even better family tree building experience to our valued customers. We appreciate the feedback you have already provided and look forward to an ongoing dialogue about how we can improve the product.

Best wishes,

The Family Tree Maker team

A NOTE ABOUT PRIVACY: When you upload your family tree to Ancestry.com, you can control the privacy settings on your tree and on projects you create in Ancestry Press.

If you choose the Personal Tree setting, other Ancestry members will not be able to view your tree, but the names of deceased individuals in your tree—as well as their birthdates and birthplaces—may appear in the search index. Ancestry members searching for those individuals can contact you anonymously through Ancestry’s Connection Service to request more information.

If you choose the Public Tree setting, other Ancestry members will be able to view your tree and, if they find common ancestors, merge specific lines into their own family trees. Ancestry members who are doing research on your family lines can contact you anonymously through Ancestry’s Connection Service to request and share information.

Regardless of your privacy setting, information about people who appear to be living is automatically hidden and will not be displayed in the search index.
By default, any project you create in Ancestry Press is completely private unless you choose to share it with specific individuals or with the community. Beginning in October, you’ll have the ability to invite your family members to view and contribute to your project—even if they are not Ancestry subscribers."

Comments

[Sandy Coulter]

I was surprised to receive the above email from Generations Network, especially after having written their technical support about the missing genealogy report and books features. I was told that a patch will be available in October that will address some of the "missing reports." I have also requested a new report be developed that will match two FTM files and print a report of the differences, which I have done several times before. I must say that it seems Generations Network has been listening to us. Hopefully they follow through.

[Judith Arnn-Knight]

I have not checked their website since this article but I see nothing to indicate that they plan to include the functionality of reading their older CDs that many of us bought. When Dick published his first article I checked with ancestry.com to make sure I understood correctly that we could NO longer use all those CDs purchased over the years. I have Windows XP and they do not have a desktop program to read the CDs that can be used for this version of windows. I was told that the new version would not support the reading of those CDs.

This seems really short sighted unless they are planning to re-release all those data in a format readable by 2008. Maybe some techie will write a program to at least access the CDs; I rarely used the function to check against my database.

Think I will keep what I have.

[Harry Rudd]

I am surprised that I have received no notification personally regarding the release of the new Family Tree Maker software. I only learned about it through regular genealogy media announcements. In the past I have received notice of new versions and been offered to upgrade at a reduced rate which I have done every time, but not for this version. So much for customer loyalty!

[Judy Beeten]

I have found FamilyTreeMaker 2008 to be the most user UNfriendly update they have every produced. It started with not taking in all my family trees when installed. The Websearch feature is so inferior to FTM 16 - you cannot view info on the family on the bottom anymore - you have a 1/16th of an inch view which you can scroll - and you have to go through more steps to go through a websearch. I wasted time clicking on the person I wanted to do a Websearch on and continually got the last person I searched. Guess I have to go thru the entire training program. Never had to do this before and I don't think this is a better program to devote all that time. I have been using FTM since the 80's - maybe their first program and have never encountered such a confusing program. I would not mind if it was more convenient but it is not. Can you tell I am really frustrated? Sorry to vent. Who was that techie who thought this was a great improvement? Judy

[jking]

Does anyone else find this humorous?

"Desktop Tool: We are developing a desktop book building tool that we will provide free of charge to all Family Tree Maker 2008 customers next summer."

Just in time for the release of FTM 2009.

[Roxann]

I thought I was the only one who had difficulty adjusting to this newer version. I am trying to adapt, but still feel that the older version was much easier to navigate than this new one.

[ELI]

I bought it. after all the negative comments I am not sure I want to install it. ELI

[Cheryl]

I bought it too, however I'm not about to put my "real" genealogy on it before they get the bugs out and I learn how to use it. I agree that it is much more confusing than the other versions. There are a few features I really like, though, and so I'm going to try to be patient through this process while I "play" a little with the new version and really use the old one.

[Linda Johnston]

I didn't buy the new FTM 2008 version. It appeared, to me, that Ancestry was in such a rush to get the new version on the market, that they were selling a Beta product, without the bugs worked out. It seems that my suspicions have now been confirmed. One does not have to get patches for a "flat tire", if one does not purchase a flat tire, in the first place.

Ancestry seems to be great in the "promises dept.". However, when it comes to fulfilling those promises, they fall short of doing so. I am still awaiting the reconstruction of the 1890 census that was promised over seven years ago. They are constantly announcing partnerships with various repositories, but only put very small portions, if anything, on their site. I have grown weary of their marketing practices, especially when I see that all the money I've spent on their CDs, would be wasted, if I were to buy FTM 2008. The subscription rate, for access to their site, has grown increasingly prohibitive, for many individuals. It is, for those reasons, my decision to spend my money where I can get a reasonable return on my investment. That is not with Ancestry.

Unless, and until, some of their foibles are corrected, I will be using RootsWeb, the LDS site, the large network of relatives I have connected with, and the substantial library of books I have managed to accumulate, to develop my family lines and to assist others. The "payback" from these sources, is much richer than I can ever hope to receive from Ancestry. I am exploring other software to use in my research, too. FTM has always been my software of choice; but I can learn how to use a different one. It is too difficult to rationalize purchase of a product that seems to be going "downhill", when others are progressing.

[lds gift shopper]

I have been looking into the software but haven't bought it yet, so thank you for the information.

[Trish Lewis]

I have no experience with prior versions of FTM, and have bought the new FTM2008 and love it. Maybe having to prior experience in this case is a plus...!

[Athena]

Current FTM users will find this comprehensive list of dropped features, broken function, and marketing misrepresentations quite interesting.

http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.software.famtreemaker/3446.10/mb.ashx

As an FTM16 user, I'm going to keep what I have and wait for a version with concrete functional enhancements. Those who are using earlier versions, might want to get a copy of FTM16 while it's still available from online users and just sit out this degraded "update".

[B. Bowman]

I've been a loyal customer of Family Tree Maker for the past 17 yr, and until FTM2008, each version was an incremental improvement over the previous one - not so this time. I think they have insulted their entire loyal customer base by releasing a very incomplete and buggy program such as this, obviously planning on later releasing patches to try to correct their blunders. My FTM2008 data file is 230% larger than the previous version. I suspect that they are most interested in trying to increase revenues from online data search subscriptions - the "free subscription" for 2 weeks to Ancestry.com was misleading, as one could really access very little useful information without paying another $25/month for the real subscription - I call this "bait and switch", much like shady used car dealers.
I wouldn't recommend this version to anyone!

[Ginny in Poughkeepsie]

With such a disastrous original release - I don't know how anyone can rely on upgrades - I purchased FTM 2008 on line - and returned it within a week for credit - When I called MyFamily to ask if I needed a Return Authorization #, I was told I did not - I did return all received FTM 2008 materials in the packaging they arrived in along with a copy of the confirming e-mail I received when I first order the product marked "Returned for Credit - Please credit my Account." I put all this in a USPS Priority Mail mailer and used USPS Delivery Confirmation to mail this disaster back to MyFamily. My credit card account was credited for all but the original shipping charges of $4.00 and of course I am out the $5.25 it cost me to ship the disaster back. Do yourself a favor - don't order it - then you won't have to return it and you can save yourself $9.25 - in my book MyFamily/Ancestry/The Generations Network still owes me $9.25 for this diaster - However I guess I can tell myself I bought them for $9.25 - Done - finished - kaput is what I am - they can keep their program and their Upgrades/Service Paks - whatever they want to call them.

At the same time - I did donate $100 tax deductible dollars to USGenNet http://www.usgennet.org/ to support what others voluntarily share "Free" on the Internet - just my own personal way of saying to MyFamily/Ancestry/The Generations Network - "in your face you greedy money grubbing unethical money making hogs" as regards their other faisco with the "Internet Biographical Collection".

Enough is Enough!

MyFamily/Ancestry/The Generations Network should stick with what they are good at like what they have done with the Census and stop trying to have it all. After all some day they may have it all but none of it will be of quality - FTM 2008 sure wasn't.

Oh and by the way I currently use Family Tree Maker v. 16 and have used FTM since 1994 but will search for another program if I ever find I NEED to upgrade - "If it ain't broke - I ain't gonna fix it."

[Amanuensis]

Ginny, I am puzzled. If, as you say at the end of your message, you do not presently feel the need to upgrade from FTM 16, then why did you do so?

Also, the fact that you just gave $100 to a free site just made it not free for you. You might say, well, someone has to pay. Exactly! Someone always has to pay, or it would not exist. There is no such thing as "free genealogy" just as there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Now that I have dispelled that illusion, at least to those who are willing to take off their rose colored glasses, then spend your money in the most efficient manner possible to get the answers you need. Personally, I find that Ancestry.com gets me a lot more information at less expense than anything else, especially when I assign a realistic value to my time. If your milage varies, then do what works for you. But don't sneer at those of us who are not as "pure" as you. Ancestry.com may or may not be a "money-grubbing hog" but what I pay them sure "brings home the bacon" for me.

[Ginny in Poughkeepsie]

Well now "Amanuensis", I will not debate on someone else's blog - I had been using v10 FTM up until 2008 came out - was waiting for 2008 because I expected it to be the excellent program I had been using for years - NO - NOT - it was garbage - when I saw what a disaster 2008 was I UNINSTALLED IT and ran out as quickly as possible and purchased v16.

I am a proud member of USGenNet and am administrator of three sites on that Server - I have dedicated hundreds of hours and HTMLing to those pages and could use the tax deduction - something you don't get from Ance$try - I support the organizations I belong to! I prefer to support public non-profit entities not greedy corporate giants.

[Ginny in Poughkeepsie]

For a discussion on "Amanuensis" go here:
Footnote Maven Genealogical Blog - Commenting on Commenting
http://footnotemaven.blogspot.com/2007/09/commenting-on-commenting.html

You just gotta wonder who . . . . . . . . .

I know I did. . . . . . .

[Bob Martell]

I ordered Family Tree Maker 2008 and am so upset. I have used FTM since it's inception. What they have done is sell a Beta program and eliminated Genealogy reports and given out a lousy program. Whoever is responsible should be let go. I am using the CD as a coffee coaster and actively looking to switch to something that I can trust. They really let their loyal customers down.

[Dino (All Dino, All the Time)]

Ginny,

That sure was an interesting link about Amanuensis, his real identity and job. Although I enjoy reading his posts, it certainly casts a disingenuous pallor over them. I'll take them with a grain of salt (or a whole shaker) from now on.

[Ooo Emm Gee]

Amanuensis, without revealing that he is Ancestry.com employee, said
> Personally, I find that Ancestry.com gets me a lot more information at less expense than anything else...

... what I pay them sure "brings home the bacon" for me.
You mean they pay you, right?

Hm, Amanuensis, just how many of you get paid for this sock-puppetting?
Ancestry.com should stop paying you, and hire someone useful, say somebody who LISTENS.

[ned]

This is the poorest version of FTM I have used. I have bee using this product since 1997. Also when importing Gedcom files from other than FTM the sources do not import back into their program. Where is there a decent editing program for Gedcom files. I do know you have to change all lines that begin with 1 DATA to 1 TITL, why? Is not TITL reserved for some one's Title such as DEA. or DR. or REV.

I do not like the format of this new 2008. Yes they have put out a patch however when installing the patch be sure to turn off you Virus Protection or you will have a corrupt program and have to reinstall 2008 again after uninstalling the existing the you have.

Note: 2008 is so different it will coexist with an older version of Family Tree Maker.

[Joy Rich]

Amanuensis's "signature" links to http://www.apgen.org/directory/search_detail.html?mbr_id=820, the entry for a professional genealogist named Chad Milliner.

I googled "chad milliner." The first result is a listing for Chad Milliner on zoominfo. It says that Chad Milliner is a Content Specialist for THE GENERATIONS NETWORK, aka MYFAMILY.COM aka ANCESTRY.COM!

[Mark]

I've used many version of FTM. I've only had FTM 2008 installed for a day so I can't comment on too much at the moment. The one thing that I DO NOT like it having to upload (send) my genealogy file away from my computer to a server(s) not knowing who has access to my work. I'm VERY UNCOMFORTABLE about this feature. My work will stay in my hards, not someone elses. The publishing software NEEDS to remain on the users computer. Our genealogy work needs to be secure and in control of the user/owner, not out in the public unless that is what the user wishes. Publishing my work is important to me, but not at the risk of allowing others to take control of my years of work... Sorry FTM, you started out with a good idea and improvements in this area with FTM 16/2006, but not with FTM 2008.

[Joy Rich]

Amanuensis/Chad Milliiner owes Ginny in Poughkeepsie an apology for saying that she was sneering at us. Amanuensis/Chad Milliiner has been sneering at us by sending post after post after post to this blog in praise of Ancestry without bothering to mention that he's their employee.

[JK]

If anyone who has bought FTM 2008 and doesn't like it (which is most of the people who have posted it seems) you can still go out and purchase V. 16 at your local Office Max, in fact I suggest you do so because the Office Max near me is selling the Collector's Edition of it for $50 bucks. That's right, I wish I had waited a couple of months to get my copy of V.16 because I could've saved $30 but speaking of V.16 I LOVE it and am glad I never wanted to try the next one. And to the poster who said they had no experience with any other version of FTM and LIKED FTM 2008, I have had NO experience with any other version of Family Tree Maker EXCEPT V.16, in fact the program I had previously, Generations Liberty Edition, was very similar in style, at least as far as adding information, to FTM V.16 so I am very happy with it and wouldn't change. I also probably will NOT try for an upgrade since the Collector's Edition has what I want even if I didn't sign up for the year of Ancestry.