PC Magazine's Review of Family Tree Maker 2008

When Family Tree Maker 2008 was introduced a few months ago, the readers of this newsletter were rather critical of the all-new release. You can read those comments at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/08/family-tree-mak.html and at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/09/family-tree-mak.html.  Today I read a review of the program in PC Magazine and for a while thought that reviewer Lisa Ruefenacht was describing a different product. She obviously loved Family Tree Maker 2008. I felt that she was describing a different program from what everyone else had used.

Ruefenacht started her review by stating that she couldn't get the program installed properly until she contacted Ancestry.com tech support and they had her download a patch. Then everything worked. Well, almost everything. Ruefenacht wrote:

The Places heading syncs with Microsoft Visual Earth to show a satellite map of where your ancestors lived (a current map, of course-sadly, nobody seems to have developed technology for showing satellite maps as they would have looked in the 1800s). Unfortunately, I hit another snag here, receiving a message about a script error.

You can read Lisa Ruefenacht's review at: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2229420,00.asp.

Comments

[Dino (All Dino, All The Time)]

PC Magazine has never been very good reviewing genealogy programs. Actually, unless it is a utility program or a major program (Word, Excel, and the likes) they don't really go very deep into it and don't seem to have people with a lot of subject knowledge doing the reviewing.

I used to read PC Mag cover to cover but I can't even remember when the last time I picked one up was. Maybe it was when John C Dvorak was still relevant.

[Former PC Mag reader]

I read PC Mag for years. I discovered it is unreliable.
They pander to advertisers. Microsoft even managed to get one of their columnist fired for being critical.

[FTM User]

When you read the review, you find out that she hardly tried FTM, but was impressed by the information on Ancestry.com, something which is NOT included in the FTM package! She did not bother to review FTM at all, and her comment that she does not know about other apps syncing with internet databases shows that she does not know much about genealogy programs.

[Another former PC mag reader]

I signed up for several PC Mag 'newsletters' via email. But what started coming were URL's for me to go to. When I attempted to unsubscribe (several repeated times mind you) I still couldn't get off their lists. Finally tagged all incoming as SPAM and everything they, to this day, continue to send gets automatically dumped unseen into my SPAM mail box where it experiences final death.

[Eileen Souza]

I feel that I need to speak up about FTW 2008. I've used FTW for almost 10 years. Yes FTW 2008 is somewhat buggy but so it seems is most of my other software including the operating system. It seems like a trend in this rush to get the latest releases out and many tried and true programs had to be rewritten because their technology is out-of-date.

I do like the direction that FTW is taking. I just had a big SP applied and like everything else: there is good news and bad news. Some things were fixed and performance improved but one of my favorite features was slightly broken.

I notice that there are many comments about the mapping feature, mentioning Google Earth. That is not accurate, it uses Microsoft Earth.

I love the fact that I can automatically merge Ancestry data into my database. It prompts me for each fact and asks whether I wish to make it primary or an alternative. It then sources each fact with media (if available) saving me many hours of typing (for someone with arthritis, this is a significant benefit). For this feature alone, I'm willing to put up with a few bugs.

Many of the items being complained about are optional. You don't have to use them. Yes, the place name file is modern but the software does not change your place names. In cases where my names were still the same, I used it to correct my format of location.

I did not experience any of the data corruption reported by others and the upgrade of my FTW 16 data went just fine. I noticed that many of the discussions seemed to be related to beta versions and much of it was corrected by the final release.

Eileen

[John A. Halstead]

FTM 2008 is an overly complicated program for those individules who wish to do basic genealogy of their family and ancestors. It seems like the programmers were more interested in developing a high tech porgram than one that was more user frendly.

[Bernard]

FTM has always been a complex genealogy program, but with a simple to use format, for both data entry and reporting. Version 2008 has added a few features to enhance the content, but slipped up badly by reducing the output and removing the key features that made reports flexible. A problem that they seem to be addressing and probably within 2 years it will be an improvement over the earlier versions. I bought it, was very disappointed, and switched to "Family Historian" which met virtually all my needs and is flexible enough in recording and outputing data, but I still download the patches for FTM2008, and will probably return to using it - when it works properly!

The big problem with reviews of software in PC Magazines is they rarely have the knowledge and background to assess "specialist" programs such as genealogy - so you get comments like "it built my tree without me having to do anything" something every genealogist will realise no program can do - "it built a tree which might have my family in it" would be more accurate, we all know that to build a tree requires finding primary evidence that proves the link between names in online databases and real family connections.

I would also treat any review of a program, specialist or otherwise, where the reviewer had no knowledge or comparison of the alternative programs or of the specialist subject as being pure advertising hype - not a review.

[Athena]

>>I love the fact that I can automatically merge Ancestry data into my database. It prompts me for each fact and asks whether I wish to make it primary or an alternative. ... For this feature alone, I'm willing to put up with a few bugs.<<

You don't have to put up with bugs to have that capability; in fact you already had it in FTM16. Most of what is being touted as "new" in FTM2008 already existed in previous versions and a lot of other core features mysteriously disappeared or have been degraded to the extent that they are barely usable.

The PC Magazine reviewer had obviously not used any other genealogy program and didn't even bother to do a cursory search to see what actual users have to say about FTM. I tried to post a comment but it didn't recognize the address PC Magazine is using to send me newsletters and wanted way too much information for a new registrant ... oh well, I'll just have to keep reminding the members of my local genealogy group to ignore the hype and go for the older version.

[Winfield]

You wish to have a good genealogy program?

Give a try with Legacy, from Mellinium Corp at http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/

This is a user friendly program that is good for both the beginner and the experienced. I've been a long time user and a moderater for a User Group and find it to be the best out there for the cost.

[Wayne Townsend]

Call me old fashioned but I'm still using version 11 and it works just fine. My brother-in-law bought 2008 and has had nothing but trouble. He is a professional genealogist and is very frustrated by 2008. I may upgrade to 16 but that's as far as it goes now. Give me plain old fashioned programs that actually work! As far as PC Mag goes....I gave up on it years ago.

[Grove Sandrock]

FTM 2008 is not reliable and creates real problems for those who have used previous versions. The publisher refuses to provide refunds for those of us who purchased the program and find it to be unacceptable. Do not waste your money. Stick with earlier versions or other programs. The 2008 version is a real rip off. It will destroy your careful research and really create problems for you. This is my opinion as to the 2008 version of FTM. Patches provided have not helped to change my opinion.

[Alexa]

After reading numerous comments/complaints about FTM 2008, I'm beginning to believe I was blessed the day I ran across FTM version 15 and bought it on a whim last year. I upgraded it online to version 16, and have never experienced one problem. I still love my very first genealogy program I purchased about 1997, Generations 4.2, I believe. It's good, it's basic, it's easy and does a good number of tricks. I agree with the persons who said buy another program. They work so much better than FTM 2008. If you have an older version of FTM, stick with it. In future, don't buy a new version of anything until you've read all the user reviews, not the paid reviews. Good luck to everyone.

[Bob Martell]

I'd like to see the credentials of Lisa Ruefenacht that gives her any expertise to evaluate this terribly buggy program. My impression is that she secretely works in the Marketing Department of Ancestry.com or they wrote it for her.
Up to FTM 16 it was a good program for geneologists. Then they brought in a bunch of software writers that were inept and didn't understand their customer base (Management also was/is inept).
The real story is how it is being (Or not being) handled. The company did nothing to acknowledge this terrible mistake and correct it or go back to 16 and upgrade it.
I use 16 and am actively pursuing a program that will give me Geneology Reports (Which 2008 eliminated) a stupid thing to do. PC Magazine is now on my S--- List

[Linda]

It really is too bad that PC Magazine doesn't do the research necessary to write a complete and accurate review. I think Lisa was taken in by the marketing of the ancestry.com integration. As has been stated numerous times, The Generations Network released a poor quality and incomplete product. FTM 16 has far more features, has a quicker response, and doesn't have the technical issues that FTM 2008 seems to have. Even with the latest patch, the report set is incomplete and those reports that are there do not have the full set of content and formatting options available in previous versions. Those options are an important part of making the reports usable. Those with larger databases are still experiencing performance issues that they didn't have with previous versions. Lisa Ruefenacht obviously did not have the number of records nor the level of genealogy experience to understand the problems and omissions in FTM 2008. It is not an improvement or upgrade over previous versions. In my opinion, The Generations Network took Family Tree Maker from the best genealogy software to the worst.

If you want to monitor the issues people are dealing with in FTM 2008, go to the Ancestry.com message board at http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.software.famtreemaker/mb.ashx and review messages today back to the August release. You will see that they lost many loyal customers. I'm sticking with FTM 2006 until I have a chance to evaluate the upcoming upgrade releases of the FTM's competitors. I don't think The Generations Network has the vision or the capability to get back to the top.

[Tim]

I have been a very faithful user of FTM and I am very sad that 2008 is bringing it down. I started with the 2nd or 3rd version many many years ago and love it. I've been using 2006 since about a year after it was released and have never had any problems with it and before I ever jump to the newest and latest versions of anything, I wait and read the the comments about it. So I've been monitoring http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.software.famtreemaker/mb.ashx and don't like what I've seen. Three weeks ago I stumbled upon a webpage for The Master Genealogist. I liked the way it was described so I ordered it. I'm loving it!!! Yes, it is very complicated and not for the novice genealogist, but an experienced genealogist should pick it up quickly. So I'll keep my FTM 2006 on my computer but I won't be using it for my research anymore. (I have seperation anxieties to dear old friends, and FTM is a dear old friend.)

[Jim]

I would not in my wildest dreams ever recommend FTM 2008. The previous version 16 was and still is far superior. As for downloading new photos what a breeze the earlier programs were compared to the disasters that FTW 2008 present you with. No ability to fine tune your photos as in previous programs. The only good to come from the program is the pedigree tree but how do you get that to work easily and quickly. Not possible at the moment. Buy an older version of FTM. I am very disappointed particularly as I had updated every year since version 3 of FTM in 1995. FTM was once the leader but no longer. If a new program had to be written it should not have been released until it incorporated all the previous functions of version 16 FTM. It seems to me that in this case the fools really have rushed in.

[James]

I am still using FTM 8.0 which I export GEDCOm to Family Origins 8.0 to generate HTML files. I then upload them to my domain with Microsoft Front Page. Wouldn't it be nice if someone made a program that would do it all. I would consider using FTM but don't relish the thoughts of being tied to Ancestry on every move and only being able to use their site for web pages where they utilize the data to sell to others. Never trust that data without checking since it comes from users who may not document references for their data? Big rip off! After a few times around the town with Ancestry, no one should ever batter Microsoft about being a monopoly. Ancestry takes over competitors software companies and they puts them in a sealed box never to be seen again. If Ancestry is going to do this, they should give away the software for free? I don't want any software where I am forced to be tied to a company and pay forever to have the use of. I am evaluating some other manufacturers products and there appears to be several lights on the horizon.

[TPW]

I have just found two very disturbing (at least to me) issues with FTM2008.

1. In previous releases (FTM16), if I exported a single individual or several individuals to a GEDCOM file to send to someone, FTM16 only included the Master Sources associated with that individual(s).

In FTM2008, if you export the same individual(s) to a GEDCOM, the ENTIRE Master Source List is included. First, maybe I don't want to send my entire soruce list and second, probably the person receiving the GEDCOM doesn't want their existing Master Source List bloated with thousands of extra sources (with zero usage).

It works just fine in FTM16.

2. In FTM16, you could include "objects" in the Scarpbook. I would often transcribe information to a Word.doc or a PDF file and I could then "embed" that document in the Scrapbook. Since it was embedded, it becase an intergral part of the FTW file. Worked fine - also, this method was clearly described in the FTM16 Help file.

In FTM2008, firt none of these docuements showed up in the person's Media. Then, according to "phone support", FTM2008 ONLY supports "image" file types (jpeg, TIFF, BMP, etc.) as Media. In othere words, they don't support "OLE" objects anymore. Oh, and this support of only "image" file types is not documented in the Help file or in pre-purchase literature, that I can find.

It was suggested that I open each of my Scrapbook items in FTM16, save the document as a new document (Word, PDF, etc), then convert (if I have appropriate software) the document to a jpeg file and attach it to the correct Person's Media in FTM2008. You have got to be kidding!

I consider both of these issues "significant" omissions in FTM2008 and certainly no way to move a product forward. I wish there was a way to get these comments (and a response) to the Developers of FTM2008.

[Athena]

I think the inability to insert objects is a significant step backwards in FTM2008. Many users get their census reports from Heritage Quest as PDFs. It was an annoyance in FTM16 that the source dialog only supported images but at least you could add them to the individual's scrapbook.

Also, more and more documents are being made available in PDF -- from other ProQuest services, Footnote, etc. It is unreasonable to expect users to convert everything to JPG (which BTW, is not as efficient or durable as the JPG2000 format supported in FTM16).

[Rich Cummings]

ok, i don't love the new FTM, i don't even like it but i will use it because i have about 5,000 names in my database and i don't feel like to trying to download them on to another program although a couple described above sound wonderful. my only question is, did the the software folks do away with the "Descendant Report?" i see that their is a descendant chart, but no report. i am missing it or what?

[sylvia white]

I have just purchased the FTM 2008 (still in package because I am changing from Windows XP to Windows Vista.
My understanding is that FTM 11 which I have sucessfully used for many years is not compatible with 'Vista'.
After reading comments on FTM 2008 I am skeptical about installing.
It appears that FTM 16 is more widely accepted.
Is it possible to either purchase or download this more popular version FTM 16?
Help!
Thanks
Sylvia

[Athena]

Why use something that you don't like. Why "upgrade" at all if you don't actually get more and better function?

Yes, you can get FTM16 from several vendors on the Internet.

If you look hard, you can even find the Collector's Edition (which includes a one-year subscription to Ancestry.com) available for about $31 delivered. The average price for FTM16 was somewhat cheaper in September but prices rose as the full extent of the FTM2008 debacle was revealed.

[Carol]

After reading the responses to the ewview of FTM 2008 in PC Magazine I had to add my two cents.

I was one of the many beta testers for FTM 2008 and sent them many problems that I encountered along with actual documentation from my personal file in version 16. Did I ever get an acknowlegdment? No... that would have meant someone would have had to be courtious to say the least. I can only assume someone has actually read my comments and looked at the problems I brought to there attention but without any acknowledgement from the programmers I really don't know.

As far as the previous comment that problems found during the beta testing period wewre fixed before the program was released is absolutely FALSE! First, therre is no way that when the beta test closed at midnight and the sale process was official at 1 minute after, there was no time to create CDs of the program with the corrections. The CDs, manual and packaging had already been completed and now orders were to be filled. During the October 25th Webinar, viewers were told that the program was released without many of the fixes that were necessary and they could not give a timeframe for when they would be completed.

I have over 22,000 entries in my family files. When I think about the man hours it will take correct correct the files I feel ill. Yes, it's nice that images added to the FTM database will now go back into a separate folder and be linked to individuals (like in the earlier versions) the it doesn't appear to be an easy fix if you have a lot of entries to go back and relink each one to an image. The same goes for sourcing information.

FTM 2008 may be the look of the future in computer software programs but I will stick with version 16 and also look at Roots Magic.