Registered Owners of Family Tree Maker 2008 can obtain a free upgrade to the new version released this week. The following was written by The Generations Network:
For our valued Family Tree Maker 2008 customers:
As we announced in an email to you earlier, we’re giving our loyal Family Tree Maker 2008 customers a free upgrade to 2009. Last year around this time we released Family Tree Maker 2008. There was some initial customer dissatisfaction with the functionality in that release. We heard from customers who felt they didn’t receive what they were expecting. Over the past year, we’ve listened carefully to their feedback and have added many new features in the form of free patches which have been enthusiastically received. Family Tree Maker 2009 has even more features and functions that were not in previous patches. We listed some of these features in a previous post, along with additional features that will be part of Version 2009 when they become available.
In the next few weeks, Family Tree Maker 2008 registrants will receive an email with a one-time-use coupon that can be redeemed for a free version of Family Tree Maker 2009. We want you to be completely satisfied and delighted with the product you have purchased. The family history work you do is important, and we want to support you the best we can.
Sincerely,
The Family Tree Maker Team
No email yet from FTM or Generations network about free 2009 edition. I hope they have put the Book feature back in where you don't have to use Ancestry.com.
Posted by: Nancy | August 30, 2008 at 02:45 AM
FTM says "as we announced in an email to you earler..." in this release. The last email I have on file from them is "Thank you for registering your copy of Family Tree Maker..." in May 2008. Prior to that a communication in Aug 2007. I wonder where that notice about a free upgrade is?
Posted by: Harry | August 30, 2008 at 06:05 AM
To date, I haven't received any info from FTM re updating my 2008 version with a free copy of FTM 2009. And, I wrote to them about their offer. So, in anticipation of the 2009 version, I'll still muddle through the 2008 version. By the way, FTM mentions a 'one-time-use coupon'. How long does this coupon last?
Posted by: Pat | August 30, 2008 at 07:15 AM
I only just bought FTM 2008 a few weeks before 2009 was announced and only because I had a new computer which has Vista now. I am still trying to find things in both FTM and Vista. My jury is still out on both. However, I did receive an email offering a free upgrade to FTM once 2009 came out. Nothing on a coupon yet.
Posted by: Ann | August 30, 2008 at 07:25 AM
STill nothing here yet for the new FTM 2009. Using 2008 version, I am curious on how the coupon redemption is going to work, if it will just be a downloaded upgrade over the internet, or if will receive a CD 'hard copy'.
Posted by: Debby | August 30, 2008 at 07:30 AM
I received the following e-mail on August 9, 2008. Apparently FTM 2009 has been released. Maybe The Generations Network conveniently forgot their promise of a free copy. One would think that those of us who have already paid for FTM 2008, which was a miserable failure and ripoff (I uninstalled it months ago), would have been the first to receive the new release. I have installed Legacy 7, and like it better with each passing day.
"We’re giving you Family Tree Maker® 2009. Free.
Dear valued customer,
We’ll soon be releasing Family Tree Maker® 2009. When we do, we’ll send you an email that will tell you how to get this latest version for FREE.
We want you to have a wonderful experience with Family Tree Maker. Because you registered Family Tree Maker® 2008, we’re giving you this new version at no cost so you can enjoy all the latest additions and improvements.
Look out for an email with instructions in the coming weeks. Enjoy the new software.
Sincerely,
The Family Tree Maker team"
Posted by: Bob | August 30, 2008 at 09:17 AM
Still waiting . . . I love the new 2008 interface and recognize the potential it offers. I do miss many of the old features, especially the BOOK feature, and I hope that this is resolved. In the meantime, I am using Charting Companion by Progeny Software (a free copy came with the FTM 16 I bought). This program does a great job on books, and I like it just a tad better than FTM's old version because I can add a nice index with the click of a button. However, I cannot "build" a book in it like with FTM, so still needing the FTM version. ONE NOTE: Ancestry.com should recognize why we all are demanding the book feature. It's not that we just love it, it's that we DO NOT TRUST ANCESTRY.COM to handle our genealogy work properly. In the past, they have posted our work without permission, refused to remove trees once posted, and do not correct the information when corrections are submitted. This has resulted in a LOT of misinformation still rampant on the internet. Therefore, we do not trust them to handle tree info we submit for publishing books, posting, or anything else. I wish it weren't so, but I know firsthand. Still trying to get them to remove something submitted by mistake -- since 2000!
Posted by: Karen Howell | August 30, 2008 at 09:33 AM
I just decided to upgrade to FTM08 (have used but havent't had the time to download it yet. And now I find out that FTM09 just came out GREAT.
I wonder if I will be included in any of this????????/
Posted by: Joyce | August 30, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Karen, who is this "we" you are claiming to represent? How about if you speak for yourself and I'll handle the job of speaking for me?
Posted by: Zadruga Guy | August 30, 2008 at 09:54 AM
I have been using FTM Version 10 since it came out. I now have it installed in Windows Vista Ultimate and it seems to work fine, but I would like to eventually upgrade. The thing that keeps me from doing so is that I'm afraid that I won't be able to import my data files to the new version.
I've been checking and I have never seen any info on any backward compatability. Does anyone really know??
Posted by: Michael Sawyer | August 30, 2008 at 10:01 AM
What's wrong Zad...
Too much caffene?
Posted by: Michael Sawyer | August 30, 2008 at 10:10 AM
FREE UPGRADE ? I'll believe that when I see it.
Posted by: Charles Osterby | August 30, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Have received nothing about the 2009 update
Posted by: helen andrews | August 30, 2008 at 11:41 AM
For Michael Sawyer: Yes, FTM 16 and FTM 2008+ will import an FTM 10 file. It has been that way now over many versions.
Posted by: Lawrence Bouett | August 30, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Just wanted to be sure. Thanks Lawrence...
Posted by: Michael Sawyer | August 30, 2008 at 12:59 PM
I have FT 2008 and have not received a coupon yet. I am a registered my copy and wish that you would confirm this fact. I did use the 3 monthsfree to ancestry com.
Posted by: KEN FOX | August 30, 2008 at 04:52 PM
I have not received my coupon for the upgrade. I am registeed because I used the 3 month free Ancestry. Please confirm and when can I expect the coupon.
Ken Fox utha@aol.com
Posted by: KEN FOX | August 30, 2008 at 04:55 PM
I will add one comment: The Generations Network announced ON FRIDAY that they will be offering free upgrades and coupons and all that. This newsletter carried the news within a few hours of the announcement's release. I doubt if ANYONE has yet received the upgrade or the coupon as they probably haven't been sent out yet. It's too early. But I have no doubt that they will be sent some time within the next few weeks.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | August 30, 2008 at 05:14 PM
This all makes me glad I have a MAC; and use Reunion.
Posted by: Wayne Gibson | August 30, 2008 at 06:10 PM
I'm still operating on version 16 since one of your reps advised against upgrading to version 08 when it first came out and had several problems. 16 has been working just fine and since I have 39,000 in the database, I hesitate to mess with anything else. I also have a paid membership to Ancestry. Maybe it's time to go to version 08 and 09??? What are your recommendations?
Posted by: Maynard Hiller | August 30, 2008 at 06:13 PM
I am still waiting for a reply about my dis-satisfaction with Family Tree Maker 2008. I will believe it when I see it also. I think that would be the least they could do after feeling SO cheated after purchasing that software!
Posted by: joanne willians | August 30, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Well, I heard so many bad things about FTM 2008 that last week I purchased and upgraded to FTM version 16 (is that 2007?) Looks like I won't be among those to get the free 2009 upgrade. Always a day late and a dollar short (or should that be a few days early!) Anyway, I did get the free 6 month supscripton to Ancestry.com with the version 16, so that was worth the price.
Posted by: Kate Foote | August 31, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Great!! I can hardly wait. PLease hurry.
Thank you,
Jackie Harper
Posted by: Jackie C. Harper | August 31, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Onen again, they talk the talk but fail to walk the walk.
31 Aug. 2008
Posted by: Paul | September 01, 2008 at 01:26 PM
I have a premium family tree legend, I'm not sure if it is a 2007 or 2008. Can I get a free upgrade to either the family tree maker or a upgrade to the family tree legend?
Bsrb
Posted by: Barbara Graser | September 01, 2008 at 01:37 PM
I purchased FTM08; not happy at all. Will my old FTM05 run on my new computer with Vista on it?
Posted by: Nita | September 05, 2008 at 02:45 PM
OK, a bit annoying: I was pleased to receive the email saying I could get a free copy --- but apparently FTM has handled it poorly, because they have a message posted saying simply that they could not handle my order because of the quantity of orders they'd received. For goodness sake! How about rolling emails to avoid letting their servers get swamped?
Posted by: Micah | September 09, 2008 at 11:03 PM
I just received the e-mail with a link to get FTM 2009....guess what? All I got for my effort was this: "Due to the high popularity of our FTM 2009 free upgrade offer, we are unable to fulfill your order at this time. Please check back later.
Thank you, The Generations Network, Inc."
Kind of sucks when it's the same day one receives the info saying it's available.
Just further shows you how that company has screwed up a good product. Their service stinks.
Posted by: Jim | September 10, 2008 at 06:38 AM
I could not download the FTM2009. I deleted this e-mail by mistake after I tried to download it with the password you gave me (FTM09314). Please send me again this e-mail so I will be able to download the upgrade. Please send the e-mail to the folloeing address:
bubiorama@gmail.com
David Lederman
Josephtal 115
Bat Yam 59548
Israel
Posted by: David Lederman | September 10, 2008 at 06:49 AM
I received an e-mail for the free upgrade but was told when I went to the website that due to the "high demand" they were "temporarily" out and "please try again later". How "later" will my free code number still be valid? Is this another tactic to placate an angry purchaser who has been a coustomer for years and purchased 3 previous versions?
Posted by: Velma | September 10, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Got the free upgrade e-mail-coupon yesterday but was unable to order it. Due to the demand I have to come back later BUT I can go to the web store and order it if I want to pay the price. So the free upgrade is still not available but I can purchase it? So the FTM 2008 frustrated registered customers must wait some more.
Long time FTM user
Marilyn
Posted by: Marilyn Wurm | September 10, 2008 at 09:59 AM
I received the free offer yesterday (9/9/08); however, when I click on Get the Software I get:
Due to the high popularity of our FTM 2009 free upgrade offer, we are unable to fulfill your order at this time. Please check back later.
Thank you, The Generations Network, Inc.
Oh Well!
Posted by: imjohn | September 10, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Well, I've not rec'd either the email nor the coupon and I've been a user of FTM since the days of Banner Blue. Have sent a email about it - not gotten a reply back yet. Even called them yesterday and after jumping thru the hoops, was put on hold and after 45+ minutes of waiting (was told the max. would be 14 min.)I hung up.
Posted by: Bonita | September 11, 2008 at 03:10 PM
I received a coupon for the free 2009 upgrade. The website has been terribly busy and try after try results in ultimately an error. They had to stop everything, fix the servers and send out new emails starting yesterday but still can' t get in to do the upgrade. Found doing at night late was best or early am EST but it then was having trouble with password authentication..
Posted by: julie | September 13, 2008 at 12:05 PM
I finally received an email yesterday from Family Tree Maker with a new code to use in the Ancestory Store. I put it in and it worked. They are sending out a CD with FTM 2009 on it.
Posted by: John Small | September 13, 2008 at 04:04 PM
I've lost my email telling me how to download or order the free FTM 2009. Could you please send me another set of instructions? I would appreciate. I'm sure my 2008 FTM is registered.
Thank You
Billy Cox 316 321 9478
Posted by: billy cox | September 14, 2008 at 12:41 AM
I just and finally placed my order for the free upgrade...but I am left unsure as to what happens next...is it a download that comes via email or is it shipped?
Posted by: Erica | September 14, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Got my new link to the upgrade Monday.
Posted by: Josh | September 16, 2008 at 06:03 AM
I have your FTM 2005 Version 16. I am enrolled in the genographics program. I am attempting to upload my family tree. I get the consistent return message that the file is not a valid Win32 application. What is the problem? My computer is a Windows XP
Helen May
Posted by: Helen May | September 17, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Has Anyone gotten their coupon yet? Just wondering....~C.
Posted by: Christine | September 26, 2008 at 03:12 PM
I don't think Family Tree Legend has anything to do with Family Tree Maker. Open your program and click Help > About to see who published your program.
Posted by: Karen | September 27, 2008 at 09:12 AM
I heard about this offer for a free upgrade, but I have not seen the offer. I am signed into Ancestry several times a week. What gives? When does it really show up? I've bought several versions, incuding Family Tree Maker 2008 which was not better than it's precedents.
Posted by: Debbie Allison | September 30, 2008 at 11:34 PM
I received FTM 2009 finally yesterday(received e-mail, responded & the disk came in the mail). Has anyone received it and tried it yet? If you have, what is your opinion of it?
Posted by: Nita | October 03, 2008 at 09:14 PM
For the sake of anyone still trying to get an answer to this puzzle, I just received a response to repeated inquiries about this subject, and am very disappointed that until this email came today, there was no reference anywhere (that I could find) as to the necessary dates. I ordered it on the 17th, got it on the 23rd, so according to this I'm likely out of luck since I didn't install it that night, but I may try anyway. That doesn't sit well since the first email response from them sounded as though they had never heard of such a thing. It would have been nice if Ancestry.com subscribers were treated a bit differently.
"We appreciate your message.
We apologize for your frustration. We provided free upgrades to our Family Tree Maker 2008 customers who had purchased and registered their Family Tree Maker 2008 before Sept 9, 2008. If you did not register you Family Tree Maker before Sept 9 2008, then you were not eligible to receive our special customer offer.
If you feel you did register before this time, or you purchased and registered your Family Tree Maker 2008 between Sept 9 and 24, then you may call our customer support team at 1-800-262-3787 to see what we can do for you. We did decide to send out more emails to those who purchased their Family Tree Maker 2008 between Sept 9 and 24, and these emails were not sent out until the week of Oct. 15.
If there is anything else with which we might assist you, please let us know.
Hilary
Member Solutions
Ancestry.com
http://ancestry.custhelp.com/"
Posted by: Nancy | October 16, 2008 at 05:39 PM
I really hate the interface to 2009. What happened to the easy layout All-in-one view etc?
Posted by: Alex | November 28, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I really hate the interface to 2009. What happened to the easy layout All-in-one view etc?
Posted by: Alex | November 28, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Having not upgraded for some time..............I've been using FTM 2006, I went ahead and bought 2009................I think i will be sending it back. I HATE IT. I'm going back to 2006, so that I can do the things I enjoy doing, and to something that is not so complicated to use. I am a reasonably intelligent person, but this is far from simple.
Posted by: Myrna Schosser | December 05, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Today is December 9, 2008, and I have never received the first email concerning a free upgrade. I have been checking for updates on line (as administrator) for the past yrar or so, and aside from one update, I always get the message that my program is up-to-date.
Woody Stephens
Posted by: Woody Stephens | December 09, 2008 at 04:24 PM
I contacted FTM regarding the 'free upgrade'
Apparently the 'offer' finished months ago. Considering i only just heard of it, what's the point.
Roz
Posted by: Roz Jones | December 14, 2008 at 01:56 PM
I bought version 6 when FTM bought out ROOTS...
registered the copy ... NEVER one E-Mail about any upgrades or any other mail... Was not aware of any newer versions..
Posted by: Philip Gleason | December 23, 2008 at 10:46 AM
I am currently using FM2008, when can I expect an email regarding my free upgrade to FM2009?
Thanks
Posted by: Sandie Miller | January 04, 2009 at 12:01 PM
I recently began using Family Tree Maker 2009. You definitely have to read the booklet that comes with it because it is so different from FTM 2006. One change I like is being able add the numbers to the generation charts and change the numbers when I have a family of 6 or more generations. One new characteristic of FTM 2009 is very frustrating. After carefully entering all my relatives names, those who are still living become "living" Smith or "living" Jones. That is great if I am going to submit information to RootsWeb or another site, but it makes it very hard to find a specific relative when I have long lists of "Livng" Smith and "living" Jones. Can that be turned off somehow?
Posted by: Beverly Uhl | April 07, 2009 at 05:32 PM
I have been a Family Tree Maker user for well over 15 years. I bought the 2008 version shortly before the 2009 version was announced. I have yet to receive the upgrade for my 2008 FTM. Also I have bought at least 75 FTM Family Archives CDs which I can no longer access. Granted I'm not the most technically minded person, so any help you can give me IN ENGLISH not "computereze" would be greatly appreciated. I just want to be able to use the many varied CDs I already have. Also, what do I do to make FTM acknowledge my computer is always online. I have never been able to use the "free" Ancestry.com service that came with my 2008 version. I need help.
Posted by: Nancy Warren Hampton | July 20, 2009 at 11:59 AM