Family Tree Maker 2009

The Generations Network has now officially released the new Family Tree Maker 2009. This is the latest version of what is probably the best-selling genealogy software in the world.

The 2008 version was a complete re-write and received a mixed reception from users. The 2009 version reportedly includes many new features suggested by users as well as many new bug fixes. I haven't seen the new version yet but did receive the following, written by The Generations Network:

Family Tree Maker 2009 Release

The Family Tree Maker team is pleased to announce the release of Family Tree Maker 2009. We are excited about the new features and user requested tools included in this version.

Over the past year, we have been making patches available that include additional functionality and features that our customers have asked for. In addition, the features included in the 2009 version come primarily from our Family Tree Maker 2008 users, showing us what features should be released next and testing the product to make sure it is working at top efficiency. We had more than 300 beta testers for Family Tree Maker 2009. We appreciate this active and ongoing participation.

Take a look at what’s new since the original release of Family Tree Maker 2008. Features available for the first time in Version 2009 are marked with an asterisk (*).
Genealogy Reports

• Register and Ahnentafel full reports
• Register and Ahnentafel simplified reports*
• Data Errors report*

Charts

• Vertical Pedigree Chart
• Hourglass Chart*
• Horizontal Hourglass Chart*
• Bow Tie Chart*
• 180-Degree Fan Chart*
• Family Tree Chart*

Publishing Functionality

• Book layouts for main charts
• Saved settings in charts/reports
• Saved templates in charts
• Preparer information included in chart footers
• Enhancements to the RTF export
• Ability to show siblings within charts*
• Single-page PDF export from charts*
• Ability to add boxes in charts to a “Marked Box” category and modify box settings for these boxes*

Improved Data Manipulation Tools

• Change Place Name tool
• Find and Replace tool
• Streamlined data entry from any workspace using a full-featured edit person window*
• Ability to set spouse order (Person menu)*
• Ability to order media items for an individual*
• Find Individual tool (Edit menu)*
• Find Duplicate Individuals tool (Edit menu)*
• Ability to update multiple facts at one time (From Manage Facts or Fact options): change fact types, move description to place or place to description, mark as private*
• Insert foreign language characters into text fields*

Improvements within Research Tools

• Automatic simple backup at shutdown
• Ability to ignore hints*
• Option to delete existing facts in individual and Web merge*
• Inclusion of married names, AKAs, and titles in index*

Improvements to Import

• Improved name parsing
• OLE objects (PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, RTF) from previous FTM versions*
• Import previously ignored hints lists*

Improvements to Places

• Track and print your ancestors’ migration paths on interactive maps*
• Places toolbar that allows for researching place names not currently in the file and pinpointing places such as libraries, churches, and courthouses*

Improvements to Sources

• Copy and paste source citations

* New in Family Tree Maker 2009

Here’s what’s coming:
In addition, we are currently working on new features that will be available as part of Family Tree Maker 2009—as soon as they become available:

• Book Building
• Better Ancestry Member Tree Integration
• Improved Relationship Calculator
• Source templates based on Evidence Explained by source expert, Elizabeth Shown Mills
• And many others…

Thank you to all of the Family Tree Maker community for their loyalty through the years. We are committed to making Family Tree Maker the best desktop software for doing your family history.

Thank you,

The Family Tree Maker Team

Comments

[Edna Hollingsworth]

How can I find out if I can upgrade from version 7 of FTM to the new version 2009
Edna Hollingsworth
edna306@spamarrest.com

[EDWARD P. CARROLL]

UPGRADE TO 2009

[Loretta Garcia]

I didn't get FTM 2008 when I was reading about all the problems. I will again wait to see what bugs need ironing out. Is there any discount for those of us upgrading from FTM 7.5?

[Dennis Marr]

I've used FTM since the DOS days. I bit on their offer of FTM 2008 and it was a disaster. They eliminated great features, and screwed up the functionality. I finally had to uninstall it and re-install FTM 2006 and restore the database. I'm through with "upgrades" from this outfit.

[J. A. Belford]

Please, please - a MAC version of this software.

[Will Savoy]

> Please, please - a MAC version of this software.

LOL.

You really don't want to touch this crap with a ten feet pole.
Get Reunion or MacFamilyTree.

[Dick Eastman]

---> Please, please - a MAC version of this software.

There are several good Macintosh genealogy programs available today. I wouldn't wait for this one.

HOWEVER, if you really want to run Family Tree Maker on your Macintosh, you can do so right now, assuming that you have an Intel Mac running OS X. You first purchase and install Parallels or VMware Fusion or download the free VirtualBox software. Then obtain a copy of Windows XP (preferred) or Windows Vista or Windows 2000. Install the copy of Windows on your Macintosh and then you can install almost any Windows program, including Family Tree Maker.

Several years ago there was a Macintosh version of Family Tree Maker. It didn't sell very well and the company never updated it. Eventually, it was dropped from their catalog.

- Dick Eastman

[Ruth in Tex]

Where is the Family Archive Viewer for all of the CDs I've bought over the years? Can this program be installed on Vista?

[mary B.]

So...for those of us with Windows just what is the favorite or is there one that "has it all" I see complaints about Fam Tree Maker but what is it that you don't like, I need to buy one but not sure which I would like the best, something on a professional level (both visibly and for including multiple information for each person) that's not terribly hard to figure out and preferably one that would be good with publishing, if there is one. I would like one that does not look like a "fill in the blanks" type program. Anyone have Master Genealogist?

[Dae Powell]

I use the Master Genealogist and left FTM with version 11 (I think). There are some things about TMG you should know:

The Good: it is THE most flexible genealogy database on the market.
The Bad: because of the flexibility, it has a learning curve daunting most beginners.
The Ugly: it is written in Visual FoxPro, which is no longer supported by Microsoft.

Note: VFP ports to other Object-Oriented languages, so Wholly-Genes should surmount the "ugly" with minimal difficulty.

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

[Karen]

" something on a professional level (both visibly and for including multiple information for each person) that's not terribly hard to figure out and preferably one that would be good with publishing, if there is one."

The best thing for you to do would be to download some trial versions and judge for yourself. Roots Magic, Legacy, and The Master Genealogist all have 30-day trials. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses but they will all do what you have asked.

As noted in the announcement, FTM2009 does not include book publishing. It's slated as a "future addition" but it's not in the program that was just released.

[William Bush]

What? TMG is not flexible. It is an extremely rigid program. It is also slow, incompatible and hard to use.
So few professional genealogists want to use it that they have to give it away to them!!
If you are looking for a good program, check out Legacy and RootsMagic.

[William Burnside]

I respectfully disagree with William Bush's comments. I used Family Tree Maker for several years but never cared for it. I tried RootsMagic (it was called Family Origins back then) and Legacy Family Tree. I finally settled on The Master Genealogist simply because it is the most flexible of all the programmes I tried. It does have a learning curve but I found that the program will do whatever you want if you are willing to spend the time to learn how to make it do whatever you wish. The flexibility won't be obvious to you when you start using it but, as you become more comfortable with it, I think you'll find it will do whatever you want. The infinite reporting options and the many visual charts are way beyond anything I have found in other programmes.

[William Bush]

Burnside wrote:
" It does have a learning curve but .... if you are willing to spend the time to learn how to make it do whatever you wish.
The flexibility won't be obvious to you when you start using it ...."

Nonsense! And what really p*ss*s me off is the patronizing tone, that those who don't agree with him can't handle the learning curve, didn't spend the time... and so on"
Many people who tried this dog wish they hadn't wasted their time on it.

BTW, your opinion RootsMagic is based on trying Family Origins a decade ago? Guess you did not try Legacy since version 2 either?

[Ashley]

To answer someone's question about compatibility with FTM 7 & 7.5, I would doubt it. I have FTM 7 & upgraded to version 16. When I was on the phone with Ancestry about 2 weeks ago (having problems uploading a new Gedcom file...turned out it wouldn't work using Firefox) they told me I would have to purchase FTM 2008 if I wanted to be fully up to date with FTM. Like others I had read many complaints so I will wait and see what people are saying about 2009.

[Dave Bane]

I agree with Mr Bush, not only is TMG not flexible, it's fuctionality is just poorly thought out. The learning curve is not so steep, but the programming is simply not intuitive, and almost DOS like in use. TMG's Windows functionality is archaic, much like Windows 3.1, and as poor as any modern program I have encountered. TMG does have the most of the features needed in a genalogy program, they are just harder to find and make use of, and are even a little buggy at times.

Just as Mr Bush claims, RootsMagic and Legacy Family Tree are the most popular programs sold today for both amateurs and professionals alike. The advice to download and "test drive" the various programs is sound, then you will see quite quickly which program works well and which does not.

[Don Ridgway]

I'm purely an amatuer at this genealogy game, but have been working at it for five years. Started with FTM and Ancestry. Got TMG as a present and liked what I read in the manual (remember them??) but could not get all the details straight. Ungraded FTM and found out about Legacy4.0. Liked it right away, but kept running FTM and trying to decypher TMG. When FTMv16 came along I was in heaven, but Legacy6.0 came along, too, and was just as good, so I ran both and continued to tryto decypher TMG. Had a brief affair with RootsMagic, but it had some of TMGs problems, so I dropped it. When FTM2008 came along I grabbed it. What a mistake. Absolutely the worst genealogy progam I have seen so far. Fortunately I kept v16 and still use it. I recently got Legacy7.0, and it is GREAT!! As far as I am concerned, Generation Network can keep 2009. Don't want it; won't use it. 2008 was enough for me! My advice - GET LEGACY 7.0. You'll like it!

[CH Bloss]

Anyone know a genealogy program that will specifically record census info in a comparison style of a spreadsheet?? Suggested to FTM every year for the past 6 years but to no avail????

[Rene Palardy]

I am just novice, I tried other programs,found them confusing so I downloaded LEGACY 7, I love it, for a senior citizen it works just fine.

[Charles Osterby]

Is there a Forum for FTM2008? Any one know where I am supposed to look for that 19 digit activation code for the 6 month trial on Ancestry ?

[Lorelee]

Charles, I do not know if this URL is still working but it was very helpful for me understanding the workings of FTM2008
http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=96052&s=1&k=AEF2A5DF64F2F99E7428FB83B323C966

Be sure the above is all on one line.

[Sharon Rogers]

Ok. I just got a brand new computer for myself and it is my very first one ever. LOL

I know nothing about the ins and outs of a computer and have very little knowledge about working one, I do know how to turn it on however.

I have NEVER used any family tree program and am wondering which one to purchase.

I have Vista and from what I have heard, Family TreeMaker is NOT compatable to Vista. Ok which one is then?

I have been doing genealogy for only 6-8 years and am ready to put my findings on a tree maker of some sort.

Can you help???????

[Stephen J. Danko]

Hi Sharon,

I installed FamilyTreeMaker 16, FamilyTreeMaker 2008, and RootsMagic 3 on Vista. All work perfectly, although a patch was required to make version 16 fully compatible with Vista. I was able to move my database from FTM 16 to both FamilyTreeMaker 2008 and RootsMagic 3 with little effort and no errors.

I use FTM 2008 as my primary database. I tried RootsMagic 3 but it didn't have some of the flexibility of FTM 2008. Plus, FTM 2008 automatically searches for matches on Ancestry.com (a feature I use all the time and find very helpful).

I haven't tried Legacy or The Master Genealogist because FTM 2008 is capable of doing everything I need right now. However, the current versions of Legacy and The Master Genealogist are both compatible with Vista.

[Karen]

All the major programs are compatible with Vista -- including FTM26, 17, and the just released 19 -- so that's one thing you don't have to worry about.

Download the trial versions Roots Magic and Legacy to get an idea of what you want in a program. Load them both up with a couple of generations back and forward from yourself and get a feel for what you can do. When you use the programs with your data, be sure to check out what they do beyond the basic data collection and documenation.

[Charles]

Like others, I passed by FTM 2008 and stuck with FTM 16 (2006). As an aside, I've been using FTM since the very early versions.

I took some good advice and downloaded the trial of Legacy 7.0. I exported my FTM file into GEDCOM format and imported into Legacy. However, I find that a lot of the "facts" from FTM did not make the transition. Has anyone else encountered this? If so, is there a workaround short of re-doing the whole thing?

I talked to Ancestry this morning. There is no upgrade price from FTM 2006 to 2008. The three versions on Amazon.com are all the same software but with different free periods of subscription to Ancestry U.S. data--one month, three months, and six months, with prices from $29.99 to $99.99. For someone with an Ancestry World subscription, it doesn't seem to me that anything but the cheapest version is a good deal. Ancestry says when they begin selling 2009, it will be $39.99 for the software with no free subscription.

Have people imported full FTM info into RootsMagic without problems?
At this point, I guess I'll wait to see what kind of problems emerge with FTM 2009.