Family Tree Maker

[elsinore]

I've just received an email from Anc** informing me that they are 'retiring' FTM software.

Now, I don't use FTM. although I had considered switching to it after Anc** introduced its new 'improved' online tree.

Have Anc** reacted to a reduction in renewals/new business concurrent with a spike in FTM sales? If Anc**'s blog is anything to go by, the response is, shall we say, less than enthusiastic!

Or am I just being an old cynic (as usual)?

Peter

[emmteeyess]

I too have just had this and have posted my disgust with their decision on their blog.
It's a disgrace on Anc'try's behalf to do this and ride roughshod over their loyal subscribers again. (don't get me started with their laughably 'improved' online version). Once again a large company think they hold a monopoly and can do whatever they like to loyal customers.

I know Anc'try often get a bad press on here but I've put up with, and worked round, their annoying features but this one is inexcusable.

When the day comes that I need to stop my Ancestry subscription (I’m now retired and funds are not limitless.) I will want an up to date version of my tree and years of research to continue to work with. It now looks like that time may come sooner rather than later – and from choice rather than necessity.
If you can open this link - http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2015/12/08/ancestry-to-retire-family-tree-maker-software/ have a read of the comments. i echo them all!

Cheers, MTS

[Lesley Robertson]

I've been using FTM since about ver 3, but have not bothered to update every year, especially once Anc removed several features that I like after Broderbund sold it to them (so I now have 2 versions running side by side). My family research and OPS are both in it, and I don't propose to stop just because they're not selling new versions with more features that I don't consider useful...

I doubt whether I'll change in the near future, the versions that I have do everything I need! Anc are pretty irrelevant in this context, but then I haven't been keeping my work in their system. I like to keep it where I can control it, on my own computer.

[Megan Roberts]

Well they are obviously being selective about who they tell, as I haven't received an email, which as a long time user/buyer of FTM and subscriber to Ancestry I would have expected to receive such an email. So I am very grateful to Peter for bringing this to my attention.

Having read the blog, they are "promising" to keep Treesync and general support going to 1 Jan 2017. So I think this gives me a year to move my tree back up away from Ancestry and also to look at software that will be supported. Apart from the back up on Ancestry I really am not in favour of backing anything up on line, because I have no way of independently verifying whether such back ups are secure. Unfortunately I suspect that the way the World is developing we will increasingly find that software is only available on line.

I think that this reinforces the need to ensure that we have good paper files as well.

[Wilkes_ml]

I received an email today. Personally, I haven't updated my FTM since 2012. I rarely actually use the programme other than synching via ancestry to back up my work I do through the Ancestry website.

I only got a fraction through the comments on the blog. Many users questioning how to transfer their data from Ancestry or from FTM to a new programme. As far as I was aware, there was the option to back up trees via gedcom files, though I need to check this out. Certainly I used to be able to export a gedcom file from FTM, and this should be a generic file that can be imported into other family History software products. However, I don't believe that images transfer with a gedcom file, so I think one key thing to do is make sure all images that are online in your ancestry tree is backed up somewhere electronically or printed off if you still use paper files.

Many people saying they will cancel their subscriptions...which is OK if there was an alternative source to many of their databases such as the London parish registers which I used frequently.

[Megan Roberts]

Well they are obviously being selective about who they tell, as I haven't received an email, which as a long time user/buyer of FTM and subscriber to Ancestry I would have expected to receive such an email. So I am very grateful to Peter for bringing this to my attention.



I have to rescind this part of my earlier post, as I have just found their email in my spam folder .............................................

[Megan Roberts]

There is obviously quite a lot of discussion about this subject out on the internet. In one of those discussions I found reference to a site that compares different genealogical software packages, which I thought might be something that other FTM listers would want to look at over the coming months as the dust settles:

http://genealogy-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

[christanel]

I have never used FTM but do use Roots Magic and received this by email yesterday. They were very quick off the mark in reaction to ancestry's news. :smile5:
Join up the two bits in a search engine

http://blog.
rootsmagic.com/

Christina

[elsinore]

Thanks for the link Megan.

If I do decide to opt for some tree software, I should at least be able to make an informed decision.

Peter

[Wilkes_ml]

I can see Ancestry are going to lose a lot of sales to Rootsmagic! Their switch over price for FTM users is very good, and I'm tempted by it, even though I had no intention of upgrading my FTM 2012 edition for at least another couple of years.

[Wilkes_ml]

Most Family Tree software have 30 day trial versions that are worth trying first before you make any decisions, though I guess the trial versions may not have all features accessible.

[Lesley Robertson]

FTM 2005 has a couple of features I really like, so I'll probably stay with it and 2011. They run happily side by side, and I don't need Anc to use them!
My OPS file is massive, I won't go through the hassle of changing unless it's essential.

[Megan Roberts]

I ran my FTM 2012 yesterday with the internet disconnected, because I wanted to see how much of the file is actually there as opposed to "my back up" on Ancestry.

Everything I have loaded seems to be there. The big "missing" being records saved from Ancestry, which are there by reference number rather than copies of the documents. I'm not certain if this 100% per cent correct, but at least it is something to work on in the coming year. I.E. ensuring that I have another back up with copies of all the records saved from Ancestry. I was wondering what to do with those long cold winter nights!

[emmteeyess]

The big "missing" being records saved from Ancestry, which are there by reference number rather than copies of the documents. I'm not certain if this 100% per cent correct, but at least it is something to work on in the coming year. I.E. ensuring that I have another back up with copies of all the records saved from Ancestry.

I'd read this thing somewhere else on this forum - that if you stop your Ancestry subscription you can no longer access the links to view - so I've already been saving images via the 'View' then 'Save to your computer' option.
I've also been adding the images on my Ancestry pages via the 'Add Media' option on the Overview tab. This does make the info quicker to view again rather than reloading the image from the linked to reference.
It can be a slow process and I'm prioritising with main info on main family members and working back. (I do get sidetracked sometimes though by where the family relationships take me!)
An added benefit of this is that I've been reading more details of the addresses, occupations, ages etc and finding lots of details I would otherwise have glossed over. It all helps to flesh out details of their lives.

I expect the FTM will still work after the sync facility ends but that means manual entries. The big plus of using FTM is the auto sync with my Ancestry research. Guess I'll have to be doubly organised in future! D'oh!

Cheers, MTS

[David Benson]

I've used FTM for many years. It came on a couple of floppies originally.
I didn't get every version, just when I wanted to upgrade. I've never had an ancestry sub. I do look in when it's free but add any finds manually and of course everything is on my computer. As long as the versions I have continue to work with Windows I have no need for any link with Ancestry. I can't recall finding anything new in the last couple of years anyway.

[christanel]

Whilst looking for information not related to FTM at all I came across a post by a disgruntled user of FTM in which he said he had switched over to RootsMagic and to his surprise, when he uploaded his gedcom file into RootsMagic, all of his photos, sources and notes were uploaded as well.

Christina

[Wilkes_ml]

I can confirm that when importing a GEDCOM file exported from Family Tree Maker 2012 to Roots Magic Trial version, the images do transfer also. However, when exporting a GEDCOM file from Ancestry online Tree into Roots Magic Trial version, the images DO NOT transfer. I have a bit of a hiccup where I accidentally created a second tree on Ancestry which is supposedly linked to FTM, however I can not find the original file through FTM 12 to synch the two trees...so I'm working to see if I transfer a GEDCOM file from Ancestry to FTM 12 if the images transfer also.

[Wilkes_ml]

When I tried to export a gedcom file from Ancestry online tree to FTM 12, the images didn't transfer over. However, synching the Ancestry online tree to FTM 2012 does transfer the images to FTM 2012 and these can then be exported via gedcom.

[Kiltpin]

The sync feature is the jewel in the crown of FTM. So much of my research on my wife's tree is done in churchyards and crypts and country lanes and industrial areas - places that don't have wifi. I can take pictures, write reports, amend the tree, do everything off-line and then later sync it to Ancestry.

I have found Find My Past to be far better for my tree which is East India Company based. So when 2016 comes to an end, so will my membership of Ancestry.

Regards

Kiltpin

[joanchop]

On hearing about FTM, I scouted round for a different software and plumped for Roots Magic, which I am still getting to grips with, and at $20 couldn't complain. Their Face Book page is excellent, people reply quickly and are helpful and no negative reports!! The learning page on the website has lots of short helpful videos and 'webinairs'. The software connects to Family Search and other sites. So far am quite impressed. Only downside was, it appeared that the notes attached to my media didn't transfer with the GEDCOM, so am busy copying and pasting!! Still keeps me busy

[thewideeyedowl]

Have just been reading Dick Eastman's latest blog post, which gives the news that FTM is continuing after all, but under new ownership. Apparently, it will still sync with Ancestry (it says!).

There is advertising on the page, and I can't manage to break the link, but - if interested in this development - then run a search for (Dick Eastman's Online Genealogy News AND Family Tree Maker).

Off to roost.

Owl

[elsinore]

Just received an email from Ancestry confirming Owl's post above:

Extract

"Software MacKiev, with whom we have a long-standing relationship, is acquiring the Family Tree Maker software line as publisher for both Mac and Windows versions. Software MacKiev has been the developer of Family Tree Maker for Mac for more than six years and is thrilled at the opportunity to publish future versions of Family Tree Maker for Mac and Windows.

This new agreement means you will receive software updates and new versions from Software MacKiev, and have the ability to purchase new versions of Family Tree Maker from Software MacKiev as they are released. You will have continued access to Ancestry Hints, Ancestry searches, and be able to save your tree on Ancestry with Family Tree Maker moving forward"

Peter

[joanchop]

Correct me if I am wrong but my understanding is that MacKiev did the software for the Mac on FTM and will now take over but for the Mac only. Roots Magic will have a link to Ancestry and hints will show up, just like they currently do for Historian. Will still need subscription for Ancestry to download any documents.

[Lesley Robertson]

According to the email I had, they will support and develop both Mac and Win formats. Anc are "looking forward" to having 2 formats that sync with their system.

[joanchop]

Ha ha, yes I spotted that just after I posted.