Just received my Family Tree Maker package in the mail. And, unlike their website that suffered

[applegrove]

from a lack of information, I read I can use my old family tree with this new program. I can import the whole thing. I'm so happy. Two years of data input saved!!!! Seriously what is with really uninformative websites? I am amazed at how badly designed many web sites are (I designed & built one one time so I know how easy it is to build a good one).

[OriginalGeek]

1. Not being familiar with that specific site

I'd still say I think a lot of site are deliberately obtuse so you will pay them for the easy to read and informative stuff.


I remember classmates.com being obnoxiously irritating in that way. Lure you in with hints that someone wants to reconnect, let you do a couple tiny stupid things for free and then spam you incessantly with offers (and outright lies) to get the GOOD info for a small fee...fuckers. I ended up ditching an email address just so I wouldn't get their shit any longer - good thing I started keeping throw-away email addys just for that purpose a long time ago.

[applegrove]

2. Yup. Customers are not treated like we used to be. We are a competitor for our money. The

corporations would like as much of ours as possible, whether or not they provide a good service.

[madinmaryland]

3. I am using RootsMAgic. Just upgraded to the 5.0 version. I know that I don't use nearly all

of the functions that come with it. Linking pictures, and other files.

Did you post this in the Genealogy/Ancestry Group?

[applegrove]

4. I could not find the Genealogy Group when I looked for it earlier.

[madinmaryland]

5. Here is a link to it...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1156



ETA: It's under the "Home & Family" Topics.

[applegrove]

6. Thanks. Found it. Don't know why I could not see it. Sometimes I skim too fast.

[HeiressofBickworth]

7. You and I have "chatted" about FTM before

I'm glad to hear you can import your data from the older version into the newer one. My concern, as I've mentioned before, is that in order to make a book, one must upload one's data to their website, an act I'm not willing to do. Does the new version also require uploading? Are you finding it difficult to transfer your data?

After researching for nearly 40 years, I have over 10,000 names and associated data on my 1997 version. If my computer pukes, I'm in big trouble because this version will not work on a newer operating system. I'm backing up on a stick often but that doesn't solve the problem in whole. My computer guy said my only hope in the event of a mechanical failure would be to find a refurbished machine with the old OS on it so I can re-load the program.

[applegrove]

8. I have not run or started the new program. I just looked up the information I needed. Seems to say

in the accompanying book that to make a book there are two things you can use. One of them is web-based. I do not know if you have to use the both of them or not. Sorry. I'm not much help am I. I'll bookmark this thread and get back to you once I have read the book cover to cover.

[HopeHoops]

9. Web site's still that bad? My mom's been using FTM for years and it's always been a great product.

[applegrove]

10. The product is good. The website would not tell me if my family tree maker 2006 could work with the

Last edited Thu May 17, 2012, 08:19 PM - Edit history (1)

newest version of FTM. I had to buy it and then find out.

[bikebloke]

11. I used FTM when I had a PC.

Then I went Mac. I also had a free account with Ancestry.com and started storing my research there. Finally, I realized that if they went dark, I'd lose everything. So I bought Reunion. With Ancestry, I made a GEDCOM file and transferred everything (except photos, which were few) to Reunion.