FamilyTreeMaker 2009

[jamiestew]

Hello All,
I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I am about to go out and buy my first Family Tree software. I have decided on Family Tree MAker 2009. I am undecided on wether to buy the simple, deluxe, or platnum edition. I know there is a big price difference. I also see that depending on the version you buy, you get a free subscription to Ancestry.com. Can you tell me anthing else of the differences between them. Also will I still be able to read all my documents I import from Ancesrty.com once the free subcription is up. Any feed back would really help me!!! Happy New Year !!

[wldspirit]

Hi Jamie......I had to edit your title, it was linking directly to the FTM site......
Have a safe New Year!!
wldspirit

[lilbees]

Any documents you add to your FTM 2009 will stay even after your Ancestry subscription expires.

lilbees

[Veronesi-Guardini]

Im still using FTM 2006! I tried 2008, and it didnt appeal to me. I much prefer the simple no-nonsense layout of FTM 2006

You have to ask yourself whether you can warrant spending that much money on software that isnt going to be hugely diferent from 2008. The 14-day trial is an incentive though

[nuccia]

I also use FTM 2006 and I think it serves all my purposes. I think the more complicated the software, the bigger the issues and the higher the learning curve. Since this is a hobby for most of us, I would rather put the energy in researching and not trying to figure out how to use my software.

This is of course only my opinion.

[bonval]

2009 hasn't been that difficult to adapt to. The first couple days I was confused but all of asudden it clicked easily for me. The easiest way fo navigate is by person and I use the toolbar. The biggest change was the access to reports. The Help file is clear easy to follow directions. I bought regular software and boght Ancestry World separately. I kept 2006 also to access certain aspects such as calendar. 2009has more options in sources, backgrounds, ...books are now only offered on website under "My Canvas" but they claim will be offering books and calendars again later. I basically like 2009 but also use My Heritage for the ability to work in Italian for benefit of extended family.

[lilbees]

Bonval, my hopes are up that they offer the books and calendar feature in FTM. I have 2009 and am looking forward to any upgrade that will offer this.

I have a lousy printer and really would rather take the file to someone to print for me instead of having to only have the choice of a rather expensive book printed for me. I do appreciate the opportunity to have a very nice book printed as a special gift for someone but having a regularly printed book for varous family members would be great.

lilbees

p.s. The "my canvas" works much better than what they had before. If they offered this as separate software I would by it.

[nuccia]

I'm glad you both mentioned books. I am having a lot of trouble printing books. It seems the option is not compatible with my Vista and it keeps shutting down. It actually lost all my research at one point but thankfully I had backed it up to a cd and was able to restore the file.

Has anyone else had this problem? I don't know what I'm doing wrong or how to fix it. I guess I can always try the FTM forum but I thought I would try here first.

[Edmondo]

I have the same problem with FTM 2008 under Vista, when I create a PDF it shuts down.

For me the biggest problem with 2008 is that I need the "All-In-One" tree chart which is missing. Is this back in 2009?

I use FTM v16, is that the same as FTM 2006?

[nuccia]

Yes Edmondo..V16..thats the one I have. I believe its the same as 2006..then again it could be 2008. I remember having the starter edition 2005 and then a cousin sent me this one 2 Christmas's ago so I am pretty sure its 2006.

My PDF files also shut down. I just can't find a solution to this. I wish they would offer a patch or upgrade to correct this issue.

[bonval]

I use a Lenovo (IBM) ThinkPad laptop with Vista - found out it is a printer driver compatability issue that causes the shutdowns in Word or PDF formats - for example I use Word 2007 - newest version - and an HP printer - and that was very full of bugs and glitches. So I did research - there are updates from HP for this. Now I also have a brand new Brother 4040 Color Laser - thanks to my youngest son who is very excited over the genealogy books I was making everyone for Christmas! But he hated the price of the ink I was going through like water! (Or wine! ) So he gave me early Christmas gift! This one is compatible with the Vista so no more problems. But the cheap $49 HP is also working fine after an update to its driver from their website. Go to whatever manufacturers website for your printer and check their forums for help - there is help out there! The books came out fantastic by the way! And so did the recipe books!

[nuccia]

Come to think of it, when last I tried using the Book feature, my HP printer went on the frizz and I went nuts trying to get it back up. Perhaps it could be the same problem. I'll give it a try and see if it helps.

Thanks for the tip!

[carmine1917]

The one version of Family Tree Maker is free to download. Many people suggest that. I have been using the free one from LDS, since I have learned most stuff from their library.

Ancestry has a clause in its contracts, whatever you put on their website, is free for them to publish.

[nuccia]

Ancestry has a clause in its contracts, whatever you put on their website, is free for them to publish.

Yes it does and thank you for adding that!

[jamiestew]

I bought FTM 2009, and I really like it!!! can you tell me what you included in your Geneology books you gave as gifts?? I have been thinking about doing this and would love to hear any ideas..Thanks