FamilyTreeMaker 2009

[JamesBianco]

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

I have the same problem and it's so frustrating.

[nuccia]

Ok..so its time to go to http://genforum.genealogy.com/using/ and see if we can find the answer.

[bonval]

PHOTOS>>>PHOTOS>>>PHOTOS!!! That is first big inclusion! Everyone wanted photos - use a good program - I am still looking for one to do everything I would like - mostly I want one that has lots of options for masks (shapes) to crop photos - especially would like ovals and it seems many programs do not offer that option anymore. I cropped old photos of groups to get 'portraits' of individuals to put next to their names - and so was able to get back to 1865 for some folks. I chose to recolor photos in sepia tones to blend with the greytones of the backgrounds - and do not forget to add shadow effect to offset photos - it adds depth to them. All of this part is available right in MyCanvas so it is easy to do!

My Canvas can be printed out but not saved to disc or hardrive -

I used an Italian theme background. I made pages with old Italian Latina crests and flags of both cities and provinces. I also printed locale maps to show where each village or town is/was. I printed out a relationship page so my sons could see relationship of their father to everyone in tree -- round about 3rd cousin twice removed over to someone else it gets mighty confusing!

I edited all timeline pages to show Italian events - and for that I researched several different online sources - just 'google' Italian timelines - and each one adds interesting events!

I did eight generations of direct line only - because it would have been too much for all the people. I suggest one hint to make life easier in organizing these pages - I did a blank page with just background - and in it printed fancy text box of CHILDREN OF: -- and printed several copies. Did INLAWS OF: same way - then -- load these in proper direction to print instead of plain paper in your printer - in your word program type names -- for example CHILDREN OF: Valentino DiCrocco - that way it is a blank template you fill in and can use to show all of the children's family pages behind their parent's family group sheet! Same for inlaws - otherwise you have all these family group sheets and no idea how they fall into place! Because I had so many to sort out, it was confusing to make all those while online so it was easier for me to print out these template pages and then add names to them later!

You can type any of your facts and such in Word and cut and paste to the pages inside MyCanvas. This is easier to see any spelling and grammar errors - the workspace is small online although they have a magnifier. Make sure to save frequently - they say they have an autosave feature but I was not sure it always worked - I found font size would jump and you can miss it until printed out! I think the typos were something that annoyed me incredibly - I reprinted pages so many times, I wanted to scream until I learned to be EXTRA careful with saving my work! I literally saved every couple of minutes.

One very important issue is to remember that if writing a book that is including living people, be careful! Think if information is sensitive or if a particular person does not have good sense of humor. One of our Italian nephews - actually two of them come to think of it -- hate the Internet and all it in their minds represents. They do not understand the good parts but hate the evils of it - therefore, I do not want to offend what I write about them that would be read by the others. They would not like to hear those facts about themselves. But many issues are humorous to others in family who would enjoy it. So I chose to have certain pages only for my American sons to have here but not share those pages with other relatives. I wrote pages all about our honeymoon and the wonderful places and people all over Italy that I had never met before my marriage! Then I wrote a page on each of the family groups - expanding some obviously more than others telling about their families, work, experiences, even tales from their childhood. I also wrote several pages on history of the villages our family hailed from - and told about connections to people still there - and lots of photos on each of these pages - make sure to lable(caption) and date each photo - because you know who and where, those later will not! Include customs, holidays, family traditions, work, etc.
Most of all -- have fun, take time, cry, laugh, reminisce, love, work through old wounds - make it a labor of love! I also wrote a bit of my own childhood to explain why I fell in love with Italy so they could understand my connection to everyone emotionally. I am not through - even after two years of writing - there is still so much to expand on - and I am chosing what bits to include further or not. The family genealogy portion was almost 200 pages. I also photocopied original documents I have from Italy for each book. The history story portion is about 100 pages and being expanded as I said.
Use the best quality paper and ink you can afford - you want these to last. My son gifted me with a color laser printer - absolutely gorgeous and quality is awesome. I made 8 x 10 pages, set into plastic sleeves - also archival to aid in longevity. I put them into nice 3 ring binders that can be added to over time. Needless to say they were not cheap to nmake - my sons and daughter in laws loved them - as did everyone else who has seen them. Just make sure to personalize them with yourself - that way no one will be bored!