Genealogy Software Reviews

Family Tree Maker

Whether you have 3, 5, 10, 20 or more generations in your family tree documentation, you need a way to organize all of those names, dates, places, images and notes. It use to be that all of this organization was done by hand with pen and paper. Well, hopefully it was pencil and paper. :-) But, you get the idea. Today, with the home computer so prevalent in most homes it only makes sense to have a good genealogy program.

Family Tree Maker (FTM) has been my software of choice for over 10 years. I have consistently used FTM since version 3 was released in 1995. Over the years I have "test driven" other software programs. But I have always come back to Family Tree Maker. Family Tree Maker is one of the best-selling genealogy programs out there if not the best. It is used by literally millions of people around the world.

Family View
Family Tree Maker is now in its 13th version but is actually called Family Tree Maker 2006. The software program underwent a major redesign for Family Tree Maker 2005. It is much easier to use than other programs. From its main screen, the Family View page, you can enter vital statistics (birth, marriage, death) for the husband and the wife. Below that you can enter names and vital details for all of the couple's children. If you make a mistake, not to worry, just type over the data you entered. It's that easy. Family Tree Maker automatically saves the data you enter so there's no need to constantly click the save button. From the Family View page there's a scrapbook button to enter numerous photos of the ancestors. Each birth, marriage and death field has a Source/Citation button where you can enter information about where you found the data. This is important for future generations to validate the work you've done by verifying your sources. You can also add additional notes with the click of a button for data that doesn't conveniently fit into the standard fields that Family Tree Maker provides. Then when you've completed the first family just click on the 'add parents' button above the husband's or wife's name to add the next generation.
View a Sample Family View page from Family Tree Maker.

Pedigree Views/Charts
FTM offers a number of pedigree charts to fit everyone's needs. There's the standard generation view with you at the far left and the tree expands to the right for x-number of generations. You can also choose from a fan view or vertical view. You have the option of an ancestor chart - select on individual and show that person's ancestors. Or select a descendent chart - choose one ancestor and show all of that person's children, grand-children and descendents. Customize the charts with different designs, colors, fonts and images. These charts are perfect for framing, inserting in a family report or just printing out for your notes.

Reports
There are a dozen reports to choose from. Descendent reports, a genealogy report that provides brief narratives based on the data you enter for each family, kinship reports to describe relationships (uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc.) between family members, alternate facts reports, address reports, marriage reports, medical information, as well as, bibliographies and data error reports. You can even create customized reports.

Web Search Results
Use Family Tree Maker's 'Web Search Results' feature. With the click of a button you can search for information on one of your ancestors on the Internet. Family Tree Maker will compare the information it finds online with your family file side-by-side and if there's a match you can merge the information into your own Family Tree file.

If you are researching your family tree then you need computer software to help you organize that information. Family Tree Maker is the software to seriously consider.

To learn more or to purchase Family Tree Maker 2006 Visit FamilyTreeMaker.com Now!

Timeline of Family Tree Maker

Jan 1994 - First version by Banner Blue Software
Oct 1994 - Second version published by Banner Blue Software
May 1995 - Banner Blue Software was acquired by Broderbund
Oct 1995 - Family Tree Maker version 3 is released
Aug 1998 - Broderbund acquired by The Learning Company; Family Tree Maker version 5 published
May 1999 - The Learning Company acquired by Mattel Incorporated; Family Tree maker version 6 published
Fall 1999 - Mattel created Genealogy.com
Apr 2003 - Genealogy.com acquired by MyFamily.com; Summer - Family Tree Maker version 11 published.
Aug 2004 - MyFamily.com released Family Tree Maker 2005 in the USA
Oct 2004 - MyFamily.com released Family Tree Maker 2005 in the UK
2006 - MyFamily.com will release Family Tree Maker 2006