Customer Reviews

Family Tree Maker 2008 Essentials [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(37)

 

 

Any run-of-the-mill genealogy software should be able to do at least the basic reports family researchers and professional genealogists use to some degree during almost every major session:

* register reports (descendant-ordered reports - "all descendants of")

* ahnentafel reports (ancestor-ordered reports - "your ascending line"')

Family Tree Maker 2008 has now dropped these core reports they had supported throughout the past 16 versions of their software. The usefulness of the other core reports FTM 2008 still does provide, such as pedigree and descendancy charts, is significantly chilled by the near total removal of user options in designing what data elements to include in these remaining reports. Many other key features which longtime FTM users have enjoyed have also fallen by the wayside.

* Instead, FTM 2008 offers a lot of new fluff charts and reports, some of which are interesting for occasional analytical use, and some I don't even see a real-world practical use for.

Another major show-stopper for me was that FTM 2008 has dropped the popular feature that allowed the user to produce "family books" on their own home computer, but now instead requires that such information first be uploaded to the parent company (Ancestry) with the option of then (for an additional design fee) eventually downloading and printing it out either on your own printer or through their professional press. In either case, you must first execute a waiver essentially allowing Ancestry to use your research information as they see fit. Many users may find these requirements as highly objectionable.

* Regardless, with the loss of the key reports mentioned above, I am not sure how much is left to put in a "family book" even if you could still produce one on your home computer.

* Also, all of your family books produced with previous FTM versions will now be lost.

* As for all those expensive CDs you have accumulated over the years, FTM 2008 will no longer read any CDs.

The final show-stopper for me was exceptionally poor performance:

* My copy of FTM 2008 crashed about every 8 minutes or so, requiring a cold boot to get started again. Slow install, slow loading, slow running -- a perfect trifecta of poor performance.

* Even more importantly, and truly the "last straw," was I could never get a clean upload of data from my previous version of FTM v16 to FTM 2008. Data would often be corrupted, or even missing altogether. A very large number of users have reported this same problem. I also noticed that if I did successfully do any work in FTM 2008, I could never be sure I could export it back out to a previous version so that I could do the basic reports and such which are missing in FTM 2008.

With regard to the radical new look of FTM 2008, the gee-whiz cluttered and complex new screen displays could be construed by some as a mark of sophistication or power computing, but this is all only a hollow shell if this genealogy software won't even do the most basic register and ahnentafel genealogy reports many experienced researchers use so often.

* To be able to then effectively summarize your family research for yourself and others is the true end game of doing family research in the first place.

I view this release not as an upgrade to a new and improved FTM, but instead a very sad downward departure from the core functions FTM had consistently done so very well over the previous 16 releases. I have been an FTM user since 1998.

* Video-gamers will love this new software, but many experienced researchers will find many major disappointments.

I was so deeply disappointed that I uninstalled FTM 2008 so I could go back to FTM version 16 and once again be able to do basic genealogy reports summarizing my ongoing research.

That is why I buy genealogy software in the first place.

CHT in Virginia

I had no problems loading FTM2008. But, as commented on by earlier reviewers, FTM2008 is missing MANY features already present in earlier versions of FTM without introducing any significant improvements (at least in terms of functionality). Most basic trees and reports are now gone. There is no longer an automatic backup of your data. Navigation is much worse than in earlier versions. You would think that the new version would support "grab and drag" functions for repositioning your view of trees and reports too large to fit on a single screen (almost all map programs do this now). I am returning my FTM2008 for a refund and returning to FTM16.

FTM 2008 software will greatly disappoint Long-Time FTM users.
I purchased mine on-line and within a week had returned it for credit.
Not only is the program totally revamped but is missing one of the basics of any Genealogy Program - Register and Ahnentafel reports - and the functionality of the program is no where near what we FTM users are accustomed to - My Opinion: Those who have v16 should stick with it - longtime FTM users who have not yet upgraded to v16 might want to do so now while it is still available. If you are new to Genealogy Software - do your research - in my opinion FTM 2008 is not user friendly. My personal opinion is that FTM 2008 is a monster program and was no where near ready for release.

I have been using Family Tree Maker for 15 years and have loved it. I was looking forward to the 2008 version because this product has gotten better in every version.
Family Tree Maker 2008 is not worth the money, the makers dropped 80% of the features that made it good, they teased us with possible improvements that don't work right and there are mega-problems with how it operates.
Some of the problems?
1.When I transferred my tree from Version 16 to 2008 it lost about half of my sources and notes.
2.It doesn't run for more than 10-20 minutes without shutting down, which means that you lose the informantion you've entered in that time.
3.The reports and charts that I used all the time are now gone. The only way to print a family tree now requires over 200 sheet of paper and most of them are blank. I miss being able to print a fan chart or an ancester chart for just the people I want and not EVERYONE in my files.
4.The narratives that I have added to my files did not transferr to 2008, where did they go?
5. Don't bother trying to get help from their techies, they either don't get back to you or they just repeat the instructions on the website. And if that had worked you wouldn't be talking to them!

After a month of trying I gave up and went back to Version 16.

Family Tree Maker you let us all down!!!!!!!!!!

The so-called upgrade of Family Tree Maker to this 2008 version is actually a DOWNGRADE. It is astounding, but they have taken away much of the functionality and flexibility that made the wonderful previous versions of this program so great.

As just a few examples of the many features that were present in past versions that are absent in this new 2008 version:
1. You cannot make a book that you can design and print on your own computer.
2. In the descendant trees (now called charts) you cannot get it to show birth and death as only the year, without including month and date.
3. Photos show beside the name in trees, rather than under the name, so the tree is needlessly extra-wide and spreads itself over more pages.
4. Trees (charts) now cannot show continuously across your computer screen without being split at imaginary page breaks, even if you don't want to print the tree at this time.

If you have used previous versions of Family Tree Maker and have liked them, do NOT buy this 2008 version, because you will lose all the things you liked about the previous versions!

This program can't begin to compare with Family Tree Maker 16 (the previous offering of Ancestry.com). It is not helpful in developing a genealogy database of any significant size. It lacks many of the charts and presentation tools available in the earier versions. It is a kiddie version of a genealogy program, and not even that user friendly. It is really designed to push people toward their on-line subscription services with the false impression that everything you find there is relevant to your research....which it isn't. Don't waste your money like I did.

I have been a faithful user of Family Tree Maker since it was owned by Banner Blue (which was bought out by Broderbund and then sold to Ancestry). I consider myself an expert user of FTM software and have defended their products thru V 16. I am also technically proficient with computers and software - have an MCSE and have worked in IT since 1990's. I will also say that I've learned over the years that most Genealogists get very attached to their software of choice and are passionate about where they store their family data. So, as you read of my disappointment, understand that this application is not just another word processor or spreadsheet program to me.

I eagerly tried to upgrade from FTM 16 to 2008. Errors! Lots of them. Bottom line, I couldn't convert my FTM 16 database to FTM 2008. Probably because of its new way of storing photos. I was able to convet a smaller DB I had so I could test out the new software I have been eagerly awaiting. All the functionality, reports and intuitiveness that I have fought for within this software are mostly all gone! The company use to listen to the user-base about what they wanted in reports and screen layouts. I've received emails asking for suggestions, usability surveys and beta tests. All that seems to be wasted on this new product.

The software is no longer intuitive. It is very slow on a brand new pc. The excellent reports (FTM's claim to fame in the industry) are simply gone. Backup options (imperative for database programs) non existant. So, I say I'm one of the lucky ones that couldn't convert my FTM 16 file -sad.

I've been involved in hundreds of software upgrades and releases in my IT professional life. I can honestly say, beyond equivication, this is the worst 'upgrade' of any software package(including Windows ME OS)I have ever seen. I'm sure this was rushed to market to make it in time for the holidays. But wow. For at least the last seven upgrades I've always received emails and snail mail of the upcoming features and the additional features - not this time. I received nothing. I stumbled across a beta copy on Ancestry's Site. All the Beta Testers were in shock and the concensus amongst the old FTM users was that this was probably an Alpha Pilot since there was no way Ancestry would go to market with such a stripped down version. But, 1 month later it was available for purchase. The software companies I've been involved with - heads would be rolling and executives would be losing jobs over this. Am I bitter? You bet! I feel like a company which makes its money on delivering a product based on its having a pulse on the genealogical community has gotten hijacked by bean counters.

My recommendation would be to buy FTM 16 (excellent program). But, of course, there is no current upgrade path unless Ancestry scraps this thing and gets back to listening to its former user base.

FTM 2008 may be ok if you are a novice user who has no prior data from an existing application which needs to be converted. If you don't need reports, family trees, etc. its ok for storing names.

I downloaded and installed the Release Candidate 1 Version which, as I understand it, has become the FTM 2008 released product. Upon importing my file of 97000+ people, I found the following, as compared to FTM V16 which I had been running. First, it is abysmally slow; this may be a function of file size in this version. Second, the User Interface is far more cluttered and confusing than all previous versions. Third, functions which used to be easy to get at are now hidden under layers of intervening menus and windows. And fourth, it is missing critical functions that were contained in all previous version; e.g., I could not find a Register Report.

I have been an FTM user since Version 1.000; but after what they have done to FTM-2008, I am switching to Legacy.

I'm a long-time user of Family Tree Maker and looked forward to the new version. I ended up returning it in 4 days and went back to Version 16. The program is slow and uses up a tremendous amount of memory to run. It's also full of bugs and lacks the simple functionality that I liked so much in Version 16. At this point, I don't think I would even consider FTM 2008 even when they fix it.

As a beginner I created a large book of my Family tree with numerous charts that my family really liked. When I imported my 2005 files into 2008 I found I couldn't recreate the books and charts! >WOW (they were a lot of work and nice looking ). When I went to FTM forums I found they weren't in 2008 and most users of 2008 were very dissatisfied with 2008. 2008 is not a update its actually a downgrade with a lot of previous function missing. I recommed going to FTM web site and reading their forum comments. FTM 2005 was a good version I was happy with but 2008 is awful as far as I can see. I only spent a small amount of time trying it - once I discovered I couldn't recreate my previous charts and books I just gave up on it. From what I've read on their own forums the pending update in Oct will only fix some problems but all the missing function won't be added in until some later ?? date and it not clear it will all be added in.