Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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195 of 201 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
FTM 2009 - Major Improvements, More Work to do..., September 19, 2008
The faithful legions of Family Tree Maker users will find FTM 2009 to be a major improvement over their previous 2008 release and will welcome the improved operating performance and a number of the new search and sourcing features. Experienced users will still miss a number of the FTM v16 features, but we have been assured that continued improvements are on the way.
Before I go on, I am an experienced family researcher, have used every version of Family Tree Maker since 1998, routinely help others with their research, and I have about 25,300 names in my database. I also administer two DNA projects. I have a very clear idea of what I need, what I am used to getting, and exactly what people are expecting when they request my assistance.
Among the challenges for experienced users will be making a successful transition from earlier versions to FTM 2009. When I first tested this product for my own use and then attempted a review, I missed several key features regarding user controls specifying desired data elements for certain reports and charts...I simply could not find them. Another user reading my initial review verified that he could not find the user controls either. Helpful comments by an FTM product manager helped resolve the problem and a number of apparently missing features are actually there. The lesson learned is that this new interface will take some patience to find your way through. In many cases, this patience will be rewarded with a very robust and versatile software with many new capabilities.
However, for those of us who are most focused on final output, such as the ability to design and produce fully indexed Family Books on your own desktop without having to go online, this product has not yet realized it's full potential. This feature was offered in FTM v16 and previous versions, but was discontinued in FTM 2008 in favor of directing users to go on line (Ancestry press) instead of allowing full desktop-based user control.
* As Family Tree Maker continues to tweak this release, efforts need to continue in the area of fully restoring features and user controls from FTM v16, and just as importantly, educating experienced users on how to find and use the features they had enjoyed for so many years.
* A side by side explanation of features for FTM v16 and FTM 2009 would be very useful in the transition process, particularly in the area of output (reports, charts, etc.)
At this time, without the previously offered Family Book features being fully restored, FTM 2009 simply does not yet meet my personal needs, and I have returned to FTM v16. I need to continue to update the many previous Family Books (about 18) that I have produced for individuals and organizations, and I also need to continue to produce new fully indexed Family Books for pending projects I have committed to. I also have an ongoing need to have FTM read various CDs in my large collection, and unless I have missed it, FTM 2009 simply won't do this.
* 3-Star Rating - I am very bottom line oriented - if I do not have in my hand exactly what I need when I am done working, and I -still- have to go back to previous software (FTM v16) to get it - then the "new" software fails my test and, for the time being, is not up to my own personal requirements. All the improved performance and various new features just do not yet matter if it cannot deliver in my hand what I expect and need when I am done.
I would encourage the FTM product design team to continue to restore features from FTM v16 and previous versions, and only then will FTM 2009 realize it's full potential.
CHT in Virginia
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141 of 146 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
FTM 2009 User Comments, September 23, 2008
I have used FTM (Family Tree Maker) from its beginning days, when it was first used on PC's using the DOS operating system. I believe I used most versions up to and including FTM version 16 (the last version using the original interface). When FTM 2008 was introduced; I, like many others, was more than a little disappointed in the product. For the first time there were no enhancements or added features to the beloved Family Tree product. It was a complete rewrite with a new interface! Many features that I was used to using were either missing or different.
However, I installed FTM 2008 and imported my files from the earlier versions of FTM. One of my files has 33,000 individuals and 16,000 pictures. At first, I didn't see how I would be able continue, the conversion and cleaning up of media (pictures) looked too overwhelming and the same appeared true for correcting place names. I was afraid of losing my data so I kept a parallel copy of it on FTM version 16. When I completed all my conversions and much needed corrections, I saw I was making the right move. All my fears began to vanish. After three months of cleaning and repairing my data; I switched to using FTM 2008 exclusively. And today I can honestly say it was the right choice for me.
FTM 2009 is now available and it is a big improvement over the initial offering. I have seen the benefits. My database is cleaner, more correct and more complete than ever before and becoming better each day. My pictures are organized and stored individually in a separate directory. FTM 2009 is helping me become a better and more organized researcher.
There are two parts to using FTM or any family history product. One is getting the data entered correctly into the database; and the second and just as important, is getting the data in a usable form of reports, charts and or books. This is where FTM needs to improve. However, I have tried (and purchased) many of the competing family history products. FTM 2009 compares favorably to them all. Yes, FTM version 16 is better at reporting, charting, and book making; but I, for one, am sure the manufacturers of FTM will soon remedy the differences or shortcomings.
If you would like my rating I would give 5 out of 5 for data input and integrity and 3 out 5 for output (reporting, charting, and books). An overall rating 4 out of 5.
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Unstable program, October 15, 2008
I finally got used to the new format of FTM 2008 and 2009. What I cannot get used to is that the program frequently closes for no apparent reason and gives me an error message. The folks at FTM/Ancestry instructed me to go into a particular directory and delete a certain folder and restart the program. That solved the problem for a short time and it recurred. In fact, the last time I used FTM 2009 it shut down right AFTER I had just applied the fix. These are the most UNSTABLE versions of FTM I have ever used.
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