Genealogy Chat

This same question pops up week after week.

Please read my post below, I've nudged it up for you.

That post should answer your question.

Ron
www.genealogyprinters.com

I started with Family Tree Maker some years ago, but I find Family Historian a better program. It's all personal choice in the end.

Family Tree Maker was pretty to look at and for a beginner was easy to use. As you get more skilled with computers and genealogy, then I feel IMHO that Family Historian provides much for scope for personalisation (create your own queries, etc), especially now that you can create a usable website in minutes with it.

My advice would be to use the free discs that come with family tree magazines and try the samples. They all have their pros and cons.

Hope this helps

Current version of FTM is 2009 so don't even think about 2008 which was the "Version 0" and had shortcomings.

The previous offering goes under 2006 or version 16. This is a completely different program altogether and is the one that most on here use. This can be had for around £9.99 so is a good buy.

Ron, I've just looked at your website and its fab!!!! Will definately be ordering from you soon!

Betty.

If you bought 2008 and registered it, then for a limited time FTM gave you a free version of 2009, the offer has expired now but it was made available to all those that had registered their version of 2008. If you did not register it then you did not get the offer.

Ron
www.genealogyprinters.com

Thanks for all advice, most helpful and informative. Deborah

I use Legacy 7. Its free for the basic package, but worth the upgrade, Though it is a bit of learning curve to get into, they also have a couple of free training vids, Have tried others but find Legacy offers more. As you discover more things you want to do, you'l find Legacy has what you need.
http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/DownloadLegacy.asp
Heritage is good for beginers, and I like the tree view in it, However I prefer legacy7 for the data input,reports,charts and source/citation input. The auto search for all people in your tree on family search is also very good-saves a lot of time.
Gary

You could happily use FTM2006 which is sometimes as low as a fiver now and you get a months free sub to ancestry with it :) (basically they are paying you :))

DONT get the 2008 it was a pain and they quickly put out the 2009 (and gave it free of charge to those of us who had bought 2008).

HI DEBBIE

I dont know about the others, but I use my heritage. It cost £18 for the premium package. I like it because:

1. If your tree is small enough you can do an all in 1 print out
2. It can do alot of internet research for you (you click on the person you want tonresearch and the software goes off and does it)
3. It's very easy to use
4. It creates a book report which gives all kinds of info and can be done from anyone in your tree's perspective

It's worth checking otu anyway :D

As a newbie I am wondering which software to use as Ive been told to have back up in case puter crashes etc. At the moment I just have everything on GR and Ancestry. is Family Tree Maker 2008 (Ancestry) £29.99 a bargin or are other cheaper ones just as good. Many thanks in advance, regards Debs