I wish I would have asked this question a year ago! I have a whole lot of catching up to do! Except for my grandmother, my father and aunts and uncles everyone in my family tree was put there from the extractions of their records. I use the free LDS software but I would think I could do the same thing with that. This is awesome - thank you so much!!. Maybe now I can try to keep all these people straight. WOO HOO!!

I have 3 different genealogy software programs installed. I can get better and clearer reports from those programs. When I sent out a printing of one I only wanted directly lineage people included because the family doesn't care about the other stuff. Each does a great job depending on what report or book I want. It is only an export of the current and up-to-date gedcom file. Little bit of work but fun.

lilbees

Forgot to tell you what programs. Legacy and MyHeritage. The MyHeritage program really gives beautiful reports but lousy charts. Legacy does great books.

lilbees

Needed to add also FTM 2008.

lilbees

I'm using Family Tree Maker V.16 (I ordered the CD off their website a few months ago) which gets all wonky with Vista. It took me an hour to import a gedcom!! The program wouldn't even work until I downloaded a patch for it. I also use PAF at work which is simplistic, but easy to use and let's not forget Free!!

Love FTM 2008. With the updates it now works great. I do still have FTM 16 installed. But I use that to update the free site for FTM on genealogy.com. It is not offered in the newer version. I am operating under Vista. Usually no problems except with my older programs. I did learn the hard way not to install under the compatibility mode. Cannot uninstall in Add/Remove Programs. Not listed. You have to manually go in and delete whatever you can find. Will never do that again. I have updated all my software and equipment now so it makes it easier for me.

I would suggest you get FTM 2008 for a smoother operation with your files. Only a suggestion though.

lilbees

lilbees

Free is good!! I have shyed away from FTM and all Ancestry owned products because I heard they take your info and pictures. Is that true?

lilbees wrote:

Love FTM 2008. With the updates it now works great. I do still have FTM 16 installed. But I use that to update the free site for FTM on genealogy.com. It is not offered in the newer version. I am operating under Vista. Usually no problems except with my older programs. I did learn the hard way not to install under the compatibility mode. Cannot uninstall in Add/Remove Programs. Not listed. You have to manually go in and delete whatever you can find. Will never do that again. I have updated all my software and equipment now so it makes it easier for me. I would suggest you get FTM 2008 for a smoother operation with your files. Only a suggestion though. lilbees

Looking into the upgrade options as I type this!!

I would like to hear more about the FTM free site on genealogy.com.. what is that?

Jim

Cathy, not that I am aware of. The pictures that I have on Ancestry are all private and they really are.

But you don't have to upload to Ancestry so nothing is shared. The problem, for what you are doing, is that the inexpensive software, and it really is, is worth it for organization, etc. All in one place. I spend a lot of time backing up my files to a separate flash drive or DVD. I gave FTM 2008 as a gift to my olderst son. I also included a ged.com file so he wouldn't have to recreate the wheel so to speak. It includes all media and source files. He can then build his own branches or new files with no problem or export info from the gedcom to his new file.

lilbees

Jim, if you have FTM 16 there is an option under Internet where you can build an online homepage. It's a matter of creating a gedcom file to upload to your new site. As you get it started it will walk you through the process. Simple to do but only with FTM 16. I save my export file in 2008 then open it in FTM 16. Then update my online site. It works most of the time.

lilbees

It's about time I invest in software. I am looking at Legacy and it looks amazing! They have a free download. I am trying it today!

Cathy, MyHeritage is also free to download. But, please think real hard about purchasing FTM. The search capabilities are great (expecially if you have an Ancestry membership). If you don't you get a trial period with the software free. I like things simple and easy to understand. Legacy seems to be a bit tough but okay.

lilbees

Hi Cathy,

You can get FTM for about $25-30 ---- the last version I purchased came with a 90 day ancestry.com subscription..........do a Google or other search to find the best price, but they are always running specials.

I have tried with "no luck" to find some better tools to use with my FTM database to locate duplicates and errors as I don't think the standard maintenance tools in FTM are very helpful.....I have downloaded a couple packages which were advertised as "helper apps" for FTM but they didn't pan out and I don't even remember their names at this point.

Cathy wrote:

It's about time I invest in software. I am looking at Legacy and it looks amazing! They have a free download. I am trying it today!

I have been using Legacy since 5 years now and I believe it is one of the best. It can help you finding duplicates and has a lot of searching features.

Hi there. After I got Legacy 6 I also picked up a companion program called "The Compelte Genealogy Reporter". It works with Legacy 6 and any other genealogy program you might be using.

Go to this website and read about it or download a free trial software. I found it quite useful in looking for errors in my files especially.

www.tcgr.bufton.org/tcgrdown.htm

I do use it with my FTM files and its great. Picks up errors of data entry that I have missed as well.