Family Tree Maker 2008 Full Review

The "Data Entry" pane on the right-hand side can be customized to allow data to be added for a range of facts. I supplemented the default facts with a few that I frequently use for individuals in my family tree such as baptism/christening, burial, occupation and residence. I also added a custom fact for Nickname as FTM only offers AKA (Also Known As) and I only use that field for legal name changes. I really appreciate being able to see these often used fields at a glance whenever I view a specific individual.

This is the area in which I am truly disappointed with the "new and improved" Family Tree Maker 2008. How anyone can release genealogy software in this day and age that can't even create a basic ahnentafel report is beyond me. The Family Group Sheet and Pedigree Charts are basically good, but there is no ancestor tree, descendant tree (standard or fan), hourglass tree, or all-in-one tree available. You also can't generate a basic ancestor report (ahnentafel) or descendant report (Register or NGSQ format). There is a Relationship Chart, but in my tests there were a few errors. Some of these charts are scheduled to be released in an October 2007 update, but in my opinion this software should not have been offered for sale until at least the basic reports and charts were available.

Stand-alone book publishing is no more in Family Tree Maker 2008, at least until a promised update available sometime in 2008. For now, the only way you can publish a book is to upload your FTM 2008 file to AncestryPress and create a family tree book that way. If you don't mind uploading your data to the Internet and like the idea of easy to use templates, then AncestryPress may be a good option for you. It allows for both free printing of books at home or ordering of printed and bound books through the Web site. Present users of Family Tree Maker version 16 and earlier have no way of updating and editing their current books in this new version, however - a big problem.

There is both good news and bad news in the source arena. As mentioned previously, FTM 2008 counts multiple citations to the same master source as multiple sources upon import. Don't let that throw you, however. Once you go the the sources screen, you'll see the master sources listed in the left-hand screen. In other panes you can also view the individual citations to this source that exist in your database, along with the people, facts and events to which the source citation is attached. I did have some import problems with some of my sources, however. Italics and bold text did not import correctly (I was importing from a RootsMagic gedcom file and not a previous version of FTM), and I have many errant spaces in my source text. This is something I plan to investigate further to determine whether the fault lies with my original program, the GEDCOM import, or FTM 2008.

Overall, I applaud the direction that The Generations Network has taken with the data entry and layout in this latest version of Family Tree Maker, although many longtime FTM users do not like the departure from what they are used to. Source entry is also acceptable, although not much different than that what was available in FTM v. 16 (the previous version). For entering and organizing data the program really shines. But that's where the usefulness ends. Charts and reports and inadequate, and the lack of a standalone book feature will also not meet the needs of many genealogists. If you're considering upgrading from a previous version or moving from your current program, I suggest that you wait a bit.