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General => Technical Help => Family History Programs, Tree Organisation, Presentation => Topic started by: tazzie on Monday 26 December 05 08:55 GMT (UK)

Title: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: tazzie on Monday 26 December 05 08:55 GMT (UK)
Hello all.

 My brother has bought Family tree maker deluxe edition for my Christmas pressie.
 Does any one have any tips or comment on the set that could help along the way.
 

                      Thanks

                     Tazzie :)
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: 1000xlch on Tuesday 27 December 05 19:10 GMT (UK)
Hi Tazzie

FTM is I think a very good program as I have been using it for 7 years with no problems.  Install it as normal but do not bother with the family book, or extra picture symbols.  Install the world map.  When it is up and running you need to add the extra forward arrow as it only has the back arrow as default.  It will first ask you for the name of the new database that it has opened.  This allows you to start you family at once with mother father etc.  When you have entered the name, just click on it to highlight and then hold down ALT, V, U at the same time.  This allows you to cite where you found the original info from eg census info etc, it remembers any new citations as a master list.  The arrow is found under File then Preferences then Toolbar.  FTM allows you to import gedcoms and merge or append them to your file.  Useful if others match yours as when you merge it asks you to check the info is correct and is the same person.

Hope this helps a bit.

John Rowley
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: tazzie on Tuesday 27 December 05 19:20 GMT (UK)
Hi John

 Thank you .I have been so used to collecting all my info in paper form it now feels like starting all over again.It is good to here a response from some-one that has been using it for a while as well.
 After 5 years worth of research I will now have to learn to speed type.

            Best wishes

                     Tazzie
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: trish251 on Tuesday 27 December 05 23:58 GMT (UK)
Hi tazzie

I don't think I have been using it as well as John does - I simply key in my folks and put all my sources and comments into notes - thus said - I find it very easy to use. Some folks like to keep their 1000s all in the one data base. I actually keep 4 data bases. One with each of my parents names as a starting point  and one with each of my husbands parents names as starting point.  If I want them all together I can merge them, but I find it easier to work with the four separate groups. (My husband, myself and our daughter are the only folks in each of the files.  :D  :D ). If you want to export data - there is a report you can design the format for & this can then be exported to excell which I find handy.

Trish
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: tazzie on Wednesday 28 December 05 14:33 GMT (UK)
Hi Trish

            That seems a good idea. It would make things easier to do by family groupings and then I can expand when all details are in.

                         Thanks


                            Tazzie
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: Jane Eden on Wednesday 28 December 05 19:19 GMT (UK)
Hi Tazzie

I have been using FTM for almost 1 year. I keep all my data in the program and have found it to be brilliant. I keep records for all members in 1 database along with all of the source details.

An excellent feature is the reporting system. There are genealogy and kinship reports which are good but a useful one is the data errors report. This will bring up all of the missing details, some of which you will know, but also if you have wrongly keyed in a date eg if the mother is under 14 or over 60 when the child was born or if you have given someone 3 husbands in error.

It really is worth spending a little time to find how to use it to its full capacity as it will save hours in the future.

One word of caution back up the database on a disc. I stupidly deleted some of mine by trying to be clever.

Have fun and what a lovely brother you have.

Jane  :D
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: tazzie on Wednesday 28 December 05 19:46 GMT (UK)
Hi Jane,


 Thank you for the tips. I have started a file already and am glad to say have got off to a good start. I was a little cautious because I have so much data to work with but I think it will be a great asset.

 Yeh! he has his moments (my brother)

                          Thank you

                    Tazzie
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: Jane Eden on Thursday 29 December 05 06:54 GMT (UK)
Hi Tazzie

Have a play with the features of FTM before you put all of your data in. If you just have 10-20 peole in with BMDs, addresses, occupations etc. then play around with reporting, moving round the screens until you are confident. Then if you do anything wrong it can easily be put right.

I think it is fairly difficult to wipe people off the database as I did. I was trying to delete 1 person and ended up deleting the lot. It had asked me if I really wanted to do it but 'of course I knew what I was doing at the time'. Fortunately I had most of it backed up.

Jane  :D
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: tazzie on Thursday 29 December 05 08:52 GMT (UK)
HI JANE


 I think we have all hit a delete like that before that is why I am being cautious.I will back up on disc as I go and only try one line at a time.

  Many thanks & Happy New Year :)



                        Tazzie
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: pretlia on Thursday 29 December 05 18:16 GMT (UK)
Hi I'm a newcomer to this website and saw the discussion on Family Tree Maker. I have had this program for over a year and really like it, but I tend to go long periods without using it and usually by then I have lots of information to enter. Now I have found that I've duplicated some entries by mistake and when I try to delete them, I end up deleting the original entries too! Does anyone know how I can avoid this? I feel so stupid. I guess I should take more time to discover the full potential of the program!

Andrea
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: runner on Thursday 29 December 05 21:08 GMT (UK)
Hi Andrea
I'm using FTM although an older version(V 6.0.)  I would guess that the newer version just has more baubles, tassles and whistles.
If I have duplicated entries go onto 'People' on the toolbar and click on 'merge individuals' It will bring up two boxes side-by-side so you can choose what information to keep when you merge them. Much easier than trying to find and delete the other way
Jane's suggestion of playing around with a few entries is the best way .....but its too late for that in your case  :(
hope this helps

Russell
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: Jane Eden on Friday 30 December 05 06:46 GMT (UK)
Hi Andrea

Welcome to Rootschat

Jane  :D
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: pretlia on Saturday 31 December 05 12:51 GMT (UK)
Thanks Jane for the welcome. I've only been a part of this website for a couple of days and already I've had help from a couple of people which is great!

Also thanks to Russell for the tips on FTM, I will certainly try the suggestions and will hopefully have everything sorted out soon! :)

Andrea
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: Jane Eden on Saturday 31 December 05 16:26 GMT (UK)
Hi Andrea

I have just had a thought. You could start a new database with FTM and just put in a few entries. Go to file/new. You can then play around with it without ruining the proper one. You could put in double entries and all sorts to then work out how to merge etc.

You just need to make sure when you open FTM that you are on the right database. It will open automatically on the last database you were using. To change it go to file/open/whichever database you want. To make it obvious it is a play database use cartoon names etc.

I am really sad and made a new database for my current dog and the last 2. This was to find out how closely they were related as pedigree certicates are hard to work it out. It was brilliant I just ran a kinship report.

Have fun

Jane  :D

Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: JenniferB on Wednesday 04 January 06 00:19 GMT (UK)
Hi there
I have Family Tree Maker version 6 and have never found a problem but my fellow researcher in the US has sent me a copy of her info which she has on her version of FTM and My old version 6 will not download hers, it says that hers is a newer version than mine.
If I bought myself a newer one, can anyone tell me which one would be the best one? there seems to be 2005 DeLuxe  and 2005 Collectors Edition, bit confusing really - will a new one automatically update my old one?
Jenny
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: runner on Wednesday 04 January 06 00:49 GMT (UK)
Hi Jenny
The Family Tree Magazine recently issued an updated freebie version of Family Tree Maker and were careful to point out that it would automatically upgrade your existing version.

So far I haven't actually tried it but before I do I will make a full backup onto CD of my existing tree so that if there is a problem e.g. interference with some of the other software already on my computer; I can clear the programme and revert to my old version. I'm quite happy with the old one anyway! 

The programme makers/compilers try to ensure that their software does not interfere but there are so many different programmes like shoot-em-up games  etc that they can never be certain how one interacts with the other.

Backing up data is something you should do regularly anyway and keep a copy in a safe place preferably at a relatives house or similar. Well.... would you like to start all over again?

Although I haven't seen it I would guess that the Collectors Edition has extra CDs of indexes, names lists, census extracts etc. I have 3  CDs with mine but have never actually found them of any use but my research has been exclusively Scotland.
Hope this has been of some help

Russell
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: JenniferB on Wednesday 04 January 06 00:58 GMT (UK)
Thanks for that Russell
I will make a copy as you suggest, its something I do sometimes, then add more info and then forget again.
I had wondered if the extra cd's of info would be of any value, mostly they are usually of US lists.  But I think that there is supposed to be a UK version of extra discs - parish records etc.
Sorry to have missed the freebee, but you can't win em all can you.
regards
Jenny
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: Jane Eden on Wednesday 04 January 06 09:46 GMT (UK)
Hi

Mine is FTM 2005 collectors edition. It came with 11 cds. Some I have used, Pallots marriage and baptism index but others I haven't, 1851 census as it is on Ancestry. I have found the websearch useful.

I suppose you only get to know the program you use so I cannot compare it to any other program. I would probably been happy with any program as the aim was to get rid of all the paper except for certificates and census images. Then I can use the space to keep the 'filling out their lives' eg medals, original photos (though I have scanned alot), family books, pieces of lace, paintings and all the other treasures  retrieved from mums loft!

Jane  :D
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: Arranroots on Wednesday 04 January 06 10:38 GMT (UK)
Hello all

I was using an older version of FTM and upgraded using a "free full version" on a magazine cover.  it changed the appearance of FTM - v pretty - and added a few useful things, like ways of displaying trees, which I was happy about.

The only catch was that it was a time-limited version (not clear at first).  After the trial expired I decided to upgrade, so I used the prompt on the trial version to access Ancestry's (for it is they) website.  I paid up for the basic version - all I need as I have no US rellies to trace.  So far, so perfectly fine.  After the transaction I was transferred to their "shop" where I was immediately offered the same product FTM 2005 for $10 less!

The moral of this story?  By all means upgrade - the basic FTM is brilliant for my needs - but shop around for the best price. (Apologies to those who have read this story before).

I am enjoying this thread, as everyone has different ways of working and it helps to see what you are all up to!

Has anyone found a way of refining the internet search facility, so that it actually displays what you want & not 10,000 records you don't want??  ;D

Arranroots  ;)
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: Jane Eden on Wednesday 04 January 06 11:41 GMT (UK)
Hi

On the internet search I tend to use 3 star and up. I also use BMDs to cut out the US census data by playing with the filters on the top right and top left. The data is really mostly only useful for the 19th century.

Jane  :D
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: Arranroots on Wednesday 04 January 06 11:57 GMT (UK)
Thanks Jane

I will have a play with the filters  :D

Arranroots  ;)
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: Jane Eden on Wednesday 04 January 06 19:25 GMT (UK)
Hi Arranroots

I have just discovered if you go to top right where you can filter census, BMD etc at the bottom of the list is customise, you can select a specific database(s) to search out of 700+. This will filter out all the US data.

Jane  :D
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: Arranroots on Wednesday 04 January 06 19:28 GMT (UK)
Not that we don't love the Americans - I am just not that closely related to them (apart from you, Annie!)

Thanks again Jane  ;)
Title: Re: Family Tree Maker....any tips please...
Post by: 1000xlch on Friday 06 January 06 19:06 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the tips on this thread

Must try the filter thingy as I have 12,875 in the database and I only want to find a few matches as even on broadband it is time consuming and over 12,oo the net cannot handle!  I thought it was simple 7 years ago and 100 people.

Cheers

John Rowley