Legacy (free) vs. FTM 11/12

[katelyn.27]

(apologies for starting another software thread, but I just wanted one up to date, including 2012 FTM)

I'm thinking I need to get some software so I can store everything on my computer and where I'm not locked into an ancestry subscription to view my research.

I've come to the conclusion that it's either Legacy (because it's free) or FTM as it seems to be the most popular.

What I want to get out of the program is

• The ability to link census images to all the people in that census
• Somewhere to transcribe the information in censuses, parish records, etc. that's logical
• Something that isn't necessarily really easy to use, but something intuitive and that looks after data well

Looking at the Legacy website, it seems to be able to do all these things, but my major concern is whether the program is geared to the American user (eg. date formats), or is it UK friendly?

And regarding FTM, do people think 2012 will be worth the extra cost it will be compared to 2011, or is the difference not that great (and when exactly is 2012 out?)?

I did have another question but I've forgotten it! 

EDIT: Remembered the question. How long do you have to redeem your ancestry membership that comes as part of FTM? My subscription runs until next July, so there's no point getting it now if the ancestry membership can't be used.

[danuslave]

The last bit's easy!  You just redeem the membership now and they extend your subscription by the appropriate amount.  Been there, done that!

Linda

Added - be aware that the membership you get with FTM may not be at the same level as you already have

[danuslave]

I've recently started using FTM2011  and have found a couple of issues, but it could be because I dived in without reading the handbook   

If you work on a tree on Ancestry, you can attach census images and BMD stuff to people.

If you then create a gedcom, download it to your PC and import it into FTM2011, it will  keeep the references, but it won't download the images as well (it does say that in the handbook)

I've also found that if I then create another gedcom from FTM2011 and upoad it to Ancestry, it loses some (or all) of the BDM dates in people's profiles.  They may still be there in the references but they don't show up.

It may seem an odd thing to want to do, but there are some things (like merging individuals) that you can do in FTM that you can't do on a tree on Ancestry.

I also use Legacy (the deluxe version) and it is UK friendly.  So far I've always typed in census references (boring), but I did notice an email referring to attaching censuses to Legacy, which I haven't seen yet, see 

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0f2q/

I think, like everything else, you'll find that no one program does everything you want, in the way you want it   

Linda

[Redroger]

I use Legacy de-luxe, and find no problem with using the date format that I want to.

[katelyn.27]

I think based on your responses I'll download the free Legacy software and begin there. I'm planning on entering people from scratch and not importing a GEDCOM so I can format everything how I want, not how Ancestry thinks I want it 

And knowing it's UK friendly is definitely a bonus! If I need more I'll purchase the full version

[danuslave]

Several RootsChatters use Legacy, so if you need help, just ask   

Linda

[Uncle Reff]

I think based on your responses I'll download the free Legacy software and begin there. I'm planning on entering people from scratch and not importing a GEDCOM so I can format everything how I want, not how Ancestry thinks I want it 

Personally I find it easier to enter information into Legacy than FTM, especially useful if you are starting from scratch.

I also like the fact that it allocates specific numbers to individuals & marriages, which makes it easier to refer to when there are a lot of people with the same common names.

John

[Redroger]

John, These are indeed some of the advantages of Legacy. I wonder if in fact Legacy is the most widely used program amongst Roots chat fans.