What's The Best Genealogy Software?

[bails]

I currently use Family Tree Maker (V11 2003) on my old PC. However, I'm about to get a new PC and want to upgrade my software. I don't know whether to buy a current version of FTM and upload all my files (which would be great as I don't want to have to input all my records manually) or do I start again with fresh software that comes highly recommended?

I'd love to read your comments and experiences with both - i.e. updating and bringing across all my data from FTM or should I be looking at new software?

Thanks in advance 

[Isabel H]

I also used FTM v11 until a couple of years ago, then switched to Family Historian as it uses Gedcom as its native format and I thought that would give flexibility in future.

I converted my files to gedcom and imported them to the new program. Everything transferred ok, with the exception of some source details. It seems that FTM's gedcom is slightly non-standard, and I suspect that the same thing may occur when transferring to any software other than FTM.

To reassure myself, I decided to check everything manually, enter any missing information (there wasn't much), and sort paperwork at the same time. It was a daunting task that took months, but proved worthwhile. I found and corrected mistakes, found information I already had that was significant in the light of later finds, and also some that I had never got round to entering.

FH has a lot of features I still haven't learned to use, but overall I am happy with it and have no regrets about my choice.

If you stick with FTM, I think that you can simply import your files as they are, whereas a move to other software involves converting to gedcom first.

Isabel

[smudwhisk]

I'd also recommend Family Historian having switched to it earlier this year when I managed to mislay my FTM2012 disk.  Although it has a few peculiarities at times (it doesn't like split year dates unless imported from a gedcom and you have to manually delete a fact rather than just remove the data), overall I've found it much more user friendly and customisable than FTM was.  It was a little daunting sorting out some of the views when I installed it, but as they remain after being set, all is working OK.  As they offer a 30 day free trial, it's well worth a look.  OK you may not get any free ancestry subscription with it, but I find v5 a much better program (the earlier versions I wasn't so keen on when I tried them).

I imported trees from both FTM2012 and FTM2006, having first exported them to gedcoms.  You get the odd alert when it imports into Family Historian, but so far I've not spotted anything missing but perhaps depends on perhaps some of the features you've used in FTM.

[Muffin41]

I changed to Roots Magic V6 UK Edition which I have found to be very good (for my own requirements)

There is a Free Trial Version - Roots Magic v6 Essentials - which can be downloaded from  http://www.rootsmagic.co.uk/vsothers.htm

Muffin41

[Genie2004]

Family Historian for me too!

[bails]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I will have a look into Family Historian and see how I go.

Cheers
Bails 

[RJ_Paton]

For anyone using or considering Family Historian - there is a User Group - FHUG at http://www.fhug.org.uk/ where there is plenty of friendly advice and various tutorials about the program.

You can also access the various plug ins  (add on utilities) introduced in v5 through the User Group. (one of the must have plug ins/utilities is, in my opinion,  Ancestral Sources http://www.fhug.org.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=ancestralsources:index )