FAMILY TREE MAKER to be discontinued!

[groom]

I've no intention of cancelling my Ancestry subs, but if I did at anytime in the future, I understand that I could still see my tree on there - could I still work on it? I presume I could also download it as a gedcom and put it onto FTM as I won't be able to sync it as I do now.  The problem will come if at anytime Ancestry decide that if you don't subscribe you can't see your tree!

[Flattybasher9]

Their blog has been hit by over 4600 panicking individuals.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01gmw/

If Ancestry had not taken an edition out every year, but had left it every 3 years, it may have been a better financial decision, rather than flooding the market, trying to outdoo their competitors. I have 2 versions, each being 3 years apart. I have no intention of panicking.
I have my trees on my hard drives, nowhere else.

Regards

Malky.

[diplodicus]

Ancestry's own on-site blog is in meltdown with all the howls of protest from its subscriber base. All software suppliers are looking to embrace the received wisdom of "cloud computing". It locks in its customers but it does provide the benefit of one depository for all data (the need for "synching" disappears). Until this morning I was a happy user of Ancestry/FTM. Ancestry finds the data but FTM is where it is all verified and cleansed. The attach/detach person functions are two that I simply could  not be without as I discover new facts about relationships that require my tree to be "redrawn".

I am now investigating the competition and will migrate from FTM during 2016 with a view to letting my Ancestry subscription lapse when it expires next summer.

So Rootschatters, I will welcome your suggestions on the best source of UK genealogical data; the best PC-based family tree software package; and (if different) the best combination of products that  intregrates acquiring data and storing it in tree form.

Many thanks
Malcolm

[Sloe Gin]

So Rootschatters, I will welcome your suggestions on the best source of UK genealogical data; the best PC-based family tree software package; and (if different) the best combination of products that  intregrates acquiring data and storing it in tree form.

There's no "best" source of data.  I've amassed information from many different sources.

As for software, I use Family Historian which was recommended by mezentia a few posts back. 
I haven't kept up with the updates though - I'm still using Version 3, and it's up to Version 6 now.  Even so, I only make use of a fraction of its functionality.  It does everything I need.
You can download it for a month's free trial
http://www.family-historian.co.uk/downloads/free-30-day-trial

[greenrig]

Do I look bothered..?  Just because the FTM Windows PC program is no longer updated doesn't mean it stops working, or that you have to move off it.  It will remain a good repository for your research (from Ancestry, ....AND all the other sources).  I use a  version of FTM from 2007 - it still works fine, has no issues, and does all that I need.  Ancestry just want to move everyone online because there's more revenue, market intelligence, and social media hype from that in the long term.

[LizzieL]

I use FTM for Windows 95 on my five month old computer running Windows 10. It still works. , Although on line help hasn't been supported for a long time, I still have the big tome which came with the large box full of discs, so I don't really need it.
I nearly bought the latest FTM a few months ago when all the computer experts I asked said there wasn't a chance of my old FTM working with Windows 8 and certainly not with Windows 10. Lucky I ignored them, got it loaded and saved my money. 

Although it does depend on how much the modern FTM needs to be on line to actually work properly. Old software was designed to be standalone


That blog on the Ancestry website is growing by the second!

[KGarrad]

I've no intention of cancelling my Ancestry subs, but if I did at anytime in the future, I understand that I could still see my tree on there - could I still work on it? I presume I could also download it as a gedcom and put it onto FTM as I won't be able to sync it as I do now.  The problem will come if at anytime Ancestry decide that if you don't subscribe you can't see your tree!

Yes you can, Jan

I let my subscription lapse 2 years ago (budget cuts, living on JSA!), and I can still edit my trees and create new trees.
What I can't do is to see the census, BDM and other sources from Ancestry. And I can't look at other people's trees.

What I do is to use Ancestry Library Edition at my local library, with my signed in version in another window. Then, when I find some information In LibEdn I simply type it into my own version.

[diplodicus]

Quote from: groom on Today at 11:15
I've no intention of cancelling my Ancestry subs, but if I did at anytime in the future, I understand that I could still see my tree on there - could I still work on it? I presume I could also download it as a gedcom and put it onto FTM as I won't be able to sync it as I do now.  The problem will come if at anytime Ancestry decide that if you don't subscribe you can't see your tree!

Yes you can, Jan

Yes you can at the moment but there is no guarantee that Ancestry will continue to provide this functionality. Now they have eliminated the need to interface to FTM, they can develop their online product that might (only might) mean that all but a basic GEDCOM connection will no longer function.

I'm not in a panic (as suggested by some poster on the various forums now discussing this) but my trees represent an enormous amount of time, effort and expense made over many years. Securing all the data, notes, images, narratives, etc will be a very laborious task. Yes, FTM will continue to function as a standalone product but for me, it is just one of a number of products competing for my pension. My only reason for not migrating to Apple two years ago (since all our other gadgets are Apple products) was the functionality of the final FTM release. So for me, Ancestry have just pushed me hard enough to make the leap to an iMac when my venerable Windows PC breathes its last.

[Brian1949]

Like many people I was surprised and shocked to see that Family Tree Maker was being dropped by Ancestry. I have used it for many years (from around 2006 I think) and like it a lot. I have all my family history on it as well as thousands of jpg files of original records and photos all linked to individuals in my tree.
Unlike most of the people writing in I do not have a subscription to Ancestry and use the program because I like it. I have had the odd 3 month subscription to Ancestry but mainly use Find My Past.
Everyone should be able to continue using the program until their PC operating system will not support it any longer - will the current version run under Windows 10?
There are several questions that I would like to be answered before doing anything:
1 - the FTM program is written by a software company not linked to ancestry (Avenquest - I believe) would they be willing to continue developing/maintaining the software?
2 - would other family tree programs be modified to import FTM exports (including photos and other records linked to the tree).
3 - what are the other family history programs that are as good as FTM? I looked at lots of others many years ago and at that time FTM was the best  but things have probably changed a lot since then. I don't particularly want to have to import my data and then redo all the links to records and photos.
I am open to suggestions!