Family Tree Maker for windows Ver. 16

[Len Brown]

I would appreciate a bit of feedback from anyone using the new ver.16 who has also used previous programs of FTW.

I have been using every version of FTW from ver.1 to ver.11.

There appeared to have made quite a number of changes with the next two versions, ie 2005 & 2006.
I have not used them because like a car, you never buy the first vehicle in a new series until it has been proven and the bugs have been ironed out.

Can anyone tell me if the ver.16 is an improvement on previous versions or is it just a facelift on the way it looks on screen.

In previous versions I have found that when typing notes,

1.     It has been lacking in that you are not able to type in true type fonts and see the end result on screen as you type.

2.     Spell check doesn't allow you to highlight a body of text and carry out a spell check on the highlighted text alone.

3.     The program doesn't allow you to carry out a search and then compile a separate and complete list of all persons listed within that search, for example, on searching for all persons who may have been born or buried in a certain location. The result of the search is that you can view each individual but not a compilation.

Have any of these items been rectified in the latest version?

Also, from the FTW web site it appears that the section for recording Burials has been removed from the front screen. Has the section to record date and place of burial been included in another section of the program??

Unfortunately version 16 has not hit the stores over here in Australia as yet so I'm unable to ask these questions of local users or for that matter procure a copy.

Cheers and thank you from Len in Australia

[downside]

Hi Len

Why not visit familytreemaker.com and download the trial version?

That will answer most of your questions.

If you are going to do that I suggest you make a backup of your surname.ftw file first before importing it into the new trial version as it may modify the file.

downside

[Len Brown]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!!

If there was a download available from the FTM site then I probably would but on inspection of their web site there is no downlaode except for  patch for 2006 users.

Cheers
Len

[downside]

Hi Len

Maybe you are not looking in the right place.  Click on this link to obtain your free download:

http://landing.ancestry.netscape.com/family_trees/family_tree_maker_free.aspx

REMEMBER:  backup your existing data before you install this trial version.  It may upgrade your surname.ftw file and make it unusable unless you purchase the new version.

downside

[Len Brown]

Well I must say that the website that you have just posted for me was close to familytreemaker.com.

No wonder I wasn't looking in the right place!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately that site only relates to FTW v.2006 and even that doesn't provide for a download of a trial program.

PERHAPS...... there may be other persons out there that are actually using v.16 that may be able to provide the answers to my original questions.

I would really appreciate a more precise response (PLEASE).

Thank you
Len

[Stumped!]

Len
Family TreeMaker version 16 is to all intents and purposes FTM2006 with a minor free downloadable upgrade. I think the upgrade makes it easier to look at Ancestry's resources.
As to your questions 1, 2 and 3 well I don't think anything has changed since V11.
Details of burials and other facts not found on the front screen are input from within an "Edit Individual" page which has five sub pages: General; Facts; Notes; Medical; Address (but only one).
Hope this helps.
Peter

[M.R. Dien]

The principle changes with this latest "upgrade" appear to be a tighter integration with Ancestry's on-line resources as against improved usability of the program

[downside]

Hi Len

The geneal problem is that FTM is a database program and that limits its ability to do fancy things you could do with a word processing program.

In terms of searching, then you are better of using something like Access where you can run your own queries.

Because of those restrictions, I've written my own 'family tree software' using HTML and Javascript to overcome the limitations of FTM.  It's the only way you are going to get everything you really want.

downside

[Len Brown]

G'day to you all,

Thank you for your reply.
I'm sorry for the delay in my reply as I've been away for the past few weeks working. I only got in this afternoon for a couple of days then I'm off again for another 2 weeks.

From what you have said, I won't bother upgrading to a later version until they come up with something more substantial.

Cheers
Len