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About Me

This Blog was created to help me understand how to use the Family Tree Maker program. I also use it to help show others how to use the program based on a request on one of the Family Tree Maker message boards. Some times a picture is worth many words. I live in the beautiful North West corner of New Jersey that most people don't know exists in our beautiful state. (no exit numbers). I "retired" after 30 years with a major corporation but am busier now than when I was working "full time." After being in the United States Coast Guard, I lived in Maryland and then came back to my home state of New Jersey. I started my "collecting of ancestors" about 15 years ago (1996) when my youngest daughter gave me Family Tree Maker (version 3.4) as a gift to "give me something to do." Little did I know where this would lead me and the people I would meet. One of the features of Family Tree Maker, is the ability to create a User Home Page, taking information in the Family Tree Maker family file, and making it available online for others to find. Mine can be found here: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/w/o/r/H-R-Worthington/ I have a couple of other Blogs: My Tombstone  Collection: This blog is a result of taking pictures in Cemeteries. Most of these photographs can also be found on the Find-A-Grave website.  Some of the photographs are part of my Family Files and others are not. A Worthington Blog: Currently, I am attempting to capture and post the information that was published in a Worthington Newsletter. The information in those newsletters may lead to where to find specific information. Most of the information in these newsletters do not contain source-citation information. But the articles may lead to further discoveries. The queries that were included in the newsletters are also included. Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome. Russ

27 comments:

  1. I am an old user of FTM I have version 2.0 in October 1994, I bought still is America and I want to see if I can upgrade, the cost is and where I can buy.
    thanks for your advice
    gus

    ReplyDelete

  2. Gus,

    Yes, you certainly can upgrade. The current version is Version 2011.

    You can purchase it, online, at Ancestry.com.

    Just to let you know, there will be some steps that you will have to take to get from Version 2.0 to Version 2011, but it can be done. I'll help you with that, if you need and/or want.

    Make sure you look at the Requirements for your PC, before you purchase the program.

    If you have looked around this Blog, you will see some of what this current version can do.

    Russ

    ReplyDelete

  3. I've used FTM 2006 for several years and was fairly happy with it and decided it was time to upgrade to FTM 2010. I found that 2010 has stripped out all of the functionality from the calendar and has several ease of use problems. I tried to reload my FTM 2006 and found that it is not supported on Windows 7. Does anyone know what version was the last with full function performance for the calendar?

    ReplyDelete

  4. Anonymous (1/16)

    Sorry you didn't use your name so that I could properly address your concern.

    Can you be more specific about what was stripped in the Calendar with Version 2010?

    Version 16 or earlier, will run on a Windows 7 PC. There may be an issue if your PC is a 64 bit PC.

    What "full function performance for the calendar?" are you looking for?

    Russ

    ReplyDelete

  5. I've been using FTM 2009 for quite a while now and just started to have a problem when adding a second spouse, it is showing both as #2. I've tried re-entering the order (preferred spouse).
    I will probably upgrade to FTM 2011 but I'd like to know if I can fix this first or at least figure out if it was my error. I use Windows 7. Ever seen this before?

    Thanks for your help in advance,
    Colleen McNamara
    back2mac@rogers.com

    ReplyDelete

  6. colleen,

    Have you done the Tools, Compact file utility?

    Not sure what you mean by :it is showing both as #2.

    What does that mean? If you are saying that #2 is next to the Spouse ICON, that isn't #2 that means the # of spouses.

    Russ

    ReplyDelete

  7. I'm the FTM SIG leader for the Pima County Genealogy Society.
    http://ftmsig.blogspot.com/

    I would like permission to put a link to your article about using source citations on our blog.
    Lee Levin
    520-239-6881 akeyworks@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

  8. Lee,

    Certainly. Please do.

    Hope it is helpful.

    Thank you,

    Russ

    ReplyDelete

  9. Hi Russ, hope you can help. I have ver 16. I moved it to my laptop,vista 64 bit. Just found out it needs to be on 32 bit, so back to my desktop. I'm working on that now. Last year I bought 2010. restored all my files and found all the scrapbook photos and documents did not come over in date order, they were alphabetical. Spoke to Ancestry and they told me I had to arrange every scrapbook manually. Are you aware of this problem and is there a way to correct it. I am no longer using 2010. I am back to ver 16.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Anonymous,

      Version 16 may not run on your new Laptop.

      Going back from Version 2010 may be difficult. I wouldn't even try it, especially with Scrapbook items. From 16 to 2010, the scrapbook items were all extracted into their own files, rather then in the Family File in Version 16.

      How did you have the Scrapbook items is date order in Version 16? Was that in the Description of the scrapbook item?

      Do you have a Back Up of the Version 16 file that you brought Into FTM2010? You would have been asked to make a Back Up.

      I would go to one of your Back Up's.

      Russ

      Delete

  10. Hi Russ:
    I wish I had known about your Blog from the beginning. I try to wade through the message board posting for good advice on how to use the program to the fullest. Now if I can figure out how to create a link to this it would be perfect.
    I have NOT had problems with FTM (except when I do something stupid)
    Thanks
    Betty Dahlstedt

    ReplyDelete

  11. Betty,

    Glad you found the blog and hope it helps. You can select Follow options, email, RSS feed, or Follow me on Google. You'll receive posts when I update it.

    Good luck,

    Russ

    ReplyDelete

  12. I have a old 1996 version on Family Tree Maker Version 3.4 that my father had been working on. I purchased 2012 Family Tree Maker Version 21 but im not sure how to import the FTW file. Does anyone know what versions of Family Tree Maker I will need to get to finely make it work with Version 21.

    Thanks,
    Mike

    ReplyDelete

  13. Mike,

    FTM2012 should be able to open your Version 3.4 file. If it doesn't, please let me know and I will help with the conversion of that file.

    Russ

    ReplyDelete

  14. Russ, one of my cousins has FTM ver 2.0 on a Win98 PC which is dying. They have a new laptop with Windows 7. From what I've read they have to have FTM 2012 with Win7... is that correct? Will FTM 2012 do a direct import of their data files or will they have to use a gedcom file? I'm helping them with this but I don't use Family Tree Maker at all. They are in their 70s and don't think they really need all of the features that FTM 2012 offers. Suggestions and help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance...

    ReplyDelete

  15. Russ, one of my cousins has FTM ver 2.0 on a Win98 PC which is dying. They have a new laptop with Windows 7. From what I've read they have to have FTM 2012 with Win7... is that correct? Will FTM 2012 do a direct import of their data files or will they have to use a gedcom file? I'm helping them with this but I don't use Family Tree Maker at all. They are in their 70s and don't think they really need all of the features that FTM 2012 offers. Suggestions and help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance...

    ReplyDelete

  16. Becky,

    Version 2 to FTM2012 -- Not directly. Version 2 is too old. However, if you go here:

    http://ftmuser.blogspot.com/2009/02/import-old-version-of-family-tree-maker.html

    That will work. If NOT, please contact me directly, via email, and I'll convert that file for you / the person you are helping.

    Thank you,

    Russ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks so much Russ. I'll get with my cousin in a few days and try your suggestion.

      Delete

    2. Becky,

      You are most welcome.

      Please let me know.

      Russ

      Delete

  17. Hello Russ-
    Just wanted to say thank you for your posting re adding color to a large pedigree chart to send off to an elderly relative for review. So much more helpful to highlight the lineage for them! I couldn't figure out how to set the 'marking 1' on my chart and, when i googled it, came across your great example with pictures. i had selected the appropriate boxes with the CTRL left click, and specified the coloration in FTM publish/chart, but missed the step about having to also MARK SELECTED before printing. Thanks very much! I'm looking forward to perusing your blog when i have a bit more time.
    Susan

    ReplyDelete

  18. Susan,

    Great, glad it worked for you.

    Thank you for your comment.

    Russ

    ReplyDelete

  19. Hi Russ -

    Family Tree Maker users can enjoy the added bonus of Charting Companion's unique charts. CC reads FTM files directly.

    See http://progenygenealogy.com/products/family-tree-charts/family-tree-maker-version.aspx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Pierre,

      Thank you for this information.

      Russ

      Delete

  20. Hi Russ,

    Great blog. I am wondering if you know of any way to model associations between persons. It seems that facts can only be "shared" between spouses. I'd like to create a custom association between a person and his godfather, for example. Or a sibling and his fraternal twin.

    From what I can tell, GEDCOM handles associations with the ASSO tag, but it doesn't seem possible using the software. Using FTM 2012. Appreciate any direction.

    Thanks,
    Scott

    ReplyDelete

  21. Scott,

    Not sure what you mean by "model associations" between people. The program shows the Relationships.

    The "godfather" issue is a "witness" or people involved in an event.

    There are people relating an event for them. What you are talking about is a Shared Event, not a Shared Fact.

    In your case, the Event (NOT FACT) would be a Baptism, and those who participated in that EVENT, should be linked. Same would go for a Wedding, to be another EVENT. The current Baptism is for an Individual, a Marriage (fact) is shared between two individuals. The Baptism / Wedding I am talking about is really an Event that is Shared between "many" people. Slight difference, I think.


    That feature doesn't exist in FTM2012. I suggest you provide Feedback to the developers. (help menu, Online Help Center)

    Russ

    ReplyDelete

  22. Hi Russ, I have been reading the past few posts and it seems there are a few of us out there still holding on to older versions of FTM. I have been afraid to make the leap from my FTM2005 because I thought I read somewhere about GEDCOM difficulties, and did not research further. But now I am receiving a gift of a new Dell Vostro laptop and I think it might be time to upgrade before my sailboat anchor, as my husband refers to my old laptop, self destructs. The new laptop has Windows 7, that's all I know for now. Will FTM 2012 make friends with 2005? I appreciate your help!
    Georgia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Georgia,

      You should not have any issues with FTM2012 on your New PC AND with bringing your FTM2005 file into FTM2012.

      The screens will be different. That is a given. But, for me at least, the navigation is so much easier, data entry, reports and charts are so much better.

      If you have been reading this blog, you will see the difference.

      If I can help, please let me know.

      Good luck,

      Russ

      Delete

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