Family Tree Maker (by Ancestry.com) Reviews

(based on 19 reviews)

152 of 326 people found this review helpful

I have long been a user and supporter of FTM but this last update is a disappointment. Add in the latest REQUIRED update that I received last week, 2014 is a failure. I ran a Norton scan and a virus showed up. Guess what, it was the latest required update. It erased my entire FTM 2014 research work.

Recommendation, no. Satisfaction, no. Value for the cost, no. Customer support, no.

What a joke.

In summary, I would not recommend Family Tree Maker (by Ancestry.com) to a friend.

156 of 294 people found this review helpful

Whoever wrote the glowing #1 review for Ancestry.Com and their FTM software appears to have little or no experience with using it or its companion site Ancestry.Com.

You really cannot talk about one without the other.

I have been using both, FTM and Ancestry.com, for almost a year now and I have to be honest I do not know what to expect when using either one.

FTM 2012 and FTM 2014 are loaded with features that would be great if they worked as advertised. I started with FTM 2012. I found out real soon that it is prone to repeatedly crashing. When FTM 2014 came out in the hopes it would be better I upgraded and experienced even worse problems, mainly synchronizing and crashing. It got so bad that I finally uninstalled 2014 and reinstalled 2012.

After several months I reinstalled 2014 hoping some of the problems have been resolved. Right off the bat I had sync issue requiring uploading a new file from a FTM backup to Ancestry.com. And like FTM 2012, 2014 still crashes but not as often.

It seems every time I use FTM a new quirk shows up. Just recently I discovered a number... (Read the full review)

In summary, I would not recommend Family Tree Maker (by Ancestry.com) to a friend.

201 of 367 people found this review helpful

Family Tree Maker: Are you sure you check all of your information prior to posting it on line for the 'world to see' and know? You have my daughter listed and step children listed with their step parents as 'their children' this is wrong.

I found my own daughter, her two step siblings listed in the 'family tree' as parents when they are second and third marriages. This does not constitute a 'true' family tree. Children from prior marriages, are not a true family tree. Also, two step siblings do not carry that 'new marriage' name; they carry their true father's name. You have these children under a new husband name and that, again, makes this wrong.

I think you need to secure this a bit better.

In summary, I would not recommend Family Tree Maker (by Ancestry.com) to a friend.

223 of 424 people found this review helpful

I have been using Family Tree Maker version 6 (2006) for the past 7 years. Just forced to switch to a FTM 2012 because I purchased a new computer with Windows 8 and the old genealogy program is not compatible to it. Altho I was able to send out attachments, I could not back up my files.

The 2012 FTM is a joke, it has too,too much on the main screen, the old program had just the family unit on the main screen with icons above it to get to the different features. Also the old version 6 moved so much faster.
I understand now why so many people have quit doing genealogy. I started back in 1956 manually and switched to FTM first genealogy program in 1997, I believe, or close to that date and then purchased a upgraded version 6 in 2006. Both those two programs were a joy to use.

I cannot understand for the life of me, why when you have something that is perfect, you would put out something that is not.

They have to go back to the drawing board, look at how version 6 was so easy to... (Read the full review)

In summary, I would not recommend Family Tree Maker (by Ancestry.com) to a friend.

192 of 395 people found this review helpful

If you are forced to move from an earlier FTM program to FTM 2012 you may be disappointed. Many users loved the older version and rated it #1. The 2012 version is much slower and will not accept backups form the older FTM. If you must (because of a major computer failure) purchase a new computer most come pre-installed with Windows 7 or 8. The older FTM will not install on computers with Win 7 or 8. You should consider doing backups to a gedcom file as well since your normal backups on FTM will not install on FTM 2012. FTM 2012 will accept a gedcom but you do loose some data features so read the instructions regarding the gedcom. Many software review sites still rank FTM 2012 #1 but these were reviews by people not actually using the software just trying it out. Dig deeper to read how users are rating FTM 2012 and you will find it drops to a 2 out 5 rating while some other new software programs get a user 5 out 5 rating by users. I would not recommend FTM 2012 and consumers should shop around for a genealogy software program they will enjoy using more then the newer FTM.

In summary, I would not recommend Family Tree Maker (by Ancestry.com) to a friend.

176 of 344 people found this review helpful

This program is pushed relentlessly but the proof that it is not the best is soon discovered once one starts using it. I find it a very disappointing program.

I find it really disappointing that the original Windows Version of Reunion was not used as the template to create a really useful Windows based Genealogy Program.

I do not want to buy an Apple computer so that I can use the Mac Version of Reunion. And I know that the original creaters of the Windows version of Reunion are constrained from creating an updated Windows based Genealogy program. Mores the pity.

FTM is cumbersome. One cannot create trees and reports as quickly as one can in the Windows version of the former program (no longer made) called Reunion.

In a word, although FTM is strongly promoted it is in truth a very DISAPPOINTING program.

In summary, I would not recommend Family Tree Maker (by Ancestry.com) to a friend.

237 of 438 people found this review helpful

I have used Family Tree maker for several years as a data base to host all of the information regarding my family history. Initially I thought this was an excellent program to use. However I am now quickly changing my mind.
First, when you are inputting the data about a particular individual, you also have the option of doing online research with Ancestry.ca about this individual in question. Ancestry can quickly find specific information about the person. However Family Tree maker is NOT able to import any original images into the program. Instead you must have two separate screens on the go - Ancestry.ca with your Internet browser and Family Tree Maker open at the same time.You are required to use your Internet browser to download and save the original image. Then upload that image into FTM.
Secondly, using the FTM to crate a book is nothing short of a NIGHTMARE! The collection of individual notes about each is create as a PDF file from your choice of various reports ie, Descendants Report and then imported into the "Book publishing" Mode. Unfortunately as a pdf format you... (Read the full review)

In summary, I would not recommend Family Tree Maker (by Ancestry.com) to a friend.

215 of 392 people found this review helpful

Was this product designed with input from Genealogists - I doubt it. It has taken me 6 months to put my tree back into correct order since I upgraded. Also the GEDCOM does not extract with media - never did - why did they not conform to latest gedcom standards when they upgraded I do not know?. Loads of new functions but if the merge and duplicate facts does not work properly it is a waste of time. When running a gedcom on all individuals you cannot select preferred names and facts so when you upload to ancestry you get the lot - what a mess!!Sync with Ancestry fails more times than it works suspect server is overloaded and if it did work it would be good if you had the option to synced the other way as well from the Ancestry web site. Publishing does not always publish the record information on the tree but from Ancestry with all the incorrect names (and Ancestry has loads of incorrectly transcribed records)and wrongly linked images which it never corrects. A nice to have would be gedcom updates to existing trees instead of having to create a new one. I could go... (Read the full review)

In summary, I would not recommend Family Tree Maker (by Ancestry.com) to a friend.

237 of 408 people found this review helpful

The product is great for what it's intended to do -- provide you a way to manage your family tree offline. It's certainly faster than using the web interface.

The same major downside from FTM 2010 still exists though -- your modifications and updates aren't synced back to your Ancestry.com account; and in fact even if you want to re-export your tree to the website, the only real way to do so is to create a new tree.

What I feel is really needed, is just background syncing. Let me do all my work in the desktop program, and then (like Picasa does), sync my changes with the website in the background. That way later when I'm visiting my relatives, I can easily show them the progress I've made, etc., without having duplicate trees or having to lug my laptop around.

In summary, I would recommend Family Tree Maker (by Ancestry.com) to a friend.