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.

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.