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eap
New Member
10 Posts
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15/12/2006
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18:43
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I would like some advice on buying my first family tree software for MS Word XP. Articles I've read seem to come out in favour of Legacy as it's better on uploading or working with Gedcom files than Family Tree Maker (Ancestry. com). At present my most developed family tree info is on ancestry.co.uk so I hope to upload this info onto my computer. I cannot afford to keep up a subscription to Ancestry.co.uk. I am also clueless on using such software.
I like the features of the Ancestry webpages, particuarly the bit where you can add stories to your ancestors profile. In my ignorance Legacy doesn't appear to have this feature. I also don't know if I can upload my info from Ancestry to Legacy. I'm nervous that the Family Tree Maker is very American geared/and or geared to using their subscription services. Legacy also has somes great sounding features, but if you can't add stories to the profiles it misses a lot.
Legacy also seems to be easier to share with people who have email but not family tree software? Please advice. Thanks so much.
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Gloria
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Posted - 15/12/2006 : 20:44
I have PAF downloaded from the family search site. Not sure all of what it does, I use it pretty basically. I do know that when you down load a gedcom to it, it can miss things out, ie. notes. Will be very interested in the replies you get.
I'd be dangerous with a brain!!!!!
www.briercliffesociety.co.uk  |
eap
New Member
10 Posts
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Posted - 15/12/2006 : 21:12
quote:
Gloria wrote:
I have PAF downloaded from the family search site. Not sure all of what it does, I use it pretty basically. I do know that when you down load a gedcom to it, it can miss things out, ie. notes. Will be very interested in the replies you get.
Thanks Gloria. Do you mean the one from the LDS family site? I did try downlaoding that but it never seemed to work. So I thought being Christmas and all I would try buying something. I have just watched Legacy's free online beginner's video and I see that there is a section under 'notes' where you put your story about the person. It does have some powerful features. I'm really interested to hear what other people think. Am I wasting money on these fancy one's? Being South African foreign currency is expensive! But they sound so deliciosuly inviting ... fortunately most of the gadetegy tempations seem to apply to USA and possibly UK users - not that relevant to much of my family.
I'm also looking forward to others experiences.
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 15/12/2006 : 21:56
PAF has always worked fine with me. Try the download again before you spend money. Lots of people get into trouble with PAF because once they have it up and running they don't realise it works of the zipped backup.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
afl2
New Member
5 Posts
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Posted - 15/12/2006 : 23:38
go for family historian,you can not go wrong in my opinion. if you like charts and flexability its no 1. A big plus is that your file is gedcom saved and no other format. As you know gedcom is the standard.
Alan
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Gloria
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Posted - 16/12/2006 : 09:10
Yes its from the LDS family site, mine downloaded fine, give it another try. If you don't like it you can then spend money on something else.
I'd be dangerous with a brain!!!!!
www.briercliffesociety.co.uk |
moh
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Posted - 16/12/2006 : 11:24
I use Family Tree Maker and have had no problems with it. It is fine with Gedcom files - I have just done my first one to put my family of 3000+ individuals on Rootsweb and it was OK. Do you not know anyone who has the Family Tree maker disc you csan borrow to download it?
Say only a little but say it well |
melteaser
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Posted - 17/12/2006 : 08:45
We are all different aren't we! I bought Family Historian last year based on the excellent reviews I read about it. I don't like it one bit, I just cannot get to grips with it. I don't like the layout. In fact, there is nothing about it that I do like. Yes it uses gedcom (the industry standard) but this to me is not a selling point as most if not all of the other software give you an option to save out or export your file as a gedcom.
I previously used PAF and returned to PAF afterwards.
I do know someone in OZ who is just getting to grips with Legacy. He seems to like it.
Mel
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk |
moh
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Posted - 17/12/2006 : 11:07
I guess it is trial and error but that can be expensive. I would probably find it difficult to use another programme now having got used to Family Tree Maker
Say only a little but say it well |
gwalton
New Member
40 Posts
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Posted - 17/12/2006 : 19:42
I use Family Tree Maker and have never had a problem. I also find the graphics easy to get to grips with. GEDCOM is just an international language for sharing genealogy files, all family tree software can save as GEDCOM.
There are new versions coming out all the time.
Try to get hold of trial software to be comfortable before you write to Santa
Garry
Garry Walton |
eap
New Member
10 Posts
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Posted - 19/12/2006 : 23:09
Thanks everyone for this most useful discussion - it's been most helpful.
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eap
New Member
10 Posts
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Posted - 20/12/2006 : 11:24
One final comment. Following your guy's advice I found free downloads for trials. If anyone else is interested Cyndilist.com/software has the range of progrommes (not family historian though) with the now outdated version (family tree 2005) and Legacy version 6 for free trial periods. It gives some feel aand comparison.
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Gloria
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Posted - 20/12/2006 : 13:01
Thanks eap, may have a play with one if those. Isn't it funny how you can get the wrong idea about someone from a name-----I thought you were a bloke-----SORREEEEEE 
I'd be dangerous with a brain!!!!!
www.briercliffesociety.co.uk |
panbiker
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Posted - 25/01/2011 : 14:42
An old thread but relevant for my post. I currently have a problem with my Family Tree Maker 2010 software. I cannot connect to the internet via FTM which is rather annoying. I can connect with our username and password onto the Ancestry site but not via FTM in the Web Dashboard.
I have worked my way through all the relative helpfiles for logon difficulties to no avail. I rang the UK helpline this morning and spoke to a very nice young lady called Paige who I assume from her accent was on the graveyard shift in the USA. She could not help me as she was non technical. I am waiting for the tech support helpdesk to open to ring them back, that is at 15.00 our time. It's a freecall number so I don't care that they are based in the States as long as I don't get a "thick" accented yank. Mind you they may have difficulty understanding my dialect as well!
The problem has only manifested itself since Christmas, it was perfectly fine when I went on last time just before the holiday. I can't understand how it comes to be logged out. It normally connects automatically when you start the application. Will post again when I have chatted across the pond.
Ian |
moh
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Posted - 25/01/2011 : 14:57
I have the 2010 now which seems fine. I have over 7500 people on my earlier one, so I decided just to do direct lines on this one, it will be easier for the family later.
Say only a little but say it well |
panbiker
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Posted - 25/01/2011 : 21:43
I am now sorted with my Family Tree Maker connectivity issue. The tech support guys over in the states offered two solutions, neither of which solved the problem. They emailed me links to support articles that I had already worked through. For future reference I had to wait about 15 mins to get through to the helpdesk (good job the call was free).
I eventually sorted the problem myself after a tea break and a bit of lateral thinking. It turned out to be a legacy problem from Internet Explorer settings even though I no longer use IE as my default browser (I prefer Firefox). A quick tweak in the connection settings and all was well again. So I am now back to normal in FTM.
We only have 1073 people in the various branches of our tree but they are all from a single root (myself and Sally). I have been thinking of starting new trees for each branch but have not yet found a way of splitting the existing data to preserve what we already have. There will probably be a way of doing this, a bit more lateral thinking required probably. I can certainly see the benefit of doing different lines.
Ian |
Family Tree Software
