Family Tree Maker, Version 8

Ros Cirlin, LACS

In the early 90's, using WordPerfect 5.1, I created my first family tree. Not completely conversant with this program’s flat database capabilities, I chose to set these records up in table form instead.  The main limitation was the program’s inability to form relational links.   Family Tree Maker, Version 8 (FTW), as well as earlier editions, not only permits such links, but goes way above and beyond this and other limitations.  

The purpose of a genealogical program is, of course, to keep track of all generations of a particular family, or several families. FTW connects the user to unlimited research tools as well as a number of choices in constructing an organizational chart. For example, the” All-in-One Tree” includes everyone, whereas the “Ancestor Tree” or “Descendent Tree” only makes use of the people who fit the particular category. You can also change the form of each tree from the usual standard to fan shaped. 

Even the comparatively inexperienced user can start a basic family tree with FTW. The introductory dialogue box suggests starting with your own name, and on that same screen your parents and their parents. This data only has to be input once. The information is then duplicated wherever apropos, including the alphabetical index set up according to surname. And so it goes. The user is led from one screen to the next until reaching his or her individual page. In addition to his/her own name, there is also a tab set up on the right side of the screen for the parents.  As a spouse (or significant other), children, etc., are filled-in, tabs magically appear for those individuals as well.  Again, these additions are also automatically picked up in the index.    

Family Tree Maker provides a number of Internet links. These connections were smoothly made when I pressed the corresponding icon. For example, during the introductory period, a click on such a link automatically brought up my ISP and browser connections, opened the appropriate site, and searched for any information it could find on the family name selected. This resulted in a listing of 39 given names. Of these 39, nine are definite matches and two appear to be likely candidates

Those of you who have Version 7, are probably interested in the two main changes found in Version 8.  “Publishing Center,” organizes existing items such as “Creating A Family Book” and “Creating A Family Home Page”, and the new  “Publish a Book on Your Home Page”, all under one icon.  Another addition is “Virtual Cemetery ” (creepy, isn’t it?), which links you to an Internet search of cemeteries looking for the person specified. If the information exists on the Internet, you can “virtually” visit the gravesite. A few other items have been either deleted or relocated,  but the “Contents” and “Help” menus remain the same.

 The 100-page manual is clear enough to get anyone started, and is less daunting than the 540-page manual included with Version 7. 

 As long as you understand how menus work, you can manage to use FTW easily.    The more advanced user will find features too numerous to explore in just a few   sessions. Linking from screen to screen, or to the Internet, is done with a click on the appropriate tab or icon.