Getting Organized - Part 2 - Family Tree Software

Software Packages

Family Tree Maker

This is actually the software package that I currently use. I have found that it produces good reports and the functionality is excellent.

Major Pluses:

All-in-One Tree - This produces a complete diagram that you can set the options to show all of the family, including step-relationships and all siblings in every generation, not just the direct ancestors or descendants. Excellent for taking to the family reunion and plotting out on large sheets of paper. Like any program, it can be a real pain to piece together page after page. But it also provides a print function that puts things in a book format.

Privitize - This feature allows you to create a database with all the information on living relatives, other than their names, to be hidden from the reports or files you create. Great for sharing with others and not revealing information that may violate privacy laws and that living persons might object to.

Negatives: The reminders that you haven't connected to their databases recently to see if there are additional or new entries in their global database that may be related. And they want you to upload your data to their servers, were they will add them to other CDs that can be purchased by others, no compensation to you. And if you didn’t remember to privatize the file before uploading, lots of information on living relations go with the file!

In addition to the actual software, Family Tree Maker has dozens of CDs worth of information available for purchase. I have gone through a number of them and found some useful information. I have also spotted a great deal of information that is erroneous. The family tree CDs are of dubious value, I would caution anyone against relying on them. The source data is usually limited to which of the CDs the info came from, making it difficult to verify.

Family Tree Maker is available in a number of different 'levels' the primary difference is the number of the lookup CDs included with the main program. There are some program abilities that differ, so read the descriptions carefully before selecting one. You will have to determine whether you think the CDs are of use to you in your search. The fact files, derived and copied from records of such things as Military Files and

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