FTM Hands down!!!!
lchesser4(a)comcast.net
-------------- Original message --------------
From: paulatrefun(a)comcast.net
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Phyllis Miller Fleming"
> I need to make a decision about my database program. I have narrowed it down
to
> remaining with Family Tree Maker or switching to The Master Genealogist.
>
> Any experience-based opinions out there?
First off, let me say I have no opinion of TMG because I've never seen it.
However I am an FTM user... version 16 right now. It does work great.
It however has data management issues.
* all "notes" are lumped togehter... there is no destinction about kind of
note items like obituaries, comments, stories, research reminders etc.
* There is no way to obtain reports which will show you which of your
ancestors you still need to obtain obituaries for.
* Place locations can be pretty random and are not checked for typo... you
can type anything in here.
* Info items like Death, Burial etc are limited in what kind of
information they can contain.
* You can't attach a "media" directly to the marriage info as a marriage
certificate, or a death certificate directly to the death info. It goes in a
generic image gallery for the person whom the image belongs.
All of the above issues were fixed with FTM 2008/9. You can now add notes
specifically for an obituary (the transcription) or media (the scanned obituary
from the paper). And, you can report/query to find those for which you do or
don't have info in these facts. Locations now check against a database so now
there is less chance of misspelling. There were tons of changes for the better
in how data is managed and what you can add and customize. As someone who is
very concerned about the data accuracy and the ability to review and interpret
it, the changes to FTM in my opinion are major in managing huge amounts of
research.
The cool thing right now is that they are offering FTM free for download.
I think most of the complaints of the new FTM were the layout changes to the
screen and the loss of the book building features. Some people just like to
complain and others don't like change.
The changes to the layout are easy to overcome with use. If you've never really
used FTM's older versions you won't have a problem at all.
The loss of the book features isn't a big deal because in my experience, the
overhead required in mandatory formatting and extra pages made the books too big
and cumbersome anyway. Word can be used just as well to contain info exported
from FTM and if you use the Word Index and Glossary features it isn't an issue
that FTM itself won't do books any more. Using Word, your book format and
layout will be more in your control and will look more professional when done.
We are taking advantage of the free software offer and are in the process of
converting our FTM v16 files over to FTM 2009. It is exciting the new
possibilities we have in data organization and management. If you use a past
version of FTM, I strongly suggest you download it and give it an honest look.
-Paula Trefun
Don't forget to check out our genealogy web site.
http://shelbycountyindiana.org
Shelby County Researchers, please send me an e-mail with your contact
information and the surnames that you are researching
(mmweaver1864(a)sbcglobal.net) and let me know whenever that information changes.
I would like to keep track of all of our researchers. Thanks, Melinda
Any questions or problems regarding this list should be directed to me
(mmweaver1864(a)sbcglobal.net). Thanks, Melinda
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