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  Family Guide - Genealogy Software  
  The Best Genealogy Software Reviews and Ratings

 
  Important Features to consider when Buying :  
  The Reviews  
Click here for the best retailer of Genealogy Software : Amazon.com
  Family Tree Maker 9.0  
Although not as concise as family tree software the comes on DVD-ROM, version 9 of Family Tree Maker from The Learning Company has trimmed the CD library down to 11 discs, putting a lot of their searchable databases online. While you'll still do some disc-swapping when searching on CD, the online searches can take only seconds with a high-speed connection, letting you view, download, and interact with over 200,000 researched family trees at the World Family Tree Collection.
In addition to the extensive online searches, Family Tree Maker also includes several CDs typical of family tree software, including two family history discs, military records, and the Social Security Death Index from 1937 through 1999.

But it's the program's organizational tools that home genealogists will really appreciate. Family Tree Maker walks you through the steps of creating your own tree, displays entire family groups on a single page, and offers a variety of ways to personalize your tree. In addition to adding images for individuals, Family Tree Maker lets you insert audio and video clips to a tree as well as use a variety of borders, colors, and fonts. The click-through interface is intuitive for the average user, with wizards that step you through most of the creation and sharing processes.

Unique tools, such as the Personal Research Journal, help users keep tabs on tasks that need to be done for a tree, while the Relationship Calculator will automatically figure out the relationship between any two individuals in your family file (so you can see just how far removed that weird cousin Vera really is).

Family Tree Maker makes it easy to share your tree with family members in a variety of ways. You can display your tree in different formats for printing if you want to share hard copies, but you can also upload your tree to the free home page provided at Genealogy.com. In addition to the tree, you can also share slide shows, multimedia scrapbooks, and photos at the home page.

While searches with Family Tree Maker sometimes resulted in the same costly dead ends as other family tree software (where you have to purchase additional CDs or subscriptions to see the results of your search), for the under-$50 cost, it offers a lot of tools and databases to get the beginning genealogist well on the way to branching out his or her family tree.

 
  Family Tree Maker 11 Deluxe
 
Store and organize. Back up your Family File to CD. Preserve your heritage by protecting your valuable Family Tree Maker data from viruses, hard drives crashes, and corrupted floppy disks. In the event that you should ever need your backup copy, you can restore it from the CD in seconds.
Copy and Paste Between Family Files

Now you can copy and paste individuals, family branches, or an entire tree from one Family File to another. New individuals are pasted exactly where you specify, and merged with any identical individuals in that file, so you don't have to worry about relationship errors.

View Two Family Files Simultaneously

View, compare, and edit Family Files side-by-side. You can check for similarities and differences between your files and ones you receive from family members or other genealogists, before or after merging.

Customize Family Tree Maker with Tabbed Preference Panels

Make Family Tree Maker run the way you want it to. Tabbed preference panels make it easier for you to find the tools and resources you want to control.

Merge Family Files More Easily

It's never been easier to append or merge data from one Family File to another! Family Tree Maker's new merge process walks you through the few simple steps to complete a merge. Whether you are merging two files, duplicate individuals, or importing new data into your file, you'll be able to do it in just seconds.

Standard Pedigree Tree

Simplify your research with blank Standard Pedigree Trees. Take them to the library or family reunion. It makes it easy to organize and record data when you can't bring your computer along.

Data Entry Wizard

This easy-to-use wizard gets you started on a solid foundation. Just fill in the blanks with the information you already know.

Store Countless Facts

Store a virtually unlimited number of facts for every individual in your Family File. We've already created fact categories (like births, deaths, marriages, emigration, etc.) so it's simple to use.

Multimedia Scrapbook

Every person in your Family File can have his or her own digital Scrapbook. Store and display almost any type of information--including sound, video, and text files--along with a wide variety of graphic formats.

Track Your Sources

Family Tree Maker has a sophisticated, yet simple-to-use system that records and tracks all the documents, articles, and other research sources that you've investigated. You'll never have to duplicate your investigative efforts.

Key Features: Find Ancestors

One-Click Searching to Find Leads on Your Ancestors

Family Tree Maker scours virtually every genealogy-specific site available on the Internet to create a ranked list of resources that are likely to contain information on your ancestors.

Step-by-Step Genealogy "How-To" Guide

The "How-To" Guide is your expert search companion. Use it to learn how to start, whom to contact, what to ask, and more--including built-in form letters and address directories that make requesting official records simple.

Search Tips Customized for Your Research

Let Family Tree Maker's Search Tips help you find your next research success. From vital records, to national and international archives, online resources, and more--the ideas keep coming.

Share Your Results. Export Family Books to PDF

Now you can share your Family Book with family members whether they have Family Tree Maker or not. You can easily create a professional-quality Family Book and export it as a PDF file to send to relatives anywhere in the world!

Add Notes to Family Books

No longer do you need to copy your Notes and paste them into your Family Book as a text item--with Family Tree Maker 11, Notes are added automatically with just one click and drag of the mouse.

Preview Your Family Book Before Printing

Take a final look at your masterpiece. You can view the complete layout of your Family Book, exactly as it will print, and make any necessary changes--saves time and paper.

Output to PDF

Our new Output to PDF feature allows you to e-mail your files, have them printed at a service bureau, or upload them to your free family page on Genealogy.com. You can also share your family trees (complete with photos, maps, and graphics) with family members who don't own Family Tree Maker.

Professionally Designed Templates

Take advantage of professional artwork to help you create beautiful family trees for gifts or display.

Publishing Center

The Publishing Center is where you find the tools and step-by-step wizards to create heirloom-quality Family Books and personal Home Pages. Easily preserve your research for generations to come.

Countless Heirloom-Quality Printouts

Display your family history with Family Tree Maker's wide array of attractive trees, reports, maps, and more--from one-of-a-kind personal keepsakes to beautiful heirloom-quality printouts.

All-in-One Tree

The All-in-One tree allows you to display every member of your Family File in one continuous tree. Create one for your next reunion--your family and friends will be delighted.

Maps and Timelines

Trace your family's journey through time and across continents. Maps show the migration of your family from the Old World to the new, while Timelines display your ancestors against the historic milestones that helped shape their lives--and yours.

Family Books

Family Tree Maker lets you combine your favorite printouts into a book, then automatically generates a Table of Contents, Index, and more. Print a keepsake copy for a loved one or publish it on your own personal Home Page to share with everyone.

Other tools include:

Date calculator rapidly calculates ancestor's birth dates, ages of relatives at special events, and the day of the week that these events took place.
Improved Family File Statistics box gives you interesting facts about the family tree you are working with, including the total number of individuals, number of marriages, average lifespan, earliest birth date, and number of text records.
Relationship calculator
Research journal
"To Do" List