This is the landing page for The Family Tree Software Alternatives series, which reviews 14 major Mac and Windows applications for recording family trees. The focus is on compliance with the GEDCOM standard, both for importing and exporting files, but other aspects, including usability and major features, are addressed as well. Some of the information is now out of date, since some of the applications have released newer versions, but most of the points still hold true.
The Event Structure in GEDCOM Files
Genealogy apps should always follow the GEDCOM standard, right? You’d be justified in thinking that if you’ve read many of my articles, and generally speaking, apps should follow the standard, especially 5.5.1, since GEDCOM 5.5 is obsolete. However, what should apps do when there are mistakes in the standard? Should they import, export, and/or validate GEDCOM files strictly according to the standard, or according to how the standard should have been? This is a letter versus spirit of the law question, and the answer depends on the mistake in question and the purpose of the app. [Read more…] about The Event Structure in GEDCOM Files
Family Tree Maker 2017 Review Follow-Up
Updated on 7 Feb 2018
Now that Family Tree Maker 2017* has been out for 6 months, I’d like to follow up on my initial review. While the consensus is that it’s faster, and FamilySync, the TreeSync replacement works for most people, a small but significant portion of users are still having major problems, judging by the comments on my review and in various user groups. In this follow-up I’ll focus mainly on the problems our readers and I have experienced in the areas of functionality, along with a few cosmetic issues. I’ll also offer a few suggestions for improvement. [Read more…] about Family Tree Maker 2017 Review Follow-Up
Family Tree Maker 2017 Review
Family Tree Maker* (FTM) 2017 was officially released 16 July 2017. The 19 months since December 2015 when Ancestry.com announced the retirement of Family Tree Maker have been a bumpy road for the venerable genealogy application. All support for FTM and connectivity with Ancestry were to have ended by 1 Jan 2017. [Read more…] about Family Tree Maker 2017 Review
Software MacKiev to Release New Syncing Technology in Family Tree Maker 2017 — But Not in Older Versions
If you’ve been following the news about Family Tree Maker, you’ll know that a brand new version, Family Tree Maker 2017 for both Mac and Windows, is set to be released on 31 March 2017. This new version will include the replacement to TreeSync, called FamilySync. What you may not know is that TreeSync will stop working on 29 March 2017; however, all prior editions and versions of FTM will not receive updates including the new FamilySync technology. Melanie Mayo, Family History Daily Editor, has posted a good write-up explaining the implications. [Read more…] about Software MacKiev to Release New Syncing Technology in Family Tree Maker 2017 — But Not in Older Versions