BS: genealogy software problem

Subject: BS: genealogy software problem
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 01:30 AM

Any computer experts familiar with Family Tree Maker 16..I also just got version 2011 but don't like it. My 16 said it did not shut down properly and I think after that it has not really worked..it won't connect to ancestry and says it is behind a firewall. I have done what I can to disconnect firewalls and/or allow an exception to this but usually it does not work. On occasion now it will connect for occasional people but then it does the firewall thing. I am thinking maybe there is a firewall I don't know about. I have microsoft security essentials and turned it off there and tried it. I am really not very computer savvy. Or did you guess. mg

Subject: RE: BS: genealogy software problem
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 10:42 AM

The only comment we can provide is that LiK gave up on Family Tree Maker (from Ancestry.com) and switched to the (free) Ancestry Builder from heritage.com.

She says she likes her new one "a lot better" but notes that data from the Ancestry program won't import to the new one, so I suppose you'd have to put it all back in by hand.

The biggest problem she's had with accessing the ancestry.com sites seems to me (from the " !$@#*%* " comments I've overheard) to be proving current membership every time you go after something there. She seems to have resolved that now (or maybe her disposition has just improved) but I don't have details and I'm a little frightened to ask.

John

Subject: RE: BS: genealogy software problem
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 11:06 AM

I use only the freePAF from the LDS church and for easy display, Simple Family Tree from JDM Cox
I enter data in Simple Family Tree, then import it into PAF for the more detailed displays it provides. But I have not seen any program which give me the quick, overall view that SFT does.

I surmise that Family Tree Maker also is supposed to do searching as well as organizing & display? I just do my searching in the RootsWeb 'community' of Ancestry.com. I seem to get almost everything I need, and have not yet tried the full pay version.

Subject: RE: BS: genealogy software problem
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 12:46 PM

that is why I use ftm..it does the searching and entering for you. It is really wonderful..at least version 16 is...very efficient. And I am doing a whole little town in Iowa..just quick and dirty for two or three generations so I can match them back up hopefully to Ireland...lots came from Dingle area together...mg

Subject: RE: BS: genealogy software problem
From: nickp
Date: 15 Nov 10 - 08:54 AM

I use PAF and am very pleased with it except that the add-on prints side is really only geared up for the US (phone calls, checques etc). I'm interested in getting a proper vertical tree printed so will try Simple Family Tree just for printing and see how I go. Hope in works on Win 7.

Nick

Subject: RE: BS: genealogy software problem
From: nickp
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 08:06 AM

Imported a ged file into SFT and it prints the way I want it to. The rest of it is a bit basic but it was the printing that was important. Thanks for flagging it up.

Subject: RE: BS: genealogy software problem
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 12:43 AM

I will try some of these suggested site. It still seems like a frightful experiment frought with tech perils and fee pitfalls.

Bill you cheap bastard, You are such a web expert I bet you could get free electric cars delivered to your house if you put your mind to it. When I get stymied by various sites I start to think it is intentionally designed to screw up unless you pay for the full version. THing is if I do pay I find that I still get bollocked by the site.

The worst site was Rhapsody. To do certain things I had to find a pale yellow link which I can not see since my eye detachments last year. Now I tend to expect every web site is out to steal or punish first and to actually work as advertised is a distant possibility.