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. --J. Curtis
When used in conjunction with a subscription to Family Tree Maker's internet database (there is an extra fee for this), the program can produce startling results. I do feel the subscription is worth the cost--but I also offer a word of caution here: researchers should never assume information obtained in such manner is completely accurate. They should instead regard such information as a starting point for their own direct research and prove each entry through independent research.
Using Family Tree Maker Version 9.0, I have increased my family tree to 1,345 individuals (mostly on my mother's side) some going all the way back to the first century AD! I was impressed, and all of the information checks out thus far!
Family Tree Maker is also outstanding at compiling my family's history in whatever manner I need it. I can create a report about me, descendant's of my great-great-grandmother, a printout of everyone I'm related to, or create the usual trees! With the click of a button my information is compiled for me... couldn't be any easier!
New to this version is the ability to store information such as email addresses, and copies of your source material... You can always go back and find out where you got your information just by asking this program! The interface is not complicated, and will work with all levels of computer users! This is great for everyone!
