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Family Tree Maker 2008 PROBLEMS - 2007/11/03 21:51Be afraid – be very afraid -- of losing valuable data when transferring/upgrading to Family Tree Maker 2008 (FTM2008) software. I highly recommend NOT upgrading to this product at this time, and instead staying with earlier versions of FTM or using other vendors’ software.
I am an experienced genealogist with an extensive IT software development and testing background. When I recently attempted to upgrade to the recently released FTM2008 from Family Tree Maker 16 (FTM16), I experienced an large number of problems, the most dangerous and severe being LOSS OF DATA ! !
Below are my file statistics before and after upgrading to FTM2008:
File Size: (BEFORE UPGRADE) 18.598 Mb (AFTER) 13,855 Mb
Total individuals in data base: (BEFORE UPGRADE) 12,300 (AFTER) 12,300
Total marriages: (BEFORE UPGRADE) 3,769 (AFTER) 3,769
Total Text Records: (BEFORE UPGRADE) 194,103 (AFTER) 152,213
More than 20 percent of my text records were lost and failed to transfer. The lost records appear to be source data documenting events (i.e., birth, death, etc.) and individual notes for individuals. Also, some sources that did transfer appear to have been scrambled and no longer relate to the correct events.
I initiated numerous communications with the technical staff who purportedly supports FTM2008, and, in turn, received comments such as “I do apologize that you are frustrated with the software” …and… “I am not sure why this information has not transferred to the new software”. Other than these comments, there appeared to be no concern for the problem, nor any expressed intent to fix it.
Because of the seriousness of data loss, I subsequently sent a message to David Humphreys (Project Manager responsible for FTM2008) and two letters to Tim Sullivan, President and CEO of The Generations Network (TGN) – the company that owns Ancestry.com and produces Family Tree Maker software. THERE WAS NEVER A RESPONSE FROM ANY OF TGN’s MANAGEMENT.
It was recently announced that in mid-October 2007, Spectrum Equity Investors acquired TGN (which included FTM2008, Ancestry.com, and MyFamily.com) for $300 million. So, I sent correspondence to the two Co-Founders and Managing Directors of Spectrum Equity Investors advising them of this critical problem with FTM2008 – and like the correspondence sent to the senior management of TGN – NOTHING HAPPENED ! !
I highly encourage all using, or who might be considering using, FTM2008 to proceed with utmost caution. Besides the FTM2008 software being less than adequate in it’s present form (generally “buggy”, reduced reports, more cumbersome, difficult to install, etc.), as genealogists, we can not afford to lose the results of our research. I would suggest everyone retain their previous versions of their data files and software and refrain from using FTM2008 until the company announces a new release and CAN PROVE that their buggy software is fixed and reliable.
FTM2008 definitely has a long way to go before regaining and earning back the reputation that it enjoyed with the earlier versions !
Users may confirm the many problems being encountered with FTM2008 by doing a Google search using “Family Tree Maker 2008” and “problems”. Literally 100’s of sites are listed ! !
Dan Hunter
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jadhunt
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UPDATE to Family Tree Maker 2008 PROBLEMS - 2007/12/04 00:12This is a follow-up to my Nov. 3, 2007 posting concerning the potential for data loss while transferring information to Family Tree Maker 2008 (FTM2008).
Although efforts to make contact with the management team of FTM2008 were unsuccessful prior to my posting, two days after the posting, David Humphreys initiated contact which resulted in ongoing communication.
For those who are only “scanning” this posting, I will sum up the info below by stating that I now tend to believe there is NO LOSS OF DATA when info is transferred into FTM2008 from external sources.
After establishing contact with the FTM development team, I shared a copy of my database with the team and they repeated the same processes I described that I believed contributed to data loss. They report they could not identify any data loss in the transfer to FTM2008, and explained that the apparent loss of data is due to the fact that FTM16 (the old version) stores data differently in its internal database dependent on whether the data was "entered directly" into FTM16 - or - was “imported” into FTM16 (e.g. from an imported GEDCOM or other file).
I've been advised that the new FTM2008 uses a totally differently schema (data base storage structure/content/semantics) from the older software -- BUT -- does not result in any loss of data.
I have begun checking their explanation with a smaller sub-set of my data, and have so far found their explanation to be true.
The main difference I’ve found (and which led me to believe there was data loss) between FTM2008 and FTM16, is a difference in how some source information appears to the end-user in FTM2008. ALL source information in FTM2008 is a more hidden, and harder to view than it was in FTM16, but in certain situations the source information within FTM2008 for events (i.e., Name, Birth Date, Death Date, Marriage Date, etc.) is more “secreted” than FTM2008’s “norm”.
It appears that when source comments stored in FTM2008 DO NOT reference (or are not linked to) specific records within the Master Source file, these comments appear differently than source comments that ARE directly linked to an entry in the Master Source file - - BUT - - they are stored in the database and appear to the user (and in reports) somewhat differently in FTM2008 than these same comments did in FTM16 (they appeared with the comments but showed “No Master Source”)
Coupled with the fact that FTM16 stores data in different ways (discussed above – ‘direct-entry’ versus ‘import’) the other factor that led me to the conclusion that data had been lost results from how FTM2008 produces a GEDCOM file, as opposed to how FTM16 produces a GEDCOM file. It appears both versions DO produce standardized GEDCOM-compliant files; however, each version uses different rules to produced those compliant GEDCOM files (i.e., FTM2008 appears to take long comments and/or notes, and generates multiple short “CONC” lines within a GEDCOM file (instructions that cause those lines to be later concatenated/linked) - whereas FTM16 takes those same long comments and/or notes, and generates longer lines within a GEDCOM file.
To recap - - - I now tend to believe that the importation of data to FTM2008 will not result in a data loss within the new version’s database. Some of the info may be a bit hard to find, but everything appears to be there.
As far as needed improvements to FTM2008, the management team responsible for FTM2008 development advised me that the ‘just-released’ Service Pack 2 strives to improve the reliability of the application and should improve some performance issues. The new SP2 also added the Ahnentafel & Register reports to the application. They assured me they were “looking hard” at ways to improve the way FTM2008 deals with ‘Sources’ along with other on-going performance-enhancing improvements.
For me personally, I will continue to use FTM16, but will regularly re-evaluate FTM2008 for performance and functionality issues, and will probably upgrade in the future when I can be as comfortable with the new version as I am with the old.
Dan Hunter
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Present your family and friends with their eulogies now - they won't be able to hear how much you love them and appreciate them from inside the coffin.
As I was chasing down a few leads on a user-submitted brick wall ancestor yesterday, I ran across an interesting marriage notice from the New York Times. Published 19 October 1938 under the title "Evelyn N. Purcell Married to Jurist," the marriage notice reads, in part:
"Miss Evelyn Norma Purcell of this city, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Purcell, was married yesterday morning to Judge Samuel Jordan Graham of Washington, D.C., onetime Assistant Attorney General of the United States, in the chapel of S. Bartholomew's Church... . Mrs. Graham is a member of an English family of long residence near Belfast, Ireland. Her father, who was a well-known member of the Dublin bar, died some years ago in California. The bride's two brothers, Major William Purcell and Lieutenant Edward Purcell of the British Army, were killed in the Battle of the Somme during the World War..."
Some parts of this marriage announcement are true. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Purcell and they were both deceased. That part about the brothers, though... Read more...
Ancestry.com launched a new collection today of more than 1,700 recorded oral histories from immigrants who arrived in the United States through Ellis Island. To celebrate the new addition, Ancestry.com is making its entire U.S. Immigration Collection free through Labor Day.
The Ellis Island Oral Histories were captured by the National Park Service starting in the 1970s and are full of first-hand accounts recalling the lives these immigrants left behind, their often trying journey to America, and their reason for leaving their homeland. The original recordings are housed at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum - this is the first time they are available online.
One thing I find interesting is just how many of these interviews were conducted with individuals who were just children when they came to America - many as young as age 3. I wonder how many of the memories are really their own, and how many come from family stories they grew up with over the dinner table. I'm sure a lot of the information in these first-hand accounts is second-hand that way, but the interviews are still wonderful to have. If you can't find an ancestor of your own in the database, try searching for individuals who came over from the same country or town, or someone who was about the same age, or may have had the same type of experience (such as a WWII war bride).
Even better, if you're not an Ancestry.com subscriber, these Ellis Island oral history recordings, along with passenger lists, naturalization records and the rest of the Ancestry.com U.S. Immigration Collection, can be accessed for free online from now through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6, 2010.
As genealogists we begin our research with what we know and work backwards. That, and the fact that privacy is not as much of an issue, make death records one of the best places to begin an online search for information. Whether it's a death certificate, obituary notice, or tombstone photo, death records offer a decent chance for locating  information about our ancestor and/or the people he associated with. To get you started, here are 10 Places to Start Your Search for Online Death Records - some of them free, and some pay-per-view or subscription.
I often get asked "Why should I look for a death record? I already know when my ancestor died." There are so many other things you can learn from death records beyond the date of death. Names are a big one - the name of the spouse, parents, informant (often a family member, such as a child or son/daughter-in-law), undertaker, doctor, etc. These are all new people we can research in our quest for information. There's also the occupation, and the place of burial which can lead to new avenues of research as well.
Do you have death information for all of the individuals in your family tree? Especially the more recent generations? We often first locate information about an ancestor in a census, or similar record, and then excitedly start working backward from there to the previous generation. Just don't so excited that you forget to research his entire life - from birth to death.
Family Tree Magazine announced new Family Tree University Independent Study Courses at the FGS Conference this week. Available for download or on CD, you'll have unlimited access to the lessons and exercises and can work completely at your own pace. Courses cover a variety of topics, from Find Your German Roots with Jim Beidler to Land Records 101 with Diana Crisman Smith. They are even offering a 20% discount at the moment - enter offer code SFT120 when you purchase before August 31, 2010.
At the FGS Conference in Knoxville, TN, this week, FamilySearch announced the addition of over 200 million new searchable historic records online representing 18 countries. If you visit FamilySearch Record Search (they will soon be available under "Historical Records" on the new FamilySearch Beta site as well), you'll find 53 new or updated collections from the United States, and over 100 million new records from Europe, Scandinavia, and Mexico. The United States collections include the 1910 U.S. Census, as well as birth, marriage, and death records from a number of states (including 10 million new records for New Jersey and Michigan respectively, 4 million from Tennessee, 41 million from Massachusetts, and more from other states). For Canada, there are new vital records (including some death certificates) for New Brunswick and Newfoundland. Not all of these new records are indexed yet, so in some cases expect to have to browse the images to find what you need.
There are also more than 100 million collective genealogy records (primarily vital records) from Read more...
Genealogists with roots in the New England states are familiar with the great online databases, library and journal of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. As the nation's largest genealogical society (more than 26,000 members), they are now expanding their scope and have launched a new Web site at AmericanAncestors.org.
Here's the press release from D. Brenton Simons, President and CEO of the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS): Read more...
I'm writing this from a conference room in Knoxville, Tennessee, where I'm thrilled to be attending the Association of Professional Genealogists Professional Management Conference as well as the Federation of Genealogical Societies national conference. Both are part of my goal/focus to continue my genealogical education this year. In addition I'm reading more scholarly genealogical journals, and was also honored to attend Elizabeth Shown Mill's outstanding Advanced Methodology class at the Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research this past June.
Given finances, three busy children, time off of work and my husband's busy work schedule as well, I know it is not always easy to attend conferences, workshops, institutes and the like. But I listened this year to the wisdom of certified genealogist Elissa Scalise Powell who has the same challenges and has said many times on various genealogical mailing lists that making the commitment, no matter how much juggling is required, is always worth it. and boy, is she right!
Many options for professional development exist in addition to national conferences. A number of onsite and online offerings exist for genealogy classes and certificate programs. A genealogical society near you likely has an upcoming regional or local conference, workshop or seminar. Even if you can't make the conferences, you can often purchase taped recordings of the lectures. Most professional genealogists regularly read peer-reviewed research and case studies in scholarly genealogical journals, such as NGSQ, TAG, NEHGR, etc. Similar journals exist in countries around the world. If you're interested in pursuing a career in genealogy, then a free mentored study group called ProGen may be the answer for you. Networking with other genealogists through mailing lists, Facebook, Twitter and Second Life offer additional opportunities for professional growth.
No matter your financial and time constraints, I challenge you to make a commitment to your continued genealogy education. You won't be sorry!
A brand new genealogy conference is in the works, announced today by FamilySearch. The first annual RootsTech Conference, hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by several leading genealogical organizations, will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 10-12, 2011. The goal is to bring technologists and genealogists together to help deepen understanding of current technologies and foster innovation in applying technology to genealogy.
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"When the users and creators of technology come together, innovation occurs," said Jay Verkler, president and CEO of FamilySearch. "The RootsTech Conference will accelerate that innovation through panels, discussion groups, and interactive demonstrations."
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Josh Taylor, Director of Education and Programs for the New England Historic Genealogical Society, says the time is right for such a conference. Â
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"The collection of technologies present at the last National Genealogical Society Conference in Salt Lake City was so impressive that we see a need and opportunity for a strong annual technology genealogy conference to pursue solutions for the unique challenges facing genealogists," Taylor said.
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Genealogists who attend the RootsTech Conference will be able to experience "technology prototype demonstrations, interactive workshops, and opportunities to test innovative new product and service concepts," according to the press release from FamilySearch. The conference also offers the opportunity for technology providers to demonstrate product concepts face-to-face to genealogists in order to better create products that meet their needs. Topics covered may include anything from search techniques, to smartphone apps, to social networking -- anything which covers an area where technology can be applied to facilitate and enhance genealogical research.
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The RootsTech 2011 conference will be hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by Ancestry.com, New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), Brigham Young University, and other leaders in the genealogy community. You can learn more on the new RootsTech Conference Web site. Lecture proposals are now being accepted.
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