After Ancestry.com retires Family Tree Maker

By now you may have heard that Ancestry.com is retiring the Family Tree Maker (FTM) software line. Ancestry.com cites the diminishing desktop application market as the reason to retire the software. That can be translated as the software group is not profitable enough for them.

If you are like me, you have seen the usefulness of having an online tree at Ancestry.com. You might have searched for new records from the tree. You might have followed the hint leaves. You also might have attached the records and other media (e.g. pictures and stories) you find by merging them into the profiles of people on that online tree. The more detailed those profiles are, the better the quality of the records that Ancestry.com suggests. Ancestry.com made it so useful and so convenient.

So far, the only method download the tree complete with the attached records and media was to synchronize it to FTM using the TreeSync™ feature.

When you download an online tree, it is packaged as a GEDCOM with citations, but not with the attached records or media. This is done by selecting the “View Tree Settings”, then in the Manage your tree section, click on “Export Tree”. Then you would need to download the actual records individually. Of course, you can always download the individual records one at a time independently of the online tree, and add them to a family tree on your computer.

What we know:

• Ancestry.com will not sell Family Tree Maker 2014 after 31 December 2015.
• FTM will be supported until at least 1 January 2017.
• Currently, no other family tree software has the ability to synchronize (sync) with the Ancestry.com online trees

Read about it on the Ancestry.com blog: http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2015/12/08/ancestry-to-retire-family-tree-maker-software/

Here are some options for Family Tree Maker users:

• Call Ancestry.com and let them know what you think. 1-800-ANCESTRY.
• Investigate other family tree software companies. Each of these has a basic free version.
  • Rootsmagic has made a page with a transition plan: http://blog.rootsmagic.com/?p=2546
  • Legacy Family Tree can be found at: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com
  • You can sync your online tree at MyHeritage to a desktop program using their Family Tree Builder software: https://www.myheritage.com/family-tree-builder

The big questions yet to be resolved:

• Will Ancestry.com online tree users be able to download the media attached to their trees after 1 January 2017?
• Will Ancestry.com allow other companies to interface with the online trees to sync with other programs?

If were thinking of getting FamilyTreeMaker, it is only available as a download. It costs $69.99 and can be found at: http://www.ancestry.com/cs/apps/P-5194. If you have a previous version, you can upgrade for $48.99: http://www.ancestry.com/cs/apps/P-5195.

My history with FTM goes back to the Broderbund version of it in the late 1990s. After some experimentation, I moved on to Rootsmagic. However, I had been seriously considered buying FTM 2014 to sync with the online tree. Even though I have been keeping online trees at Ancestry.com, I have always kept a family tree with photos and other documents on my home computer in a desktop program.

 

New classes scheduled at the Odenton Regional Library

Two new talks have been scheduled for the Odenton Regional Library in the Spring. In response to your requests, the first class will focus on beginning genealogy, for those wanting to learn or review the basics.  The second class will be a new one about using electronic and online Family Trees.

Five Questions with Artist Barbara Talbott

You might recognize these images from A Week of Genealogy’s Facebook page. They were so interesting that I asked the artist, Barbara Talbot to share some information about them.

 

Images ©2015 Barbara Talbott, used with permission

 

1. Your photography is a great way to display family heirlooms. How did you come to take these photos?

I was working on my body of work, Tarnish, and a friend mentioned she had some pieces of vintage silver I could shoot for my show. When I went to her house to shoot the pieces, they were too contemporary for my work but I shot everything anyway. As I was working we talked about how she was trying to figure out how to display the silver since it was so tarnished and we came up with the idea of creating a wall of prints to hang over her buffet.

 

2. How did you make the items come to life?

The whole Tarnish body of work was actually an accident. I had these pieces and photographed them to create some etchings. When I opened them in Photoshop and started working with them, all these gorgeous colors came out and I loved the look of them. I worked on the original images for two years before I showed them to anyone. I rework the images to bring out all the color and texture.

 

3. What recommendations do you have for a genealogist who wants to photograph family items?

Metal objects are tricky. There are lots of reflections that tarnish and patina disguise. The best light comes from Windows and natural light. Use broad sources so the light can wrap around the objects. Place them on a fairly plain surface, an old damask table cloth or a dark oak table. The item should be the star. You can add props, fresh fruit in a bowl, napkins, but keep them subtle. You don’t want to hide the piece, just add a little color. Of course you can always find a professional photographer as well.

 

4. How do you recommend framing photos of family items?

In the case of my friend, she went to antique stores and second hand stores and bought frames. We laid out the frames and determined the design for her wall. We scaled the prints to fit the frames and she had them assembled at a framing shop.

 

 

5. Where can people see your work?

In December, I has a piece at the Circle Gallery in Annapolis and at Montpelier art center both. You can see my solo show coming up in February at a restaurant in Laurel called Olive on Main.

Barbara’s work can also be found at her website bjtalbott.com.

 
 
Barbara Talbott is a computer illustrator at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland and a Resident Artist at Montpelier Art Center, Laurel, Maryland. Barbara has been making things since she was a child. She attended MICA, Maryland Institute College of Art. She was at MICA, she studied the textural works of Jasper Johns, Jim Dine, and Frank Stella. The way these artists handled materials and created work so tactile made a distinct impression. It is the need to replicate the texture and surface of life that propels her to discover new ways to use materials and processes in everything she makes. After 30 years as an advertising photographer, graphic designer and computer illustrator, Barbara brings this experience into her work.

Using Ancestry.com’s Ancestor Profile Options

Ancestry.com has some new options with in an ancestor’s profile

In your Family Tree, decide which ancestor’s profile you will be investigating.

 

 

Click on an ancestor.

 

 

Click on the Profile button.

 

 

If it is not already selected, click on Lifestory.

Click on the Settings (Gear icon) if you would like to:

• Show/Hide Family Events

• Show/Hide Historical Events

 

 

From the Profile, you can also Resize Profile Image to crop the image that you use. This comes in handy when all you have is a group photo.

 

 

Drag and resize the square around your ancestor’s head.

 

 

The original image stays in the Gallery. (You can check by selecting Gallery from the Profile.)

 

 

To print the Lifestory, use the Tools drop down menu.

 

 

Select Print.

 

 

You have the options to print use the Print-friendly option.  A printer dialog box will open.

You can also choose one of the mycanvas products, which will take you to a partner site.

 

 

 

Using FamilySearch.org

Thanks to all the people who came on Tuesday night to learn more about FamilySearch.org.

As you know the website is provided for the public to use for free by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is much more to the website than searching or browsing for Historical Records.

Records were microfilmed records beginning in 1938. There are records from more than 110 countries, territories, and possessions. Currently the 2.4 million filmstrips, containing 3.5 billion images, are being digitized. Of course, these images are more useful when they have been indexed! So consider becoming an indexing volunteer (https://familysearch.org/indexing/get-started-indexer). Approximately 200 cameras currently microfilming records in more than 45 countries

Some of the way to search are to go to the search page at https://familysearch.org/search. From there you can search using the boxes on that page; click on the map and select a place from the list in the pop up menu to begin your research in a region; or Browse All Published Collections and use filters.               

In addition to the Historical Records, remember to search the Books and the Genealogies.

Use the Wiki to learn about the places and records you are searching. (https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki)

Take a lesson from an expert. Watch and learn from the courses in the Learning Center. Remember to download the Class Handout. (https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/home.html)

I promised to post some of the useful information that FamilySearch has on social media. To find helpful groups on Facebook, browse the list at https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Genealogy_Help_on_Facebook and follow the links to the Facebook page. You can join the page to see updates and ask your questions. There is a page in the FamilySearch Wiki about social networks at https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Popular_Social_Networks_for_Genealogy. FamilySearch has Tech Tips in their blog to help you learn about social media https://familysearch.org/blog/en/techtips/learn-about/social-media/. Yes, you can even follow Family Search on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FamilySearch

You can type “familysearch” in the search box on Twitter to find more!

When you are ready to tackle browsing, do not forget the tutorials on this website about land records and probate records to get you started.