Best Family Tree Maker Help Center

What is Family Tree Maker Software (Compatibility, Significance, History, Best Software Download, Versions, Family Tree Maker 2019, Key Features, All Errors & Issues)

What is Family Tree Maker?

It’s a genealogy program on which you can build your Family Tree Maker. A family tree includes the dates, events, places, photographs of your ancestors and descendants. Apart from the basic features, FTM can connect to the websites like Ancestry and Family Search to fetch more records to make your tree bigger and better. Family Tree Maker is an intuitive program that allows you to grow your family tree with available tools and integrated web search. With it, you can also produce a variety of charts and reports and even publish a book for your family history.

Compatibility Of Family Tree Maker

You can use this program on Windows PC as well as on Mac devices. It also allows you to view your family tree on Android and iOS devices while you are away from your home. FTM has been around last 30 years, and it comes with regular updates and upgrades to make sure it complies with everyday technological advancement. With the latest operating systems on – Windows/Mac – computers, Family Tree Maker updates make it compatible on any platform and never has any compatibility issues.

Significance Of Using Family Tree Maker

When you begin genealogy research, it may seem easy to remember your research and follow the progress. The more individuals you add, the more chances of you losing the track of the research. With too many names and records, it is quite cumbersome to keep a good trail of your accomplishment. There you want a genealogy software that helps you to compare and analyze and prepare a report of everything that you have compiled so far. The first challenge is to select a good genealogy software as there is a wide variety of free and paid software available in the market.

Family Tree Maker is the best choice among all the software available. Though there is no free or trial version for this software, the features, and tools it provides are worth its cost. Therefore, it is used by everyone, whether it’s a novice researcher or an expert genealogist. These are the few factors that make it the preferred genealogy software to use. You can purchase the software from any local store or online. It can be bought from its developer “Mackiev” directly from www.mackiev.com

Can a User Download Family Tree Maker Free?

No, Family Tree Maker Free is not available for download. MacKiev does not provide a free trial version for users to try. If you wish to use a FTM, you’ll have to buy it. A user can go to MacKiev chat and ask for a free trial of Family Tree Software, but as far as we know, it is not available.

What is the Best Family Tree Maker Software?

If you’re looking for the best Family Tree Maker Software for your genealogy, you’re probably a little puzzled about which one to choose. When it comes to selecting FTM Software, there are a few factors to bear in mind. It became a little tricky with a project that required a huge amount of data to be stored. If you’re one of the many people who are unsure about which Family Tree Maker Software to choose, here are some pointers that will assist you in selecting the ideal Family Tree Software for your needs.

History of Family Tree Maker Versions

FTM Version 1.0

The history of Family Tree Maker is an interesting one. In 1984, Banner Blue Software founded by Ken Hess launched the FTM. Over a period of the last 30 years, there were acquisitions and mergers. The first version 1.0 came out in the year 1989 when the DOS operating system was used. Version 1.0 was released by Banner Blue Software on 3.5-inch and 5.25-inch floppy disks. The file extension of version 1.0 was Family Tree Maker, without any GEDCOM support.

FTM Version 2.0

It was released in the year 1994 from Banner Blue Software and had GEDCOM support. The file extension got changed to FTM and was supplied on a 3.5-inch floppy disk. The supported operating system was Windows 3.1 & DOS.

FTM Version 3.0

Launched by Broderbund Software in the year 1995, this version of Family Tree Maker was supported on Windows 3.1 as well as Windows 95. The software was supplied with a 16-bit application compatible with Windows 95 and DOS version was provided with Data Exchange Utility.

The Macintosh computer was launched in the year 1984 but their models were expanded to the Windows pc. With the launch of Windows 3.1 and Intel Processor, taking the market share from Apple. Due to falling computer component prices, poor inventory management by Mac Performa, and the launch of Windows 95, the Mac userbase declined in the mid-1990s.

FTM Version 3.2 for Mac

Around the year 1997, when Steve Jobs returned, the Mac computer captured the market again and all the four products from Apple were critically and commercially successful. This was the time when Broderbund Software launched version 3.02 for Mac. It was the first FTM that was compatible with the Mac computer. The product was marketed as Family Tree Maker Deluxe Edition II for Macintosh.

Family Tree Maker Version 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0

This was the first Family Tree Maker program which was released on CD-ROM. Supported Windows 3.1 / 95 ( 16 bit and 32 bit ) and DOS. In August 1998, Broderbund Software was acquired by The Learning Company and launched version 5.0. It also launched FTM version 6.0 in the year 1999. In the same year, The Learning Company launched FTM version 7.0

FTM Version 7.5, 8.0, and 9.0

Genealogy.com was founded in 1999 by A&E Television Networks, Hearst Interactive Media, Mattel, and private equity firms. In April 2000, Genealogy.com came forward and released FTM version 7.5. The same company released FTM Version 8.0 in October same year. Next year FTM 9.0 was released without any major changes.

FTM Version 10.0 & 11.0

In year 2002, Genealogy.com released FTM version 10.0. However, in April 2003 Genealogy.com was acquired by MyFamily.com. FTM version 11.0 was released by MyFamily.com which was supported on the Windows platform.

Family Tree Maker 2005, 06, 08, 09, 10 and 2011

MyFamily.com released versions 2005, 2006, and 16 in the years 2004, 2005, and 2006 respectively. In the year 2007, FTM Version 2008 was launched by Ancestry.com. The version was supported on Windows and the file extension was.FTM for the data files. The Generations Network took Family Tree Maker over from Ancestry.com and launched the FTM version in the year 2008.

In year 2009, Ancestry .com launched FTM Version 2010. This version was supported on Windows XP service pack 2 and Windows Vista. The FTM version 2011 was supported on Windows XP service pack 2, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. This version was launched in the year 2010 by Ancestry.com

Family Tree Maker 2012 & 2014

Ancestry.com released FTM 2012 Support in the year 2011 and was compatible with Windows XP service pack 2, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 operating systems. In the year 2013, FTM 2014 was released.

FTM Version 2014 Mac

It was released in the year 2013 and was marketed as Family Tree Maker Mac 3. It was compatible with Mac OSX 10.6 or later (Intel-based Mac).

FTM Version 2014.1 & FTM 3.1

In March 2016, a company by the name of Software MacKiev purchased the FTM Software from Ancestry.com. In the year 2017, it launched version 2014.1 and was compatible with Windows 7 or later. In the same year Software, Mackiev launched its version for Mac too. It was FTM Mac 3.1 and was compatible with Mac OSX 10.8 or later, including macOS Sierra 10.12.

Family Tree Maker 2017

In the year 2017, Software Mackiev launched FTM 2017 and was compatible with both windows and mac operating systems. It was supported on Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + Mac OSX 10.9 or later, including macOS Sierra 10.13. Next year there were three updates 23.1, 23.2, and 23.3 was released. The 23.3 updates were supported on Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + Mac OSX 10.9 or later, including macOS Catalina 10.15

Family Tree Maker 2019

In September 2019, Software Mackiev released its version 2019 ( 24.0 ). The supported operating system was Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + OS X 10.10 or later, including macOS Catalina 10.15. FTM 2019 ( 24.0.1) was released in the same year by Software Mackie. Which was also supported on Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + OS X 10.10 or later, including macOS Catalina 10.15.