Alan,
Someone from Legacy Sales might wish to chat with you, but let me
tell you my story.
I was also an FTM user and was frustrated by it limitation with
respect to inputting data and doing sourcing. I spent a considerable
amount of time a few years ago looking at the alternatives and
decided that Legacy was the best path to go.
Are you going to miss some things from FTM? You might. But, in my
opinion, the benefits that I have gained are tremendous.
That being said, FTM does not make it easy for you to leave... As you
are on Version 10, it will be a bit easier than the latest version
but there will still be some challenges. Mostly, because FTM either
does a poor job of exporting data to Gedcom or does not export the data at all.
1/ If you have any images in you FTM file, you will need to extract
them manually. FTM stores the images in the family file and does not
export them to gedcom.
2/ Name and address data is not exported. Again, if you have a lot,
this will be a pain to do manually.
3/ FTM has a screwy way of exporting marriage facts. If you have
entered a lot of marriage events, you will need to review them after
you have done the import.
4/ FTM displays the facts/events in chronological order however it
exports them in the order you entered them. Legacy currently does not
attempt an event sort when a Gedcom is imported.
5/ FTM has a single field in its facts/events for Comment or
Location. When you import the events, Legacy will ask you questions
for how you want each event or event type handled. I tell it how I
want each event type handled either to put the data in the place,
description, or note field. I try to avoid polluting my Master
location list with a lot of extraneous stuff.
You will have to do some cleanup -- the larger your database, the
more the cleanup. I am cleaning up a 60,000+ name database. The
effort is definitely worth it.
I have found that trying to import an FTM Gedcom into the Web
Publishing package that I use is a problem. Importing from Legacy is
not as it uses more standard conventions.
Arlene noted a problem with importing notes. I have never had that
problem, but I have not upgraded to one of the later versions. I am
told that FTM made a change in the notes format in one of the last
versions and that is the problem with the Legacy default option for
note import. Legacy has several other options for how to handle notes
on import. You might want to run some tests and see which one works for you.
Lastly, just try it. Download the free version and have a go at it.
Get the book and training CDs when you upgrade. The training CDs are
the best tool for learning how to use Legacy effectively.
john.
Nashua, NH
At 03:10 PM 4/29/2006, Alan Jones wrote:
I currently use Family Tree Maker version 10. In general I like FTM, but
I have run into some problems or questions as I try and get information
out of it. I have now started looking for a more powerful program. As I
started looking several questions came up that I am hoping can be answered.
I am not sure if there is anything out there that actually does what I
am want... Most genealogy programs, research, reporting, and charting
seems to be geared mainly to documenting direct ancestors/decedents.
However I am also interested in detailed text reports that I can share
that show; siblings, cousins (1st, 2nd, etc), aunts, uncles,
grandparents, spouses etc. Something that can easily be passed around at
family gatherings. Is this something that Legacy and/or Legacy add-on's
could do in reporting? If so how would it be done and what would the
output look like? When one attends a large family gathering where
marriages have bough people together you have more what I call "lateral"
family members.
FTM now can print siblings on ancestor trees? Can Legacy do this I like
this ability although the charts can be harder to read.
Can Legacy do a chart with entire family tree or entire branch including
lateral members, siblings and marriages? I know some people think this
type of chart is to much or controversial, but it can be nice also for
checking some things. Also a version that could do everything from a
particular "branch" or group would be nice.
Does Legacy's Publishing Center just manage reports and charts made in
Legacy or can it manage reports and charts from the approved Legacy
add-on's as well?
Family Tree Maker encourages the location field to be entered in the
format of "comment/location" as in born: "Methodist Hospital / San
Antonio, Bexar Co., Texas". Will Legacy interpret this correctly
including both the comment and the City, County, State combination?
What does Legacy do withe the comment part? Does it interpret the
fields correctly?
FTM has a neat listing in the help so that I can look up a city and can
verify I have the correct spelling. At the same time it also gives the
county for the city. This is helpful to know city, county, and state.
Does Legacy have any sort of listing like this? I know it Legacy can
check to see if the county existed, but that does not necessarily help
with spelling issues.
FTM has a neat option to print a map with locations of specified
events. Does Legacy have anything like this?
Can one do a Find and replace though out Legacy (all fields including
memo fields) as newer versions of FTM allow? At first I did not see the
need of this feature until I had to fix the spelling of a name.
Does Legacy have the ability to read the old FTM data CDs? I have
several FTM CDs that I hate to give up or use FTM just to read.
I am confused by some of the optional add-on's. What's the real useful
difference between "Legacy Charting Companion" and "TreeDraw Legacy
Edition"?
Are there any add-on's that you just truly recommend getting as they are
very useful?
How long as Legacy 6.0 been out? Anyone know if we will see a new
version anytime soon with new features? If so any guesses on what will
be added?
I have to say I am disappointed that Legacy does not have a custom
report feature even if it was fairly simple like FTM's. I know that one
can use MS Access to run reports on the data, but it seems like that
should be a built in feature.
I know I am a few versions behind on FTM so I am debating upgrading FTM
or getting Legacy. Any and all information would be appreciated.
Thanks for the help and information.
Alan
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Enter the drawing for a FREE Legacy Cruise to Alaska or a FREE research trip to
Salt Lake's Family History Library. Open to users of Legacy 6 Deluxe. Enter
online at http://legacyfamilytree.com/FreeTrip.asp
Legacy User Group guidelines can be found at:
http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp
To find past messages, please go to our searchable archives at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup%40mail.millenniacorp.com/
For online technical support, please visit
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