Making the change from FamilyTreeMaker to Legacy.
I mentioned that the folks at Legacy might be posting something to assist FTM users after the Ancestry/FTM notice from yesterday. First everyone needs to calm down. Second if someone is interested in learning how to move their data from one program to another, this post from Legacy is a good step in understanding the process. NOTE - we are an unaffiliated user group of Legacy users here at LVUG Community and we don't advertise, but consider this a genealogy service. Hope this helps those who might need it.
http://news.legacyfamilytree.com/legacy_news/2015/12/update-on-the-family-tree-maker-announcement.html
For awhile at least what's the pressure to switch? Can't FTM users keep using their present version?
ReplyDeleteyes - if people have FTM they are good for awhile. I think the problem arises because many people only keep their trees in ancestry and downloading from there seems to be an issue. I simply wanted to give a bit of info to any of our LVUG Community who were following this issue on social media.
ReplyDeleteI have started using the free open source, professional grade, Genealogical Research and Analysis Management Programming System (GRAMPS) https://gramps-project.org/, WITH Legacy 8 for its portal to FamilySearch.org. It is a perfect methodology. Next month I will finally get the 6 month subscription to Ancestry.com. Consider adding GRAMPS to your software list.
ReplyDeleteIMPORT INFO: https://gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php?title=Import_from_another_genealogy_program
Tessa Keough If I'm understanding this right, it's the people who are using Ancestry Trees AND FTM who are feeling a bit lost right now because they'll be losing Tree Sync. The people using only Ancestry Trees can continue doing so because they aren't losing anything. And Ancestry.com has come to the same conclusion that I have; that most people are only using Ancestry Trees, so why bother with the desktop software?
ReplyDeleteJL Beeken I have not used FTM (except for getting a small family tree from my cousin back in 2006 - she is responsible for this addiction!). The online trees (and using them as your only tree (?) and the shaking leaves and syncing have all been efforts to get people to put and keep everything online. For a long time, they also had the backup or side-by-side of having FTM software. This is what will change. Does it affect non-FTM users - NO!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to address the issue when it came out but much like an auto accident on the highway - we can move on, there is nothing to see.
Personally JL I like having my data on my laptop and I like controlling what I share (offline and online). But that is a separate issue and I am sure that is why those of us in the LVUG Community use Legacy.
Tessa Keough I'm kind of fascinated by this phenomenon where people ONLY keep their trees online. I do think that kind of blythe trust is underwarranted. And from what I've heard, when you download a gedcom from Ancestry Trees you don't get your attached documents along with it. Do these people have ANY idea?
ReplyDeleteI have never understood it - I take a trust no one approach - not in a bad way, just for most of these companies it is a business (that is not a bad thing, just a thing). Just like anything in life, the company will do what is best for it and its shareholders. We just had a series of grocery stores go through a crazy sell off, bankruptcy and another sell off. Lost in the mix - all the employees and the customers. Again don't put all your eggs in one basket. I was surprised by how many people asking questions did not know what a GEDCOM was - we are responsible for our data (so read those terms and conditions, have backups and know where you put your stuff). A good life lesson.
ReplyDeleteTessa Keough YES. This is what I run into with my DNA matches; not knowing what a GEDCOM is. I suspect the 80% who don't answer at all have the same issue; that's why they don't answer. Some people will persist (sweating the whole time) until they can figure out how to download a gedcom and send it to me. Some give up part way. At least now I've seen some instructions about where to find it under Tree Settings. Who would have guessed? I would have thought it would be called BACKUP.
ReplyDeleteHi I wrote about my work flow in a recent blog post. I work off of my FTM and then would sync to share research and media items.
ReplyDeleteMy online tree is also linked to my DNA kits.
I am starting the process of trying to understand what my options are. My biggest concern is what do I do with my data? With FTM no longer being supported your eventually at risk of the software not working.
Although trying to determine what to do with 15 years of work is daunting.....
My workflow is described here - http://murosky-ancestral-lines.blogspot.com/2015/12/family-tree-maker-is-being-retired-now.html