A Hands-On Review: Family Tree Maker 2009 Platinum

Everyone has some interest in their family tree. By looking into our past we can gain a deeper understanding of our origins.

FAMILY TREE: A research section of Family Tree Maker 2009 Platinum. The genealogy software allows users to gather information from deep in their their family history. Joshua Philipp/The Epoch Times

Everyone has some interest in their family tree. By looking into our past we can gain a deeper understanding of our origins, and perhaps a greater insight into ourselves. Now there is a new computer program that helps research your ancestry—Family Tree Maker (FTM) Platinum 2009 from Encore. But just how effective is it?

This is the most popular genealogy software on the market for a reason. Without question, it places a powerful research tool at your fingertips that truly allows users to delve as far back into the past as records will allow.

However, I did have some misconceptions about this program initially. My expectation (which I’m sure is shared by many) was that after simply typing in the names and birth dates of my parents, FTM would automatically compile my family tree.

Yet after using the software the user quickly realizes the complexities of genealogy research. It requires scouring through thousands of records ranging from census forms and birth records to school graduation forms.

What FTM does is place the tools for this research in the user’s hands. It also greatly simplifies the process, making it a bearable endeavor. After using this software I can see how historical research can quickly become a hobby.

In essence, FTM organizes information gathered from ancestry.com—a Web site that offers a vast database of ancestral information. From within the software, the user gains access to the Web site and can merge any family information they find into their family tree.

Using the Software

The Platinum version of FTM comes with a free six month subscription to ancestry.com. During the installation process the user is asked to type in their credit card information to activate this free subscription. Not wanting to do this, I skipped over this process, thinking the subscription would still work.