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 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 http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp
