Family Tree Maker

Family Tree Maker is genealogy software for Windows and Mac that allows the researcher to keep track of information collected during research and to create reports, charts, and books containing that information.[4] The software was originally developed by Kenneth Hess of Banner Blue Software,[1] which was purchased by Broderbund in 1995.[5] It passed through the hands of The Learning Company, Mattel, and others before coming under its current ownership.

Family Tree Maker (FTM)
Original author(s)Kenneth Lafferty Hess[1]
Developer(s)Software MacKiev
Initial release1989 (1989)[2]
Stable release
2019 (Version 24.0.1) (November 2019 (2019-11)) [3]
Operating systemWindows, Mac OS X
Available inEnglish
TypeGenealogy software
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.familytreemaker.com

A redesigned Family Tree Maker 2008 was released on August 14, 2007.[6] The 2009 version of the program corrected some of the errors and omissions of its predecessor, and introduced a few new features.[7] Family Tree Maker 2010 claimed to further enhance the radical re-design and be more powerful and feature-packed with faster navigation and quicker load times.[8]

A version for the Mac was released in 1997, but due to low market demand was discontinued[9] for over a decade. A new version of Family Tree Maker for Mac was released on November 4, 2010.[10]

Family Tree Maker Version 16 was awarded a Codie award in the "Best Consumer Productivity Solution" category in 2006.[11]

On December 8, 2015, Ancestry.com announced that it would discontinue Family Tree Maker. The announcement was met by fierce protest from Family Tree Maker users.[12] On February 2, 2016, Ancestry.com announced that Software MacKiev, the company that had developed the Mac version of the software for more than six years, would acquire the Family Tree Maker brand, and take over the development and publishing of Mac and Windows editions.[13]

At the same time as this announcement, Software MacKiev promised free updates for owners of the then-current versions. While the MacKiev dot-one versions were put on sale within 2 months, they were not officially released as free updates to the current versions until 30 Dec 2016. At that time, connectivity with Ancestry was also extended until its replacement could be rolled out. Ancestry connectivity, including TreeSync, the ability to synchronize a Family Tree Maker tree with one at Ancestry, was turned off on 29 Mar 2017, with its replacement, called FamilySync, to be turned on 31 Mar. The news about FamilySync contained a bit of a surprise: it would only be available in Family Tree Maker 2017, the next iteration of Family Tree Maker, which was to be released coincident with the deployment of FamilySync. Users of Family Tree Maker 2 & 3 for Mac and 2012 & 2014 for Windows would no longer have any connectivity to Ancestry. If they wanted such connectivity, they would have to pay to upgrade to Family Tree Maker 2017, which was officially released on 16 July 2017, 107 days later than planned.[14]

The core functionality and user interface of Family Tree Maker 2017 have changed little since 2010. Software MacKiev touted four major improvements: 1. FamilySearch integration 2. FamilySync 3. Color Coding 4. Photo Darkroom. FamilySearch integration provides potential matches to the FamilySearch.org Family Tree, but not to their vast record collections. FamilySync is a replacement for Ancestry.com's TreeSync feature; it provides potential matches to family trees, indexes, and records at Ancestry.com. It was necessitated by Ancestry.com retiring their TreeSync Application Program Interface (API). While the old API was used exclusively by Ancestry.com, since they also owned Family Tree Maker, the new API is open to other software developers to use. Color Coding is a new feature that enables users to assign up to four different colors to a person and their ancestors. Photo Darkroom is a new feature that can darken faded black & white photos.[15]

An updated version was released in 2019: https://www.mackiev.com/ftm/index.html.

FTM version history

Press show for more information on past versions.

Family Tree Maker version history
Meaning
Red Not supported
Yellow Still supported (Update to the last patch for that version)
Green Current version


VersionRelease dateReleased byEdition/sNotes
1.0 1989[16] Banner Blue Software DOS Supplied on 3.5 and 5.25 floppy disks. Data file used .FTM as a file extension on DOS. No GEDCOM support.
1.01 1990 Banner Blue Software DOS No GEDCOM support.
2.0 January 1994 Banner Blue Software Windows 3.1 / DOS Data file used .FTW as a file extension on Windows. Supplied on two 3½ inch floppy disks. Supported GEDCOM import/export.[17]
2.?? October 1994 Banner Blue Software Windows 3.1 / DOS Second version (patch?)
3.0 24 October 1995 Brøderbund Software Windows 3.1 & 95 (16 bit) / DOS Supplied on three floppy disks. 16 bit application compatible with Windows 95. DOS version shipped with the DEU (Data Exchange Utility)[18][19][20][21]
3.01 February 1996 Brøderbund Software Windows 3.1 & 95 (16 bit & 32 bit) / DOS Beginning with this version every copy of Family Tree Maker for Windows came with both a Windows 95 (32-bit) and Windows 3.1x (16-bit) version.[22][23]
3.02 October 1995 Brøderbund Software Windows 32 bit [24]
3.02 Mac January 1997 Brøderbund Software Macintosh (PowerPC processor only) Marketed as Family Tree Maker Deluxe Edition II for Macintosh.[25][26][27][28][29][30][31]
3.4 November 1996[32][33] Brøderbund Software Windows 3.1 & 95 (16 bit & 32 bit) / DOS
4.0 September 1996 Brøderbund Software Windows 3.1 & 95 (16 bit & 32 bit) / DOS First release on a CD-ROM.[34]
4.0a ? Brøderbund Software Windows [35]
4.0b ? Brøderbund Software Windows [35][36]
4.4 ? Brøderbund Software Windows [37][38]
4.4 File Fixer Patch ? Brøderbund Software Windows [35]
5.0 (before) August 1998 The Learning Company Windows [39]
5.0a (Patch) ? The Learning Company Windows [40][41]
5.0b ? The Learning Company Windows [35]
6.0 after May 1999 The Learning Company (Mattel Incorporated) Windows [42][43]
6.0a (Index Optimization Update) ? The Learning Company (Mattel Incorporated) Windows [35]
7.0 October 1999 The Learning Company (Mattel Incorporated) Windows [44]
7.5 April 2000 Genealogy.com Windows [45]
8.0 October 2000 Genealogy.com Windows [46] [47]
9.0 October 2001 Genealogy.com Windows [48] [49]
9.0 (patch after release) October 30, 2001 Genealogy.com Windows [50]
10.0 September 2002 Genealogy.com Windows [51][52]
11.0 September 2003 MyFamily.com Windows [53][54]
2005 August 2004 MyFamily.com Windows [55][56]
2006 12 September 2005 MyFamily.com Windows [57][58]
2006 Patch ? MyFamily.com Windows [59]
16 September 2006 MyFamily.com Windows [60]
2008 14 August 2007 Ancestry.com Windows Returned to using the .FTM extension for windows datafiles.[61][62]
2008 Service Pack 1 ? Ancestry.com Windows [63]
2008 Service Pack 2 November 2007 Ancestry.com Windows An initial release was in September but this was withdrawn 24 hours later.[63]
2008 Service Pack 3 (17.0.0.965) May 2008 Ancestry.com Windows [63]
2009 28 August 2008 The Generations Network Windows [64]
2009 Patch 18A (18.0.0.94) ? The Generations Network Windows [65]
2009 Patch 18B (18.0.0.95) ? The Generations Network Windows [65]
2009 Patch 18C (18.0.0.305) ? The Generations Network Windows [65]
2009 Patch 18D (18.0.0.307) ? The Generations Network Windows [65]
2010 19 August 2009 Ancestry.com Windows Vista & XP SP2 [66][67]
2010 Service Pack 1 (19.0.0.206) ? Ancestry.com Windows 7 & Vista & XP SP2 [68]
2011 31 August 2010 Ancestry.com Windows 7 & Vista & XP SP2 [69]
2011 Service Pack 1 (20.0.0.376) ? Ancestry.com Windows 7 & Vista & XP SP2 [70]
2010 Mac 4 November 2010 Ancestry.com Mac OSX 10.5 or later (Intel-based Mac) Marketed as Family Tree Maker for Mac. Supplied on 2 × CD-ROM[71][72]
2010 Mac (Update 19.2.0.241) 1 February 2011 Ancestry.com Mac OSX 10.5 or later (Intel-based Mac) [73][74]
2012 29 September 2011 Ancestry.com Windows 7 & Vista & XP SP2 [75]
World Express 2013 Ancestry.com Windows 7 & Vista & XP SP2 With restricted functionality, only in German and Swedish[76]
2014 10 September 2013 Ancestry.com Windows 8 & 7 & Vista & XP SP2 [77]
2014 Mac 13 December 2013 Ancestry.com Mac OSX 10.6 or later (Intel-based Mac) Marketed as Family Tree Maker Mac 3.[78]
FTM 2014.1 1 January 2017 mackiev.com Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 [79][80]
FTM Mac 3.1 1 January 2017 mackiev.com Mac OSX 10.8 or later, including macOS Sierra 10.12 [79][80]
FTM 2017 (Version 23.0) 16 July 2017 mackiev.com Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + Mac OSX 10.9 or later, including macOS Sierra 10.13 [81]
FTM 2017 (Version 23.1) February 2018 mackiev.com Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + Mac OSX 10.9 or later, including macOS Sierra 10.13 [81]
FTM 2017 (Version 23.2) September 2018 mackiev.com Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + Mac OSX 10.9 or later, including macOS Sierra 10.13 [81]
FTM 2017 (Version 23.3) December 2019 mackiev.com Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + Mac OSX 10.9 or later, including macOS Catalina 10.15 [81][82]
FTM 2019 (Version 24.0) 28 September 2019 mackiev.com Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + OS X 10.10 or later, including macOS Catalina 10.15 [83]
FTM 2019 (Version 24.0.1) November 2019 mackiev.com Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + OS X 10.10 or later, including macOS Catalina 10.15 [3]
FTM Merger history
  • 1984 Banner Blue Software founded by Ken Hess, "As the founder and president of Banner Blue Software from 1984 to 1996, I sold over two million copies of Family Tree Maker."
  • May 1997 Brøderbund Software acquired Parsons Technology from Intuit (which included the marketing rights to Family Origins for Windows
  • August 1998 Brøderbund Software acquired by The Learning Company (which included Family Tree Creator through an acquisition of Mindscape/IMSI. v5 Published
  • Late 1998 The Learning Company acquired Palladium Interactive (which included Ultimate Family Tree).
  • May 1999 The Learning Company was acquired by Mattel Incorporated "Barbie").v6 Published
  • November 1999 A&E Television Networks, Hearst Interactive Media, Mattel, and private equity firms form Genealogy.com, LLC April 2000 v7.5 Published.[84]
  • February 2001 A&E TV acquired Genealogy.com
  • Late 2001 Genealogy.com acquired the GenForum message board site, which it had been hosting for a few years
  • June 2002 Genealogy.com acquired Generations PC product line from Sierra Home
  • April 2003 Genealogy.com acquired by MyFamily.com
  • December 2006 My Family.com Inc changes its name to The Generations Network
  • March 2016 Software MacKiev purchases FTM Software from ancestry.com [85]

References
  1. Hess, Kenneth Lafferty. "Home page of Kenneth Lafferty Hess". Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2010. During the 1990s I popularized computer genealogy by designing, developing, and selling the Family Tree Maker product line
  2. Pfister, Michelle (2009-12-11). "Family Tree Maker: 20-Year Anniversary!". Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  3. "Free Update 24.0.1 for FTM 2019". mackiev.com. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  4. "FamilyTreeMaker.com". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  5. "Broderbund Software in Banner Blue acquisition". The New York Times. 6 May 1995. pp. 1–37. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  6. Ancestry.com Releases Completely Redesigned Family Tree Maker 2008, No. 1 Selling Family Tree Software Archived August 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Aug 14, 2007, Press Releases, Ancestry.com
  7. "Family Tree Maker 2009 Release". Ancestry Blog. 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  8. "Family Tree Maker 2010 Feature List". ancestry.com. April 24, 2010. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  9. "Is Family Tree Maker available for the Macintosh?". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2006.
  10. Planetspriv (4 November 2010). "Family Tree Maker software (Mac) Message Board". ancestry.com. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  11. "2006 Codie Awards Winners". Software & Information Industry Association. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-12-24. Retrieved 2018-01-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "New Family Tree Maker Options – Ancestry Blog". Blogs.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  14. Riggle, Keith (2017-07-16). "Family Tree Maker 2017 Review". GenealogyTools.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  15. "Family Tree Maker". Software MacKiev. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  16. Family Tree Maker: 20-Year Anniversary!, Posted by Michelle Pfister on 11 December 2009 in Family Tree Maker
  17. Re: FTM and GEDCOM:, From: <skpjan@...>, Date: Fri, Jul 14, 1995, RootsWeb: GENCMP-L
  18. Discover and Preserve Your Family History With New Version 3.0 of Family Tree Maker., Oct 24, 1995, Publication: Business Wire – Free Online Library
  19. Re: Improvements from 3.0 – 3.02, From: Paul Burchfield, Date:Aug 15, 1996, RootsWeb: GENCMP-L
  20. Upgrade for FTM 3.0, 16 bit application compatible with Win95, From:John McGarvey, Date: 1996/02/09, alt.genealogy
  21. GEDCOM from Family Tree Maker, From:Paul Burchfield, Date: 1996/10/07, Exporting from Family Tree Maker for DOS uses the Data Exchange Utility. The DEU ships with Family Tree Maker version 3 and 4 for DOS. It had to be purchased separately for earlier versions., alt.genealogy
  22. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  23. Liste des applications testées sous Windows 95 – F et G - Family Tree Maker 2.0 (Windows floppies) Banner Blue Software← REMARQUE(S): Version 2.0 may not run correctly if taskbar setting is Always On Top. Windows 95 Help contains information for obtaining an update from the manufacturer. Family Tree Maker 3.0 (DOS) Banner Blue Software REMARQUE(S): The installation program may appear to stall after the first screen, but it is checking drives for previous copies of FTM.EXE, including network drives, and will resume after the check is complete. Family Tree Maker Deluxe 2.0 (Windows CD) Banner Blue Software REMARQUE(S): Program won't run when taskbar set to Always On Top. Windows 95 Help automatically provides a solution. -->
  24. Re: FTM 6.0 and NT?, From: Paul Burchfield, Date: 31 March 1999, RootsWeb: GENCMP-L
  25. Family Tree Maker Deluxe Edition II for Macintosh Mac Enthusiasts Can Now Preserve and Organize Their Family History With The No. 1-Selling Family Tree Program. BUSINESS WIRE 4 February 1997
  26. Family Tree Maker Deluxe Edition II for McIntosh/5 CD-ROMs, by Broderbund, Platform: Mac, amazon.com
  27. GENEALOGY SOFTWARE: Use Your Mac to Find Your Roots, reprint of January 1998 MacWorld article
  28. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  29. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  30. Technical Support for Family Tree Maker for Macintosh Archived March 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, genealogy.com
  31. Family Tree Maker for Macintosh; No. 1-Selling Family Tree Program Will Make It Simple for Mac Enthusiasts to Preserve and Organize Their Family History, BUSINESS WIRE, 21 October 1996
  32. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  33. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  34. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  35. Are There Any Downloadable Updates to Family Tree Maker? Archived October 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com%5B%5D
  36. Family Tree Maker Version 4.0b Update, familytreemaker.com archived by archive.org
  37. "Family Tree Maker File Fixer Update". Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  38. Wiseman, David (January 28, 1998). "Coming Soon! Family Tree Maker(R) Version 4.4 for Windows!". ancestry.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  39. The No. 1-selling Family Tree Software for Nearly a Decade, Broderbund's Family Tree Maker is Now Better Than Ever Archived January 13, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, BUSINESS WIRE, 8 July 1998
  40. Message from discussion Family Tree Maker 5 Upgrade, alt.genealogy, Google Groups
  41. Message from discussion FTM 5 second patch coming, alt.genealogy, Google Groups
  42. Re: transferring version 6.0 1999 to use with windows vista, boards.ancestry.com
  43. Does FTM work with Windows NT?, GENCMP-L Archives, archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com
  44. "AncestrySupport". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  45. Ask Technical Services — March 2000, #2. Moveable Boxes — Family Tree Maker 7.5 Gives You Control of Your Tree Archived August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, familytreemaker.genealogy.com
  46. "AncestrySupport". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  47. Genealogy.com Ships New Version 8.0 of Its Top-Rated Family Tree Maker(R) Software, PRNewswire, 19 September 2000
  48. "AncestrySupport". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  49. Broderbund Partners With A&E Television Networks and Genealogy.com To Launch Family Tree Maker(R) Version 9 – The #1 Software for Building A Family Legacy, PRNewswire, 3 October 2001
  50. Family Tree Maker Version 9.0 Update Archived March 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, genealogy.com
  51. Broderbund Ships Family Tree Maker Deluxe Version 10 #1 Selling Genealogy Software Program Archived January 13, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, BUSINESS WIRE, Oct 1, 2002, as found at findarticles.com
  52. Broderbund Ships Family Tree Maker Deluxe Version 10 – #1 Selling Genealogy Software Program, BUSINESS WIRE, Oct 1, 2002, as found at thefreelibrary.com
  53. "Message Boards". Boards.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  54. Broderbund Teams with MyFamily.com to Launch Family Tree Maker(R) Version 11 – the #1 Selling Genealogy Software Program, PRNewswire, 29 September 2003
  55. Message from discussion Family Tree Maker version question, alt.genealogy, Google Groups
  56. Encore, MyFamily.com Ship Family Tree Maker(R) 2005 – The #1 Selling Genealogy Software Program, PRNewswire, 23 September 2004
  57. How can I delete duplicate media items?, boards.ancestry.com
  58. Family Tree Maker 2006 Hits Retail Markets, PRNewswire, 12 September 2005
  59. Family Tree Maker 2006 Updates and Downloads Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, past.familytreemaker.com
  60. Family Tree Maker Version 16 Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, 18 August 2006.
  61. Ancestry.com Releases Completely Redesigned Family Tree Maker 2008, No. 1 Selling Family Tree Software Archived August 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, PRNewswire, Aug 14, 2007, as found at ancestry.com's Press Releases page
  62. Ancestry.com Releases Completely Redesigned Family Tree Maker 2008, No. 1 Selling Family Tree Software, PRNewswire, Aug 14, 2007, as found at thefreelibrary.com
  63. Family Tree Maker 2008 Program Updates are Now Available, familytreemaker.com
  64. Family Tree Maker 2009 Release, by Russell Hannig, 28 August 2008, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
  65. Family Tree Maker 2009 – Program Updates Help, familytreemaker.com
  66. New Ancestry.com Family Tree Maker 2010 Software Adds News Storytelling and Organizational Tools Archived October 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, 19 August 2009 Press Release, Ancestry.com
  67. Family Tree Maker: The New Version 2010, by Michelle Pfister, 19 August 2009, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
  68. Family Tree Maker 2010 – Program Updates, familytreemaker.com
  69. Family Tree Maker 2011 is here!, by Tana L. Pedersen on 31 August 2010, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
  70. Family Tree Maker 2011 – Program Updates, familytreemaker.com
  71. Family Tree Maker for Mac is Here!, by Tana L. Pedersen on 4 November 2010 at http://blogs.ancestry.com
  72. Family Tree Maker for Mac is back, 4 November 2010, tamurajones.net
  73. Family Tree Maker 2010 for mac won't load or continually crashes. What can I do?, Ancestry.com
  74. Family Tree Maker 2010 for Mac Version 19.2.1.241, 22 January 2011, MacGenealogy.org
  75. Family Tree Maker 2012 Is Here!, by Tana L. Pedersen on 29 September 2011, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
  76. "Family Tree Maker World Express". tamurajones.net. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  77. Available Now: Family Tree Maker version 2014, Ancestry.com
  78. Just Released: Family Tree Maker Mac 3!, Ancestry.com
  79. "Family Tree Maker Updates Officially Released [Updated 1 Jan 2017]". Genealogytools.com. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  80. "Family Tree Maker". Mackiev.com. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  81. "Free Update 23.3 for FTM 2017". mackiev.com. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  82. "macOS Catalina Compatibility for Family Tree Maker". mackiev.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  83. "FTM 2019 - LAUNCH FAQ". mackiev.com. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  84. "A&E Television Networks, Hearst Interactive Media, Mattel, and Top Private Equity Firms Form Genealogy.com, LLC". PR Newswire. Cision. November 2, 1999. Archived from the original on January 20, 2000. Retrieved July 1, 2019 – via Yahoo.com.
  85. "Family Tree Maker software isn't going away after all". tbo.com. 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
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