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, SoftKey, Mattel, and others before coming under its current ownership. 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 redesign and be more powerful and feature-packed with faster navigation and quicker load times.^[8]

Family Tree Maker

Original author(s)	Kenneth Lafferty Hess[1]
Developer(s)	Software MacKiev
Initial release	1989; 35 years ago (1989)[2]
Stable release	2019 (Version 24.2) (February 2023; 1 year ago (2023-02)) [3]
Operating system	Windows, Mac OS X
Available in	English
Type	Genealogy software
License	Proprietary
Website	familytreemaker.com

A version for the Mac was released in 1997; due to low market demand, for over a decade it was discontinued.^[9] 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]

The core functionality and user interface of Family Tree Maker 2017 have changed little since 2010. Software MacKiev touted four major improvements: FamilySearch integration, FamilySync, Color Coding, and Photo Darkroom. FamilySearch integration provides potential matches to the FamilySearch.org Family Tree, and their 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 programming 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 allows users to assign up to four different colors to a person and their ancestors. Photo Darkroom can darken faded black and white photos.^[14]

FTM version history

	Meaning
Red	Not supported
Yellow	Still supported (update to the last patch for that version)
Green	Current version

Version	Release date	Released by	Edition/s	Notes
1.0	1989[15]	Banner Blue Software	MS-DOS	Supplied on 3.5 and 5.25 floppy disks. Data file used .FTM as a file extension. No GEDCOM support.
1.01	1990[citation needed]	Banner Blue Software	MS-DOS	No GEDCOM support.
2.0	January 1994	Banner Blue Software	Windows 3.1 / MS-DOS	Data file used .FTW as a file extension on Windows. Supplied on two 3½ inch floppy disks. Supported GEDCOM import/export.[16]
2.??	October 1994[citation needed]	Banner Blue Software	Windows 3.1 / DOS	Second version (patch?)
3.0	24 October 1995	Broderbund Software	Windows 3.1 and 95 (16-bit) / MS-DOS	Supplied on three floppy disks. 16 bit application compatible with Windows 95. DOS version shipped with the DEU (Data Exchange Utility)[17][18][19][20]
3.01	February 1996	Broderbund Software	Windows 3.1 and 95 (16 bit and 32 bit) / MS-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.[21][22]
3.02	October 1995	Broderbund Software	Windows 32 bit	[23]
3.02 Mac	January 1997	Broderbund Software	Macintosh (PowerPC processor only)	Marketed as Family Tree Maker Deluxe Edition II for Macintosh.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30]
3.4	November 1996[31][32]	Broderbund Software	Windows 3.1 and 95 (16-bit and 32-bit) / MS-DOS
4.0	September 1996	Broderbund Software	Windows 3.1 and 95 (16-bit and 32-bit) / MS-DOS	First release on a CD-ROM.[33]
4.0a	?	Broderbund Software	Windows	[34]
4.0b	?	Broderbund Software	Windows	[34][35]
4.4	?	Broderbund Software	Windows	[36][37]
4.4 File Fixer Patch	?	Broderbund Software	Windows	[34]
5.0	(before) August 1998[citation needed]	The Learning Company	Windows	[38]
5.0a (Patch)	?	The Learning Company	Windows	[39][40]
5.0b	?	The Learning Company	Windows	[34]
6.0	after May 1999[citation needed]	The Learning Company (Mattel Incorporated)	Windows	[41][42]
6.0a (Index Optimization Update)	?	The Learning Company (Mattel Incorporated)	Windows	[34]
7.0	October 1999	The Learning Company (Mattel Incorporated)	Windows	[43][failed verification]
7.5	April 2000	Genealogy.com	Windows	[44]
8.0	October 2000	Genealogy.com	Windows	[45] [failed verification][46]
9.0	October 2001	Genealogy.com	Windows	[47] [failed verification][48]
9.0 (patch after release)	October 30, 2001	Genealogy.com	Windows	[49]
10.0	September 2002	Genealogy.com	Windows	[50][51]
11.0	September 2003	MyFamily.com	Windows	[52][failed verification][53]
2005	August 2004	MyFamily.com	Windows	[54][55]
2006	12 September 2005	MyFamily.com	Windows	[56][57]
2006 Patch	?	MyFamily.com	Windows	[58]
16	September 2006	MyFamily.com	Windows	[59]
2008	14 August 2007	Ancestry.com	Windows	Returned to using the .FTM extension for windows datafiles.[60][61]
2008 Service Pack 1	?	Ancestry.com	Windows	[62]
2008 Service Pack 2	November 2007	Ancestry.com	Windows	An initial release was in September but this was withdrawn 24 hours later.[62]
2008 Service Pack 3 (17.0.0.965)	May 2008	Ancestry.com	Windows	[62]
2009	28 August 2008	The Generations Network	Windows	[63]
2009 Patch 18A (18.0.0.94)	?	The Generations Network	Windows	[64]
2009 Patch 18B (18.0.0.95)	?	The Generations Network	Windows	[64]
2009 Patch 18C (18.0.0.305)	?	The Generations Network	Windows	[64]
2009 Patch 18D (18.0.0.307)	?	The Generations Network	Windows	[64]
2010	19 August 2009	Ancestry.com	Windows Vista and XP SP2	[65][66]
2010 Service Pack 1 (19.0.0.206)	?	Ancestry.com	Windows 7, Vista, and XP SP2	[67]
2011	31 August 2010	Ancestry.com	Windows 7, Vista, and XP SP2	[68]
2011 Service Pack 1 (20.0.0.376)	?	Ancestry.com	Windows 7, Vista, and XP SP2	[69]
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[70][71]
2010 Mac (Update 19.2.0.241)	1 February 2011	Ancestry.com	Mac OSX 10.5 or later (Intel-based Mac)	[72][73]
2012	29 September 2011	Ancestry.com	Windows 7, Vista, and XP SP2	[74]
World Express	2013	Ancestry.com	Windows 7, Vista, and XP SP2	With restricted functionality, only in German and Swedish[75]
2014	10 September 2013	Ancestry.com	Windows 7, Vista, and XP SP2	[76]
2014 Mac	13 December 2013	Ancestry.com	Mac OSX 10.6 or later (Intel-based Mac)	Marketed as Family Tree Maker Mac 3.[77]
FTM 2014.1	1 January 2017	mackiev.com	Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10	[78][79]
FTM Mac 3.1	1 January 2017	mackiev.com	Mac OSX 10.8 or later, including macOS Sierra 10.12	[78][79]
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	[80]
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	[80]
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	[80]
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	[80][81]
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	[82]
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	[83]
FTM 2019 (Version 24.1)	August 2022	mackiev.com	Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + OS X 10.10 or later, including macOS Catalina 10.15	[3]
FTM 2019 (Version 24.2)	February 2023	mackiev.com	Windows 7 or later, including Windows 10 + OS X 10.10 or later, including macOS Catalina 10.15	[84]

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 Broderbund Software acquired Parsons Technology from Intuit (which included the marketing rights to Family Origins for Windows
• August 1998 Broderbund 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.^[85]
• 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 changed its name to The Generations Network
• March 2016 Software MacKiev purchased FTM Software from ancestry.com ^[86]

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 24.1 for FTM 2019". mackiev.com. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
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. "Ancestry to Retire Family Tree Maker Software – Ancestry Blog". Archived from the original on 2017-12-24. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
13. "New Family Tree Maker Options – Ancestry Blog". Blogs.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
14. "Family Tree Maker". Software MacKiev. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
15. Family Tree Maker: 20-Year Anniversary!, Posted by Michelle Pfister on 11 December 2009 in Family Tree Maker
16. Re: FTM and GEDCOM:, From: <skpjan@...>, Date: Fri, Jul 14, 1995, RootsWeb: GENCMP-L
17. Discover and Preserve Your Family History With New Version 3.0 of Family Tree Maker. Archived 2017-10-03 at the Wayback Machine, Oct 24, 1995, Publication: Business Wire – Free Online Library
18. Re: Improvements from 3.0 – 3.02, From: Paul Burchfield, Date:Aug 15, 1996, RootsWeb: GENCMP-L
19. Upgrade for FTM 3.0, 16 bit application compatible with Win95, From:John McGarvey, Date: 1996/02/09, alt.genealogy
20. 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
21. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
22. 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."
23. Re: FTM 6.0 and NT?, From: Paul Burchfield, Date: 31 March 1999, RootsWeb: GENCMP-L
24. 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. Archived 2017-12-15 at the Wayback Machine BUSINESS WIRE 4 February 1997
25. Family Tree Maker Deluxe Edition II for McIntosh/5 CD-ROMs, by Broderbund, Platform: Mac, amazon.com
26. GENEALOGY SOFTWARE: Use Your Mac to Find Your Roots, reprint of January 1998 MacWorld article
27. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
28. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
29. Technical Support for Family Tree Maker for Macintosh Archived March 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, genealogy.com
30. 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 Archived 2017-12-15 at the Wayback Machine, BUSINESS WIRE, 21 October 1996
31. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
32. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
33. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
34. Are There Any Downloadable Updates to Family Tree Maker? Archived October 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine,
35. Family Tree Maker Version 4.0b Update, familytreemaker.com archived by archive.org
36. "Family Tree Maker File Fixer Update". Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
37. 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.
38. 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
39. Message from discussion Family Tree Maker 5 Upgrade, alt.genealogy, Google Groups
40. Message from discussion FTM 5 second patch coming, alt.genealogy, Google Groups
41. Re: transferring version 6.0 1999 to use with windows vista, boards.ancestry.com
42. Does FTM work with Windows NT?, GENCMP-L Archives, archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com
43. "AncestrySupport". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
44. 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
45. "AncestrySupport". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
46. Genealogy.com Ships New Version 8.0 of Its Top-Rated Family Tree Maker(R) Software Archived 2018-01-03 at the Wayback Machine, PRNewswire, 19 September 2000
47. "AncestrySupport". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
48. 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 Archived 2018-01-03 at the Wayback Machine, PRNewswire, 3 October 2001
49. Family Tree Maker Version 9.0 Update Archived March 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, genealogy.com
50. 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
51. Broderbund Ships Family Tree Maker Deluxe Version 10 – #1 Selling Genealogy Software Program Archived 2018-01-03 at the Wayback Machine, BUSINESS WIRE, Oct 1, 2002, as found at thefreelibrary.com
52. "Message Boards". Boards.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
53. Broderbund Teams with MyFamily.com to Launch Family Tree Maker(R) Version 11 – the #1 Selling Genealogy Software Program Archived 2018-01-03 at the Wayback Machine, PRNewswire, 29 September 2003
54. Message from discussion Family Tree Maker version question, alt.genealogy, Google Groups
55. Encore, MyFamily.com Ship Family Tree Maker(R) 2005 – The #1 Selling Genealogy Software Program Archived 2018-01-03 at the Wayback Machine, PRNewswire, 23 September 2004
56. How can I delete duplicate media items?, boards.ancestry.com
57. Family Tree Maker 2006 Hits Retail Markets Archived 2018-01-03 at the Wayback Machine, PRNewswire, 12 September 2005
58. Family Tree Maker 2006 Updates and Downloads Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, past.familytreemaker.com
59. Family Tree Maker Version 16 Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, 18 August 2006.
60. 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
61. Ancestry.com Releases Completely Redesigned Family Tree Maker 2008, No. 1 Selling Family Tree Software, PRNewswire, Aug 14, 2007, as found at thefreelibrary.com
62. Family Tree Maker 2008 Program Updates are Now Available, familytreemaker.com
63. Family Tree Maker 2009 Release, by Russell Hannig, 28 August 2008, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
64. Family Tree Maker 2009 – Program Updates Help, familytreemaker.com
65. 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
66. Family Tree Maker: The New Version 2010, by Michelle Pfister, 19 August 2009, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
67. Family Tree Maker 2010 – Program Updates, familytreemaker.com
68. Family Tree Maker 2011 is here!, by Tana L. Pedersen on 31 August 2010, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
69. Family Tree Maker 2011 – Program Updates, familytreemaker.com
70. Family Tree Maker for Mac is Here!, by Tana L. Pedersen on 4 November 2010 at http://blogs.ancestry.com
71. Family Tree Maker for Mac is back, 4 November 2010, tamurajones.net
72. Family Tree Maker 2010 for mac won't load or continually crashes. What can I do?, Ancestry.com
73. Family Tree Maker 2010 for Mac Version 19.2.1.241, 22 January 2011, MacGenealogy.org
74. Family Tree Maker 2012 Is Here!, by Tana L. Pedersen on 29 September 2011, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
75. "Family Tree Maker World Express". tamurajones.net. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
76. Available Now: Family Tree Maker version 2014, Ancestry.com
77. Just Released: Family Tree Maker Mac 3!, Ancestry.com
78. "Family Tree Maker Updates Officially Released [Updated 1 Jan 2017]". Genealogytools.com. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
79. "Family Tree Maker". Mackiev.com. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
80. "Free Update 23.3 for FTM 2017". mackiev.com. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
81. "macOS Catalina Compatibility for Family Tree Maker". mackiev.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
82. "FTM 2019 - LAUNCH FAQ". mackiev.com. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
83. "Free Update 24.0.1 for FTM 2019". mackiev.com. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
84. "Free Update 24.2 for FTM 2019". mackiev.com. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
85. "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.
86. "Family Tree Maker software isn't going away after all". tbo.com. 2016-03-06. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-14.

External links

• Official website