I’ve spent quite a bit of time with my new FTM 2010 software and as I work through my database, I’ve been thinking about things I love about the software and things I’d like to see improved.
I love that I can download my tree from Ancestry and all of the photos I’ve uploaded come along with it.
I wish that the images of the census records were downloaded as well. I don’t understand the reasoning behind allowing me to manually download them, but not do it automatically.
I love that the source citations are automatically downloaded with the tree.
I hate that I have to click every single census source to tell it not to include the citation text in the footnote. Not only that, but there were no spaces put in the template when they created the citations, so I have to put those in manually. (For example: Name: Susan RumboBirth: abt 1831KentuckyResidence: 1880White Oak, Adair, Kentucky, United States) For EVERY single census source! I’m talking hundreds and hundreds of source citations! I could probably tolerate the lack of spaces if only I could find the option that would allow me to unclick all of the “Include in Ref. Note” boxes at the same time, but if I’m going to be looking at every source to unclick the box, I might as well add the spaces so that when the tree moves into the next upgrade, they’ll be correct.
I love that the Sources screen shows me who the source is linked to. I’ve found several sources that are linked to no one. Makes me wonder how they got there in the first place, but they are easy to delete!
I wish there were an easy way to download any changes I’ve made on my Ancestry tree into my FTM software. Unless I’m missing something, I’ll either have to manually enter the information (and I can’t seem to make my manually entered sources match the way the look coming directly from Ancestry) or I’d have to export a new GEDCOM and then merge it with my current FTM file. Holding off on this because I’m sure there’s any easier way to do this!
I love the map feature with the Places menu! In my ultimate dream, these maps would also have historic options so that I could see a map of current day places and then click a button to compare the same area at different time periods. THAT would be heaven! Even something simple like a combination of the current map with an overlay of the county boundary changes over time like the ones you can find on familyhistory101.com would be incredible.I’d also love to have a notes panel next to the map so that I could add historical information about the area and also the ability to add links to keep track of web sites about the area or other maps that I’ve found online.
I can’t imagine doing my genealogy research without Family Tree Maker and and I look forward to seeing what the future holds – I just hope that I can learn all of the new features with 2010 before another update comes out!
Lisa,
Actually, I have addressed how to do the Census Image issue:
http://ftmuser.blogspot.com/2009/09/attach-images-following-download.html
Spaces in the EndNote: which piece of the EndNote does not display the spaces? In the Source Citation work area, in the RH Panel, which box has the space in that box (field) and is not displayed? Is it a “return” or new line?
In the most recent webinar, They talked about this synch issue (PC and Online Trees staying in synch) and said that they know they have work to do in this area.
For me, I keep my tree on my PC and upload to Ancestry.Com as needed for sharing.
I agree with your want / dream for the historical maps. I have ancestors in Maryland in the mid-1600′s, where Parishes were located prior to counties. So, it would be helpful.
But, the Migration feature for an ancestor works like a champ AND the ability to zoom into a location. (gotta story for that feature)
Enjoy 2010 and its features.
Russ
Hi Russ,
I have no idea if you get a notification that I’m replying to your comment or not…
When I am in the Sources screen, I can double click on any of the census sources and the screen that appears has a section for Source Title, Repository, Citation Detail and Citation Text. In the template that creates the Citation Text, there must not be any spaces between the fields. So I used to see:
“Name: Susan RumboBirth: abt 1831KentuckyResidence: 1880White Oak, Adair, Kentucky, United States” (notice no space after Rumbo, after 1831, after Kentucky, after 1880). I went through every census citation and added the spaces myself. I don’t think these are line returns, but since the text is generated for me, I don’t know that for sure.
I also love the migration feature! That’s something I have often thought about creating for myself with Photoshop, but had never taken the time to do it. Still thinking about overlaying boundary changes using Photoshop, but maybe by the time I get around to that, FTM will have done it for the next update!
Thanks for your comment! I appreciate your input!
Lisa
Lisa,
I copied and pasted what you had provided, into the Citation Text of a Source-Citation. I then generated a Family Group Sheet for an individual and printed the FGS with Source-Citations. When I first pasted the information, I saw what you saw. So, I went to the Source Screen, for that citation and put the Space between the 1831 and Kentucky. There WAS a space between Kentucky and Residence.
Here is the final result:
Name: Susan Rumbo Birth: abt 1831 Kentucky Residence: 1880 White Oak, Adair, Kentucky, United States
See what happens when you go to the Source Workspace and look at the Citation Text field (box on the right), make the change, and look at the Reference Note. It should change as you edit the Citation Text. Then, go back and look at the report that you were seeing in your example.
Do you know where that Source Citation came from? Did you type it in? or was it from a Web Merge?
Russ
Hi again Russ. My “real job” consumed me this week, but I’ll be back at my genealogy soon!!! More later…