Thursday, May 11, 2017

May 11th Update on Family Tree Maker 2017 Release

The Family Tree Maker 2017 Update page has the latest information about the release of family Tree Maker 2017 software:

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MAY 11 - 4:30 PM UTAH TIME (UTC 22:30)

GREEN LIGHT TO EXPAND

Working with Ancestry we've decided it's time to let a whole lot more test drivers join the first 25,000 who’ve been happily using FTM 2017 for the past two weeks. We have already started earlier this week tapping those on the “alternate” list and hope to add the rest of you by the end of the weekend.

Then starting on Monday next week, we’ll be opening up as many as 10,000 places a day until we reach 75,000 test drivers by the end of the week. New drivers will start with the same 48-hour trial followed by a diagnostic test. If all goes well, test drivers just continue using the software.

If you are already test driving you are all set, just keep at it. We will let you know when we have a newer well-tested build for you. If you stopped test driving, watch for an email from us tomorrow, in which we’ll have instructions on how to get your test drive started again.

READY TO TAKE A DRIVE?

If you would like learn more about the test drive program, just go to support.familytreemaker.com and you can read about it there. The article has an FAQ and links to a test drive application form. Anyone who’s pre-ordered FTM 2017 or is eligible for a free copy may apply.

Note that you don't have to do the Test Drive. If you're happily working away on your research in an earlier edition, you're welcome to keep on doing that as we add more users to the system. Ancestry will continue to keep everything but sync working for you until after the rollout is complete.

NEXT STEPS FOR DEVELOPMENT

We are now beta testing builds made with the final adjustments from Ancestry that we received a week and a half ago. Those provide a much streamlined process for syncing changes made on the Ancestry side and will allow us to remove all limits from adding FTM 2017 users to the system.

So when will that be done? We’ll update you when the beta testing tells us we’ve been successful. The next step would be to provide a new build to our test drivers, and then the rest of the world. We can't provide an exact date yet, but we’re optimistically guessing a couple of weeks.

HAPPY AND GRATEFUL

It's been a very, very long six weeks. We’re thankful for the FTM community encouraging us to stay the course, and to Ancestry for working day and night with our engineers to fine tune the new sync technology. Thank you for cheering us on, and we hope you’ll find it's been worth the wait.

STAYING UP TO DATE

We will continue to post weekly updates here, or more frequently whenever there is news. We will also post the same update on social media. And we'll be sending out our third email shortly to all those who have pre-purchased FTM 2017 with this update and an invitation to test drive.

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Well, this is pretty good news, but the release is not complete.  A couple more weeks, but the Beta testers are already using it.  I'm looking forward to my invitation to be a Beta tester and see what all the excitement is about.  

Disclosure:  I have paid for the Family Tree Maker 2017 software in advance.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/05/may-11th-update-on-family-tree-maker.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver


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