Launch Announcement: Introducing Family Tree Builder 8.0

I received this information from Daniel Horowitz of MyHeritage this morning:

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We're delighted to let you know that we've just released a new version of Family Tree Builder, version 8.0! 

The new version has all of the well-known and loved features of previous versions, including sync, Record Matches, Smart Matching™, charts and more, with a totally rewritten internal infrastructure that adds support for very large family trees (up to 500,000 individuals), and delivers faster performance.

In addition to being much quicker and more responsive, version 8.0 delivers improved data integrity. It's downloadable for free for Windows, with a Mac Extension for Mac users to follow next month.

Our Family Tree Builder team will continue to enhance Family Tree Builder and evolve it in the future, adding new features and making improvements, based on the new infrastructure introduced in version 8.0. We will continue to provide users who like the power and convenience of desktop software with the ideal tool for growing their family tree and advancing their family history research, while the sync allows them to also benefit from having their data online and accessible in a mobile app.

For more information, please see our official blog post: http://blog.myheritage.com/2016/02/introducing-family-tree-builder-8-0/

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This is good news for Family Tree Builder and MyHeritage users.  Family Tree Builder synchronizes with a user's MyHeritage Family Tree.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/02/launch-announcement-introducing-family.html

SDGS Meeting on Saturday, 12 September Features MyHeritage and Family Tree Builder

The September 12th program meeting of the San Diego Genealogical Society will be at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church (8350 Lake Murray Blvd. in San Diego, just south of Jackson Drive) starting at 10 a.m.

The program speaker for both sessions will be Del Ritchhart on:

*  MyHeritage - An Overview

*  Introduction to Family Tree Builder

MyHeritage is a Website, very similar to Ancestry.com, where you can post your family tree, conduct searches of their data base.

Family Tree Builder is a personal Genealogy software program which you load onto your computer for maintaining, researching, and managing your family tree.

The relationship between MyHeritage and Family Tree Builder is very similar to that between Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker.

Del Ritchhart began researching his family history in 1994. He has served in leadership positions in several San Diego genealogy organizations and has given presentations throughout the Southern California area. He published his family history, Breathing Life Into My Family Ancestors in late 2011 and is currently working on a second book.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2015/09/sdgs-meeting-on-saturday-12-september.html

Copyright (c) 2015, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Family Tree Builder 7.0 Software Synchronization with MyHeritage Family Tree - Post 3

 MyHeritage released the FREE Family Tree Builder Version 7.0 genealogy software last week (see my post MyHeritage Releases Family Tree Builder 7.0 - New Features are Sync System and Record Matches).  

One of the NEW features in the Family Tree Builder 7.0 software was the ability to synchronize ("sync") with a user's MyHeritage Family Tree - meaning a user can change something online in their MyHeritage Family Tree, or change something in the FTB software, and click on the "Sync" button in FTB 7.0 to make the MyHeritage Family tree data match the Family Tree Builder software data. Heritage described the sync feature this way:

"All family tree information is synchronized, including photos, videos, audio files, notes, sources, citations and other information, except private information such as DNA markers which never leaves the user’s computer. The family history data can now be privately and securely viewed, edited and expanded from any device - the user’s computer, the user’s online family site on MyHeritage – or via the free MyHeritagemobile apps for iPad, iPhone and Android. Users have full control of who can be granted permission to view or add information. The new sync system also provides a backup of the users’ precious data." 

Earlier posts in this series are:

*  In Family Tree Builder 7.0 Software Synchronization with MyHeritage Family Tree - Post 1.  In the post I edited some data and added several photos for two of my ancestors from the Events page.  

*  In Family Tree Builder 7.0 Software Synchronization with MyHeritage Family Tree - Post 2, I synchronized the Family Tree Builder 7.0 software with my MyHeritage Family Tree.  However, I found that the Photos did not upload to MyHeritage and did not show up in Family Tree Builder for some reason.  I was puzzled by that, but now I think that I have figured it out.  

After the second post, I went into Family Tree Builder 7.0 and tried uploading Photos from the Person profile rather than the Event page.  I received a message that:

Your files are being uploaded

MyHeritage.com will now detect faces in your photos, automatically. This may take a little while. We will email you at rjseaver@cox.net as soon as this is complete." I received the email overnight...so today I checked on the MyHeritage site, and all of the Photos uploaded yesterday were there - including several duplicates (because I attached them one at a time to Birth, Death and Burial Events for two different people). 1)  When I opened MyHeritage today, I saw on my "Photos" tab:

From what I can tell, all of the Photos go FIRST to my MyHeritage website without being linked to an Event.  I then have to TAG the image to one or more persons.

I have two trees on MyHeritage, but only one in Family Tree Builder 7.0 at this time.  One is my big database from 2011, and the other is my ancestral families from 2013 (which has updated information).  So I need to make sure to get the Photo images into the right tree on MyHeritage - the one that I'm syncing with FTB 7.0.

2)  I tagged each image by clicking on each one, then on the screen below I clicked on the blue "Add a person" in the "In the photo" area on the right.  That opened the popup box headed "Set the position and enter the name of the person in this photo".  I typed in the name "samuel vaux" and a list of about 10 persons with that name on my MyHeritage website (in BOTH databases) appeared.:

On the image above, you can see that Samuel Vaux (1816-1880) appears twice.  If I select the highlighted one (at the bottom), that is the one in my FTB 7.0 database.  If I select that, it should sync back to Family Tree Builder 7.0.

I did the same process for the other images I have for Samuel Vaux, adding a total of seven images.  Then I checked the Profile page for Samuel Vaux in my "Seaver-Leland Family Tree" database:

As you can see, the seven images are attached to the Person Profile.  However, they are not attached to Events.

3)  I wanted to see if the Photos would be synchronized to my Family Tree Builder 7.0 database.  Here is the Family Tree view in FTB 7.0:

The "Project is out of sync" informs me that I should sync before I do anything else.  So I did.  It didn't take long.

4)  Here is the Profile page for Samuel Vaux (1816-1880) when I click on his "Profile" link:

All of the Photo images are there, and in the same order.  That was no surprise to me - the above image connects directly to the MyHeritage Person Profile page on the website. 5)  All of those Photos should appear in the "Photos" menu button: I have no clue why the Photos didn't show up - I picked "All People."  I went to the Search field and typed in Samuel Vaux and there were no Photos for him.  I looked at the Family Tree Builder 7.0 manual (from the "Help" link) and it didn't help me much - it says I should be able to see the Photos. 6)  So my Lessons Learned here are: *  There is a Family Tree Builder 7.0 Help manual - you have to download it (only 482 pages) and then try to find what you want to do. *  It takes quite awhile (at least 10 hours yesterday) for Photos attached in FTB 7.0, then synced to MyHeritage, to be reviewed and approved by the website. *  Tagging the Photos can be done in MyHeritage to specific persons.  More than one person can be tagged in an image. *  If you have more than one family tree database on the MyHeritage website, you need to make sure that you Tag the Photo to the right person in the right database. *  It's a good idea to do testing, RTFM, and consult with experts before you write and complain about it online. My thanks to MyHeritage personnel for contacting me yesterday about my problems.  They have been very responsive to me, and I appreciate it. The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/family-tree-builder-70-software_30.html Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Family Tree Builder 7.0 Software Synchronization with MyHeritage Family Tree - Post 2

MyHeritage released the FREE Family Tree Builder Version 7.0 genealogy software last week (see my post MyHeritage Releases Family Tree Builder 7.0 - New Features are Sync System and Record Matches).  

One of the NEW features in the Family Tree Builder 7.0 software was the ability to synchronize ("sync") with a user's MyHeritage Family Tree - meaning a user can change something online in their MyHeritage Family Tree, or change something in the FTB software, and click on the "Sync" button in FTB 7.0 to make the MyHeritage Family tree data match the Family Tree Builder software data. Heritage described the sync feature this way:

"All family tree information is synchronized, including photos, videos, audio files, notes, sources, citations and other information, except private information such as DNA markers which never leaves the user’s computer. The family history data can now be privately and securely viewed, edited and expanded from any device - the user’s computer, the user’s online family site on MyHeritage – or via the free MyHeritage mobile apps for iPad, iPhone and Android. Users have full control of who can be granted permission to view or add information. The new sync system also provides a backup of the users’ precious data."

I was one of the Beta testers for this feature, and determined that it worked, but did not write about it at the time.  Now I can write about it, and I believe that no other genealogy blogger (other than the MyHeritage folks) have written about it in much detail.  

I want to cover the Sync feature in two posts - the first is in Family Tree Builder 7.0 Software Synchronization with MyHeritage Family Tree - Post 1.  In the post I edited some data and added several photos for two of my ancestors.

This post covers the actual Synchronization (Sync) process.

1)  At the end of the first post, I had added the information and photos, but it was added to the MyHeritage website.  Here is the screen in Family Tree Builder 7.0 before I did a sync:

As you can see, the screen above does not show the added and edited information for Samuel Vaux and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux.  At this point I had not "Synced" the two files - the changes were on my MyHeritage website but not in Family Tree Builder 7.0.

2)  To Sync the two databases, in Family Tree Builder 7.0 I clicked on the "Sync" button in the second menu bar (it's between "Maps" and "Family site").  That started the Sync process, which has four steps:

Step 1 is "Retrieving and applying updates from your Family Site."

I don't know what Step 2 is - the screen flashed by too fast!
Step 2 is "Preparing to Sync to your Family Site."

Step 3 is "Updating changes to the Family Site:"

You can see on the screen above that the changes to my Family Tree Builder database were made after Step 2.

Step 4 is "Processing changes uploaded to the Family Site:"

3)  After the Sync was completed, the added and edited data are in my Family Tree Builder 7.0 database:

I clicked on the "Profile" link for Samuel Vaux, and saw:

The added and edited data are there.  Hmmm, there are no Photos there.  I uploaded three photos.

4)  What about on the MyHeritage Profile for Samuel Vaux?  Here it is:

The added and edited data is there.  But there are no Photos shown, even though I added them to three Events in the first post of this series.  The seventh screen (second to last) shows the three photos on MyHeritage.  What happened to them?

5) I have no idea why the Photos didn't appear on either the FTB Profile or on the MyHeritage profile.  It may have been "user error" (but I know they uploaded somewhere because I saw thumbnail images of them in the first post).

I need to work more on this, I'll try it again.

UPDATED 12 noon:  I added one photo to the Burial Event, and it uploaded to both my MyHeritage site and my Family Tree Builder database.  I'll do more testing.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/family-tree-builder-70-software_29.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Family Tree Builder 7.0 Software Synchronization with MyHeritage Family Tree - Post 1

MyHeritage released the FREE Family Tree Builder Version 7.0 genealogy software last week (see my post MyHeritage Releases Family Tree Builder 7.0 - New Features are Sync System and Record Matches).  

One of the NEW features in the Family Tree Builder 7.0 software was the ability to synchronize ("sync") with a user's MyHeritage Family Tree - meaning a user can change something online in their MyHeritage Family Tree, or change something in the FTB software, and click on the "Sync" button in FTB 7.0 to make the MyHeritage Family tree data match the Family Tree Builder software data. Heritage described the sync feature this way:

"All family tree information is synchronized, including photos, videos, audio files, notes, sources, citations and other information, except private information such as DNA markers which never leaves the user’s computer. The family history data can now be privately and securely viewed, edited and expanded from any device - the user’s computer, the user’s online family site on MyHeritage – or via the free MyHeritage mobile apps for iPad, iPhone and Android. Users have full control of who can be granted permission to view or add information. The new sync system also provides a backup of the users’ precious data."

I was one of the Beta testers for this feature, and determined that it worked, but did not write about it at the time.  Now I can write about it, and I believe that no other genealogy blogger (other than the MyHeritage folks) have written about it in much detail.  

I want to cover the Sync feature in two posts - this is the first.

1)  To start with, here is a screen shot from my MyHeritage Family Tree (Seaver-Leland Family) for the profile for Samuel Vaux:

Note that his Birth date is shown as "Before Feb 11 1816," his Death date is shown as "After 1880," and his Death place is shown as "probably Marshall, Kansas, United States."

Since I found his birth and death dates on Find A Grave two months ago, I want to edit those dates and places to the correct information.  I could do it right in my MyHeritage Family Tree, but I want to see how it works with Family Tree Builder 7.0 software.  My plan is to enter the data into FTB 7.0 and then try to "Sync" the modified FTB tree with the MyHeritage Tree.

2)  I opened the Family Tree Builder 7.0 software and made sure that the "Seaver-Leland Family" tree file was loaded.  Here is the FTB screen showing Samuel Vaux (maternal grandfather of Abbie Ardell Smith):

I clicked on the name "Samuel Vaux" and the Profile Page opened (on the Info tab):

This Profile Page shows the same information for Samuel Vaux's Birth and Death events.  It also looks to me that it is almost identical to the Samuel Vaux Profile Page on MyHeritage (first screen above).

3)  I need to Edit his Birth and Death information, and I want to add a Burial event also, with a photo of the gravestone.  I clicked on the "Events" tab on the screen above and saw the list of Events I had for Samuel Vaux:

In order to add or edit content, I clicked on the "Add / edit events" link on the line "Events in Samuel's life" on the screen above.  The screen for adding or editing all Facts appeared:

4)  I edited the Birth date, changed that date to "Exactly," then edited the Source citation information, and added the gravestone Photo.  I did the same process for the Death Event, and then added a new event for Burial, with the same information (except for using "After" for the burial date.  Here is the bottom of the Add / Edit Events screen:

I was finished, so I clicked on the blue "Save & close" button and was back to the Person Profile Info tab with the edited and added information displayed:

The revised Birth and Death data is shown on the screen above.  Note that there are three photos of the gravestone on the "Info" tab - that's because I uploaded the photo three times - for the Birth, death, and Burial Events.  I saw no way to link more than one Event to a given Photo.  Maybe I missed something there?

5)  I wanted to see if the changes were reflected in the Family Tree Builder Tree, so I clicked on the "Tree" button (in the top menu row of the software), and saw:

The changes did not show up in the Family Tree Builder tree for some reason.  I looked on MyHeritage, and the changes were in the online tree.

From what I can tell, I believe that, when the database in Family Tree Builder software is linked to a  MyHeritage Family Tree, the editing and adding of content is performed in the MyHeritage Family Tree.

I will look at the actual Sync between the online MyHeritage Family Tree and my Family Tree Builder 7.0 database in the next post in this series.  Will it work?  

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/family-tree-builder-70-software.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Disclosure:  I have a complimentary PremiumPlus subscription to MyHeritage, which I greatly appreciate.  This does not affect my objectivity in these reviews.

MyHeritage Releases Family Tree Builder 7.0 - New Features are Sync System and Record Matches

I received this press release from MyHeritage this morning;

MyHeritage releases Family Tree Builder 7.0 to bring the power of the cloud to genealogy software

Updated version of world’s most popular free family history software now syncs with online and mobile, opens new channels for the discovery of historical records and is available for the first time also in Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

PROVO, Utah & TEL AVIV, Israel – April 17 2013: MyHeritage, the popular family history network, today announced the release of Family Tree Builder 7.0, free genealogy software that combines innovative technology with easy-to-use features. The millions of family history enthusiasts and genealogists worldwide using Family Tree Builder to explore, document and showcase their roots, can now synchronize their family tree between different devices and enjoy sophisticated ways of making new discoveries via the cloud.

Family Tree Builder 7.0 is available as a free download from http://www.myheritage.com/family-tree-builder.

Using the new software, users can now optionally synchronize their entire family history between their computer and their online family tree on MyHeritage. This connection of genealogy software to the cloud enables users to access their family history anytime and anywhere. It also enables users to benefit from the renowned network effects of MyHeritage’s huge user community, with advanced matching technologies that automatically search millions of user-contributed family trees from around the world and a database of billions of historical records, to help users make breakthrough discoveries. The new version 7.0 adds new languages to cater to family history fans in the Far East, enjoys a graphical facelift and sports better looks.

“Feature-packed and cloud-powered, Family Tree Builder has become a must-have tool for anyone interested in family history”, said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “We’re proud to be bringing family history to the masses with the most technologically advanced, yet easy-use software for building a family’s digital legacy and preserving it for future generations. By combining helpful family tree tools for charting a family’s course through history, with an advanced sync system and Record Matching technology, new Family Tree Builder 7.0 offers an unbeatable journey to the past.”

New Sync System

All family tree information is synchronized, including photos, videos, audio files, notes, sources, citations and other information, except private information such as DNA markers which never leaves the user’s computer. The family history data can now be privately and securely viewed, edited and expanded from any device - the user’s computer, the user’s online family site on MyHeritage – or via the free MyHeritage mobile apps for iPad, iPhone and Android. Users have full control of who can be granted permission to view or add information. The new sync system also provides a backup of the users’ precious data.

Record Matching technology

Whereas previous versions of Family Tree Builder already enjoyed Smart Matching™ technology, which brought users matches from the millions of user-contributed family trees on MyHeritage, the new version 7.0 is the first to enjoy the company’s successful Record Matching technology, recently praised by well-known genealogy bloggers and opinion leaders James Tanner and Randy Seaver as “magic”.

Record Matching is a discovery-finder and a time-saver. It automatically researches every individual in the user’s family tree and looks for matching historical records with high accuracy. All historical records found are consolidated in one convenient report, which the user can then go over systematically. Record Matching is the world’s first and only technology capable of automatically finding newspaper articles about one’s ancestors.

Additional language capabilities

Family Tree Builder 7.0 has been rewritten to support Unicode, which means that data can be entered in any language and saved accurately as entered. The software has been expanded from 37 to 40 languages, by adding support for the first time for Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese and Korean, as MyHeritage expands its global network into the Far East.

The full range of features in Family Tree Builder is ideal for beginners and professionals alike, and includes photo albums, automatic face detection technology for photo tagging, beautiful family tree charts, poster printing, reports and statistics, interactive maps, support for DNA, automatic consistency checks and much more. The software is based on the Freemium model. It can be downloaded and used for free for building an unlimited-sized tree on one’s computer. Premium features of the software can be unlocked for a one-time purchase and affordable subscriptions are available for online family sites of unlimited capacity and access to premium content.

Family Tree Builder 7.0 is available for Windows. The company is working on adding support also for Mac OS X and this will be available starting with the next version of the software.

About MyHeritage

MyHeritage is the family history network helping millions of families around the world discover and share their legacy online. Pioneers in making family history a collaborative experience for the entire family, MyHeritage empowers its users with innovative search tools, a massive library of historical content and an international collection of family trees. The site is available in 40 languages. For more information visit www.myheritage.com

The MyHeritage Blog has more information and screen shots of the software in http://blog.myheritage.com/2013/04/new-release-family-tree-builder-7-0/

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/myheritage-releases-family-tree-builder.html

Genealogy Software Comparisons and Ratings

On the Beyond Genealogy blog today, Illya D-Addezio wrote What is the Best Family History Software?  He introduced the FindtheBest genealogy software ratings on http://familytreesoftware.genealogytoday.com/

Here is a table of the programs with the highest ratings:

Compare Family Tree Software

Use the scroll bars to see further down the list or the price on the right side of the list.

The list above and on the site includes stand-alone genealogy programs, online family trees, and utility programs that perform specific tasks (e.g., GenSmarts).

The user can select a number of genealogy programs for comparisons in many categories and sub-categories.  Here is one I did for Family Tree Maker 2012, Legacy Family Tree 7.5, RootsMagic 5 and Family Tree Builder 6.0, all of which I have and use (7 screen shots in approximate order):

As I looked through these comparisons, I saw what I thought were errors in the ratings (I think the green check means the feature is included, and the orange X means the feature is not included).  I'm not going to highlight the possible errors I thought I saw (other than what I note below).

These ratings don't seem to include some software features like Source citation templates and standardized place lists.

It is not clear to me what the basis of these ratings are.  Do they reflect one person's review of the features of each software program?  If so, I think that they are incomplete.  For example, Legacy Family Tree 7.5 has a blog, and webinars, and a book, among other features not attributed to the program.  Another example:  Family Tree Maker 2012 does have  GEDCOM Import of images (well, links to images) and does have an Export to the Web (an Ancestry Member Tree).

Or do they reflect an evaluation by a limited number of "experts?"  Or do they reflect an evaluation of a broad spectrum of the genealogy community?  Frankly, this is the first time I've heard of this effort.  

I think that the results should be vetted and tested by a broad spectrum of users and the program developers, and modified or updated after those tests.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/10/genealogy-software-comparisons-and.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

Dear Randy - Why Do You Use Several Genealogy Programs?

I've received several emails and blog comments asking me why I use several different genealogy management programs, so I wanted to answer it once and for all.

I currently have Family Tree Maker 16, Family Tree Maker 2012, RootsMagic 5, Legacy Family Tree 7.5, and Family Tree Builder 6 on my desktop computer (and on my laptop).  I've paid for all but Family Tree Builder, but have received free copies of Family Tree Maker, RootsMagic and Legacy Family Tree from the companies in the past as part of genea-blogger goodie bags at conferences and meetings.

The simple answer to the question is "Because I want to learn to use each program so that I can advise my society colleagues on the features of each program, and so that I can use the best features of each program in my own research."

I currently use RootsMagic 5 to enter information (names, dates, places, relationships, events, sources, notes, etc.) into my "master" genealogy database.  The ease of creating free-form source citations in RootsMagic 5 decided that for me in 2011.  Navigation and data entry in RootsMagic are relatively easy to perform in terms of minimum keystrokes and intuitiveness.  I like buttons with names on them rather than icons.  The RootsMagic interface with the FamilySearch Family Tree is easy to use.  The RoiotsMagic-To-Go feature is very useful.  However, I don't especially like the report and chart capabilities in RootsMagic.

I occasionally create a GEDCOM file (perhaps once a month) and import that into the other programs.  I add and edit information only in my master database using RootsMagic 5.  I don't add document images or photographs to my master database, except to test the features.  I don't do web searches from within the software except to test the features.  I don't attach document images or source citations directly from Ancestry.com because Ancestry's sources are poorly crafted.  I do save document images in historical record collections  to my computer file folders and can then attach them to my database if I choose to.

I use the other programs for:

*  Family Tree Maker 16 STILL makes the best narrative reports.  I use it to create the report for the Surname Saturday posts.  Navigation and data entry is very easy (but I don't do that any longer in FTM 16).

*  Family Tree Maker 2012 is the only program that syncs with my Ancestry Member Trees.  It has some unique reports that I like, but the charts are fairly primitive.  Navigation and data entry are fairly easy.  Source citation creation is not as easy as in RootsMagic IMHO.  GEDCOM imports are still imperfect.

*  Legacy Family Tree 7.5 has some unique reports and chart features that I like.  Navigation and data entry are fairly easy, and source citations are easy to create and edit.  GEDCOM imports and exports work well.

*  Family Tree Builder 6 makes it easy to upload a new tree to the MyHeritage website.  Navigation and data entry are fairly easy.  Source citations can only be created with a generic source template.  I dislike the narrative reports in this program since they are not "standard" or "sequential."

While I am not an expert on using any of these programs, I know enough to be "dangerous" in each of them. I can usually help my society colleagues with a problem using the Help button if I don't know the answer immediately.  I can usually find a way to create a report or a chart with the information I want in a format I like.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/03/dear-randy-why-do-you-use-several. html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

MyHeritage Releases new feature-packed Family Tree Builder 6.0

...
Daniel Horowitz of MyHeritage.com sent this press release via email today:

====================================

MyHeritage releases new feature-packed Family Tree Builder 6.0

Updated version of world’s most popular free family history software adds new blend of historical content and technological innovation to highlight the depth and diversity in every family’s heritage

PROVO, Utah & LONDON & TEL AVIV, Israel – December 21, 2011: MyHeritage.com, the largest family network on the web, today announced the release of Family Tree Builder 6.0, the most comprehensive free software for family history fans around the world. With the addition of automatic research in historical records and new features for presenting family memories, Family Tree Builder 6.0 makes researching family history more engaging and rewarding than ever.

Millions of family history enthusiasts and genealogists worldwide use MyHeritage’s Family Tree Builder software to explore, document and showcase their roots. The newly improved Family Tree Builder 6.0 will enable them to access historical content for the first time, view their family history in several innovative and stylish new ways and help celebrate family events - past and present.

“Combining cutting edge technology with ease-of-use, Family Tree Builder is the ideal companion for taking an exciting journey to the past, sharing memories in the present and documenting them for future generations”, said MyHeritage Founder and CEO Gilad Japhet. “Packed with exciting new features, Family Tree Builder adds color and depth to family history research for professionals and beginners alike. We’re proud to have developed the industry’s most comprehensive and feature-rich software, and, true to our mission of bringing family history to the masses, we’ll continue to keep it free for all to use.”

Automatic search for historical content

Following the recent acquisition of World Vital Records by MyHeritage, Family Tree Builder 6.0 adds historical content to its suite of features for the first time. The software automatically searches for relevant historical records amongst billions of birth, marriage, death and census records, plus newspapers and yearbooks - whenever information in the family tree is added or edited. Relevant historical records for any person in the tree can then be viewed in just one click.

New ways to view and present your family history

Family Tree Builder users can synchronize their data with a private online family site on MyHeritage.com, an ideal platform for sharing their heritage and staying in touch with their family. This also enables family members to view their family tree and share photos on-the-go using MyHeritage's recently released free mobile apps for iPad, iPhone and Android. Improved integration with family sites seamlessly merges some of the most popular web-based features on MyHeritage with the software, such as:

• Family Statistics: MyHeritage analyzes the family tree and produces 45 beautiful, enlightening statistics like average lifespan and most commonly used first names. Many unique stats not available anywhere else are displayed. For example, the geographical distribution of countries of birth and residence, the top families where the gap between the age of husband and wife is highest, the average age difference between youngest and oldest child in all families, and much more.

• Profile pages: Profile Pages present the depth and diversity of family history person by person. Profiles beautifully display information about individuals in the tree and include photos, close family relatives, events, citations and much more.

• Family Timeline: Family events and photos are arranged in an attractive, fun-to-use timeline. Zoom in from a century to a single day and compare any family member’s timeline with relevant historical events.

• Family Timebook: The Timebook is a beautiful digital book of family photos and biographies of close relatives. Timebooks are generated using clever algorithms that resemble the way people create scrapbooks with tender loving care, but do so automatically.

• Family Memory Game: This unique online game automatically generates personalized picture cards of close relatives and ancestors - based on a user’s family tree. It can be played in competition mode or against the clock. The game is ideal for educating younger generations about their ancestors and introducing them to the fascinating hobby of genealogy.

Celebrate family events

• Family Events: Important family events are listed and displayed on convenient monthly or yearly calendars – making it easy to remember special family occasions and send greetings.

The above new features complement the vast range of existing features in Family Tree Builder 6.0, which include Smart Matches™, stunning family tree charts, facial recognition technology, interactive maps, photo albums and slideshows, book reports, family tree consistency checker, to-do lists and much more.

The new Family Tree Builder 6.0 is available in 37 languages and can be downloaded for free from www.myheritage.com/family-tree-builder.

About MyHeritage

MyHeritage is the most popular family network on the web. Millions of families around the world enjoy having a private and free place for their families to keep in touch and to showcase their roots. MyHeritage’s Smart Matching™ technology empowers users with an exciting and innovative way to find relatives and explore their family history. With all family information stored in a secure site, MyHeritage is the ideal place to share family photos and preserve special family moments. Available in 38 languages, MyHeritage has more than 60 million registered users and is home to more than 900 million profiles and 21 million family trees. The company is backed by Accel Partners and Index Ventures, the investors of Facebook and Skype. For more information visit www.myheritage.com.

For more information contact:

Daniel Horowitz                        Schelly Talalay Dardashti                   Mark Olsen
Chief Genealogist                     US Genealogy Advisor                       Affiliate Manager
MyHeritage.com                       MyHeritage.com                                 MyHeritage.com
Daniel@myheritage.com             (505) 994.1554                                          (801) 687.0599

Answers to my Questions about MyHeritage Trees

...
I asked several questions in my 23 June post Connecting to Other Researchers Through MyHeritage.com and received an email yesterday from Gilad Japhet, founder of MyHeritage.com, with responses.  Here are my questions and Gilad's answers:

1)  Can a member of my site add, edit, or delete my data, notes, images, etc. that are in my tree?

The answer is yes by default, but this can be prevented in the site settings, if not desirable. If you wish, you can also prevent others from modifying the tree, but still permit them to add photos. Adding photos is often a great way of collaboration that cannot create much harm especially if you ask your family members to add photos of themselves and family members close to them. It’s also possible to send photos directly to the site from email or a mobile device. Each member of MyHeritage.com can decide whether the tree should be fully collaborative, partially collaborative or not collaborative at all and in their strict control.

2)  Can a member of my site upload a GEDCOM file to my site?

The answer is yes, because a family site can contain more than one tree. The trees are kept separate. However, if this is not to your liking, then as site manager you can remove any tree that others members of your site have uploaded. The facility to upload trees is useful for sites that function as a surname association and collect multiple trees from their members and make them available to the members for perusal.

3)  Can a member of my site download my original GEDCOM file, or a GEDCOM file of the current site?

This is up to you. There is a setting to control whether such download should be permitted or not.

4)  If significant content was added to my site by other researchers, can I download the information via GEDCOM to my desktop software program?

Yes. Exporting your data from MyHeritage.com is always available and always free, and includes all photos added to the tree. There are no size limits to exporting your own data.

5)  If other researchers add content to my site, will the Family Tree Builder desktop program capture it through the automatic or "on demand" synchronization feature?
Not right now, but this is planned for the near future.

6)  Can I remove a site member from site access and privileges if I decide to do that?  How much control do I have?

As site manager you control the member list on your site and all privileges, you can revoke membership of anyone in a few clicks through the site member list.

Comment posted by Caroline Pointer:  Randy, is there a place to put a description of the tree so that visitors to the tree understand that this is a collaborative research tool and not an "end product"?

Answer for Caroline: yes, the site manager can edit the welcome message of the family site to specify what the tree is about and whether collaboration by relatives is encouraged or not. There is also a description message for each tree that can be edited to describe the family tree as a whole and indicate the main ‘missing pieces’ in it where help by others is requested.

I really appreciate Gilad taking the time to answer my questions about the MyHeritage.com website.
I went exploring in the MyHeritage account and found that:

*  The site manager can permit or prevent a GEDCOM download by a site member, or any MyHeritage member, in the "Family Trees" tab, and the "Edit Tree settings" link.

*  Site member contributions can be controlled through the "Settings" tab and the "Privacy" link (click the "Advanced" button for more options on Members).

*  A site member can be approved or removed using the "Home" tab, and the "Site members" link.  The site manager needs to click on the "Review request" to approve or reject a request to be a site member.  For a previously approved site member, the site manager needs to click on the "More" link and then the "Remove from site" link.

I was mistaken in thinking that MyHeritage would synchronize both ways with Family Tree Builder (meaning if I added content to the online tree, then the FTB database would be modified, and vice versa).  It appears that a user with Family Tree Builder 5.1 software can modify the online tree on demand or automatically from within FTB 5.1.  I will look at that soon, because it may be very useful.

Gilad's statement that they are working on the "both ways" synchronization is encouraging.  When that works, then information added or modified on the online MyHeritage tree could be added to the desktop software tree.  However, that adds the complexity of other users potentially adding "wrong data" to my tree, and potential "Content wars."  As Gilad notes above, the site manager can control content additions by guests and site members.

The URL of this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2011/06/answers-to-my-questions-about.html

(c) 2011. Randall J. Seaver. All Rights Reserved. If you wish to re-publish my content, please contact me for permission, which I will usually grant. If you are reading this on any other genealogy website (other than through an RSS feed), then they have stolen my work.

Jamboree Geneabloggers - MyHeritage Free PremiumPlus Membership is Valid until 20 June

...
I finally took some time to dig through the Geneabloggers and SCGS Jamboree Welcome Bags on Friday, and found the MyHeritage Family Tree Builder 5.0 software gift included a Free one-year PremiumPlus Membership on the www.MyHeritage.com website.  There is a "gift code" on the CDROM case for you to enter when you create, or upgrade (if you already have) your MyHeritage account. 

The Free PremiumPlus Membership offer expires on Monday, 20 June 2011 (I'm not sure if that is Israel time or your home time).  If you want to take advantage of this free gift, I suggest that you pursue it quickly!

I went to www.MyHeritage.com and easily upgraded my "Seaver Web Site" to the PremiumPlus Membership using the gift code.  My home page indicated that I had a PremiumPlus membership.  A PremiumPlus membership entitles a user to an unlimited number of persons in their tree.

I installed Family Tree Builder 5.0 from the CDROM on my desktop computer, and it upgraded the version to 5.1.0.5209, released in May 2011.

The major new feature added to Version 5.1 over Version 5.0 is:

*  The program's file importer was enhanced. In addition to importing GEDCOM files and Family Tree Legends (FTL) files, you can now directly import family tree files from 4 additional genealogy programs. This allows you to move over family tree data with photos from other programs directly to Family Tree Builder without losing information or going through GEDCOM export/import. This is especially useful if you no longer have or are no longer using the software used to produce the family tree files.

Support was added for importing Family Tree Maker files (FTW, FTM or FTMB file extensions), Personal Ancestral File files (PAF extension), Legacy files (FDB extension) and The Master Genealogist projects (TMG, PJC or VER extensions). Importing family tree files directly from other programs is based on GenBridge(tm) technology under license from Wholly Genes, Inc. This new functionality is available from the "Import GEDCOM or genealogy file" entry in the File menu

*  New super-fast scan tool was added for finding lost genealogy files on your computer. Also available from the "Import GEDCOM or genealogy file" entry in the File menu, you can have Family Tree Builder scan your computer for all family tree files (of different programs) and then select which one to import into Family Tree Builder

Since I had my most recent database in RootsMagic 4, I imported a GEDCOM file into Family Tree Builder.  That occurred easily, and I tested a few features.

After I did that, I wanted to export my tree from Family Tree Builder 5.1 on my desktop to the MyHeritage website.  My understanding was that I could do that from within Family Tree Builder 5.1.  I went to Publishing > Publish Now in FTB, and the upload of the file started quickly.  However, after a few seconds, I got a popup window titled "Family Site Tree Quota" that noted that I had more than 2,500 persons in my FTB database and I needed to Upgrade my family site to enable loading all 39,904 persons in my database. 

I cancelled the upload, and wondered if I really had a PremiumPlus membership.

Plan B was to upload the same GEDCOM file directly into the MyHeritage website.  I did that, and all 39,904 persons uploaded fairly quickly.  So it is a PremiumPlus membership, but an apparent glitch in the interface between Family Tree Builder and the website. 

I'll report more on both Family Tree Builder 5.1 software and the MyHeritage website as time permits.  The software has some interesting features, including, apparently, a synchronization between the software and the website.  I am especially interested in how the software treats sources, and how the website treats sources, especially those transferred via a GEDCOM upload.

Thank you to the MyHeritage team for the gift PremiumPlus one-year membership and for the free Family Tree Builder 5.1 software.

Disclosure:  I received no remuneration for writing this post.  I did receive a fee PremiumPlus one-year membership, and a Family Tree Builder 5.0 software CDROM, as part of the Geneabloggers Welcome Gift Bag at the SCGS Jamboree.

The URL for this post is http://www.geneamusings.com/2011/06/jamboree-geneabloggers-myheritage-free.html

(c) 2011. Randall J. Seaver. All Rights Reserved. If you wish to re-publish my content, please contact me for permission, which I will usually grant. If you are reading this on any other genealogy website, then they have stolen my work (RSS feed readers excepted).

MyHeritage Announces new (free) Family Tree Builder5.0 Software

This press release was received today from Gilad Japhet of MyHeritage:

We've just released a brand new version of Family Tree Builder, and I thought you should be among the first to know.


Before I describe everything that's new in this version, here's some more great news:

For the upcoming holidays, and to celebrate the release of Family Tree Builder 5.0, we're announcing today a limited-time, huge 30% discount on all MyHeritage subscriptions! If you've ever considered a subscription, now is the best time to get one, before this offer expires. More details on this discount are found further below.

Download Family Tree Builder 5.0 (FREE)

Family Tree Builder is the software that millions of people around the world rely on for building their family trees. The new version 5.0 released today brings significant new features and improvements, and we've been working hard in the past year to make its release a joy for lovers of family history. All the new and improved features of Family Tree Builder 5.0 are free.

Important note: if you're already using a previous version of Family Tree Builder, you can simply download and install version 5.0 on top of your current version with no problems. This will not affect your family tree data and is strongly recommended and free. If you're not using Family Tree Builder yet, the new version 5.0 is an excellent start. If you're using some other product, you can move over any existing family tree to Family Tree Builder using GEDCOM import.

What's new in version 5.0?

• Family tree charts: Family Tree Builder 5.0 features a completely overhauled chart module that generates beautiful charts, completely for free. 18 new chart styles are now available. Two new chart formats have been added: Bowtie and Hourglass. A new chart wizard makes it easier to create charts. There are great-looking new visual enhancements: title decorations, backgrounds, frames and borders to choose from. You can create as many charts as you like, save them to PDF or JPEG, print them or share them. Create your own favorite chart styles and save them for later reuse. There are more enhancements in the charts than we can possibly list here.

• Family tree posters: any chart can now be ordered as a printed poster from MyHeritage.com. This makes a great gift for a loved family member for the holidays – Christmas, Hanukkah and others, or for a birthday, wedding or family reunion. This is especially useful for large charts that are difficult to print at home, and you can choose from a variety of high quality materials including vinyl and canvas. The posters will delight you and your family, so get one or more ordered today and receive them before the holidays!

• Tree consistency checker: we've invested a lot of thought in this new, free module; it will check your family tree and detect possible mistakes of approx. 40 different types, to help you make your tree better. For example, if you have entered dates inside place fields, or tagged someone in a photo dated before that person's birth, this module will catch such mistakes, and many other ones, and show you exactly how to fix them.

• Better privacy controls: users who publish their tree to a family site on MyHeritage.com, now have better privacy controls at their fingertips, allowing them to configure with much precision which information will be posted online. For example, it is now easy to avoid publishing information about specific individuals, or to remove certain fields, such as addresses, for all people. See all info that is marked private at a glance and easily make sure that private information stays private.

• To-do lists: use this great new feature to organize your work. Enter tasks that need to be done and associate them with people in your tree and with locations; organize the next steps you need to do in your research and prioritize them. Find all tasks associated with a certain person or location and conduct your genealogy research more effectively.

• Easy restore: Family Tree Builder 5.0 can now easily restore any tree you've published online, and also recover the photos included in it. You can even download trees that you've created online on MyHeritage.com, and use Family Tree Builder to continue to grow them.

• Search & replace: search and replace text in almost every field in the family tree, with multiple configuration options, like matching case, matching an entire word, or any part of the text, etc. You can even select which fields will participate in the operation.

• Dozens of other improvements and bug fixes: incorporating feedback from our users, many aspects of the program have been improved or fixed. You can now add photographs and other media items for sources, to better document your research. DNA test results can now be entered for further reference. A new wizard has been added to locate duplicate people in our tree, and you will receive a warning before adding a new person to the tree, if it may be a duplicate. Better handling of names is provided, and married names for men are now supported too. You can now mark a person as "research complete" and easily locate the people whose research is still incomplete. New graphics have been added, and several problems in the program have become a thing of the past. A list of all enhancements is found here.

Download Family Tree Builder 5.0 (FREE)

HOLIDAY SPECIAL OFFER: for the next two weeks you can purchase our Premium subscription with a massive 30% discount. You'll get:

• All Premium features of Family Tree Builder 5.0 (current and future). These include Smart Research results, Smart Match merging, all-in-one charts and interactive maps.
• Up to 2500 names and 500MB of storage for photos and documents in your family site.
• Enhanced Smart Matches.
• Priority support.

To take advantage of this offer before it expires, click "Upgrade to Premium" in the Tools menu of Family Tree Builder.

If your site is already Premium or PremiumPlus, you can enjoy this discount to extend your subscription: visit your family site for more details.

What's next?

Download Family Tree Builder 5.0 (FREE)

See what users think about Family Tree Builder.

Enjoy,
Gilad Japhet
Founder and CEO
MyHeritage.com
Email: gilad@myheritage.com

I reviewed version 4.0 of Family Tree Builder one year ago - see Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Summary of Posts.

The software installs relatively fast and performs most functions efficiently, and the presentation is excellent.  However, the user needs to be careful during the installation - the default installation puts a toolbar on your browser and makes MyHeritage the home page.  I uploaded a GEDCOM and worked with the program a bit, looking at some of the new features.  The new Chart capabilities are included, but the Narrative Report function is useless to any serious genealogist.  I'll comment more on that in another post.

The major benefit of this software is that it is full featured and free to download and use as a stand-alone program on your computer.

Disclosure:  I have a free account at MyHeritage, and have not been remunerated for publishing this press release.