I started with a very early windows version of FO and after a while tired FTM. I've stayed with FO for a number of reasons such as ease of input and minimual need for a manual. Being a programmer at one time, I feel that a program should not be so complex that you need to use the manual to do everything! The program should be intuitive and the help screens should provided the majority of the help you need. I found that when beginning to use FTM I constantly needed to refer to the manual. I did not have this with FO and have stayed with it, upgrading everything Bruce came out with a new program. I must go back to last least version 4. I've had difficulty importing gedcom's into FTM, not only from FO, but other programs as well. Even the latest version of FTM has given me headaches importing. It seems not to like a lot of the data and if you have dates and they are not in the exact format FTM wants, it kicks them out. For instance. I have 3 possible years of birth for a particular relative. In FO I can say born 1819, 1820 or 1824. FTM kicks this out. However, I do keep a version because I do prefer (I hate to say this) their descendant chart over FO. I like the first person being centered at the top of the page and then spreading out. In fact, currently if I try and do a descendant chart of my direct line, it cannot. It's too large. FTM can produce it. FTM usually takes less paper, and has the ability to align the data so that the boxes do not overlap pages and thus is easier to paste together. However, THAT IS THE ONLY reason I keep a version of FTM around. Hopefully Bruce will have incorporate that feature when he adds charts to RM. I've only suggest FO, now RM, to anyone who has asked me what program to use. To me FO/RM is the way to go for ease of use, and VERY IMPORTANTLY, very good support, when needed, provided here by all the knowledgeable users AND Bruce! I get a warm comfortable feeling here that I never got with anyone that owned FTM. Just my 2 cents. John Chapman "THESE are the times that try men's souls.." Thomas Paine 1776 Home Page http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~johnjay/ >From: "The Clark's" <fsea@look.ca> > > > > I am quite knew to this LIST but not knew to genealogy. At present I > > have close to 2000 names and 430 marriages with numerous photos and > > notes in my Family Tree Maker version 10 data base. > > > > Since I joined this LIST I have heard positive comments related to FOW10 > > as well as the Rootsmagic software. > > > > I have exported my FTM data to the FO V3, (for a trail run) which I have > > had previously to adopting the FTM 10. Thus I am not totally strange to > > the FO software. > > > > Is there anyone out there that has experience with the FTM as well as > > the FOW10 that can give any advice on the benefits of FOW over FTM? Any > > comments will be appreciated. > > > > Fred > > _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail