Could someone please tell me the differences, advantages and disadvantages of the two genealogy programs. I have family tree maker but don't know anything about Family Origin Program. Thank you so much. Jan

You will find strong feelings on both sides. I have used both programs, but much prefer Family Origins. I am sure there are many more FTM (Family Tree Maker) users, because it is highly promoted and in many retail stores selling software. Usually once we start with a program, we tend to stick with it because it is familiar If you choose Family Origins and if you were going to purchase it soon, I would wait until the new version 10 is out, likely in August. The best place to purchase is at the writer's website at http://formalsoft.com. There is also a demo program of version 8 I believe that you can try free for 15 days. There is also a very good users list. Family Origins is cheaper even though in my opinion it is the superior program. Generally, I think FAMILY ORIGINS is an easier program to use, particularly for someone not expert with computers. Yet is has many powerful features. Gedcom files are very easy to import and export. It has lots of nice books and reports, many of which can be saved in *.rtf format if one wants to later edit them in Word or WordPerfect. The original reports can be saved in a variety of fonts. Most reports can also be saved in plain text which is really good for pasting into email messages. Sources are easily handled and one can add a source if they choose for every fact event. I would buy the program alone for that one feature as this feature helps to promote good scholarship. One can have the FO program open to a 5 generation pedigree chart or to a family view. It is easy to switch between the two views. Some people will argue that they want to use or already own many of the Broderbund/FTM cds so one needs FTM to use them. Switching to Family Origins will cause no problem because one can ask for the demo version of FTM called the Family Archive Viewer anytime they buy an FTM cd which allows you to use their cds no matter what genealogy program you have chosen. I believe it can also be downloaded for free from the FTM site. Like the program, it only has to be installed once. On another related subject -- some of the FTM cds are excellent and very useful, although the ones that come packaged with FTM may not be the better ones, depending on where and what time periods you are researching. I personally don't like the pedigree ones due to lack of documentation for most names, but I have bought a number of the ones that contain standard genealogy books. The CT cds are particularly useful. Both programs are distributed by the same company due to the merger of Parsons Technology/buy out by the company that has distributed FTM. FTM is promoted in retail establishments while FO usually is not. My guess is that it is easier to promote the cd sales if one already owns FTM and the fact that one can use the free Family Archive Viewer is not widely advertised. FTM also costs more in most instances. Whatever, you decide I would go to the formalsoft site and check out the description of the Family Origins program and possibly the demo version. Margaret Scheffler ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jan Hood" <hood@shentel.net> To: <GenTips-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2001 10:59 PM Subject: [GEN~TIPS] Family Origin vs Family Tree Maker > Could someone please tell me the differences, advantages and disadvantages of the two genealogy programs. I have family tree maker but don't know anything about Family Origin Program. > > Thank you so much. > > Jan