Family Tree Maker is fairly user friendly, Jim. Just use the portions you currently are comfortable with. It will become easier to use as you enter more names. I started with myself and immediate family and then went further back. My research is difficult because it involves ancestry in a country that has not cooperated with the LDS and allowed filming of records. But that has not prevented me from the pleasure of creating reports that cover family back to 1801. When you have a few more entries in the FTM program print out a report. That alone will keep you interested in doing more so you can see the report build <smile>. Elaine (fellow hobbyist) Hello jmh1925 On Friday, June 20, 2003, you wrote > Diane, > Thanks very much for writing what TMG is. I thought that it was very > kind of you to give me such a complete, full analysis of the program. > I also thanks the others of you who gave me a better picture of > geneology programs. I have not been using a program. I have been up to > now just putting the genealogy of each family line into DOCUMENT into my > computer and putting the sources and pictures into a loose leaf book. > In my DOCUMENT folder, I typed the name, birth date, marriage date, > death date, and burial date of the husband, wife, and children. The > source for each information is placed at the bottom. On the next page I > write all the information on the husband and wife. Then I begin to do > the same with each child. > A few months ago, I bought Family Tree Maker. However, I just have > typed my name, wife, and children in it. Because I do not know how to > put in all the information and sources into it, I have not gone any > further. The older that I get the more difficult it becomes to read > directions. I am a very impatient person. > Thanks again, > Jim