Family Tree Maker 2019 Review

Marc McDermott
First Published: | Updated: April 2, 2024

Are you looking for family tree software to help you organize your genealogy research? If so, then you should definitely check out MacKiev Family Tree Maker 2019. In this blog post, I’m going to provide a detailed review of the software and talk about why I think it’s a good option for genealogy researchers. So if you’re interested in learning more about the Family Tree Maker 2019 software, keep reading! You should also check out our complete family tree software comparison.

Core Features

Family Tree Maker 2019 includes a variety of practical new tools. Most will help you with organization, media, and preservation of data.

TreeVault Cloud Services

TreeVault Cloud Services extends the use of Family Tree Maker beyond the desk or laptop. Using this feature, you can preserve your work in the Cloud and sync it with apps for your phone or tablet. TreeVault Cloud Services makes preserving your research quick and easy. It helps you to share what you’ve learned as well as protect it for future generations.

FTM Connect

Family Tree Maker Connect is the mobile app for Family Tree Maker 2019. It runs on both Android and Apple devices, such as iPhone and iPad.

FTM Connect syncs in real time with research on your computer. Even if Family Tree Maker 2019 is not running, you will be able to access your work. This makes it an excellent tool for collaborating and sharing research with family.

Historical Weather

Historical Weather is one of Family Tree Maker 2019’s most interesting new features. The tool stores over 1 billion historical weather records. You can use Historical Weather to bring to life important dates in your family’s history.

Next of Kin

Chain of custody is important in genealogy. With the Next of Kin feature, you can choose who will inherit your work. You will receive a certificate to add to a will, containing all information necessary for your heir. Next of Kin is an important feature allowing you to protect your research. Also, it allows those you love to enjoy and continue it into the future.

Tree Browser

Tree Browser keeps track of all trees, GEDCOMs, and other files. It is especially helpful when you are having difficulty locating a file. It works by searching for Family Tree Maker files on your computer and displaying identifying data about them, allowing you to pick which project you would like to work on.

Rich Color Coding

Common ancestors and related lines are easy to identify using Rich Color Coding. You have several options of how to view a person in your tree. You can code a person with one color if you are working only on them. If you would like to see their ancestors, you have the option of coding them with up to four colors.

If you wish to see a person’s descendants, you can code these people, too, with their own colors. Rich Color Coding also gives you a bird’s eye view of your tree, enabling you to show both a person’s ancestors and descendants. This feature makes family relationships much easier to track.

Smart Filters

Family Tree Maker 2017 introduced Smart Filters and the new version has improved on it. In Family Tree Maker 2019, you can keep all the people in your tree organized by creating lists of people. You can then add criteria to lists, specifying them for certain traits.

Smart Filters also make adding people easy. If a list exists for a characteristic and a person with that criteria is added, they will automatically appear in the list. It is a convenient way to organize and find people you have already entered and an easy method to add and keep track of new discoveries.

Profile Picture Cropping Tool

This tool allows you to display family profile photographs in an attractive way. Without damaging the image, the Profile Picture Cropping Tool can zero in on the face of a photograph. It fits the image to an appropriate size and frame, cropping it to a square. The edited photograph will then attach to the person’s profile on Family Tree Maker. This is a non-destructive and intuitive way to work with and organize valuable images.

Charts & Reports

The Charts & Reports features of Family Tree Maker are now even more effective. They include several ways to view a tree, such as bowtie, fan, pedigree, and descendent charts. When publishing your work, you have the option of focusing on only one part of a family or showing spouses, children, and ancestors.

Family Tree Maker 2019 still includes traditional genealogical reports and family group sheets. Now, you can also generate reports on birthdays and other important data. You can also keep track of your research using reports of to-do’s and contact lists.

Darkroom

Darkroom is a powerful and useful feature. With a simple suite of editing tools, you can restore family photographs with ease. Darkroom even works on faded photographs, restoring them to their original clarity. It is a fantastic feature that enables you to remember ancestors as they should be.

FAQ

Is Family Tree Maker Free?

Family Tree Maker 2019 is not free.

How Much Does Family Tree Maker Cost?

The software costs $79.95 to download in the United States. A DVD and download is available for $89.95, while USB and download is available for $99.95.

Do You Need to Pay in Order to Download Family Tree Maker?

Yes, you need to pay to download Family Tree Maker 2019. The software is available from Software MacKiev. Once you make your purchase, you will receive an email with a link to download the program. You can install Family Tree Maker 2019 as soon as you receive the email or you can do so later.

Does Family Tree Maker Work on a Mac?

Family Tree Maker 2019 is compatible with both Mac and Windows. If you are using a Mac, you will need OS X 10.10 or higher. If you are working on a Windows computer, you will need Windows 7 or later.

Can I Put Family Tree Maker on More Than One Computer?

If you are a registered Family Tree Maker user, you can put Family Tree Maker on more than one computer. This is especially helpful if you are switching computers and wish to backup files externally. You can also install or uninstall Family Tree Maker as necessary.

Does Family Tree Maker Sync with Ancestry?

Family Tree Maker 2019 does sync with Ancestry. With this ability, you’ll have access to features such as hints, trees, and records.

Does Family Tree Maker Sync with FamilySearch?

Family Tree Maker 2019 does sync with FamilySearch. This is a new feature, allowing you to access hints from the online database.

Does Family Tree Maker Support GEDCOM?

Family Tree Maker 2019 does support GEDCOM. Using the program, you can import and export GEDCOM data to share. You can also include media, notes, and facts. You also have the option to anonymize living people.

Does Family Tree Maker Work with Windows 10?

Yes, Family Tree Maker is compatible with Windows versions 7 and above. This includes Windows 11.

Can I Use Family Tree Maker on My iPad?

Yes! Using the FTM Connect tool, you can use the software on your iPad.

Can I Download Family Tree Maker?

Family Tree Maker is available for download at Software MacKiev’s online store.

Is Family Tree Maker Still Available or Has it Been Discontinued?

Family Tree Maker is still available through Software MacKiev. It is also available through some educational retailers. Resellers can be located through the Software MacKiev store for your country.

Can I Upgrade Family Tree Maker?

You can upgrade Family Tree Maker. If you have been using Family Tree Maker 2017, upgrading allows syncing with Ancestry. It also installs the new tools of Family Tree Maker 2019. A discount is available for those upgrading to Family Tree Maker 2019. More information is available from the Family Tree Maker Mailing List.

What is the Newest Version of Family Tree Maker?

Family Tree Maker 2019 is the newest version of this software package.

What is the Difference Between Ancestry and Family Tree Maker?

Family Tree Maker is offline, purchased software. Ancestry is an online subscription. While both have similar features, Family Tree Maker is more powerful. It gives you greater control and allows for backup of your data.

Final Word

Family Tree Maker 2019 is a powerful program that offers practical solutions to organization and preservation of research. It is also strong in its ability to allow sharing among family and rich in features that help humanize our ancestors.

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