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Post date: Dec 8, 2015 11:32:30 PM
Ancestry has just announced that it has decided to discontinue support for its Family Tree Maker software. According to the announcement, they will continue selling the software through the end of this year (31 December 2015) only, and they will continue to support the software, including the tree sync feature, through 1 January 2017.
Customers use Family Tree Maker software to manage their local family tree databases. The software offers users the ability to upload and sync their tree with the Ancestry.com website. This way, the user can maintain a local copy of the database, as well as share access to it, and the linked documents, images, etc. with other users on the Ancestry website.
After 2016, users who wish to maintain a local copy of their database and share their tree with other family members will not longer be able to sync their tree with the Ancestry website, thus forcing them to either update multiple copies manually (once on their software, and once on the website), or to maintain the only up-to-date version of their tree on the Ancestry website.
This might make a many users very uncomfortable, given Ancestry's history of deleting user data without any warning, or any way to retrieve it once it is gone. Remember what happened to MyFamily (an Ancestry product) that disappeared only last year?
While Family Tree Maker does enable the user to export a copy of their tree in GEDCOM format, that format does not permit for the exporting of the linked documents, files, and pictures that make the trees come alive, and make them more valuable (and useful) than simply a list of names, dates, and relationships. This content is only exportable in native FTM (Family Tree Maker) format.
Unless Ancestry is planning on enhancing the functionality of their free app to the point that it will have most, if not all of the features and functionality of the software (including local storage of the database, ability to publish reports, charts, books, etc.), then I believe that Ancestry is doing a tremendous disservice to their customers by ceasing to support the software. Rather than looking at the Family Tree Software as a profit center, they should be treating it and the Ancestry.com app as two components of the same thing.
Below is a copy of their announcement:
Dear Family Tree Maker™ community,
Dear Family Tree Maker™ community,
Ancestry is proud to have made a significant investment this year to bring valuable new content and records to the Ancestry site. In 2015, we’ve made 220 million searchable historical records from Mexico available, more than 170 million pages from the largest collection of U.S. will and probate records, among others. We’ve also introduced new features such as Ancestry Academy, and major advancements for AncestryDNA.
Ancestry is proud to have made a significant investment this year to bring valuable new content and records to the Ancestry site. In 2015, we’ve made 220 million searchable historical records from Mexico available, more than 170 million pages from the largest collection of U.S. will and probate records, among others. We’ve also introduced new features such as Ancestry Academy, and major advancements for AncestryDNA.
As we strive to provide our customers with the best experience possible, we are constantly evaluating our services and product offerings. True to this focus, we’ve taken a hard look at the declining desktop software market and the impact this has on being able to continue to provide new content, product enhancements and support that our users need. With that, we’ve made the tough decision to stop selling Family Tree Maker as of December 31, 2015.
As we strive to provide our customers with the best experience possible, we are constantly evaluating our services and product offerings. True to this focus, we’ve taken a hard look at the declining desktop software market and the impact this has on being able to continue to provide new content, product enhancements and support that our users need. With that, we’ve made the tough decision to stop selling Family Tree Maker as of December 31, 2015.
We will continue to support existing Family Tree Maker owners at least through January 1, 2017. During this time, all features of the software, including TreeSync™ will continue to work. Our Member Services team will also remain available to assist with questions or issues you may have.
We will continue to support existing Family Tree Maker owners at least through January 1, 2017. During this time, all features of the software, including TreeSync™ will continue to work. Our Member Services team will also remain available to assist with questions or issues you may have.
These changes are never easy. But by focusing our efforts, we can concentrate on continuing to build great products for our loyal Ancestry community.
These changes are never easy. But by focusing our efforts, we can concentrate on continuing to build great products for our loyal Ancestry community.
You can find additional details about the retirement of Family Tree Maker on our blog.
You can find additional details about the retirement of Family Tree Maker on our blog.
Your privacy is important to us. View our Privacy Statement for more information.
Your privacy is important to us. View our Privacy Statement for more information.
Use of Ancestry.com is subject to our Terms and Conditions.
Use of Ancestry.com is subject to our Terms and Conditions.
© 2015 ANCESTRY.COM
© 2015 ANCESTRY.COM
Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 360 West 4800 North, Provo, UT 84604 USA
Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 360 West 4800 North, Provo, UT 84604 USA
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