Family Tree Maker Software

WORLD’S No.1 SELLING FAMILY TREE SOFTWARE REDESIGNED

Family and social history website Ancestry.com.au today announced the release of the completely redesigned Number One selling family history software, Family Tree Maker Platinum (FTM) Australia and New Zealand version, which now boasts an intuitive new interface and dozens of new features - the result of a two-year re-development process.

First released in 1989, FTM ranks in longevity among Microsoft Windows, released in 1985, and Adobe workshop. To date more than six million copies have been sold world-wide.

Ancestry’s software developers have worked closely with both family history industry professionals and beginners to create a new FTM programme that deliberately spans the range of user ability.

Key to the new software is its ability to integrate both on and offline, which enables users to quickly find and import historical facts and historical documents into their family tree.

Now, in addition to being able to quickly build family trees, record memories and organise photos, stories, videos and audio clips, FTM users can also seamlessly integrate with leading family history website Ancestry.com.au, which boasts 745 million historical records in its Australian and UK collections and five billion in its international collection.

The software also enables users to view and search other websites from within FTM * and then import images, text, or even cached versions of Web pages into their family tree as desired.

Users can use interactive street and satellite maps through Microsoft Virtual Earth to identify important locations in their ancestors’ lives. This is supported by a place-name database and hint engine which helps to ensure that locations are entered in a consistent format.

They can also create biographical sketches for each ancestor, adding life facts, historical documents, photos and other digital media. In addition, timelines highlight important personal, family and world events that occurred during their ancestors’ lifetimes.

 Ancestry.com.au Managing Director Josh Hanna comments: "The new Family Tree Maker very much reflects how researching family history has changed in the past few years, as so much of our research is now done via the internet instead of using a variety of mostly paper-based traditional resources."

"Family Tree Maker’s ability to seamlessly integrate its own functionality with the Internet and other media solidifies its position as the most adaptable software for those wishing to conduct their research online and manage and store their information offline."

Family Tree Maker Platinum Edition includes:

. Ancestry.com.au 3 month UK Heritage subscription to over 745 million UK, Irish, Australian and NZ records**

. Training DVD - offers tips and techniques to help you discover your roots and build a family tree. This video also includes an interactive tutorial that guides you through Family Tree Maker’s primary functions.

. Getting Started Guide - provides directions on how to begin your first Family Tree Maker project and master the program’s basic features.

. The Official Guide to Family Tree Maker (PDF) - for detailed instructions on using the program’s advanced features, browse or search this in-depth user manual, included on the software installation disc.

. Family Tree Maker Website - join a thriving community of novice and experienced family historians at www.familytreemaker.com. The site offers expert advice, message boards, advanced product support and more.

* Internet access required for Microsoft Virtual Earth and other Web integration.
** requires email registration

In addition Family Tree Maker Platinum Edition comes with the below bonus items:

. Australian Shipping: Arrivals and Departures 1788-1968: a collection of over 100,000 arrivals and departures; 140,000 unique references to convicts, passengers and crew; and a wealth of background information (CD)

. Australian Handbook 1904 (incorporating New Zealand, Fiji and New Guinea): 1,008 pages packed with all kinds of useful and interesting information (CD)

. New Zealand Post Office Directory 1900: a valuable resource of names, addresses, and professions of many in New Zealand in 1900 (CD)

. Pallot’s Baptism Index 1780-1837: 200,000 surviving parish, christening and baptismal registrations covering 49 parishes in the Greater London area (CD)

. Pallot’s Marriage Index 1780-1837: over 1.5 million marriage entries covering 101 parishes in London and Middlesex, plus entries from 2,500 parishes in 38 counties outside London and several from counties in Wales (CD)

. Online resources: access billions of records from the best genealogy sites in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and from around the world.

Two-year redevelopment process ensures industry - best software

. Six million copies sold world-wide since launching in 1989

. Seamless on / offline integration and access to interactive street and satellite maps

. Software designed to span a range of user ability

 Family Tree Maker is exclusively distributed in Australia by Mindscape and will be available for purchase from Harvey Norman, Officeworks, and selected retailers, retailing for $99.95 inc GST. Please visit www.familytreemaker.com.au for further information.