Family Tree Maker

[Barmaid]

I've used FTM for years. The current version I have is 2008. I got on much better with the previous version, but unfortunately have lost the disk. The feature I really miss on FTM is the ability to create a book and turn it into .pdf format. It appears the only way to do this now is to upload it to ancestry.com and use their "Ancestry Press" and then pay for a book! I don't really want to upload my tree and I sure as hell am not paying for something I can print myself! I'd also like to be able to put it in .pdf format so I can email it to family.

Does anyone know of another package that supports gedcom which I could use to make up a booklet, please? Even better if it's one I can download from somewhere.

[another-view]

You could take a look at something called cutepdf. Not sure how compatible it is with FTM but it make pdf documents for free.

[dothawkes31]

on ancestry you can create the booklet and print the pages out yourself you don't have to order the book from them and it is easy to load a Gedcom file onto ancestry. The My Canvas on ancestry is really quick and easy to use.

[Barmaid]

I'll try that another-view, thank you. Difficulty is, I have lots of media to import which FTM used to do automatically.

I really can't get on with mycanvas Dot, its not like the 2005 version of FTM. That was an absolute doddle. mycanvas has got all those daft themes and it is taking AGGGEEESS! Guess I had better try and find my 2005 disk!

[dothawkes31]

why not look for one on ebay? I have 2005 and 2008 actually but they are snide copies my bro-in-law did for me.

[Wak]

Hi Barmaid, I don't know if you have found another suitable program yet but have you looked at the FREE "Personal Ancestral File" from www.FamilySearch.org ??
Under File/ Reports,it lists Individual Reports, Families, Scrapbook, etc. and BOOK.
I have never tried making a book but have used the individual report section and the rest of the program for many years. It also accepts and issues gedcom files and converting them to PDF can easily be done using other FREE programs.
Incidentally, I have found an unused old issue of FTM issued by the Sunday Times in 2004 but how could I get it to you???
Hope this helps.