The Family Tree Maker (FTM) training programs will be presented at one of four libraries:

1. Community Room next to the Poudre River Harmony Library, 4616 South Shields Street in Fort Collins (on the West side of Front Range Community College campus, Phone: 204-8206)
2. Ben Delatour Room at the Poudre River Main Library at 201 Peterson Street, Fort Collins (Phone: 221-6380)
3. Community Room in the Loveland Public Library at 300 No. Adams Street (Phone: 962-2665)
4. Poudre River Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Avenue, Suite 200, Fort Collins.

See the calendar for dates and locations.

New Family Tree Maker training classes will begin in January and last for nine months. Classes are held January-June, September-November. A class outline will be added to this website in January with handouts posted after each class.

FTM Training Programs dates will be announced by email. Normally we will present the programs during the first or second week of each month at 6:30 or 7 pm for two hours. A Question & Answer session will begin each program to review any problems. Handouts will be at each meeting and included on this web page after each month’s program is presented. A large video screen is used at each library so attendees can view the software features.

Although the classes focus on the features of Family Tree Maker v.2008/2009 older versions will also be addressed. If you are using an older version of FTM, you might want to get the handouts from last year’s classes in addition to the current handout. They are based on Family Tree Maker 2005-2007. Adobe Reader is required to view the handouts.   

Please contact Bob Larson for more information regarding meeting content and/or locations.

 

Class Schedule for 2010

January
The first class of the year will cover new features of FTM 2010, latest patches, menu
items, toolbars, using the seven workspaces, creating new trees, importing trees, managing
family trees and files, help menu, registering and activating the software, and changing
software preferences.   January Handout

February
We will review the seven workspace tabs, but emphasize the Plan and building
your family tree and adding People tabs in detail. We will show how to make any individual the
home person in the family tree, navigate the different sections in each of these workspace tabs,
and how to add, delete individuals and print or share the family file information for relatives.   February Handout

March
We will demonstrate how to properly cite those important sources for each
document that users have collected and imported into the family file. An easy to use Source
tool allows users to enter the required document or photo/image information for proper
verification of each source. We will highlight the use of the expanded map feature that shows
the Places of each ancestor with over 3 million maps of the world. In addition, we will show
how to use the Edit, View, and Tools menu items, and add GPS coordinates.   March Handout

April
We will show how easy it is to research your ancestors using the many different
genealogy databases, either free or paid subscriptions with the Web Search feature. FTM
allows users to access many databases using intelligent commands to search and retrieve the
information for the affected ancestors.

May
We will show how to add documents, photos, audio and video files to the Media
section using a digital or video camera, scanner, or importing attachments from an email. FTM
made some great improvements in reducing the family file size when adding these items. The
media items can be placed into family group sheets, family albums, sources, genealogy reports,
and a family history book. In addition, we explain how to create family charts and slideshows.

June
Using GenSmarts software with Family Tree Maker. This is a separate software
program that works nicely with Family Tree Maker. GenSmarts intelligently searches for difficult
brickwalls by searching many different databases, either free or with paid subscriptions. This
smart software uses different methods beyond normal genealogy software to search for lost
relatives.

July & August
No class! Enjoy vacation time or keep updating your family tree.

September
We will show how to create many different types of genealogy reports, both
simple or customized family history reports to send to your relatives. You can print, save, or
email the reports as a backup to your relatives.

October
We will demonstrate the last module in Publishing your family history using a
simple publishing wizard template. Users can build their family history book by adding various
title pages, table of contents, family group sheets, biographies of each ancestor, family photos,
documents, bibliography of the sources, and finalizing the book with an expanded indexing
feature. Users can convert the book into the popular PDF format for commercial printing.

November
This is the last class of this year. Several speakers will give their experiences in
writing and publishing their family histories with examples of interesting and entertaining
family history stories and examples of their published works using Family Tree Maker or other
software.

December
No Class! Happy Holidays!

Updated March 03, 2010