Family Tree Maker Version 8.0 is the latest version of Broderbund's^TM famous genealogy software, and we got the 35 CD set, retailing for $80.00. We've been using FTM for years and years and every new version provides enhancements and new features that make it more appealing and useful.

Version 8 has a Publishing Center that gives us the ability to create heirloom quality family books and home pages for the web. Wizards for creating the home page and for editing it walked us through the process by asking some questions and then automatically used our family files and converted the information to an easy to navigate web site, with pictures, index, and an Internet family tree.

The Publishing Center helps us to customize the home page by adding reports and updating the family tree. It makes it easy to create a family book, the best way to display our family trees, reports, maps and stories, either in print or on the web. Another great tool in Version 8 is the Family Finder, which gives us sources for research and reports that prioritize the information we find. We can use a find and replace feature to easily make corrections.

Getting started with FTM is easy. Simply enter information about yourself and immediate family into boxes. Tabs lead you to ancestors and descendants, prompting you for additional references such as addresses, notes, pictures and details of marriages, deaths. Unlimited number of Events and Facts for each person can be entered and a scrapbook can be made which can contain pictures, scanned documents, even video clips.

How-To guides help you trace your ancestors and the 35 CD's provided in this set have great quantities of detailed information to start you on this fascinating quest. The Family Finder CDs alone list about 250 million names. Ships passenger lists have more, and thousands of family trees are referenced so you can search for family names.

The Internet can be accessed directly from the program and Genealogy.com's search engine can be used to look for names and information. A free four month subscription provides access to Genealogy Library.com, a huge library of genealogy information. There are message boards on line where you can request or provide information and your family tree and/or reports can be uploaded to Family Tree Maker in minutes. The tree will eventually be published on a World Family Tree CD which FTM offers for sale, Currently there are over 60 CDs available. Family Tree Maker can be accessed on line at www.familytreemaker.com and FTM will respond by email to a request to contact the author of a particular family tree.

There are many genealogy record applications available in the marketplace. Family Tree Maker 8.0 is a user-friendly program that guides neophytes and experienced users alike through the steps of compiling family history. The results are professional looking family trees, books and reports, in print or on the web.