I'm signed up for the beta testing for version 5; and was wondering when it was going to be released. I accidently deleted all the photos from my tree and was hoping that the 'merge' function would allow me to merge my tree with an earlier version that had the pictures that i needed.
Thank you for all the patience. We are working very hard to make sure the next version of FTB will be ready as soon as possible, while maintaining a high-quality product.
I can say that the Beta version will be available for usage around the month of November.
As soon as the version is ready, we will be sure to inform all the users about it and you will receive a detailed email with instructions on what's new in this new and exciting upgrade
The beta version of FTB which came out a few days ago does indeed include the ability to search for duplications in the family tree project.s Once duplicates are found, you can go to the "edit profile" page and modify them as you see fit. The current version currently doesn't allow you to merge duplicates.
Family site synchronization is not available in this current beta version unfortunately. We are still working on this feature and it is planned to be available in the next version of Family Tree Builder
The beta version of FTB which came out a few days ago does indeed include the ability to search for duplications in the family tree project.s Once duplicates are found, you can go to the "edit profile" page and modify them as you see fit. The current version currently doesn't allow you to merge duplicates.
Family site synchronization is not available in this current beta version unfortunately. We are still working on this feature and it is planned to be available in the next version of Family Tree Builder
Regards,
Nir Sharony
Nir,
So, as I understand it duplicates cannot be merged as with most Genealogy software out there on the market--so why would I use FTB for my desktop management of ancestry?
Also, then I understand we still cannot synch our FTB with the MyHeritage site online and keep photo links? So, it seems, that the next build of FTB will probably be another 2 years, so "maybe" we "might" see that in 2 years or more?
BUT, here's my most critical question--When will you put back the option to see sources and citations for events and details in the current MyHeritage sites? I should not have to download the tree and view it in FTB to see these sources. You USED to show Sources and citations for ALL events, details in previous version of the MyHeritage Site!
Are we going backward 2 steps for every step forward? Where does that lead us? At least I was promised a refund if, indeed the above options were not implemented in a couple of months--that was 4 months ago.
ALSO, the Smart Matching--we were promised, as Premium Plus Site members, to be able, online, to see the Smart Matching Enhanced features--right now, we see ONLY the same options as the basic site. What is the status of that feature?
Again, you have promise of a great program and site with FTB and MyHeritage, but maybe you have growing pains--too much, too fast and not enough attention to customers and details that are vital to the purpose of your sites.
The notion of duplication merge is something that we are indeed working on very hard and it will be available soon.
We know that this feature is very important and we are planning on having it in a future version of FTB.
The upcoming release of FTB contains many new features, however duplication merge will only be available in one of the next updates of FTB.
It is important to note that synchronization between FTB and the online family site is very technical and difficult to implement.
This is why it is taking a long time to prepare. As far as I am aware there are no other software out there that offer this powerful functionality, which comes to show that this is not a trivial task. We feel that this feature is super important and don't want to launch a half-baked product. Version 6.0 of FTB will have this functionality.
The good news is that sources and citations will available in the online family sites in the next month. This project is very close to completion, and we know that it is one of the features that our users have been asking for a lot. It will be part of a release that will include many other new and exciting features in the site.
Another very important and requested feature that will be released next month would be the new enhanced Smart Matching functionality.
I’m not sure exactly what features you were expecting to see in the enhanced Smart Matching, but you’ll be able to take advantage of the new Smart Matching as soon as December.
I appreciate your feedback and we take our users requests very seriously. Every comment and suggestion is reviewed. It sounds like you really take your family research very seriously and I can see it reflected in your suggestions.
Please stay tuned for the new, exciting features that will be rolled out by the end of the year like Poster printing, New Smart Matches enhancements, Profiles upgrades and more.
Thank you for your explanation. I understand the technicality of synchronizing FTB with the website, but at least take this suggestion:
1. Allow uploads of gedcoms (which are editable, as we desire on our website anyway) to synchronize with the photo links.
I know a couple of website and website applications that do allow this: Tribal Pages (I have 3 sites there and successfully upload updated gedcoms that keep links to photos (I think even events keep links to photos). The other is TNG which is self-run software that you up-load and create your own interactive genealogical website--I can upload gedcom updates and these updates then keep the links to all attached images, both to people and to events and sources. So this is quite possible and maybe preferable to synching with FTB. A gedcom can come from ANY software program and we would like a choice, since you are not able to upgrade FTB to do this.
2. Half-baked product--we already have this with the present site given we don't have enhanced Smart Matching, preservation of photo links with upgrading the gedcom, no sources and citations showing for events, etc.
3. (SmartMatching) What features I was expecting? I was expecting what you advertised for the Premium and Premium sites--you advertised Enhanced Smart Matching and I have never seen that--I have always just had the regular smart matching available to basic, free site users. I have a copy of that advertising if you can't find it.
Further suggestions: Your Chat support under the Settings tab--I have never found it working live--I would remove it if it is never working--you have a worldwide site and maybe adding chat personnel during US hours would help improve customer relations.
Yes, we take this site very seriously since our 200 members have paid for the Plus version for 5 years and so invested time, energy, and monetary resources for a professional offering that, because it exceeds the price of MyFamily.com, we would expect to surpass their features and customer support.
I would like to help with the new version of FTB, could I ask you for adding my account to the beta tester list?
For others - they work almost for free so why are you crying there for a new version? The FTB v4 is one of the best software solution for genealogy i`ve tried and used.
I would like to join the testing because I have reported severe error regarding editing and storing dates in Croatian language. Could you please add me on the list?
Also, I need to translate some of the reports so could you please send me a fresh version for FTB 5 or 4 to send back the translated reports.
