How can I read an .ftw file?

I have recently made contact with someone closely connected (2nd cousin) and
he has sent me a .ftw file of his family.

I use Legacy as my program, but I don't think I can use it to open the file
(I did try). What program do I need to be able to read the file? Is it
available free-of-charge as I am happy with Legacy and don't want to spend
money to be able to read this file.

Lesley Robertson...

.ftw is a Family Tree Maker file. While it is possible to get older versions
quite cheaply, your easiest option is simply to ask your new cousin to send
you a gedcom file instead. Gedcoms are the lingua franca of the genealogy
world - they're text files that can be read by pretty nearly all genealogy
software.
Lesley Robertson

Malvary J Cole...

Thanks John and Lesley - I'll get back to him. He'd been having problems
with his FTM software, so I didn't want to bother him, if there was some
other way for me to open it.

Hugh Watkins...

get the flat pack single cd for UD $29 then
Family Tree Maker 2006

Hugh W

Thanks again.

Malvary in Ottawa

Thanks in advance for any help.

Malvary in Ottawa

john...

It is a Family Tree Maker file. Some other programs, e.g. The Master
Genealogist will open it so it could be converted to a GEDCOM file (I
can do it by that route if you want me to).
It might be easier to ask the cousin to export the data and re-send the
file as a GEDCOM file.

Charlie Hoffpauir...

The file is a native Family Tree Maker file. FTM users often generate
this when they intend to generate a GEDCOM file to give to someone.
I'd suggest two options.....
1. Get your relative to try again to generate a GEDCOM, which you will
be able to import into Legacy.
2. Get someone to convert the file for you. That person should have
the latest version of FTM (just in case that file is from a late
version) and be knowledgable enough to generate a GEDCOM
for you from FTM.

I'd offer to do the conversion, but the latest version of FTM that I
have is version 8, which is several years out of date.
Charlie Hoffpauir
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Jeff...

As has been suggested get your cousin to export a Gedcom
from FTM. Specifically:

Family Tree Maker

1. From the File menu: If you are using FTM, version 11 or
earlier, select Copy/Export Family File. If you are using
FTM 2005 or 2006, select Export File > Entire File.

2. Click the Save as type drop-down list and select GEDCOM.

3. In the File name field, type a name for the GEDCOM file.
It must have the extension .GED.

4. In the Save in field, select the drive and folder where
you want to place your file.

5. Click Save and Family Tree Maker displays the Export to
GEDCOM dialog box.

6. Make your selections from the dialog box as follows --
Destination: FTW, Version: 5.5, Character set: ANSEL, check
the Abbreviate tags box.

7. Click the OK button and the GEDCOM file will be created.