Genealogy.com - World Family Tree How-To: Researching with the World Family Tree


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World Family Tree How-To: Researching with the World Family Tree

How can I access the information in the World Family Tree?

The complete World Family Tree collection is available online and on CD-ROM. With a subscription to the World Family Tree online you can instantly view trees in your browser and download them to your computer. Family files from World Family Tree CDs can be downloaded to your computer using one of these programs:

Family Tree Maker for Windows or Power Macintosh, version 3.0 or higher (Volumes 1-32 only)
Family Tree Maker for Windows, version 4.0 or higher
The Family Archive Viewer (Free!)

What is the Family Archive Viewer?

The Family Archive Viewer is a simple program product that allows you to view information in World Family Tree volumes.

How do I know which World Family Tree volume is for me?

Before purchasing a World Family Tree volume, we encourage you to search the World Family Tree to find matches for your ancestors' names. When you find matching names, you'll know which volume of the World Family Tree may contain information about your ancestors.

Who has contributed to the World Family Tree?

The family trees are contributed to the World Family Tree Project by family history enthusiasts.

How much do the World Family Tree volumes cost?

Individual World Family Tree Volumes can be purchased on CD-ROM for $19.99 or you can have instant access to every World Family Tree volume by subscribing to the World Family Tree Collection online. Both allow you to download trees to your computer but when you subscribe online, you can view trees in your browser before deciding whether or not you want to download them.

Can I access the World Family Tree if I don't have a CD-ROM drive?

If you don't have a CD-ROM drive, you can purchase an online subscription that allows you to access the complete World Family Tree collection online.

How often will additional volumes of the World Family Tree be released?

The World Family Tree grows by at least 1 million new names each month. For the latest World Family Tree releases check out our list of World Family Tree volumes every few weeks. If you contribute a tree, you'll be notified when your tree is published.

Why aren't the contributors' names and addresses included with each World Family Tree volume?

We don't include the names and addresses of the World Family Tree contributors in each volume for three key reasons:

To keep contributor addresses as up-to-date as possible. By keeping all contributor addresses in a central, up-to-date database, we are able to provide more accurate information.
To ensure that contributors approved of our service. When we published the first volumes of the World Family Tree, we didn't know how contributors and customers would want to contact each other. For example, we were reluctant to publish contributor phone numbers without knowing if contributors would want to be contacted by phone. After conducting surveys, we have determined that the vast majority of both contributors and customers prefer to communicate with each other by mail. Therefore, we have set up the World Family Tree Contributor Contact Information Service. This service allows World Family Tree customers to get the address of a contributor at no extra charge.
To protect the privacy of our contributors. By keeping their names, addresses, or phone numbers separate from the World Family Tree volumes, we can minimize the number of letters and phone calls the contributors receive, especially from direct mail companies.

How can I contact a World Family Tree contributor?

You can easily request the name and address of a World Family Tree contributor by using our online World Family Tree Contributor Contact Information Service. This valuable service helps World Family Tree customers and contributors get in touch with each other. And, best of all, there is no additional charge for this service. For more details, you can access our list of Frequently Asked Questions about the World Family Tree Contributor Contact Information Service.