Create, import, or download a new tree with Family Tree Maker for Mac

This article discusses the following:

• Create a New Tree
• Import a Tree from an Existing File
• Download a Tree from Ancestry

Create a New Tree

If you don't already have a genealogy file you want to use, you can create one by entering a few basic facts about your family.

1. Open the New Tree tab by clicking File and selecting “New”.

   

2. Click the circle to the left of Enter what you know

   

3. Enter your name and birth date and place in the appropriate fields. You can also enter your parent’s information here.
4. The New tree name: will automatically populate with your last name, you can change this if you wish. Click Continue.

   

5. The tree opens to the People workspace. You can start entering your family information and facts.

Import a Tree from an Existing File

If you have a genealogy file you'd like to use to start your tree, you can import it into Family Tree Maker.

1. Open the New Tree tab by clicking File and selecting “New”.

   

2. Click the circle to the left of Import a tree from an existing file. Click Choose to locate the file you wish to use.

   

3. Select the file and click Choose.

   

4. The New tree name: will generate with the name of the file, you can change this if you wish. Click Continue.

   

5. When the import is complete, you’ll see a message which shows statistics for the new tree. Click the Close button.

   

6. The tree opens to the People workspace. You can start entering your family information and facts.

 Download a Tree from Ancestry

If you have a tree on Ancestry you’d like to use to start your tree, you can download it directly into Family Tree Maker. This section will cover instructions on downloading without linking. For instructions on syncing your tree, click here.

1. Open the New Tree tab by clicking File and selecting “New”.

   

2. Click the circle to the left of Download a tree from Ancestry. If you are using Family Tree Maker for Mac 2, uncheck the checkbox that says Link to Ancestry.

   

   Note: If you would like to sync the tree you are downloading between Ancestry and Family Tree Maker for Mac 2, check the Link to Ancestry box. More information about the sync feature of Family Tree Maker for Mac 2 can be found by clicking here.

3. Click Export if necessary, and then click Download.
   • The Export button will be available if you have never downloaded your tree from Ancestry. Once you click it, a file for downloading will be prepared. Once the file has been prepared, a Download button will become available.
   • Download will show for trees you downloaded in the past but haven’t updated on Ancestry since the last time they were downloaded. Once you click it, the file will be downloaded immediately.

   

4. If you already have a tree open in Family Tree Maker, a small window will appear asking if you want to Import this file as a new tree or Merge it with an existing one.
   • Selecting Import creates an entirely new tree file for this downloaded tree. A window will appear asking where you want to save the file.

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   • Selecting Merge will first import the file, and then open a window asking which file you would like to merge this file with. After choosing the file, the merge wizard will open. For more help merging files, please click here.

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5. The tree opens to the People workspace. You can start entering your family information and facts.