Delete Multiple Persons in Family Tree Maker

Family Tree Maker (FTM) is a very popular genealogy software package through which users can easily create, organize, and modify their family trees. Users, however, often incorrectly add more than one person to their family tree or find duplicate entries as a result of system errors. In such situations, removing multiple individuals in FTM is required to keep the tree accurate and well-organized. Regardless of whether you are a new user or a seasoned user, knowing the correct way to delete multiple people can be time-saving and avoid mistakes. Maintaining your tree in a proper manner allows your genealogy research to remain accurate and reliable.

Before You Start: Save Your Family Tree

You must back up your Family Tree Maker files prior to removing anything so that there is no loss of data accidentally. You may back up on an external USB drive, cloud storage sources like Dropbox, or some other secure location.

Steps to Delete Multiple Persons in Family Tree Maker

1. Open Family Tree Maker and Locate the People Workspace

Open your Family Tree Maker software.
Go to the People Workspace and mark the persons that you would like to delete in the Index Panel.
If the Index Panel is not open, click on the black arrow at the top left below the Tree tab to open it.

2. Access the Publish Workspace

Click on the Publish icon in the upper right corner.
Go to the Collection tab and open a chart that shows the individuals you wish to delete.
Tip: You cannot delete individuals using the Relationship and Pedigree Charts.

3. Selecting Individuals for Deletion

When you have created the chart, right-click on the name of an individual that you wish to erase.
A prompt will pop out, and with it, the ability to remove specific groups such as ancestors, descendants, or members of the same generation.
To select numerous individuals manually, hold down on the Ctrl or Shift button from your keyboard when you click the names.

4. Delete Selected Persons from the File

Right-click over any of the highlighted names when you have the individuals selected.
Click on the Delete from File.
Select Selected Persons from the list that appears.
A confirmation window will pop up displaying the selected individuals. Review the list carefully before proceeding.
Click OK to delete the individuals from your family tree.

Conclusion

Deleting multiple individuals in Family Tree Maker 2019 is a simple process if you are cautious. Always be sure to save your data prior to making any changes so that you don’t lose any data accidentally. By using the above steps, you can effectively eliminate unwanted people from your tree while maintaining accuracy and order.

If you face any difficulty or want more clarification, you are always welcome to contact our support staff through the Contact Us section. Our specialists are always prepared to help you out.

User Queries!

Is it possible to undo a deletion in Family Tree Maker?

If you have deleted people already and want to retrieve them, it can only be done if you have backed up your tree already. Otherwise, it is irretrievable.

Is there a limit to how many people I can delete at once?

There isn’t really any, but checking a lot of individuals at a time may lag behind. Deletions in small groups would be best to be efficient.

What happens if I delete the wrong person by accident?

If you delete someone by mistake, you will have to enter them again manually unless you have a backup that can be restored.

Can I delete a whole family branch all at once?

Yes, through the use of the selection tools, you are able to eliminate whole family groups, i.e., ancestors or descendants, at one time.

Why do I get duplicate entries in my family tree?

Duplicates can result from errors in manual entry, merging erroneous data, or system-generated duplication. It is always a good idea to review and tidy up your data every now and then.

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