FTM2014 - Moving an FTM2012 file into FTM2014 on a New Windows based computer

With FTM2012 and FTM2014, there is a unique feature that needs to be handled when Moving a file from one Windows based computer to another Windows based computer and the new computer has FTM2014 installed. The TreeSync™ feature must be handled correctly. The Default settings are designed to do this correctly, but this blog post will walk you through the process.

For this blog post, I am going to start in FTM2012 on one computer, because I want to open this file on a New Computer, without loosing the Sync Feature, but the new computer has FTM2014 installed. This same process will also work going from FTM2012 computer to FTM2014 on the SAME computer. The steps are the same.

The Plan Workspace shows that FTM2012 and the Ancestry Member Tree are in Sync, with the Check Mark in the right side of that screen and is says "In-Sync"

From the Plan Workspace in FTM2012, Click on File, then Back Up.

Just want to point out, the Filename at the top, followed by Family Tree Maker 2012. My filenames include the Version, and the Product Version number from the Help menu.

In this case the file is my Master file, followed by 2012 and 732. FTM2012_723.ftm is the full filename. (the text box doesn't include the 3). So, I know what version of Family Tree Maker this file was worked on.

Clicked on File, and selected Back Up

 

This next screen is very important and the details need to be reviewed.

The normal Back Up command ADDs the Date of the Back Up. So, the Back Up full filename is

Master2012_723_2013-09-30.ftmb

 At a glance, I know what version of Family Tree Maker I was using and the Date of the Back up.

The Custom Directory, for this example, was changed so that this Back Up was put into my Dropbox Account. The Change button below the Custom Directory line was selected and I browsed to the special Dropbox folder on my computer. In the Dropbox folder, I had created an FTM2014 folder for this purpose. That is to put a file or files to go between computers.

Reason: That Back Up is in the Cloud. So, if I wanted to move this file from an Old Computer to a New Computer, I could do that using Dropbox. When I restore the file, I just go to the Special Dropbox folder on that computer, or, for this blog post, to the same computer.

I don't normally use Dropbox with Family Tree Maker, since FTM2012 came out with the TreeSync feature, as you can only use ONE computer to Sync with ONE Ancestry Member Tree.

The lower left set of options are really important as they indicate that in the Back Up, you want the Media files included, any Historical events that you created in the past, AND any Web Favorites that you added in the Web Search Workspace. Each of these features have been discussed on this blog.

The lower Right box is where the Sync magic happens. It says to Allow restored file to resume syncing. With a check mark in the box, the TreeSync feature is included in the Back Up.

Clicking OK started the Back Up process.

 

The Back up is now complete. The FTMB file is now in Dropbox.

 

Now to FTM2014 (same computer or another computer)

In the Plan Workspace, click on File, and Restore

 

In Dropbox, I went to the FTM2014 folder for this purpose and there is that Back Up file that I had created earlier.

 I select that file and the filename is moved to the Open field.

STOP before you click Open:

That is NOT the way I want to name this file. By high lighting the filename it can be renamed.

 

I want it to be Master2014_1207. Family Tree Maker Version 2014, and the 64 bit Product Version of 1207

The Restore starts:

But will stop, because there are options on the restored file.

Like the Back Up, we are asked if we want to Restore the Sync Files in this case Yes, and do we want to Replace any user created Historical Events on the computer and Restore the web favorites in the Web Search Workspace. Yes to both with a Check Mark

Now the Restore process continues

 

At the end of this process, you are taken to the Plan Workspace of the New file. I immediately do a Tools, Compact file, use the Back Up feature that is offered and let the Compact file run one time.

Than, its back to work


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Copyright © 2014 by H R Worthington