Am hoping someone can help me, since I am having no luck with Ancestry.com. I have a huge family file using FTM16 on a Dell with Windows XP; computer is dying. Bought a Toshiba with Windows 7. It won't take my FTM16 software, so I bought FTM2011. I need to bring over all the names, info, photos, notes, etc. from Dell. Ancestry sends me to Help book, which says to make a new tree for each line and copy that over. But doesn't a new tree mean all new data? I am really stuck, and am hoping someone can help in a way that doesn't sound like a help manual. Many thanks!

pandcyamo2

This is in effect very straight forward and there are three main steeps.


1. In FTM 16 on your Dell

Compact your FTM file. Tools>Compact

Back up your FTM 16 file by simply copying it to a memory stick or CD, or whatever media you want to use to transfer it to your new W 7 computer.

This will contain all your data including media. And because you have compacted it, it is in the best shape for the conversion by FTM 2011.

IMPORTANT !!!!

It is important that you simply copy the file (which ends in .FTW) using Windows Explorer or My Computer.

Don't back it up with FTM 16 as you will end up with a .FBC file that FTM 2011 can't open.

2. Install FTM 2011 on your W 7 computer

Now with your Windows 7 computer

Install FTM 2011, register it and check and load the service release Help>Check for Updates

Using Windows Explorer create a new folder on your W7 computer and copy your .FTW file to this folder

3. Load and convert your FTM 16 file to FTM 2011

Now this is the final bit

Open FTM 2011 in your Windows 7 computer, and in the Plan Workspace click on the New tree Tab and then select the radio button "import from an existing file"

Navigate to where you have saved your FTM 16 derived .FTW file.

Select it and follow the prompts

FTM 2011 will make a copy of the file and convert it to the FTM 2011 format. It won't change the .FTW file

That's essentially it. Have a look at the

You will likely have to clean the Places up and turn on the Description fields, especially for the birth, christening, marriage and death events, and learn all the new stuff in FTM 2011.

Also have a look at Tools>Options in FTM 2011 and set the options to suit your preferences. Setting the internet speed and screen colours, date format etc are all worthwhile

A couple of tips

I would suggest that you look at the built in tutorials in 2011 on the Help Menu as well as the 360 page Companion Guide (in PDF) also in the Help menu.

I would also suggest that you look at the FTM webinars on this link

http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Webinars.aspx

Just scroll through until you find the FTM ones that are scattered on the link. Each run for about 1 hour and are very good, especially for new users

Your W 7 computer will load FTM 16 and in fact you can run both FTM 16 and FTM 2011 on the same computer.

There are a few issues with FTM 16 under W 7 and article 2777 on the old FTM knowledge base at http://pastftm.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/pastftm.cfg/php/enduser/...
discusses the issues

Finally bookmark the FTM knowledge base at http://ftm.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ftm.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp....

and use it often. There are some great tips and articles and it is constantly being updated.




John D

John - you are my hero. I did it! I will definitely watch the webinars. I am so used to the 16 format and don't like 11 much yet...but I will work with it and probably end up liking it better. I haven't ever tried to make a book or do more than just record data. One of my goals for next year is to get more creative. Hopefully FTM2011 will be the tool to get me there. Thanks again. And Merry Christmas!
Cathie

You will enjoy Smart Stories in FTM 2011 (even better in 2012) but stay with it.

John D

I basically have the same problem except going from Version 16 on XP to 2012 on Windows 7. Do you think the same process would work for FTM 2012?

Yes, it should

Thank you I will try it.

I recently had my PC crash and it was a Dell XPS 450 running Win XP. I was using FTM version 2006 or 2007 at the time.

Before the PC tech scrubbed my PC he offloaded my data files and folders onto a portable hard drive. He then installed Windows 7 and now I'm wondering what I should do about installing a newer version of FTM since I can't locate my old install disk for the 2006 version.

If I buy a current 2012 version of FTM, will it recognize my data files stored in the FTW folder?

Bob

Bob

Yes


John D

One thing that was not mentioned. If you have FTM Version 16 books, you some time have to clean up them also. It is easy, but can take some time.