Family Historian User Group

Having been using FH on and off for a number of years there is
now the need to upgrade.

What I've got:

FH v3, Windows 7.
File with about 600 people.
Many events entered inc census, but no sources recorded.
No multi media as yet.
Not used Gedcom Census (Ancestral Sources).

What I want to do:

Update to FH v5.
Want to start to use Ancestral Sources to input new census info, inc sources.
Start to 'copy-in' multi media (cenus, certs, photos etc) to extg file.

What is best way forward please:

1. Get to grips with AS and inputting new census info and
'copying-in' multi media using FH v3 before moving to FH v5.
or
2. Get to grips with FH v5 first and then AS to input new census info and
multi media.
also
3. Can AS be of any help with the census info I've already entered?

The opinions of those who have far greater experience than I will
be much appreciated.

Regards......Howard

Hello Howard, did you solve your Broken Win Xp PC to new Win 7 PC problems (6477) from May 2011, because the thread never came to a conclusion?

Option 2. is far superior to option 1.
This is because FH V5 Projects handle Multimedia in a special way that allows entire Projects to be Moved/Copied without breaking the links to the external Multimedia files.
Creating an FH V5 Project from a plain FH V3 GEDCOM is very easy, but more complex once Multimedia are added.
See the how_to:v4:understanding_projects|> Understanding Projects for details.

Note that you need to purchase & install a full FH V5 licence as there is no discounted upgrade path from FH V3.
The FH V5 download is available from http://www.family-historian.co.uk/buy-now.
See also the how_to:reinstall_family_historian|> How to (Re-)install Family Historian.

ancestralsources:index|> Ancestral Sources not only handles new Census data, but also Baptism & Marriage data, with Birth, Death, Burial & Probate in the pipeline.

Since you have only entered Census Events without Sources, then if you re-enter them via Ancestral Sources it will replace each old Census Event with a new Census Event and other associated Facts, all with Sources & Multimedia.
The same applies to Baptism & Marriage and later Birth, Death, Burial & Probate Events.

As Mike says using AS to enter Census will be the easiest way to add the media and sources.

What you could do is once you are on V5 is to use the Change Any Fact Tag plugin to move your existing census entries to another fact type, then once all the new ones are in you can delete the originals.

Thank you Jane and Mike for replies.

Yes Mike, you have caught me out. I had completely forgotten to get back on that post from 2011.
All is OK now, I think from memory, I tracked down the missing files (fht and fhd) on my old HD, and copied then over. All is correct - I hope that makes sense!

FH v5 full license has been purchased already (not installed yet) and I'm working my way through everything in the 'Knowledge Base' etc.

My posting of the 18th was not quite correct as I do have a gedcom with multi media, it's one of the Royal Family with photos, but from what I've read I think I'll be able to sort that one out once FHv5 is installed.
Famous last words!!!!

Regards.....Howard

Your explanation of the 2011 scenario makes perfect sense.

Converting a V3 GEDCOM & Multimedia into a V5 Project Structure should be quite straight-forward as long as a few basic rules are followed, as explained in the Knowledge Base and FH Help pages.

First use FH V3 Tools > Work with External File Links to ensure all current Multimedia are present and correct.
To be extra cautious, make a backup of everything associated with FH, both project data and customisations.
Then install V5 over V3 and repeat the Tools > Work with External File Links checks, and check customisations.

At this point you still have a V3 style GEDCOM & Multimedia.
The trick is to ensure the GEDCOM (.ged) file is in the top level folder that holds your Multimedia files.
Simply move the GEDCOM file if necessary, and check all is still OK with Tools > Work with External File Links.

Now you should use File > Project Window > New Project > Import a GEDCOM File to create the Project.
Then check with Tools > Work with External File Links again.

If you have a GEDCOM without Multimedia then run through the process with that first, but obviously the Multimedia checks will all be redundant.

An update on ....The Need to Upgrade

FH v5 has been installed - all went well.
My FH v3 GEDCOM is now a project in v5
My FH v3 GEDCOM with multimedia (the Royal Family) is now a project in v5
I used your advice about the top level folder for this one.
I've just run through chapter 1(Getting the most from FH 5)
I'm a very happy bunny............many thanks for the advice.


Regards.....Howard

I am glad that all went well Howard.

When you checked Tools > Work with External File Links did the File Links box start with Project Data Folder followed by the Media folder, and without any X marks against any media?

That means it is all good to go, and all the links are Relative to the Media folder.
Now wherever you move/copy the Project folder structure the Media links should NOT get broken.

In addition to becoming familiar with the new V5 feature, as you have started doing, how about running a V5 Plugin?
Use the Tools > Plugins > Plugin Store button to visit the FH Plugin Store web page.
You can Browse Plugins but I suggest you try Show Project Statistics listed under Recent Plugins on the right.
Open its Plugin page and click the Download Now! button and Open with FH to install this plugin.
Back in FH this Plugin should now be listed in the Plugins window.
Click the More >> button bottom right, select the Plugin name, and tick Add to Tools Menu.
Now Close the Plugins window and use Tools > Show Project Statistics.
Click the Update Statistics button bottom left and enjoy...

Before long you will want to start using ancestralsources:index|> Ancestral Sources which can be downloaded and installed from that link, which also offers tutorials. Yes, more tutorials!!!

Hi Mike

When you checked Tools > Work with External File Links did the File Links box start with Project Data Folder followed by the Media folder, and without any X marks against any media?

That means it is all good to go, and all the links are Relative to the Media folder.
Now wherever you move/copy the Project folder structure the Media links should NOT get broken.

Yes it was.
I've got plenty to do and then Ancestral Sources and plugins, a winter project.

Regards.....Howard

HowardRP i note tfrom a previous post in this thread that you are working on a Royal Family project.
I would be interested to hear how you are doing. I started some years ago tryng to record ALL the descendents of the Electress Sophia. I now have a family tree containing around 20,000 people , around 12000 descendants and their spouses.
Ir was agreat way to learn how to use many of the functions of FH version 3

Hi David

My Royal Family tree is very, very small compared to yours. I used it as a practise tree when
adding photographs into FH v3. It was good to play with without interfering with my main tree.
I have since upgraded it as a project in FH v5 for further use as a practice for multi media.

Regards.....Howard