Family Historian User Group

I have Family Historian 5 on a Windows 7 computer. I intend to upgrade.
However, my net book which I take to libraries is still Windows xp. I realise xp is unsupported but I have chosen not to replace it.

I understand that FH version 5 must be uninstalled from my main computer before installing version 6. But I have a number of questions.

Can one run two versions ( 5 and 6) on two different computers?

Will FH data files opened in Version 6 on my main computer (being Gedcom) be compatible with opening in the earlier FH 5?

Will FH 6 files still be GEDCOM files now that they handle witnesses and roles?

You do NOT have to uninstall FH V5 to install FH V6.

Yes, you can run FH V5 on one PC and FH V6 on another PC.

Yes, it is possible to migrate FH V6 GEDCOM to FH V5.
There will soon be an update to the Export Gedcom File Plugin specifically designed to assist with that in order to cope with Witnesses, Roles, and Place Records.
Migrating in the opposite direction from FH V5 to FH V6 risks losing any Witnesses or Roles you have entered.

FH V6 is still fully GEDCOM compatible, but uses some new custom tags for Witnesses, Roles, and Place Records.

So, in the interests of explicit clarity (nay, pedantry), is it the case that FH6 absolutely will not run under Windows XP

The Family Historian 6 Trial Stops with
If you try to install it on XP.

Thanks, Jane. That's pretty clear
I might just finally have to give up this trusty old war horse of a PC ...

Yes, I too am having to give up a much loved (and still working) XP computer if I want to upgrade, I do have a W7 laptop and the thought of getting all my files and programmes transferred (and hoping that they all still work!) is making me feel slightly sick! But, I've just read Simon's e-mail detailing all the improvements and they all look good with the exception of the 'My Heritage' bit which I will be turning off!

Margaret.

There is of course a big debate re XP, but it is no longer supported and theoretically "not safe" re attack etc. I am now on Windows 7 and hoping for a new laptop soon, but I am waiting for Windows 10 which promises to be more laptop/pc friendly. But that is not much help if you want to use FH6 now rather than wait.

As for running FH5 on XP and FH6 on Win7: If you were to keep your FH6 as your prime database and just copy to FH5 for reference "on the road" I think you would be OK, but if you start swapping GEDCOM files between FH5 and FH6 I think you would be asking for trouble, especially if you used the new features of FH6.

Please use the how_to:family_historian_migration_guide|> Family Historian V5 & V6 Migration Guide to move from PC to PC.

The Export Gedcom File Plugin, soon to be approved in the Plugin Store, will allow FH V6 Projects to be exported in FH V5 Project format to avoid error messages and loss of data.