* Should I Upgrade to v6? What Problems Might I Expect?

[Saltrams]

Hello Everyone. For reasons too tedious to detail here (and they aren't interesting) I had to suspend active research for nearly 4 years. I was using FH 4.1.3 and have now returned to it with data in tact.
However, I'm thinking of purchasing v6 so does anyone have advice/experience of doing that and what tech troubles might I encounter if I do? I sort of love FH but also find v4 mind numbingly clunky in certain areas. Should I go ahead?
Thanks in advance, LP

[Keithj]

I can't comment on FH4.1 because apart from a brief trial many years ago, I've only recently come to FH6 "fresh" from a stack of problems with FTM and Legacy.

I had some "excitement" converting the imported GEDCOM file from Legacy to the format FH6 liked, and then even more "fun" getting stuff to display. That took two or three evenings with a considerable amount of help from people on here, and some "research and experimentation" with the .ged file. Most of that was down to incompatibilities between different interpretations of GEDCOM format. Those are now all resolved, and FH6 is working well.

Problems to expect? I would be surprised if an update from FH4 to FH6 would cause any insurmountable issues - the interpretation of the GEDCOM rules should be consistent between the two. You may find that the conversion is almost instant and without any pain (as my transfer from FTM to Legacy was).

The only "missing item" in FH6 compared with previous packages I've used is the "tasks list". I used to "flag" items needing further research as I was working through the file; they would then appear in the main list, which I printed off when I went to the Record Office etc to gather further information. I have transferred the "open items list" to an Excel file, and keep that in the background when working in FH6. I can add items to it easily, and copy and paste relevant material from FH6. It's a workable fix. It has the advantage of being on my iPad with the Heredis copy of my FH6 file, so no paper is needed at the RO.

Having got over the starting hurdle, I'd say FH6 is the best of the packages I've tried. Some optional plugins may be needed (depending on your particular style and interests), but it does many things well.

[Keithj]

An added thought: there's a 30-day free trial of FH6. You don't get plugins, but everything else works. It's not "crippled" like the trial versions of some others (which I thus didn't get to try and therefore didn't buy).

30 days should give you a good insight into what it can do. Keep your FH4 files copied somewhere safe in case you decide not to buy the upgrade.

[Saltrams]

Thank you Keithj, much appreciated. FH6 looks temptingly competent and your description adds to that impression. I tend to agree that interpreting the Gedcom files should be the same for all FH versions (I'm sure there would have been a lot of complaints here if that wasn't the case).
The way I read the trial is that after 30 days, if for some reason I didn't upgrade, the "reversion" process was not automatic nor simple - I'd have to go for reinstallation of 4; not ideal.
I will see if 3 other people recommend 6 and then go ahead!! Thanks again.

[tatewise]

You said you "find v4 mind numbingly clunky in certain areas".
Perhaps if you describe your 'clunky' problems we could advise whether V5 or V6 helps or not.

Certainly FH V5 and V6 fixes many problems and adds some very useful new features.
Check out the new features at http://www.family-historian.co.uk/features/whats-new not just for V6 but V5 too!

Also see Is V5 to V6 upgrade worthwhile? (12468).

You are wise to be wary about trying the FH V6 Trial because reverting to FH V4 will not only require re-installation right back from your first bought Full FH version, but also a restore to your FH V4 database & settings.

If you plan to go down that route, then check your plans here before starting.

One advantage of V6 is it simplifies (re)installation, which is necessary when you sooner or later have to switch to a new PC.
Note that V6 does not run on Windows XP.

[Saltrams]

Well thank you tatewise, I appreciate your help.
You sound a bit hurt about my description of clunky features! No hurt intended, I find the source entry procedures very tedious in v4. One of the things I noticed in the highlights of v6 is the "New Automatic Source Citation Pane" (I don't even have the "old" one). My FH v4 is very untidy with my early attempts to record source material; even once I got the hang of it there seemed to be to be a lot of entering data over and over again.

Of course it is entirely possible that I wasn't using it properly!

Now your link to the post (12468) was just the sort of this I was looking for. Alas the search facility for the Forums wouldn't allow the word "upgrade" to be a search parameter and my linguistic dexterity failed me when it came to synonyms that might be acceptable, hence I couldn't find it myself. Thank you for pointing the way to it as the entire thread just about covers everything I needed to know.

Looks like I'll be getting the credit card out of the vault, giving it a spray polish and treating it to a few minutes of fame on the FH Site!

Thanks everyone.
(Please be kind when you all point out my error with the source citations problem)

[tatewise]

I am pleased you are impressed enough with FH V6.0 to buy it.
Checkout the how_to:index#installation_guide|> Family Historian > Installation Guide and all the subsidiary pages of advice.

Regarding Source Citations I am confused, but not hurt at all, sorry if I gave that impression.
I just find it odd that members complain about problems without describing them, and expect a helpful response?

The "old" Tools > Set Automatic Source Citations has existed since at least FH V3.0 and is definitely in FH V4.1.3.

I agree entering Source Citations can get tediously repetitive.
Automatic Source Citations help, but Ancestral Sources is designed to solve that problem, and has also been available for free since at least FH V3.0.
See ancestralsources:index|> Ancestral Sources for full details, tutorials, downloads, extra templates, etc...

[janefrances]

I was using FH version 4 up until recently, took the plunge and purchased the upgrade to Version 6 and I think for me, it has been well worth it. I find using the automatic source pane easier (after a little help from this forum!) and the search for individuals is brilliant.

I had no problems installing it over my existing version and it went without a hitch

Not tried the mapping yet and not keen on the links to Heritage website, so I decided to disabled this feature.

There's a lot to like about version 6.

Jane

[Saltrams]

Thanks Everyone; I appreciate all the responses. I've bought the upgrade version (£5 cheaper, whoo-hoo!) and downloaded the file. Now just need to find some time to read all the advice and take care over the installation.