Family Historian User Group

Mike
Thank you for all your help.
I have emailed Mervyn to ask him if he will take over
Phil

Phil

As I only run FH and AS on my iMac these are my settings.

Base memory 8192MB
Video Memory 48MB

I have 2 shared drives between Mac and VBox and also allow it access to my DVD drive.

I only allocate 1 cpu

I have network set to NAT

Hope this helps.

Hi Colin
Thanks for your response.
As you can see, I have found this whole activity challenging! I have a brand new iMac which I am still learning how to use.
When it comes to installing OracleVM on the Mac, I am not sure whether I should simply click on the download button for version 5.0 when it is said there is an update 5.0.8 now available. Can I upgrade it as the next step?
A further page on OVM talks about binaries for V5.0.8; do I need to install that? And do I need to specify what the host computer is, or do I do this after the basic download.
Sorry if this sounds basic, but I do want to install the right version, before I go forward to the seemingly large sequence of steps the Manual talks about.
Phil

Hi Colin & Mervyn
I have progressed and Oracle VB is now installed on my mac
My 'guest' software will be Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, i.e. the same as on my old PC. I have ordered the disc and it should arrive tomorrow, but not until Saturday (my birthday, slightly time-shifted!) will I have an Apple Superdrive to enable me to load it!
So it is likely to be next week before I load that and then transfer FH v.6 to it.
Phil

Hello Mike
In preparation for the transfer of my family tree from my old PC to my new mac shortly, I have been reading FH V5 & V6 Migration Guide. You may recall that I upgraded on my old PC to V6 recently.

At this point I should mention that my hard drive on this PC was partitioned a few years ago when being increased in size so that all programs and other operating files stayed in C and all data went into D.

Looking at the section Standard Migration Steps, having first opened FH and in the Project Window I clicked on Conway Family Tree (the only one) and then Tools>External links>Work with External File Links, where the Current Tree File is shown as D:\users\philip\documents\family historian projects\conway family tree\conway family tree.h_data\conway family tree.ged. In the File Links box it says No Linked Files. Am I correct in understanding that this confirms that I have no customisations or preferences and hence do not need to use the Plug-in?

Opening up D on my PC I can find a folder D:\Users\philip\My Documents\Family Historian Projects which contains in turn 3 relevant folders, namely Conway Family Tree with sub-folders ConwayFamily Tree.fh_data and Conway Family Tree.fh_proj :All Individual Records.ged; and Conway Family Tree.ged. Are these 3 folders the only items I need to copy onto my external drive? (NB Also in the main folder are 4 scans from an old document which are purely for record purposes and were not entered into FH in any way).

Finally, will the fact that these files are prefaced D cause me any problem when they are downloaded into FH on my mac?

Thanks again in anticipation

Phil

Phil, the lack of External File Links simply means that (unusually) you have no linked Media of photographs or document images, which does simplify the migration.

However, it says nothing about the preferences or customisations that I listed on Mon 09 Nov.
I suggest you use the Plugin to create a Backup just in case!

As stated in the Migration Guide, copy the Family Historian Projects folder, which will include all its sub-folders and files. That includes a few files that may not strictly be needed, but they can be tidied up once on the Mac.

When a folder is copied it loses all knowledge of its previous context such as the D drive.

Sorry for the delay responding to this thread, have been away for a few days.

Am just downloading the latest update to VirtualBox and when I am sure everything is as it should be, will post a step guide on how I have set up my system including the VirtualBox 'tweaks' necessary to maximise the interaction between Windows program installations in the Virtual Machine and Mac programs. I tend to keep all of my user data in the Mac's file system rather than in the Windows Virtual Machine: For me, that tends to be easier for research and file management, data backup; and it also keeps the size of the Virtual Machine(s) down if they only contains the Operating System plus Windows Software installations/Settings.

There are also one or two additional tips I need to check up on for Windows 7 installations (and the 'free' Windows 10 Upgrades).

Mervyn

Mike
Thanks for clarifying the various points I raised.
As you may have read, I will not be taking the final steps till next week since, firstly I have not received the Windows disc yet and, secondly, I will not have disc device until this weekend as a belated birthday present!
A always your help is much appreciated
Phil

Mervyn
Many thanks for your reply.
I shall look forward to your detailed guide to setting up OVB. There seem to be quite a few decisions needed where your advice from practice will be very helpful.
One thought now: when I receive the Windows disc, how do I ensure I upload into OVB?
Phil

Phil,

Hope you can follow this.

1. VirtualBox Installation (and setup)

Download the following Files from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

(a) VirtualBox 5.0.10 for OS X Hosts
(b) VirtualBox 5.0.10 Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack

Note: Version 5.0.10 was the current release at the time of writing

Install item (a) first. Double click on the installation file and a popup windows will appear containing various items including the

- VirtualBox.pkg Installation file
- UserManual.pdf [This can be copied (dragged) to one of your folders if you want an offline copy for reference]
- VirtualBox_Uninstall.tool. [This is for removing the VirtualBox Setup if you choose at some later date to stop using it]

Double-Click on the VirtualBox.pkg file to install. You will be asked for your Mac/OS X Login Password to allow the installation to make necessary changes to the system (Similar to Windows asking for Administrator password)

When the install action completes, follow the same method to install the VirtualBox Extension Pack. The extension pack adds various features to enable Guest Operating Systems that you may install to communicate with the Mac’s hardware and external peripherals, as well as enable features such as the ability to share Mac Drives and User Folders etc.

Note: If OS X ‘complains’ about launching either of the installation files when you double-click on them “because they are from an unknown source”, then use the usual trick of holding down the CTRL Key and clicking on the file(s). Select ‘Open’ from the options presented.

Installation complete!

2. Creating a Virtual Machine

Step One: Creating the Virtual Disk

Launch VirtualBox from the Applications Folder or the Mac’s Launchpad (You might have to use the CTRL Click + Open command on the first run as Macs usually complain initially about running any application installed from the internet.)

Click on the ‘New’ Icon and Type in the name of the Operating System you want to install, e.g. Windows 7, Choose 64-bit/32-bit as appropriate (use 64-bit if possible as it’s more flexible than 32-bit) step through the guided setup accepting all the suggested options. This will setup a Virtual Disk on your Mac ready for the operating system to be installed in (similar to formatting a Hard Disk) Note: This process is reserving the maximum amount of disk space the Virtual Machine will be allowed to use, usually about 28-32 Gb for a Windows Virtual Machine, depending on the version)

Step Two: Installing the Operating System

What you need: Windows Installation Disk (DVD) or an ISO Image.
Using an ISO is quicker because computers are faster accessing a Hard Disk file compared with reading a DVD.
Windows 7/8.1 ISOs can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Centre if you have a retail Product Key

Launch the ‘Windows 7 Disk Image Created in Step One, by double-clicking on the Icon in the VirtualBox Window (or click on the Icon and then the ‘Start Arrow’ Icon)

You should be asked to select the Windows Installation file. Use the dropdown box to navigate to the CD/DVD Player to chose that, or to wherever the installation ISO is stored on the Mac. Follow through with the Windows Installation as normal.

When the Windows Installation is complete and you have configured it the way you want, from the VirtualBox Application options on the Mac’s Menu Bar select ‘Devices’ > ‘Insert Guest Additions CD Image..” Windows should ask you what you want to do with it. Choose ‘Run’ and allow the Guest Additions installation to take place.” You will have to select ‘Restart at the end to complete the installation. Eject the Virtual CD using File Manager (right-click on the CD Drive and choose ‘Eject’) and you’re done with is step..

Step Three: Configure the Setup (to suit how you want to work)

When the Windows setup has completed and you’ve checked that it works O.K. Shut down the Operating System as you would normally. Then:

a) Click on the Operating System (Windows 7) Icon in the VirtualBox Window and then choose the ‘Settings’ Icon from the Menu Bar.

b) Choose the ‘General’ > ’Advanced’ Tab and set ’Shared Clipboard’ and ‘Drag’n’Drop’ to Bi-Directional. This allows you to copy/move data between Mac OS X applications and Windows applications installed in the Virtual Machine.

c) Decide whether you want to store all of your ‘Windows User data in the My Documents Folder within the Windows Virtual Machine (VM), which will gradually increase the size of the VM, e.g. your Family Historian Projects Folder, or use the standard User Documents Folder on the Mac. If you decide to keep all of your data in the User area on the Mac then those User Folders need to be accessible to Windows, e.g. my User Folders, “Documents” and “Downloads”, appear as Drives D: and E: in my Windows VMs.

If this is how you want to work, then in the VirtualBox Settings Screen, select the Shared Folders Tab, then:

- Click on the ‘+’ icon, Select the dropdown box, other and navigate to and select your ‘Documents’ Folder, then choose (tick) ‘Auto Mount’
- Repeat the above process for any other Mac Folders you want to be able to access from the Windows VM

Note: These ‘sharing permissions’ can be set up or removed at any time if you change your mind about how you want to work.

Step Four: Install Your Windows Software

Launch the Windows VM - Install Software as normal and setup/configure to suit.

Final things to remember:

It tends to be much easier/quicker to install Windows applications in your Virtual System from installation files on the Mac’s Hard Drive rather than directly from CDs/DVDs, if you set up ’Shared Folders’ as described. e.g. if you have the disc version of Family Historian, its easy to copy the contents to a named sub-Folder on the Mac in the User’s ’Downloads’ or ‘Documents’ Folder.

Windows 7 does not support USB 3 natively, so if you need to access any external USB 3 Drives or other USB 3 peripherals attached to the Mac then USB 3 Drivers have to be manually installed in the Windows 7 Virtual Machine. With external USB 3 Hard Disks, you can get around that by setting up ‘temporary Shared Drives’ when needed, as described above.

Windows 7 qualifies for the ‘free’ Upgrade to Windows 10, when/if you’re ready for that extra step.

Will leave it at that for now.

Please ask if you need Screenshots of the process or any further clarification. Just take manageable steps. It gets easier with practice (and familiarity)!

Mervyn

Mervyn
Your detailed installation guide is hugely appreciated!
I have installed the latest OVB and your instructions were spot on!
I now must await my disc drive at the weekend before I can install Windows 7 64 bit.
Many thanks so far
Phil

Phil,

Thanks. Good to know you are making progress.

Mervyn

Hello Mike & Mervyn
I now have Oracle VB and windows 7 installed on my Mac thanks to your guide Mervyn and I am now looking at installing FH V.6 (and then upgrading to v6.0.4) in Windows on the Mac
A preliminary question to Mervyn: Windows is appearing only as a small screen about 6 x 5 inches in the middle of my large screen and does not expand in the usual way. How do i get it to full screen?
Now, back to FH: I bought and installed on my old PC FH v.6 and then upgraded it to 6.0.4. I made this installation via a web purchase and received an email on my old PC in Microsoft Outlook from Calico Pie which contained the download link, the licence name and the registration key. No problems.
Now I want to go through that same process on my Mac, but the email in question is not in the VirtualBox/Windows section of my Mac but in my Mac emails. How can I access in Windows on the Mac that download link and the licence name and registration key so as to install FH V6 there?
According to Calico Pie I have only till 23 November to do this.
I hope this makes sense
Phil

Phil, are you saying you have bought another copy of FH V6?
If so, then you did not need to do that!!!
Use the download and licence details you already have on the Windows PC.
I.e. Copy the downloaded .exe file from Windows PC to the Mac/VB/Windows, and use the same licence details to install.
If you don't know how to copy files from old Windows PC to Mac/VB/Windows then that is a technique you must master in order to transfer your Project database.

Phil,

There are several Viewing Modes you can use and it's a matter of playing with them to choose which works best for you:

1. With the Windows Virtual Machine running, you can click on the Green Dot at the top left of the application Window. As with all Apple Apps, this takes the Windows application to Full Screen Mode (You will get a 'Warning' Pop up advising you what you are about to do and describing the Shortcut Keys that can be used to change Mode back and forth).

2. On the Mac Menu Bar you can Click on 'View' and there are several options for resizing/viewing the application Window (Full Screen, Seamless Mode, Scaled Mode, all with Shortcut Keys for switching). You can also choose Adjust Screen Size (Then Drag the Corner of the Window to resize); and Auto-resize Guest Display (Auto-adjusts the Window, keeping the Height and Width of the window in proportion)

What you prefer will probably depend on the size of your display screen. I tend to use Auto-resize option most of the time as that leaves parts of the screen still visible for quickly moving (clicking) between Mac and Windows applications.

Mervyn

Hello Mike
No, I did not buy another copy!
I had misinterpreted something earlier which I took to say that I could download it again via the Calico Pie website.
I have earlier transferred various items from my old PC to the Mac via the intermediary of my external hard drive and that is what I plan to do again. Please clarify that it is only the.exe file that I need to transfer.
The question I will pose to Mervyn in my reply to him is how I ensure that on the Mac it is downloaded to the Virtual Windows element on my Mac and not to the Mac itself.
Apologies if I have tested your patience.
Kind regards
Phil

Yes, it is only the downloaded upgrade_fh4_to_6.0.4.exe (or similar) file that needs to be transferred.
(NOT the fh.exe file.)
You also need both the FH V6 and FH V4 licence details to hand.

I believe Mervyn has explained how to share disk space between Mac and Windows in Step Three c) previously.

Hi Mervyn
Thanks for your reply. I probably didn't explain myself precisely enough yesterday. When I talked of 'expanding in the usual way' I meant via the green dot, which I understand.
The problem arose yesterday as follows:
a. I clicked on the OVB icon in the dock and the OVM VB Manager window opened (Size 7 x 5 1/2 in.). I could expand this to full screen and back by the green dot.
b. I clicked in the Manager on the Windows icon to power it on and it opened in the same small size (whether the Manager window was small or large). Clicking on its green dot expanded fully the window but the Windows element remained small with a large black surround.
That is what prompted my question.
Experimenting today, I have done better: after opening the OVM VB Manager as in a. above, I clicked on View in the VirtualBox VM menu at the top of the screen, selected Scale Factor and increased it from 100% to 200%, which gave me a window approx 80% of the full screen, which is fine.
But, is this the best way?
Your advice in 2. of your response reveals my lack of familiarity with a Mac (which is a 27 in model, by the way). I cannot get a MAC Menu Bar to appear at the top of the screen and hence cannot pursue the options there under View which you list.I can get a whole variety of prefixed menu bars but not one starting Apple logo then Mac etc.
How do I do this?
Finally, having copied the downloaded FH .exe file from my old PC onto my external drive and then reconnected that drive to my Mac, how do I ensure that the download transfers into the VB/Windows 'section' of my Mac and not into the main Mac part?

Mike, thanks for your reply.
Your clarification that it is only the 'upgrade_fh6_to_6.0.4.exe file that needs to be transferred is very helpful. This is located in my Downloads folder. I HAD assumed it was the fh.exe file I had to transfer first.....
What does surprise me a little on my old PC is that having upgraded to FH 6 and then upgraded to 6.0.4, when I open FH it simply says that it is Version 6, with no mention of it being 6.0.4 either on the title page or in properties.
Phil

Yes, that is quite normal with many software products, and you have to use Help > About <product name> to obtain the detailed version. e.g. See Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers, and Microsoft Office products, etc.

FH is no different, probably it actually says Family Historian 6.0 in its splash screen.
Previously, its splash screen would have said Family Historian 4.1 not V4.1.3.
See Understanding Family Historian Version Numbers.

Way back on Mon Nov 09, I referred you to the how_to:family_historian_migration_guide|> Family Historian V5 & V6 Migration Guide, which you should now be following step by step, and it similarly explains how to check the FH full 4-digit version number.

I strongly advise you create an how_to:family_historian_installation_details#installation_archive|> Installation Archive so you do NOT lose what you have paid good money for, because after 23 Nov you will NOT be able to download it again. If it had been a CD you bought, you would similarly look after it.

Phil,

This is my part of my MacBook Pro Screen with VirtualBox running in the foreground:
Are you not able to see the Application Menu Bar at the top of your Mac's Screen when you Click on the Virtual Machine Screen? The Menu Bar is context sensitive and the number of drop-down boxes and the items under each changes when you select individual applications.

If you can't see the Menu Bar, then it is probably set to Auto-Hide until you move Mouse Pointer to the top of the screen. This 'feature option' was added in the latest release of OS X (El Capitan) and is similar to auto-hiding the Task Bar in Windows to gain more screen space. To change the setting, Select 'System Preferences' (The Cog Wheel in the Dock) > 'General' and untick the "Automatically hide and show the menu bar" entry (It's the third option down on the General Settings Tab).

Hope that helps.

Mervyn

Mervyn

Thanks for your thoughts on the window size; as it happens they don't seem to help, but this is not central to my concerns at this moment.

Clearly I am not understanding the the process of installing software (i.e.FH) onto Windows within the VM. I do not have a CD/DVD of FH, only a copy of the relevant file (as advised by Mike, namely 'upgrade_fh6_to_6.0.4.exe') copied from my old PC onto an external hard drive, which is now connected to my Mac.

In your Step four of 15 Nov you say "Install software as normal....'. I do not know what you mean by that, I guess. Under 'Final things.....' you suggest copying the software to one of the Shared Folders I have created (Documents, Downloads, Pictures). So, I have copied from the external drive the relevant file (as above) and pasted it into the Mac's Downloads. What next? I have VM Windows open on my screen as well as the external hard drive.

Conceptually I am not understanding the process of installing software onto VM Windows. A step by step guide of what to do next would be most helpful

Apologies for being difficult....

Phil

You say you have VM Windows open as well as the external hard drive.
So your screen is displaying a familiar Windows 7 desktop?
Presumably you can see the upgrade_fh6_to_6.0.4.exe file sitting on that hard drive via Windows Explorer?
If so, then double-click that file to run it, just as you did on your PC, and it will install FH V6 into VM Windows 7.

In other words, when in VM Windows 7 you do things much the same as you do on your Windows 7 PC.

Mike
Thanks for replying
All as I described and as you reiterated, but when I D-Click on 'upgrade....' I get a box in the Windows screen with a Finder icon saying 'You can't open the application 'upgrade.....' because Microsoft Windows are not supported on OS X'!
When I D-Click on other items on the external drive (which I transferred to the Mac a week or two ago) it does open a folder on the Mac which includes the item I transferred, but not in the case of 'upgrade.....'

I have opened up Windows Explorer and looked in all the folders , for example Documents and Downloads into both of which I have pasted 'upgrade....' but there are no signs of it....

Phil

Mike
Thanks for your response.
I have gone back through the sequence of steps advised by Mervyn and found that I omitted one, namely 'Insert guest additions....'. When i did this hey presto I was able to find Downloads and Documents and Pictures appearing on my Virtual Windows screen! Mea culpa!!

But, I then copied 'upgrade etc' over and opened it, only to get a Setup box saying 'A valid installation of FH version 6 (full version) has not been found. This upgrade program cannot upgrade trial or starter editions or any version earlier than 6. Setup will now exit'

I then went back to my old PC and had a look at the V 6 download I installed a few days back, with the thought that I might have to copy and paste that over to the Mac too. It seems to open alright on the old PC and when I found the file Fh.exe in my C drive there and opened it, it opened perfectly okay. So I sent it to my external hard drive but when I tried to open it there a box appeared saying 'Initialisation failed. Installation error? Please re-install'. I have now done this twice, with the same non-result.

I am now at something of a loss.....

Phil