* All project backup

[jsphillips]

Hi all
Is there anyway that i can backup all my 42 individual projects in one go but separately on an external device ?
Any help welcome

[LornaCraig]

If they are all in your Family Historian Projects folder you can just copy the whole folder to the external device.

[jsphillips]

No I mean normally Each project after using/editing it is backed up as full backup and separately the Ged file. I am now using also an External Drive for safety.
I want to say take all of the individual project backups full & Ged backup to this external drives. In other words to prevent me taking forever do each one twice more
Thanks

[tatewise]

Why not just backup to the External Drive by default?
There is little benefit in creating FH Full/Gedcom Backups on the same drive as the Family Historian Projects folder.
If that drive fails then you lose everything ~ Projects ~ Backups ~ the lot.
i.e. There is really no benefit in backing up to the local drive and the external drive.

So create a Backup folder for FH Projects on the External Drive.
Move all the existing FH Full/Gedcom Backup ZIP files to that External Drive Backup folder.
In FH use Tools > Preferences > Backup and change Default Backup Folder to that same External Drive Backup folder.
From now on every FH Full/Gedcom Backup will be automatically created on that External Drive in its Backup folder.

See glossary:backup_and_recovery|> Backup and Recovery for a complete overview.

BTW: Change the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings Plugin to also use that External Drive Backup folder.

BTW: Consider using a generic Backup package (like Windows 10 File History) to backup not just FH but all your other sensitive files to that External Drive.

BTW: I am fascinated that you have as many as 42 Projects.

[jsphillips]

Thanks Mike
Supercareful My Computer has 2 drives SSD C and ordinary Seagate Drive D for Data.
All progs on C Drive all data on D Drive.
My backups are on D Drive both Full and Gedcom
Then whole computer weekly C & D backed up to 2TB External Drive.
I run a U3A Group as a leader showing people how to research and how to use the web.
Each U3a member with their permission I keep their findings as a Project so the member and rest of group can see.
I have not yet used the small backup but have been asked to give one member a GED file I only recently noticed that the FH format is a "Zip file" surely this would not be of use to anyone if they have their own application ? Can I backup to a GED file ?

[tatewise]

Ok, that is an excellent backup regime.
So I don't understand why you would want to create another set of FH Full/Gedcom Backups on the External Drive.
That External Drive already has a copy of your Family Historian Projects folder and also all the FH Full/Gedcom Backups.
Why do you think you need another set of FH Full/Gedcom Backups?

You say you have not used a Small (Gedcom only) Backup so what do you mean by an FH Gedcom Backup?

As explained in glossary:backup_and_recovery|> Backup and Recovery those ZIP files are NOT some special FH format, but the standard compressed file format understood universally and can be uncompressed by many tools and commands available to anyone.

If you really need a plain GEDCOM file then use the File > Import/Export > Export > GEDCOM File command.
However, if someone has their own genealogy application then that GEDCOM may not work too well as it has all the FH special GEDCOM extensions that may not all be understood by another application.
So use the Export Gedcom File Plugin instead that has options for many genealogy applications.

I guess you realise that a GEDCOM file on its own will not include any Media image files.

[LornaCraig]

I have not yet used the small backup but have been asked to give one member a GED file I only recently noticed that the FH format is a "Zip file"

You have used a small backup before. You may not remember but back in 2017 it was discussed in this topic Backup changes ? (15455) where you said that when backing up a ged file you changed the option from Zipped File (*.zip) to Gedcom File (*.ged). You could do the same now, but as Mike says it may need tailoring to another application if your client doesn't use FH.

[tatewise]

Whether you use the default *.ZIP or *.GED file type option, the GEDCOM will be in whatever character encoding is being used by FH which defaults to Unicode (UTF-16) that is not recognised by many other genealogy applications.

In Backup changes ? (15455) you said your clients have a variety of Legacy, FTM (various years), Magic, etc.
So for those, I would strongly advise you use the Export Gedcom File Plugin with the matching export mode.

[jsphillips]

Lorna
Thank you for reminding me. I have reread this forgotten topic.
I am happy to use the Ged backup rather than zipped so I can offer this to other people if required.

Mike you mention Export Gedcom in the select button ,this does not show UTF-16 ? even if i wanted to use it.
The small backup for GED I believe is still UTF-8
I have used this on FTM 2014 and yes it does exclude some items but the main BMD and facts and Notes appear to be OK.
The MOST annoying thing is that the small backup reverts back to zip every time instead of GED. Wish List (a little late) can we have this selector to remain at last setting please !

[LornaCraig]

The small backup for GED I believe is still UTF-8

Why do you think that? The backup is just a copy of your Gedcom.

FH V6 uses UTF-16 by default. So unless you have changed this default using Preferences > File Load/Save > Save in UTF-8 file format your backups will be in UTF-16 format.

[tatewise]

I agree with Lorna regarding Small (Gedcom only) backups. They use your FH chosen encoding.
I suspect, as Lorna suggests, that you have changed your default setting to UTF-8.

The Export > GEDCOM File command offers the Format: Unicode which if you investiagte the Help is synonymous with UTF-16, but offers no significant advantage over UTF-8 except that it is slightly quicker to save and load in FH.

You are correct that most genealogy products will import many of the popular data items from any GEDCOM file.
As long as you and your clients are comfortable with that then you don't need to use the Export Gedcom File Plugin.
Just remember it is there if you need it.

[jsphillips]

Thanks Lorna & Mike
I find I have to send them sometimes a copy of a GEDCOM to import into their various programs.
They also have various computers with WIN 7/8/10. So i have to make sure that they know that they get a GEDCOM which does not necessarily encompass all facets of FH6
So I cannot send them Zip files and many clients do not have much computer "savvy".

[tatewise]

Backup commands are intended for just that purpose ~ to backup data that can be restored into the original program.
Backups are NOT intended for exporting to other programs on other computers.
Even a backup from FH V6 will probably not restore all the data into FH V5 or any earlier version.

As we have advised several times, to export a GEDCOM file to other genealogy programs on other computers, you should use either the File > Import/Export > Export > GEDCOM File command or the Export Gedcom File Plugin.
The clue is in the name Export

My feeling is that you underestimate your clients. If they are capable of importing a GEDCOM file and using genealogy software, then they are surely capable of unpacking a ZIP file if you explain that very simple process to them.