* Running FH v6.2 and FH v7 on same database

[philk]

Good Morning folks,
Apologies if this has already been asked but I have just purchased v7 and am worried it will alter my database.
I mainly use Linux for day to day work and run FH v6.2 very successfully in wine. Ancestral Sources does not run in wine for me so I have created a virtual machine running windows 10 to get round the problem. This is time limited so have to keep reinstalling the VM, which is a pain. I only use this when I need to use Ancestral Sources. I have my FH database on Dropbox so the working between the 2 systems works well. When I installed FH v7 on the VM it reported it would update the database, which I took to mean alter it. I would like to use v7 but must be able to still use v6.2 on the Linux machine.

My question after all this is, can I use both versions of FH safely on the same database file?
Thanks for any help in advance.

[tatewise]

This has been asked many times! The answer is NO.

The Project GEDCOM file and folder structure and also the global ProgramData custom file structures are very different.
FH v6.2 and v7.0 cannot work on the same file sets.
Also, if you don't like v7.0 and need to revert to v6.2 you will need full backups of Projects and the ProgramData and Windows Registry settings.

See:
FH6 and FH7 on same PC? (18394)
Upgrade from v6 to v7 (18309)
FH7 one computer 6.27 other. (18313)

[ColeValleyGirl]

Absolutely not.

FH7 uses Gedcom 5.5.1 files and FH6 uses Gedcom 5.5 file. The differences between the two are sufficient to mean you can't use one project with both software versions.

[NickWalker]

I mainly use Linux for day to day work and run FH v6.2 very successfully in wine. Ancestral Sources does not run in wine for me so I have created a virtual machine running windows 10 to get round the problem.

As Mike and Helen have both said, you can't use FH6 and FH7 on the same database so I can't add anymore than they've already said to that part of your question.

I know virtually (ha!) nothing about Wine but the post linked below mentions that someone has got AS 7 working on Crossover on Mac - I believe crossover is based on Wine and works on Linux too so maybe this might give you some clues:

https://www.fhug.org.uk/forum/viewtopic ... 90#p104702

Cheers

Nick

[mjashby]

@philk

Which Linux distribution and which version of Wine are you using? Might not be able to replicate precisely but willing to try to get as near as possible.

My basic procedure would be:

- create a separate 32-bit prefix 'FH7' if you intend to (eventually) install both Family Historian and Ancestral Sources 7
- Install MS NET Framework 4.8 (You don't get the dire installation warnings you get with version 3.5, so it's presumably better supported by Wine)
- When 4.8 installation is successfully confirmed install Ancestral Sources (32-bit)

I would recommend sticking to 32-bit installations if possible, as FH is 32-bit and some Linux distributions don't seem to respond well to 'mixing' 32-bit and 64-bit apps in the same Wine Prefix. Haven't tried a linux installation of FH7 yet, because the new installation/registration procedure doesn't allow 30-day trials without registration, but it does work on Crossover 20.02, with some glitches, as already reported. Can't confirm at the moment, but I believe the latest Crossover uses a 'mid range' development build of Wine 5.

Mervyn

[tatewise]

I hope all this Linux, Mac, Wine, Crossover, PlayOnLinux/Mac advice will be finding its way onto the new KB so it does not need to be repeated for every posting.

[NickWalker]

I'm sure it will eventually but it's only just over a week since we released AS7 and FH7 and it's only come up a couple of times so far I think. I'm just grateful that Mervyn's jumped in to this discussion because I don't have a clue about any of the linux/mac stuff. If we can get a definitive set of steps that seems to work then I'm more than happy to try to turn it into a KB page, although I don't know if things like screenshots would be required or if Mervyn's 3 bullet points alone are enough for the typical Wine/Crossover users to understand.

[mjashby]

Mike,

Yes, I will work with Colin S. (Valkrider) to assist with the inclusion of tested/verified procedures and issues for non-Windows Users. Still trying to catch up on "what's changed" in 7 to ensure it's not just me whose causing any glitches.

Will drop Colin another e-mail to see what his priorities are.

Mervyn

[NickWalker]

Sounds perfect, thanks Mervyn

[philk]

Thanks everyone, your time and comments are very much appreciated.

[mjashby]

Quick initial Test of Ancestral Sources 7 installation on Linux Mint 20 Virtual Machine. Seems to be working O.K., but haven't fully tested data entry process.

Received some warnings about possible incompatibilities etc. when installing MS NET Framework 4.8, which didn't appear with Crossover, but just chose to proceed. (Wine Version 6.0rc2, plus 'Winetricks' app to manage creation of Prefix and installation of NetFramework dependency).

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