Family Historian User Group

I am just about to upgrade to v7 from v6.2.7. I have had awful problems in the apst when I have upgraded FH, so I have been reading all the help I can find to make sure I have backed up everything I need to to make sure I don’t lose any data, I can get the new version installed as smoothly as possible, and that in the last resort, I can revert back to v6 if need be.

I’ve listed the steps taken below and I wondered if someone could tell me if there is anything I’ve missed before I do the actual install please?
• I’ve got the FH7 file and activation key to hand on my PC
• I’ve exported all the customisations I have made to version 6 – these include 28 queries, 4 diagrams, diagram box icons and custom facts set.
• I’ve done a full project backup.
• I’ve copied the entire Family Historian projects folder and subfolders (30 years worth of research) in my Documents to an external hard drive (including the backups and exports I’ve just done)
• I’ve also copied the whole ProgramData/Calico Pie folder and sub folders to an external hard drive, just in case
• I’ve made a list of all the plugins I use, and I’m just about to run the Back Up and Restore Family Historian Settings v3 plugin – I’ve read the Help and Advice for the plugin provided by Tatewise, and as a result have made sure ALL the boxes are checked on the options tab – is that correct?

Once I’ve run the plugin I assume I am ready to install? I’m running Windows 10 with 75Gb space (small 224Gb SDD drive)

I’m sorry if this all sounds OTT and a bit paranoid, but past upgrading experiences have not been good and I want to get it right this time.

Thank you
Sharon

Best to be paranoid and not have any problems.

I suggest cross-checking your list against our advice at Upgrading to Family Historian 7.

I'm sure Mike Tate will comment on the Backup and Restore settings settings.

Yes that's one of the pages I've been following, together with the page on Installation at https://www.family-historian.co.uk/install7 and the one on Notes on Upgrading to Version 7 at https://www.family-historian.co.uk/help ... users.html, as well as the Help and Advice page for the plugin and searching the forum to see what problems others may have had. There's so much to take in.

It's important to remember that the vast majority of users who've upgraded have found it very smooth...

I know - I'm sure the problem is with me. probably too keen to get it installed and not doing the preparation as well as I ought - hence spending a lot of time preparing this time and hopefully not missing anything. Does it look to you as though I have everything covered please?

Thank you,
Sharon

It looks OK to me. The backup you're taking with the Backup and Restore plugin is primarily in case you need to revert to version 6 -- the V7 upgrade process wil migrate most of your customisations (and the Note for upgraders in the Help file will tell you have to recover the few customisations that are disabled until you've decided if you want to restore them).

Good luck (although good preparation is much better to rely on than luck )

Thank you. I'm going to make some free time this afternoon and do the install then. I'll let you know how I get on.
Fingers crossed

Well! That went so smoothly I can hardly believe it.
Still looking at the sample project for now but I can see the upgrade has brought across my customised diagrams and icons which is where I have caused myself problems in the past and so far it is all looking good. All my custom queries and fact sets are there too. Time to breathe a sigh of relief and start playing!

Thank you
Sharon

Sharon, did you read the notes for upgraders in the Help (I'm away from my PC right now, so can't give the exact address). While you're still focussed on upgrading is probably the best time to do it! You may not need to/decide to take any action, but it's worth checking.

This is a link to the Notes for Upgraders Helen referred to, in case you didn't find it:
https://www.family-historian.co.uk/help ... users.html

Yes thank you, I've read that. A quick test of the queries didn't bring up any errors on the Sample file. One or two of the custom facts appear to be missing - these were attributes, not events, but other attributes I added are there. It's not a huge problem as the missing attributes were only linked to a couple of people (Oddly they are still there in the facts tab for each individual but are not available for adding to someone else).

Very pleased with how it's all looking so far.

Try Tools>Fact Types and tick Show Hidden. They should be there but just lacking a definition, which you can now set up. By the way, in V7 you can make custom facts 'Project only'. This means that if give your project to someone else, or they can get the cutom fact set that goes with it and they won't have the problem of undefined custom facts.