Family Historian User Group

I'm thinking of migrating to FH7 from FH4, and looking at the specs was wondering if the Source templates effectively replace the excellent Ancestral Sources.
At present I'm revisiting a lot of sources to tidy up, and was wondering what people do with BMD's and IGI info, at present I have saved each item as a rtf file and saved in a BMD or IGI folder, which means a lot of small text files, and was wondering if I should just use "text from source" as the only entry and dispense of the rtf's
hope this ,my first post, makes sense

Welcome to FHUG.

Source templates don't replace AS, and AS version 7 works well with FH7; or you could use Data Entry Assistants (although they're less mature). See Sources and Citations in Version 7 (for Upgraders) for an overview of the area.

If all I have is a text transcription (like your BMD or IGI info) I put it in Text from Source, and dont clutter things up with little text files.

Thanks for your quick response
I agree with your thoughts on rtf files, and before upgrading shall attempt to 'tidy up'.
Now to check out your link on Sources & citations

cheers

It's worth taking your time to understand all the differences you'll find between version 4 and version 7 -- the change will be a steep learning curve, and you'll want to decide what new features will impact you.

Are you already using the Project structure for your data? If not, to get the best out of FH7 you will want to adopt it and that in itself will be a learning curve.

Croftian wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2021 17:27

I'm thinking of migrating to FH7 from FH4, and looking at the specs was wondering if the Source templates effectively replace the excellent Ancestral Sources.

Thank you for the kind words . Really just to echo what Helen said above... Source Templates are an extra feature of FH7 and certainly don't replace (or aim to replace) Ancestral Sources. Indeed AS 7 will help to populate the sources templates for you. The DEAs are the area that stray into AS's territory so to speak but I think in their current incarnation AS still has considerable advantages when it comes to the entry of census and the main bbmdb sources.

Best wishes

Nick

by ColeValleyGirl » 04 Mar 2021 17:57

It's worth taking your time to understand all the differences you'll find between version 4 and version 7 -- the change will be a steep learning curve, and you'll want to decide what new features will impact you.

Are you already using the Project structure for your data? If not, to get the best out of FH7 you will want to adopt it and that in itself will be a learning curve.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Project structure" all my data is stored on " OneDrive/Documents/Family Historian Projects". So can I assume that would be compatible with FH7 ?


Ian

To see if you are actually using a project rather than a stand alone GEDCOM, take a look at the title bar of the Family Historian program window. If it says "your project name - Family Historian Project", then you are using the project structure Helen is talking about.

Bill

Thanks BillH

I have : Family Historian Project-"my project name".ged
along the title bar.

If I load a GED file from project window title bar is : Family Historian Gedcom-"file name"

So I assume am actually using a project.

cheers
Ian

Ian,

I'm not sure. That looks funny to me. When I read your post, I assumed you would be on version 6 or 7. I overlooked that you are actually on version 4.

I'm a bit confused about the project name being after the words Family Historian Project. The name of my project is "Main". On my title bar it says "Main - Family Historian Project".

I'm on version 6.2.7. Maybe in version 4 it did say "Family Historian Project - Main.ged". I don't remember.

I think someone that is using version 4 or remembers what version 4 said will have to chime in to give you more help.

Bill

There's a tutorial on projects in V4 at Building a New Project from Scratch and, when working in a Project the title bar starts Family Historian Project. So, Ian, it looks as if you've already adopted the project structure.

Many thanks for the input, methinks I need to upgrade soon, I seem to be one of the few still in the "Dark Ages" .
My excuse is I've had a few years absence from the craft, and am only just revisiting my past.


cheers
Ian

We would struggle to give advice on V4, certainly. But it is going to be a big learning curve for you and you need to think carefully what new things you need to learn immediately and what things you can leave for a while until you're more bedded in'. I recommend working your way through https://www.family-historian.co.uk/features/whats-new to understand what's arrived since version 4, and prioritise what matters to you.

Ian,

This is only my opinion, but I would really look at the issues with FH 7 before I updated to it. I know there are a few that have kept me from updating. That is why I'm still on FH 6.2.7. There are workarounds for some of the issues, but I'm going to wait till they get fixed by Calico Pie. Only you will know if any of the issues are important enough to keep you from going to FH 7.

Bill

The difficulty that Ian faces is that there is no consolidated list of FH V7 problems.
There are some obvious threads that discuss some of the more annoying problems, but others are lurking in postings here, in the family-historian@groups.io forum, and in the CP support tickets of individual users.

I had thought of this. It would be nice if Calico Pie would publish a list of known issues. I wonder if it would be helpful to compile such a list and post it here as a pinned topic.

Bill

Before we begin obsessing about FH7 problems (each of which only affect a subset of users), perhaps we should wait for Ian to decide on his priorities? Some of the issues may be non-events for him... for example, there's a known problem with creating PDFs of a report which I couldn't care less about... but Ian might or might not.

BillH wrote: ↑

12 Mar 2021 17:18

I wonder if it would be helpful to compile such a list and post it here as a pinned topic.

How? Some of them are reported here. Some of them are reported on the email list. And some of them are reported direct to CP? (And some aren't reported at all). There's no easy way to create a consolidated list.

I was just thinking that people know what problems they have encountered regardless of where they reported them. These could be added to a list. It really doesn't matter to me what is done. I was just thinking it might save people from installing FH 7 and then having to revert to FH 6 if they run a problem or issue that is important to them.

Bill

Wow
I've really opened a can of worms !
I had noticed in one of Mike's posts he had mentioned hanging fire on his main project until FH7 had settled in, which made me ponder.
I think for the next couple of weeks I'll continue browsing the forum, before I make the decision, I'll also copy everything I have regarding FH4 (including what's in the Program Data folder) and all my updates since version 2 in the forlorn hope I could revert back to FH4.
Also if and when I take the plunge, considering I use Onedrive as my storage, which syncs to my Laptop, how would loading FH7 onto my Desktop PC affect my Laptop, or should I take it offline for a while ?

and just to show what a newbie I am, how can I put my location on my profile

thanks to all

Ian

Most people who have migrated to v7 have stuck with it, but the vast majority have moved from v6. Going back to v4 from v7 will be something none of us have experience with.

My advice: work out what is important to you in your current set up and ask how the migration might affect that. Or treat the migration as a new product (to which your data should migrate without a problem) and learn the new product from scratch with our help.

PS your name should be top left. Click on it and then edit profile

To edit your Profile, click your username and choose Edit Profile and Location is there.
But remember to scroll down to the bottom and Submit.

DO NOT sync an FH V7 project with an FH V4 project. They are TOTALLY incompatible.
Keep the laptop offline until certain you are happy with FH V7.
It then acts as your insurance if you choose to revert to FH V4.

Thanks Mike & Helen for your prompt replies.
nice to know the amount of backup available

cheers

Ian

Actually the bare bones basics of FH4 and FH7 are the same/similar. If you have not gone into the depths of FH4 I suggest that it might not be such a steep learning curve. If possible, play with the free trial of FH7 on a completely different computer using the sample project to make your mind up what to do.

I've finally upgraded to FH7 on my pc, and am impressed , especially the Map facility, and the ease of moving between various records, still playing with sources, but making progress. Once again thanks for everyone's support !

Now about to put up a separate couple of topics re FH7

cheers
Ian