Family Historian User Group

I have [currently] 3 computers. 2 desktops, one of which is dying and a laptop.
I have had licenses for version 6 and now the current license for version 7.
When I went to load version 7 on the new desktop, I got the message I could only have 7 on two devices.

I want to put version 6 on the old desktop and 7 on the new one.
Version 6 was uninstalled when I upgraded to 7.
How to I get to a download of version 6 that I can put on the 'old' desktop.
Data is not an issue. I'm importing from TMG anyway.
Thanks.

You do realise that you can't share projects between version 6 and version 7? -- version 6 will not work with version 7 projects, and version 7 will always convert a V6 project to V7 format. (It's because of the different versions of Gedcom supported, but also because of the new features in V7). It's a recipe for disaster, switching back and forth.

There is nowhere you can download V6 from now, which is why we recommend you always keep a copy of downloaded media.

However, when you attempt to activate V7 on the new desktop, you will be able to choose which existing 'activation' to deactivate, so you can deactivate the dying desktop copy at that point.

You should probably read Family Historian Copy and Migration Guide to make sure you cover everything involved in migrating to a new PC, especially migrating any customisations. (Do this before deactivating the copy on the dying desktop).

Was your version 7 licence an upgrade or an entirely new licence. If it's an upgrade then I think legally you couldn't run version 6 and 7 together because the version 7 licence has replaced your version 6.

A mute point, discussed at length when FH7 was released...

While that may have been what CP intended, nowhere does it say that getting FH7 at an upgrade discount cancels the pre-existing FH6 licence. It’s not an issue in the real world, as FH6/FH7 cannot coexist for all the reasons Helen cited, so the main reason for keeping both long term would be to test FHUG advice and plugin compatibility.

Come FH8, it’s only CP’s interpretation that counts, as they control the activation server!

I've dealt with licensing for many years. If, for example, I buy an item of software for £3000 (1 licence = £3000), if I then pay £100 to upgrade it a year later this doesn't suddenly give me two licences to allow me to then run this software on two computers because that would be saving me paying another £3000 for the second licence. I could just keep doing this every time a new version comes out and eventually be able to run it on every computer in an office

We’re in danger of recycling the old discussion here and getting chopped by the mods, but the key point that was debated at length before is that there may be a disconnect between what is written down and what users assume it means by analogy with expensive professional software that probably has more tightly defined upgrade licensing. Bottom line is that the two versions can’t coexist anyway, so it’s of little practical consequence.

I have no memory of the previous conversation and I wasn't trying to have a conversation about it when I posted my first point above. I was stating a fact from a position of knowledge of licensing and there was no need for you to argue with me about it. If conversations that have been previously had on the site were not allowed to be repeated then half the posts here would be banned because the same conversations happen again and again!

Stating an alternative interpretation is not arguing, but I think we’ve said enough...

That's pretty much the definition of what an argument is - stating an opposing viewpoint, but I accept that sometimes argument can imply anger so perhaps it wasn't the best word to use. Can you point me at the lengthy discussion that was had about this before because I genuinely don't remember it and I did try searching for this?

Maybe this one, Nick.: Testing Plugins for V6 and V7 (18847)

ColeValleyGirl wrote: ↑

07 Oct 2022 16:30

Maybe this one, Nick.: Testing Plugins for V6 and V7 (18847)

Thanks Helen. So it looks like you agree with my interpretation, but interesting to see that CP have given quite a useful legal loophole that you can run a copy of FH6 on one PC if you're using it to test plugins.

It's a well-defined exception exception, though, Nick.

Which brings us neatly back to my original point - of those users who expressed a preference, two interpreted it one way based on what was written down, and two another way, based on what more precisely drafted agreements in their professional lives usually mean. And that really is my last comment on this topic ever!