Family Historian User Group

I have just added a section to the Knowledge base about getting FH data on to other devices.

As I don't have any Apple kit, if you are using a gedcom application on your iPad with FH data could you post a little note on it here, or direct to the Knowledge base.

how_to:family_historian_on_imac_ipad_android_etc|Will Family Historian run on . . .

Jane,

I have put a little bit direct on the Knowledge base. I also made a post about the MAC this morning which you may want to copy across.

Thanks for that, how ever I think Mike Tate must have renamed my document, so you did not get the new document.

I have added your text to the one I had already written and fixed my link in the post above to go to the renamed page.

On my iPad I use GedFamilies but while it is useful to see records it is not in FH's league. I don't use it to update data (I use my desktop with FH) I just use it as a viewer.

I do like GenQuiry for its detailed approach and would rely on it more if I could use it on my iPad but I understand the constraints on developers.

There are a couple of apps for iPad which may help people log their research while using their iPad. One is 'Research Logger' and the other is 'Ilaro' but compatibility with Windows is a problem. However other programmes like 'Quick Office'; 'Outline+ ' etc and using 'CloudOn' all help compatibility with my desktop.

I use OneNote on the desktop http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/onenote/ It is great for dumping research into. If you are using an iPad you can also use OneNote with Outline+ http://outline.ws/ This is fully compatible with OneNote. If you are researching away from home you can use Dropbox to sync your MS OneNote with your iPad Outline+. It is so simple.
Dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com

I often orally dictate my longish notes (e.g. notes of conversations with family members) into my iPad using the free 'Dragon Dictation' software then I transfer it to my desktop for editing and filing.

I use GedFamilies on my iPad. I have used it for updating but generally I prefer to take notes and update FH later. Even if I have access to FH I still prefer to take a notes for updating later.

I was interested in Makfai's comments regarding OneNote as that was what I used when I had a Windows Netbook. I had tried iPad apps that were supposed to work with OneNote but didn't get on very well with them.
However today I had another look through the App Store and discovered, much to my surprise, that Microsoft have issued a free app of OneNote for use on IOS or Android. The only problem is it is only compatible with MS Office OneNote from versions 2010 onwards. Unfortunately i'm on the 2007 version!

Now what do I do. Should I upgrade MS Office, decisions, decisions.

Keith - have you tried Outline+ with OneNote?

makfai said:

If you are researching away from home you can use Dropbox to sync ... with your iPad ...

If you can use fhugdownloads:contents:dropbox|> Dropbox then presumably your iPad has an Internet connection, and so could use fhugdownloads:contents:pc_remote_control|> PC Remote Control to access FH (or anything else) directly on your PC.
Has anyone tried that?

To Makfai,
No I haven't tried Outline. I went to look for it after your earlier post, but after finding the OneNote option decided to investigate that option before considering purchasing Outline.

To Tatewise,
After reading Jane's post / Knowledge Base I did try Teamviewer at home via wifi and was able to use FH with data input looking at reports and diagrams etc. I couldn't drag the diagrams using the hand grab but it might be possible with a bit more study time. I don't know how good it would be across the internet. My biggest problem would be finding a connection, there is no wifi or internet connection at my local research library.

Internet connections might be possible via 3G or 4G mobile smartphone services, but are probably more expensive.

Here is the link to the FAQ etc of the MS Onenote app. http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/oneno ... 43695.aspx

You will need yo experience it for yourself but you will see that the app only allows you to make 500 notes before you have to pay for an upgrade. The app is also a much stripped down version of the MS Office version.

If you do decide to use Outline+ then you can transfer stuff over easily enough. Speculation abounds that MS OFFICE will be usable on ipad5!

tatewise wrote:makfai said:

If you are researching away from home you can use Dropbox to sync ... with your iPad ...

If you can use fhugdownloads:contents:dropbox|> Dropbox then presumably your iPad has an Internet connection, and so could use fhugdownloads:contents:pc_remote_control|> PC Remote Control to access FH (or anything else) directly on your PC.
Has anyone tried that?

That option has a place for the researcher but the downside is that your 'host' computer has to be on all the time and cannot switch to standby etc. If like me you are doing some research while away on hols then the home computer has to be on 24/7.

You are correct up to a point, but I believe you can leave a PC in some form of low power/sleep mode, that is awakened on an Internet connection request such as from Remote PC access.
Someone with more technical knowledge may be able to give more details.

To be honest Mike, I would not rely on a remote connection, when there is no one there to mind the PC. It can be quite tricky to do a Wake On Lan call unless you have a full blown VPN connection the router and can telnet in to send the packets via the router.

My personal solution was to buy a convertible laptop which runs windows but converts to a tablet when I want. I use GedFamiles and GedStar Pro on my Android Tablet and Phone which are fine for just looking up a little information as they are optimised to the smaller screen size.

I'm very reluctant to recommend the option of 'remote control' of the home PC. It's a very flaky option in my experience.

Which PC Remote Control products have you tried?
I find TeamViewer works quite reliably, and I use it regularly in connection with my Computer Club activities.

TeamViewer in particular has been a problem -- leaving it running causes the PC on which it is running or database applications thereon to freeze after a while (I've tried it on Windows 7 and Windows XP). On one occasion, it caused a database corruption (which was a bit of problem as it was the EPOS system for the local shop; good job I did regular backups). Microsoft's own Windows remote control application doesn't seem any better.

Also, the village where I live has an unreliable power supply, so I can't guarantee that a PC left on will stay on.

I have had the opposite experience with Teamviewer. On a trip to the UK I was away for 10 days and left it running on my PC at home accessed it 2 or 3 times every day without any issues whatsoever. I suspect it depends on exactly what you are doing.

Valkrider wrote:I have had the opposite experience with Teamviewer. On a trip to the UK I was away for 10 days and left it running on my PC at home accessed it 2 or 3 times every day without any issues whatsoever. I suspect it depends on exactly what you are doing.

Did your computer switch to 'standby' (or whatever) when you were not accessing it or was it running continuously?

makfai wrote: Did your computer switch to 'standby' (or whatever) when you were not accessing it or was it running continuously?

As I was out visiting yesterday I took my iPad with me and left my PC on at home. With TeamViewer I attempted a connection but it couldn't as the PC was asleep. Luckily my wife was still at home so I got her to wake the PC up. Then I could connect ok open my pc with password and then access FH look at various reports and diagrams, enter some data and save it.

So as long as the PC is awake it will work. I should add that it was with BT Infinity at both ends.

makfai wrote:Here is the link to the FAQ etc of the MS Onenote app. http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/oneno ... 43695.aspx

You will need yo experience it for yourself but you will see that the app only allows you to make 500 notes before you have to pay for an upgrade. The app is also a much stripped down version of the MS Office version.

If you do decide to use Outline+ then you can transfer stuff over easily enough. Speculation abounds that MS OFFICE will be usable on ipad5!

As I said I was surprised to find OneNote was free They seem pretty guarded about disclosing the upgrade price as well, I couldn't find it. That and the cost of an upgrade of MS Office is making me think Outline might be the better option. Or to have a go with Evernote, which I downloaded some while ago and have n't got round to trying.

Is the speculation of MS Office on iPad5 anything to do with these companies like Adobe an MS going over to leasing the software and perhaps soon you only log onto the internet to use the software. Which presumably then means it will work on any platform?

Keith: not entirely sure. This may be of interest. http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/508032/2 ... kQF9-e9KSM

makfai wrote:

Valkrider wrote:I have had the opposite experience with Teamviewer. On a trip to the UK I was away for 10 days and left it running on my PC at home accessed it 2 or 3 times every day without any issues whatsoever. I suspect it depends on exactly what you are doing.

Did your computer switch to 'standby' (or whatever) when you were not accessing it or was it running continuously?

No it ran continuously, I just turned the screen off and I have it running on a ups so any power glitches don't affect it.

Valkrider wrote:I have it running on a ups so any power glitches don't affect it.

Oh, to have power glitches short enough that a UPS could keep the PC alive. My UPS just enables me to shut the PC down gracefully before I go look for a candle and a book to read.

I have also seen this app for the iPad called 'papers' http://www.papersapp.com/ios/

It seems like it acts as a portable repository for research documents which you can then annotate and sync with your PC or Mac. Not tried it. Windows/Mac versions not cheap!