* Dropbox

[jeremyhills]

I know there has been some talk about Dropbox and FH, but I can't find the answer to my problem. I have copied Family Historian Projects to my Dropbox folder on my PC. Now when I go to select my project within Dropbox on my HTC, I get 'No viewer available' - I choose download, one file is downloaded, but then nothing happens!  Do I have to instal FH on my Android??  if so, how? Please help,  Jeremy

ID:5462

[tatewise]

FH does not run on Android, but if you enter Android in the Search box on the left you will find several related postings.
The one on Android phone for field research may give you a solution:
http://www.fhug.org.uk/cgi-bin/index.cg ... y&num=4897

[jeremyhills]

Thanks. I think I have to accept that I can only have the basic .ged file opened within Family Bee, and none of the media files. Also, I will have to remember to keep the .ged file on the Android manually updated, whereas I was hoping to have it updated automatically with any changes I made on the PC,using the capabilities of Dropbox. Unless I have got it wrong?! Jeremy

[tatewise]

You should still be able to use Dropbox to synch the GEDCOM file between PC and HTC.

[jeremyhills]

That would be useful! I can't at the moment see how to do that - can you advise please. I assume I would need to keep the main .ged file in Dropbox folder, with all the other files, images, census data, etc kept where they are.  Jeremy

[tatewise]

Please read through Android phone for field research for details:
http://www.fhug.org.uk/cgi-bin/index.cg ... y&num=4897
It looks like the recommendation there is to save/export/copy just your GEDCOM file to the Dropbox folder, which is then synchronised with your Android HTC.

[jeremyhills]

I can see how to 'export' the GEDCOM file, but there is no method of copying it, and therefore keeping it up to date with the PC version. Could you please advise further.  Thanks,  Jeremy

[tatewise]

Just use Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) to copy your PC .ged file from the Family Historian project folder into the Dropbox folder on your PC.
This .ged file should then appear in the Dropbox folder on your Android HTC where you can use it with Family Bee.

[jeremyhills]

Thanks, I thought that might be the case, but I was hoping that Dropbox would automatically update every time I change my basic FH Tree. It seems that this is impossible, unless, somehow, I have my main .ged file within Dropbox on the PC - is this possible?   Jeremy

[tatewise]

Yes, use Windows Explorer to move your Family Historian Projects folder into the Dropbox folder.
Then use FH File > Project Window and click on the blue link next to Location: and select Choose Location.
Finally browse to the Family Historian Projects folder located in the Dropbox folder.

Now whenever you update any files in Family Historian Projects on the PC they will be transferred via the Dropbox online store to your Android HTC.
Similarly, any changes to these files on the Android HTC will be transferred back to the PC via Dropbox.

Note that the entire Family Historian Projects folder contents in Dropbox will be synchronised on the PC and HTC.

[gerrynuk]

Just to sound a note of warning: the free limit on Dropbox is 2GB - any more and you will need to purchase an upgrade. I mention this because my Media folder is just over 7GB because of all the images of BMD certificates etc.

So if your Media folder is anything near 2GB it may be advisable to sync only the gedcom file or consider alternatives, such as purchasing an upgrade. You don't want Dropbox to suddenly announce that you have reached your limit just as you are trying to sync recent changes.

Gerry

[tatewise]

With Dropbox you can add 250MB for free by completing the quests on the Get Started tab, and add 250MB for each friend referred through their referral program.
See Knowledge Base for more details at:
http://www.fhug.org.uk/wiki/doku.php?id ... ts:dropbox

There are also other synchronising services similar to Dropbox, see a review at:
http://lifehacker.com/5818908/dropbox-v ... ht-for-you
For example SugarSync https://www.sugarsync.com offers 5Gb free.
However, of these services, I have only used Windows Live Mesh.

[jeremyhills]

Nearly there!! I now have the full FH Projects folder on my HTC. When I go to select a .ged file within Dropbox to be read, I get 'No viewer available' and it offers me to download. This has no effect at all! I can only get Family Bee to read the file if the .ged file is in the Family Bee folder. Sorry to be such a pain!  Jeremy

[tatewise]

Some other users have had difficulties getting Family Bee to open the .ged file particularly if the path & file name are long.
See the last few entries in the following Drop Box follow up thread:
http://www.fhug.org.uk/cgi-bin/index.cg ... y&num=5268

[tatewise]

I don't know if this helps but the FB online documentation says:
'If you use the Dropbox service on your computer, you can install the Android client on your phone and use it to transfer your files. Simply drag the files into your computer's Dropbox directory, refresh the file list in the Android Dropbox client, and click on the GEDCOM file in that list. Family Bee will copy the file to its home directory and then open it for you. (Any time you change the file, you can drop the replacement into your computer Dropbox and click on the Android Dropbox copy again. This will overwrite the old version with the new, and everything will work fine.)'

[jeremyhills]

I am giving up! I will have to copy the .ged file to dropbox each time it changes. When I have the .ged file at the highest level in Dropbox I can open it using Family Bee, but when it is embedded within Family History Projects it seems a step too far!  Thanks for all the advice,  Jeremy