Introduction

Family Historian ƒh is designed to run on Windows computers.  Although FH6/FH7 will run on any full version of Windows (not the now obsolete Windows RT) from Windows 7 onward, all Windows users should ensure that they have upgraded to Windows 11 (or Windows 10 with enhanced support until October 2026), as earlier versions are no longer supported by Microsoft and will be highly vulnerable to malicious attack over the internet.

The use of ƒh on either Mac or Linux computers is not supported by Calico PieCalico Pie Limited is a UK software house, and the publishers of Family Historian., but it is technically possible to install it on these systems with some limitations in compatibility or functionality.

Mac / Linux Options

There are two different ways of running ƒh on Mac or Linux operating systems

• Using a Virtual Machine
• Using an emulator such as Wine or one of its variants

Virtual Machine

Both free and paid options are available.

See Running Family Historian on a Virtual Machine

Wine and its variants

Both free and paid options are available.

See Running Family Historian on Wine, Running Family Historian on Crossover, or Running Family Historian on PlayOnLinux/Mac.

Phones and Tablets

It is not possible to run ƒh on any non-Windows phone or tablet, so applications are limited to viewing an exported GEDCOMGEDCOM, an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunication, is a specification for exchanging genealogical data between different genealogy software. It is a file format that most genealogical programs and online trees recognise. file.

Apple

Apple phones and tablets run two different Operating System (iOS and iPadOS, respectively). Applications for these devices can only be downloaded from the Apple Store and the best way to find currently available apps is to search for ‘gedcom’ in the store, or follow the Links below.

• GedExplorer loads ƒh projectA Project is a Windows folder, created by Family Historian, which contains all your Family Tree information recorded in Family Historian. Normally located in the Documents\Family Historian Projects folder. GEDCOM and Media directly
• GedFamilies enables a GEDCOM file to be easily transferred to your iDevice
• GedView can import a GEDCOM file and linked multimediaWhen you add a picture, video, sound recording, document file etc into a Family Historian project, a Media record is created to represent that media item within the project; the Media record includes a link to the actual Media file. to an iDevice
• Heredis is free, can import a GEDCOM file from the Export Gedcom File PluginPlugins are small programs that allow new features to be added without upgrading Family Historian itself; some plugins are written by Calico Pie and others are written by users., and allows subsequent editing on an iDevice

There is a way of displaying Family Historian created Family Tree HTML pages on an iPad (and Android) as described in Forum thread FH CD-DVD viewing on ipad March 2014.

Android

Android is the normal Operating System for non-Apple phones and tablets and there are a variety of applications available for it. The quick way to find them is to go to Android Apps on Google Play and search for ‘Gedcom’.

The Applications below use a Windows program to convert your Gedcom/Project to a database file to be sent to your device.

• GedFamilies sends the GEDCOM file directly and handles attached media
• GedStar Pro can use Dropbox or Google Drive to transfer the file, and partially supports ƒh media

Other Applications for Android that can read Family Historian Gedcom files, but may have some limitations on file size include:

• Heredis is free, can import a GEDCOM file from the Export Gedcom File Plugin, and allows subsequent editing on an Android device
• GedExplorer loads ƒh project GEDCOM and Media directly
• and others from Google Play Store…

Windows Surface Tablet and other tablets running a full version of Windows

These devices utilise the full version of Windows with a small touch-screen and no keyboard. Although ƒh does run on these devices, it is not optimised for touch control so the buttons and text may be small and inconvenient to use unless a keyboard and mouse are attached.

There are other Windows GEDCOM Apps are available from the Windows Store but there is little feedback on these from FHUGThe Family Historian User Group is a group of user with wide-ranging experience, from newcomers to very experienced users, all of whom are very willing to shared their knowledge about the programme. members.