Family Tree Maker - read-only version

[Michael Poole]

I use FTM v8.0 on an old PC with Windows 95.

I should like to pass to my brother a CD containing the database (about
75Mbytes including many images) and software that he can use on his
wife's PC with Windows XP, to read this database, create tables, trees,
etc, but not to change it. He is a technophobe and needs to have
something that he can easily be shown how to use.

What are my options? Future-proof is probably the most important aspect
as this is primarily to ensure that the results of my research would
survive my being run over by a bus or drifting into senility.
--
Michael Poole
15 Heather Close, STROUD, GL5 3QY
01453 759557

[Charlie Hoffpauir]

On Tue, 24 Jan 2006 10:38:54 +0000, Michael Poole
<[email protected]> wrote:

I use FTM v8.0 on an old PC with Windows 95.

I should like to pass to my brother a CD containing the database (about
75Mbytes including many images) and software that he can use on his
wife's PC with Windows XP, to read this database, create tables, trees,
etc, but not to change it. He is a technophobe and needs to have
something that he can easily be shown how to use.

What are my options? Future-proof is probably the most important aspect
as this is primarily to ensure that the results of my research would
survive my being run over by a bus or drifting into senility.

Of course, first he must also have a copy of FTM installed. If we're
past that point, then you have a few options.

You can simply burn a copy of your FTM database to a CD. However, I
think that the file <yourdata>.FTW will be marked as "read only" when
he copies it from the CD to his hard drive, so he will have to be able
to go into Windows and change the attribute (uncheck the "read only"
mark). He will then be able to ope the file and make additions to it.

If you feel that is beyond him, then you can "zip" the file before
saving it to the CD. But of course, he will have to be able to extract
it again when he copies it to his hard drive. Once unzipped, it won't
be marked as read only.

Now if you want the file to be read only, then the first option is the
one to use.... just don't tell him that he is able to alter the
attribute....

If you want him to use the data with some other genealogy program,
then you don't have many very good options. At this time, I know of no
available program that will extract all the information from an FTM
database file.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

[Gene]

Michael Poole wrote:

I use FTM v8.0 on an old PC with Windows 95.

I should like to pass to my brother a CD containing the database (about
75Mbytes including many images) and software that he can use on his
wife's PC with Windows XP, to read this database, create tables, trees,
etc, but not to change it. He is a technophobe and needs to have
something that he can easily be shown how to use.

What are my options? Future-proof is probably the most important aspect
as this is primarily to ensure that the results of my research would
survive my being run over by a bus or drifting into senility.

Create a Gedcom of your file and download GenViewer. ($19.95 at
http://mudcreeksoftware.com/) You can create a self viewing gedcom with
easy to follow instructions for any technophobe to understand.

Gene

[Jeff]

"Gene" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

Michael Poole wrote:
I use FTM v8.0 on an old PC with Windows 95.

I should like to pass to my brother a CD containing the
database (about 75Mbytes including many images) and
software that he can use on his wife's PC with Windows
XP, to read this database, create tables, trees, etc, but
not to change it. He is a technophobe and needs to have
something that he can easily be shown how to use.

What are my options? Future-proof is probably the most
important aspect
as this is primarily to ensure that the results of my
research would survive my being run over by a bus or
drifting into senility.

Create a Gedcom of your file and download GenViewer.
($19.95 at http://mudcreeksoftware.com/) You can create a
self viewing gedcom with easy to follow instructions for
any technophobe to understand.

Gene

Its possible the free genviewerlite might suffice

MudCreek GENViewer Lite is available for free at
http://www.mudcreek.ca

[Michael Poole]

In article <AxcCf.138060$6K2.44404@edtnps90>, Jeff <[email protected]>
writes

Create a Gedcom of your file and download GenViewer.
($19.95 at http://mudcreeksoftware.com/) You can create a
self viewing gedcom with easy to follow instructions for
any technophobe to understand.

Gene

Its possible the free genviewerlite might suffice

But FTM v8 does not write images to a GEDCOM - which was an essential
point in my original posting.

--
Michael Poole
15 Heather Close, STROUD, GL5 3QY
01453 759557

[Hugh Watkins]

Michael Poole wrote:

In article <AxcCf.138060$6K2.44404@edtnps90>, Jeff <[email protected]
writes

Create a Gedcom of your file and download GenViewer.
($19.95 at http://mudcreeksoftware.com/) You can create a
self viewing gedcom with easy to follow instructions for
any technophobe to understand.

Gene


Its possible the free genviewerlite might suffice


But FTM v8 does not write images to a GEDCOM - which was an essential
point in my original posting.

anyway sensible people keep images and gedcom separate

preferably with off site back up

when yopu make a book in pdf then you use copies of the jpg not originals

Hugh W

[Charlie Hoffpauir]

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:25:52 +0000, Michael Poole
<[email protected]> wrote:

In article <AxcCf.138060$6K2.44404@edtnps90>, Jeff <[email protected]
writes
Create a Gedcom of your file and download GenViewer.
($19.95 at http://mudcreeksoftware.com/) You can create a
self viewing gedcom with easy to follow instructions for
any technophobe to understand.

Gene

Its possible the free genviewerlite might suffice

But FTM v8 does not write images to a GEDCOM - which was an essential
point in my original posting.

As I mentioned in my post earlier, I don't think there is ANY program
available at this time that will transfer all your FTM data, including
images, to another program. You can of course transfer everything to
another copy of FTM. In the near future, there could be other choices.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

[Sherry]

Michael Poole <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

<snip>

But FTM v8 does not write images to a GEDCOM - which was an
essential point in my original posting.

No gedcom will transfer images - it's only a text file. Links to images
will be included in a gedcom, but since FTM embeds images, there are no
links to include.

Sherry

[Robert Heiling]

Sherry wrote:

Michael Poole <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

snip

But FTM v8 does not write images to a GEDCOM - which was an
essential point in my original posting.


No gedcom will transfer images - it's only a text file. Links to images
will be included in a gedcom, but since FTM embeds images, there are no
links to include.

What you say is true, but let me add that it's the Gedcom spec that
constrains it to not including the actual images. Gedcom 5.5 simply made
no allowance for images. But being a *text file* wouldn't preclude
images on its own as that's done all the time in email via Mime and
"Content-Transfer-Encoding".

But getting back on topic in regard to the original question, why would
it be much of a problem if your brother had write capability? Having the
capability and using it are two different things and, if he is a
technophobe, he's unlikely to exercise that capability. Let him use the
FTM v8.0 to do those things you want him to be able to do. The CD you
furnish is not writeable if you close it out, so that represents the
unchanged version you want him to have. I don't see where you need to be
concerned.

Bob

[Gjest]

Charlie,

Can you elaborate on what you've heard may be available in the near
future?

Like many others, I have a ton of data "locked up" in a FTM database,
and would love for all the work I've done to be transferable between
programs if I choose to make a change in the future. Thanks -
Ron Thomas

On Sat, 28 Jan 2006 07:32:38 -0600, Charlie Hoffpauir
<[email protected]> wrote:

You can of course transfer everything to
another copy of FTM. In the near future, there could be other choices.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

[Charlie Hoffpauir]

On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 07:43:52 -0700, Ron_Thomas wrote:

Charlie,

Can you elaborate on what you've heard may be available in the near
future?

Like many others, I have a ton of data "locked up" in a FTM database,
and would love for all the work I've done to be transferable between
programs if I choose to make a change in the future. Thanks -
Ron Thomas

On Sat, 28 Jan 2006 07:32:38 -0600, Charlie Hoffpauir
[email protected]> wrote:

You can of course transfer everything to
another copy of FTM. In the near future, there could be other choices.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

Please contact me off-list at charliehoffp at yahoo dot com
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

[Charlie Hoffpauir]

On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 07:43:52 -0700, Ron_Thomas wrote:

Charlie,

Can you elaborate on what you've heard may be available in the near
future?

Like many others, I have a ton of data "locked up" in a FTM database,
and would love for all the work I've done to be transferable between
programs if I choose to make a change in the future. Thanks -
Ron Thomas

On Sat, 28 Jan 2006 07:32:38 -0600, Charlie Hoffpauir
[email protected]> wrote:

You can of course transfer everything to
another copy of FTM. In the near future, there could be other choices.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

I can now elaborate. Here's a recent message from the RM News:

- New Family Tree Maker Import Added

We have long been asked for the ability to import Family Tree Maker
files directly. The many FTM users who have switched to RootsMagic
(or who have wanted to switch) have discovered that FTM doesn't export
its pictures and other information to GEDCOM, so those items were
either lost or had to be re-entered by hand.

RootsMagic 3.2 now offers the most complete FTM import available. Not
only is all the FTM data seamlessly imported, but RootsMagic will also
extract the images from the FTM file and will set up the links to
those images.

So now when someone sends you an FTM file you *no longer* have to
request them to create and send a GEDCOM instead. You can just import
the FTM file directly.

If you currently own RootsMagic 3 you can download the free update and
see a list of the items addressed at:

http://www.rootsmagic.com/updates
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

[Paul Blair]

If you currently own RootsMagic 3 you can download the free update and
see a list of the items addressed at:

http://www.rootsmagic.com/updates
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

If I can add a line or two...

Even if you *don't* own RootsMagic, you can get a free trial version at
their website. Although limited to 50 new entries, there is no limit on
the number of entries for imports.

This free version can then be upgraded, and FTM pics extracted. A great
system!

Paul