Hello All I wonder if one of the Group could help me with a dilemma. I have an old version of Family Tree Maker (version 5.0a for Windows 98). It works successfully with my Windows XP but when I back it up on disc or flash drive, it only seems to open again on my computer. I have a lot of information stored in my Family Tree programme and am worried about losing it all should my ageing computer break down! I wondered if I bought an up to date version of Family Tree Maker, it would be possible to transfer my existing work?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Valerie Ann

Valerie Ann My experience is that FTM change the file formats from time to time but that later versions of the program will modify your old files the first time they are opened in the new program. This has always been successful for me but I have never gone from a very old version to the new one, usually only skipping one or two revisions. If you wanted to mail me the file then I would be happy to see if it will open in my FTM 2010 version. If by disk you mean CD, it is possible you are not closing off the disk, if the disk is not closed then it can only be read on your computer, or one identical. That should not be a problem on a flash drive. Though FTM may only be happy with files that are on the C: drive. I would also save a Gedcom version of the file, which FTM can do, whilst this will not save the extra details that FTM can handle it will at least keep a copy of your basic tree information in case of disaster. John -----Original Message----- From: Val Armitage [mailto:valerieann@aysgarth10.plus.com] Sent: 23 January 2010 19:04 To: ENG-WESTMORLAND@rootsweb.com Subject: [ENG-WESTMORLAND] Problem saving Family Tree Maker Hello All I wonder if one of the Group could help me with a dilemma. I have an old version of Family Tree Maker (version 5.0a for Windows 98). It works successfully with my Windows XP but when I back it up on disc or flash drive, it only seems to open again on my computer. I have a lot of information stored in my Family Tree programme and am worried about losing it all should my ageing computer break down! I wondered if I bought an up to date version of Family Tree Maker, it would be possible to transfer my existing work?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Valerie Ann ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-WESTMORLAND-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Valerie Ann, I am not completely sure I understand your question. However, I think John Steele is correct. I, like John, every few years upgrade my version of FTM and my files are still readible. But, as John says, the newer version 2010, will probably read in the version 5.0a version you have, but it may convert the format so that it is no longer readible by your older program. I am running FTM 2005 on my desktop and laptop, both of which are XP based. I regularily move my FTM files between the computers by CD and am going to try doing it with a flash drive. I have had no problem. Additionally, I have FTM 2008 on my laptop and it read in a file created in FTM 2005. I have not done the reverse. I did not like the 2008 presentation so I have kept my data in FTM 2005. You could send a file to John, as he suggested, as a trial. I am sure it would work. One thing that you could also do is contact Genealogy.com and ask them your question. Additionally, I would imagine that if you do run into a problem with an upgrade or computer operating system versus FTM application conflict, they could resolve it for you or even convert your files for you. Art in New Hampshire. Val Armitage wrote: >It works successfully with my Windows XP but when I back it up on disc or flash drive, it only seems to open again on my computer. > > > >