The fires in Southern California should remind all of us about the importance of backing up our photos and family history information. It's important to have backups in more than one format and location. At home, I periodically back up files with hard copies, and more frequently by putting files onto CDs or DVDs. I have also created three different family websites through myfamily.com, and I post gedcom files there ... which I could retrieve if I lost my data here at home. I am also thinking about a backup through an additional website for a small fee. A portable external drive is also an excellent backup; something which I have not done, but considering. Losing just about everything to a house fire is something I never thought would happen to me, but it did four years ago (a fellow renter downstairs from me who was careless with candles and cigarettes). Amazingly, my hard copies of family history information and photos survived with minimal damage, but if I had it to do over again, I would have had further backups elsewhere, as my computer was completely destroyed. It took quite awhile to re-enter everything on the new computer. Fortunately I was able to get some files emailed to me from other researchers of some of the family lines. I'm unhappy with the new Family Tree Maker 2008, as it does not print the descendant register reports at the moment. I'm waiting for a patch they are suppose to put out for that. I heard of a solution from genealogyguys.com (awersome website - check it out) that solves this problem ... I downloaded the PAF program from familysearch.org, imported gedcoms from my FTM files, and can now print reports again. I am through with FTM after this ... I think it was a poor decision to leave the report and home book publishing features out of the newest version. Those are the mainstays of my genealogy hobby. Switching to a MAC, I think, for the next computer anyway. Would be interested to hear of any MAC users who use the Reunion software or other MAC-compatible genealogy software. Thanks, Patti Lalack Hutterli Portland, Oregon ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Backing up is an excellent idea that everyone should do, even if not threatened by fire. I live in SD and almost had to evacuate. This time I actually packed and one of the 1st things I packed were my backup CDs that I had made and my external hard drive. Yes, I made sure I have a hard drive, too, not just the CDs. The ironic part is, I had just recently backed up to the hard drive and my computer crashed. Non-recoverable. I was lucky. I can use that hard drive on any PC. I had not thought of using a website as I prefer to be in control of my data and not rely on someone else's web server, but it is certainly a viable option for some. -----Original Message----- From: kyallen-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:kyallen-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of PSL456@aol.com Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2007 4:46 PM To: kyallen@rootsweb.com Subject: [KYALLEN] Backing up info/FTM 2008/MAC programs The fires in Southern California should remind all of us about the importance of backing up our photos and family history information. It's important to have backups in more than one format and location. At home, I periodically back up files with hard copies, and more frequently by putting files onto CDs or DVDs. I have also created three different family websites through myfamily.com, and I post gedcom files there ... which I could retrieve if I lost my data here at home. I am also thinking about a backup through an additional website for a small fee. A portable external drive is also an excellent backup; something which I have not done, but considering. Losing just about everything to a house fire is something I never thought would happen to me, but it did four years ago (a fellow renter downstairs from me who was careless with candles and cigarettes). Amazingly, my hard copies of family history information and photos survived with minimal damage, but if I had it to do over again, I would have had further backups elsewhere, as my computer was completely destroyed. It took quite awhile to re-enter everything on the new computer. Fortunately I was able to get some files emailed to me from other researchers of some of the family lines. I'm unhappy with the new Family Tree Maker 2008, as it does not print the descendant register reports at the moment. I'm waiting for a patch they are suppose to put out for that. I heard of a solution from genealogyguys.com (awersome website - check it out) that solves this problem ... I downloaded the PAF program from familysearch.org, imported gedcoms from my FTM files, and can now print reports again. I am through with FTM after this ... I think it was a poor decision to leave the report and home book publishing features out of the newest version. Those are the mainstays of my genealogy hobby. Switching to a MAC, I think, for the next computer anyway. Would be interested to hear of any MAC users who use the Reunion software or other MAC-compatible genealogy software. Thanks, Patti Lalack Hutterli Portland, Oregon ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to KYALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.12/1098 - Release Date: 10/29/2007 9:28 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.12/1098 - Release Date: 10/29/2007 9:28 AM