Backing up/saving family tree files

[moranj]

I have my family tree stored on my laptop computer & I use Family Historian. I am looking to find  the best way  to have a copy stored in case my laptop 'dies'. Would I be able to save the whole thing on a flash drive or would I be better to purchase a portable hard drive? Either way, any recommendations on what to buy? Many thanks if anyone can help.

[Alan b]

If you can export you family tree file as a GEDCOM file then you could . file on the flash drive or upload it somewhere online that has free storage space like Dropbox, Microsoft Live Space etc....

[LizzieW]

I have a portable hard drive, which is attached to my laptop by a lead.  It updates itself daily, so each time I update my family tree, it is updated on the hard drive.

[Ray T]

I'm not really sure what your problem is here. Presumably "Family Historian" is some sort of genealogy database programme where you input information, save it to a named file and, the next time you want to add something/somebody to it, simply open it up again and add whatever you want.

If so, you can treat it like any other document. You can save it to your hard drive, save it to an external drive, save it on a memory stick or even email it to yourself as an attachment. There's no need to worry about other formats such as GEDCOM files unless you're intending to view it with different software.

Its always advisable to save important info in more than one place. I save mine on my hard drive and copy it onto a USB drive from time to time.

[KGarrad]

I use RootsMagic4 which prompts me about backups each time I close the program!

But I also have a hard drive; which also does backups.

And, I also have my tree on Ancestry and Gedcom files.


It's a belt-and-braces approach!

[RJ_Paton]

You don't say which version of Family Historian you are using.

If it is version 5 or 6 the whole information is stored in the project folder, this includes the Gedcom file and any multimedia files you may have linked and copied over. Also for 5 or 6 there is a plug in available which will also save any personalised settings you may have set up in FH.

The whole project folder should easily fit on a Memory stick depending upon the amount of multimedia files you may have.

8Gb should be your starting point and  although there are some who will argue against memory sticks in favour of hard drives it is pretty much up to you as either will suit your purpose.

[moranj]

Many thanks for all your replies. I wasn't sure whether a memory stick would suffice to save a full copy of my family tree. I am currently using FH V.5 (will be upgrading shortly) & back up to laptop each time I enter any new data but want to have an extra copy should the laptop expire! Once again thanks

[RJ_Paton]

If you right click with the mouse on the project folder this should tell you the total size of the files contained in it. With this in mind you can then judge whether you want to go the USB stick or hard drive route (or both).

The plug in Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings , by Mike Tate,  available from the FHUG forum site will allow you to save and if need be restore any personalised settings you have within FH - these are also saved within your projects folder.

Personally I copy over the entire project file (simply drag and drop in windows) and also the separate back up files which can be created by FH.

[GrahamSimons]

Using Dropbox or similar has many advantages: automated backup and accessible on any computer linked to the internet; if you have a house fire or a flood or a burglary (or leave your laptop or memory stick on a train) you don't lose the data. It's also free unless you have lots and lots of files to back up.