Backing Up a Tree File in Family Tree Maker 2019

The question of why to Back Up Tree files in FTM 2019 comes with perks in bulk, especially when it’s about keeping your genealogy research and history safe. As a user, you should know how beneficial a full manual backup is and why you should do it often. It restores your tree, including media and your online tree link. Keeping it on a hard drive or using a cloud storage service such as Dropbox will work for you, especially when you’ve spent years on it. From having a full backup of your files to how to initiate the backup process, the guide covers it all. Keep exploring to learn what you need and what resonates with your backup essentials. 

How To Back Up A Tree File In FTM 2019 For Windows And Mac? 

A proper backup should ensure that the right steps are followed with the right system. You can not apply a single one-size-fits-all approach to both Windows and Mac. Therefore, we’ve separated the backup process for each system. Go through all of them at once:

For Mac

Follow the below mentioned steps to back up a tree file in FTM 2019 

  1. The tree you have decided to use as a backup should be open. Select file>backup. The Backup the tree dialog will launch.
  2. To separate the backup file from the original one, provide a new name in the backup filename field.
  3. Choose any of the backup locations mentioned below:

DVD or flash drive: Choose removable media. From the pop-up menu, select DVD drive or flash drive.

Hard disk: Choose “Location on this computer to save the backup file into the Family Tree Maker folder in your documents folder. Tap Change and choose a new location on your hard disk to store the backup.

  1. Select the Opt media files checkbox to include the items from the tree’s media folder.
  2. Select the Historical Events checkbox to include historical events created or edited for the timelines.
  3. Tap the Web Favorites checkbox to include addresses that have been added to the Manage Favorites in Web Search space.
  4. If the tree is sharing a link with an Ancestry tree, select the Allow restored file to resume syncing checkbox so the restored tree from the backup file can sync with the Ancestry tree, if needed.
  5. Tap on backup. A message will confirm the successful backup of the tree file.

Note: Users cannot open backup files in other genealogy applications, as GEDCOMs are capable of doing. They can be opened with the Family Tree Maker version in which they were created, or with a newer version of the app.

For Windows 

  1. Keep the tree open that you are looking for as a backup and tap on File> Backup. The backup dialog will launch afterward.
  2. To keep the file separate from your original tree by providing a name, enter a new name in the backup file name field.
  3. Pick any of the backup locations mentioned below:

DVD or flash drive: Select removable media. Navigate the drop-down list and select your DVD drive or flash drive.

Hard disk: Choose a working directory to save the backup file in the Family Tree Maker folder in your Documents folder.

Point to Custom Directory and click Change to set a specific location to store the backup on your hard disk.

  1. Choose the media files checkbox to include all the media items from the tree’s media folder.
  2. Tap the Historical Events checkbox to include historical events that are created or edited for timelines.
  3. Pick the Web Favorites checkbox to include the web addresses collectively that you have added to the managed favorites list on the Web Search workspace.
  4. If the tree is sharing a link with an Ancestry tree, choose the allowed restored file to resume syncing checkbox so that the tree that you have restored from the backup file becomes easy to sync with the Ancestry tree, if important.
  5. Tap on backup. A message will inform you when the tree file gets backed up successfully.

Note: Backup files can’t be opened in other genealogy applications like GEDCOMs can. To open them, you need the version of Family Tree Maker they were created in, or you’ll need the latest version of the app.

Benefits Of FTM 2019 Backup 

There are various benefits of FTM 2019 backup that you must know to get the best genealogy performance. Here are some of them mentioned below:

  • You can easily safeguard hard-earned research data from possible crashes, software bugs, hardware failure, and many more.
  • It works best for storing local workspace layouts, organizational notes that are hard to transfer via basic cloud downloads, custom reports, and more.
  • It helps pack all the crucial items, such as documents, linked photos, and historical records, into one comprehensive file.
  • You can safely move your entire family history database to Family Tree Maker or any other system.

Conclusion! 

You can save years of hard work in a blink by learning how to back up tree files in FTM 2019 on both Windows and Mac. From data protection to easy transfers, you can do it all with simple, effective backups. Whether you have done it before or are just starting to learn, this guide will work for you. We have researched, analyzed, organized, and presented every minute detail of FTM 2019 backups. Use this to improve the quality of your tree file without losing any crucial data under any circumstances.

For more information please do contact us.

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