Ward, To avoid confusion may I remind you that the family file has the extension ".fdb".
MJ SA, I suggest that you change your Windows settings to show the file extension, if you don't know how to do this, please tell us what version of Windows you are using, and we will be happy to advise. BTW, it is not a good idea to have a multitude of thumb drives each containing the files for the same program. --- Ron Ferguson http://www.fergys.co.uk/ GOONS #5307 "Ward Walker" <wnkwal...@rogers.com> wrote: >Ron's point is well taken. But here goes... > >The 'family tree' that you see when you open Legacy is coming from your >'family file', which has a .ftb windows file extension. It appears that you >have set up Windows to hide your file extensions when you look at the file >names in Windows Explorer. In your case, the .ftb family file is that first >one in your list, below, that says 'Legacy Genealogy Software' for the file >type. (The other 2 files go with it.) [Perhaps the file type could be better >named.] > >Ideally, on a single computer, you pick a place to keep this file, such as >the default C:\Legacy\Data on your main hard drive. Once Legacy is >configured to open that file upon startup, you don't need to copy it or do >anything manually with it. Legacy updates it continually during each session >(as well as a few small ancillary files). > >In case we accidentally corrupt our family file, or inadvertently delete it, >or in case the disk that it is on crashes, we make backups. Legacy has a >Backup function, which you are now using upon exit from the program, which >creates a compressed zip folder. If you ever need to, you can open Legacy >and use its 'Restore' function to take one of these zipped backups and >create a new family file from it. So, it is safer if you tell Legacy to >store your Backup on a different physical medium than where your family file >is stored (such as a thumb drive or another hard drive). If not, then at >least have some other file backup scheme that regularly backs up all your >user files on some other medium. True, there is nothing to stop you from >manually making a (uncompressed) copy of your .ftb family file and storing >it somewhere as another form of backup. However, the Legacy Backup and >Restore functions are preferable for several reasons: the backup stores a >few other useful files in the zip folder that it creates; the backup is >compressed (smaller); and the backup function can automatically put the >date/time in the file name. > >Do not use Gedcom as a backup mechanism. > >OK, now in my case (which not everyone likes), I flip things around. When >running Legacy, I treat one particular thumb drive as if it were just >another hard drive -- a portable one. On this thumb drive, I have certain >subfolders just like in C:\Legacy, such as Data, Docs, and Pictures. I try >to keep the drive name constant on each computer, such as the K:\ drive, and >then I configure Legacy to use, automatically on startup, the family file >that I have stored there in the Data subfolder. If I fail to plug in the >thumb drive, then Legacy tells me that it can't find the file and I know to >plug in the drive. Thus, I can take that thumb drive to another computer, >knowing that the family file on it is my one and only 'master' family file. >I never have to worry about which file, on which computer, has my latest >work. As I said earlier, I ensure that the Legacy Backup function stores to >a regular hard drive, not back to the thumb drive. > >If you look in the LUG archives, you will see many discussions about other >schemes to deal with using Legacy on multiple computers, such as using >Dropbox or another cloud service. (Internet connection required.) If you do >wish to simply copy a family tree from the hard drive of one computer to the >hard drive of another computer, then moving the latest zipped backup between >computers is a good way. Use the Restore function on the target computer. > >Does this answer your questions? > > Ward > >-----Original Message----- >From: MJ SA >Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2012 8:25 PM >To: LegacyUserGroup@LegacyUsers.com >Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Legacy problems > >Ward, when you save your family tree to a thumb drive, how do it? Do >you copy if from the Data folder? or export to a gedcom or legacy >folder? > >On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 8:23 PM, MJ SA <michs...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Now when I exited and it asked if I wanted to back it up, I said yes >> and chose the Legacy Data file, I just looked at the Legacy-Data file >> and the file is in a zip folder >> >> On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 8:16 PM, MJ SA <michs...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> On the other thumb drives I've got Compresed Zipped Folder. GED >>> folder, legacy Genealogy Software >>> >>> On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 8:13 PM, MJ SA <michs...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> For the new thumbnail I put the tree on last night this is what it says >>>> november 21 2012 family tree 1996KB Legacy Geneaology Software >>>> november 21 2012 family tree 0KB LDB File >>>> november 21 2012 family tree 1KB TC File >>>> >>>> On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 7:25 PM, Ron Ferguson >>>> <ronfergy....@tiscali.co.uk> wrote: >>>>> I did not express myself as clearly as I wanted to in the post below. >>>>> >>>>> What I was trying to get over was that this list has many users without >>>>> sufficient knowledge in file manipulation for the use of a thumb drive >>>>> as a storage drive for the *.fdb file to be recommended as an >>>>> intrinsically safe method for this purpose. (I'm getting tired - it's >>>>> early morning here!). >>>>> --- >>>>> Ron Ferguson >>>>> http://www.fergys.co.uk >>>>> GOONS #5307 >>>>> >>>>> "Ron Ferguson" <ronfergy....@tiscali.co.uk> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>>Ward, >>>>>> >>>>>>I do not agree that one should recommend storing the *.fdb file on a >>>>>>thumb drive. Sure, I put mine on a thumb from time to time, but I know >>>>>>what I am doing. I suggest that those who are Windows and Legacy >>>>>>literate will not normally be asking questions relating to file storage >>>>>>and retreaval, and therefore, it is not advisable to make such a >>>>>>recommendation for an active file. >>>>>> >>>>>>Backups are a different proposition in that there are positive reasons >>>>>>for putting them on an external drive. >>>>>>--- >>>>>>Ron Ferguson >>>>>>http://www.fergys.co.uk >>>>>>GOONS #5307 >>>>>> >>>>>>"Ward Walker" <wnkwal...@rogers.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>>MJ SA, please be very clear and precise when you use the terms >>>>>>>'backup' or >>>>>>>'save'. As Ron, Doug, and others have been saying, your .ftb family >>>>>>>file is >>>>>>>updated (saved to disk) constantly as you use Legacy. Your backup .zip >>>>>>>file >>>>>>>is only made when you request it (normally upon exit), and only needed >>>>>>>if >>>>>>>you have to create a family file by restoring a backup. Hopefully >>>>>>>never. >>>>>>>:-) >>>>>>> >>>>>>>Contrary to Gene's advise, I do like the option of keeping the >>>>>>>current, live >>>>>>>family file on my thumb drive. If I use two computers, I must carry >>>>>>>the >>>>>>>thumb drive back and forth, but I always know where the latest version >>>>>>>is. >>>>>>>If you do this, however, make sure to specify the location for the >>>>>>>backups >>>>>>>to be on the hard drive of the current computer, not on the thumb >>>>>>>drive. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Ward > > > > > Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyusers.com/ Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) and on our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
