A backup is not just a copy. Things have been done to the file, such as compression to reduce the size of the resultant file, so you can't just open it in Legacy and have it work.
A copy of your data file can be opened in Legacy, either in the version it was created in or a later one. A Legacy backup can be RESTORED in Legacy - I've not experimented with it, but I would expect that a v7 backup can be restored (and coverted upon opening) in v8. But what you can't (easily) do is go back to a previous version once your data file has been converted to a newer version, which is why I said to make a copy. I wouldn't expect a backup of a v8 Legacy data file to restore and open in v7. I see no reason why you can't make a backup in v7, then go to v8 and restore that backup and have it converted to the new format - I've never done it, so can't say for sure it will work but logic (in my sometimes-very-blonde-head) says it should. Make sure you put the resulting file somewhere else - or give it a different name - to the existing v7 data file so you can return to it later if you need to. Since installing v8 on my computer, I've created two folders for my data files - one for the v7 (and earlier) files, and another for the v8 files. That way, I don't accidentally overwrite an older-version data file and loose it. This is how I'm handling it, I've never done it before with a version change, but it works for me since some of the changes have meant that you can have v7 and v8 running at the same time. Wendy Orinda Spence said the following on 22/12/2013 2:06 p.m.: > That does help. Is a backup copy usable for either version? > > > On Sat, Dec 21, 2013 at 4:06 PM, Wendy Howard <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > For as long as I've been using Legacy (started with v5), it has always > been that the Standard edition is free to use, and the Deluxe requires > the payment of a fee. > > They are both the same program. When you purchase the Deluxe edition > you are given a code (a sequence of letters/digits) that unlocks the > extra features. > > Whether you're using Standard or Deluxe, v8 is different to v7, with a > variety of new features and tools. There's no harm in downloading v8 > and installing it, and using it as the free Standard edition for a > while > before deciding if you want to upgrade to Deluxe. Make a copy of your > v7 data file and use that in v8 so you can still use v7 while you're > deciding what you want to do with v8, if you like. That's what I did > for a while. > > v8 installs itself in a different location to the previous > versions, so > it is easy to have it running at the same time as v7 - just don't > try to > use the same data file in them both. v8 will change the file > structure, > so you won't be able to open it in v7 once it has been converted - > which > is why you should make a copy if you're going to experiment with > v8 first. > > Hope this helps. :-) > > Kind Regards, > Wendy > > > Orinda Spence said the following on 22/12/2013 10:48 a.m.: > > Can SKS tell me what the difference is between Leg 7 deluxe and > Leg 8 > > standard. Seems that I can get the standard free of charge. Thanks > > Orinda > Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ 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
