Genealogy Chat

Following on from my message on Sunday afternoon, and having tried the kind advice that ensued, I've come to the conclusion that the thing that's causing an error message to pop up is the root of all my problems. To recap: cannot update FTM with my latest Friends Reunited updates when I attempt to import the Gedcom - but even more worringly no one in my FTM tree is linked to anyone else, rendering the programme utterly useless. The message reads thus: 'Family Tree Maker 2005 cannot find your file. Please check the 'Directories' and 'Drives' fields to ensure you are supplying the correct path'. There's even a short and scary violin note that comes with it! Does anyone have *any* ideas on this? I've tried using Norton to scan for bugs and I've tried defragging (heaps of space, surprisingly). I've even tried Googling a section of the error message. This brought up some old messageboard threads from Ancestry.com's archives (at least I know I'm not the only one). However, not being hugely techy - I honestly can't make any sense out of them. Has anyone found a way of obtaining info from the makers of FTM - like a helpdesk? Needless to say, I've scoured the 'troubleshooting' section of their booklet and have also looked on their website - all to no avail. If the only option is to hurl the programme in the bin - can anyone suggest a better family tree programme (because I'm certainly not spending out on yet another headache from FTM!!). Alternately fuming and snivelling, Sarah

Talk me through how you import your file, as it could be down to the type of file you are inserting into FTM. I have FTM 2005 and if I have to import my GEDCOM file and save the same file as a FTM file. Alternatively email GenesReunited technical guys, Im sure they can suggest something. Regards, Beverley Harrison

Well, the file is the standard gedcom you get when you press Export on the Genes Reunited Import/Export Tree page. Since obtaining the programme in April I've been merrily uninstalling and reinstalling FTM everytime I want to update it from my Genes Reunited 'master' (I've since been advised that it's far better to do it the other way around and that there's no need to do any uninstalling each time - who knew?!). Maybe the darned disk has worn out??!! Sarah

No, this is something simple, just let me think!! Erm, Im not a techi, but it sounds like you have more than one ft file saved on there and that you are clicking to try to open a different one to that set up to open. Judy from the States or is it Carol who has the genealogy supplies site on here? Either of those are sure to know. Im sure that others will be able to help you much better than me. But rest assured, I had this some time back when I first got my program and if only I could remember .......... I fiddled about with it til I worked it out. Once you have got that ok, Im sure you will find everything works fine from now on. Just dont delete it again! Get some rewritable cds aswell, and when you have it all on the program, back it up onto the cd. You can use the same cd to back up every time you add further info. so you always have a hard copy. Also once you have it filled out, click on the internet tab and export it all to a family home page so you also have a copy in cyber space. (Remember to tick the boxes to hide info on living persons). Im sure you will soon have all this sorted, thank goodness.

I don't know how to fix this BUT when I first uploaded my GR info to my FTM (ie I had no other files), the info for my dad's family was all there but not linked so everyone on his side appeared as individuals - once I'd been in and attached spouses it all fitted together OK - no problems since, but I now double enter as I dont' want to risk losing info. My FTM database has far more info than I put on GR. Hope you manage to get your files back together. S:>

Re contacting them for help, theyve always been brilliant when Ive mailed them. Click help then technical support then ignore all the FAQs and go to the tab at the top that says contact genealogy.com. Fill out the form for the info you want and Ive got replies in minutes on occasions!

FTM stores your tree in a file which it calls your Family File. When you start it up, it tries to open the same Family File that you were using last time. If it can't find that file, you get this error. Since you don't really want the old file, you can ignore the error. Hit Cancel. When it asks about using a backup, hit Cancel again. Then it should start blank, with no tree opened. If it does open a tree, choose File|Close. Then it should go blank. Choose File|Open. Change 'Files of type' to GEDCOM, navigate to your GR gedcom, Open it. When it prompts for a name, hit Save. You've now made a new Family File from the contents of the gedcom. If the new tree is disconnected, there may be a problem with the gedcom from GR. Try exporting another one.