Moving Family Tree Maker Source Tree between Two Computers

In this post, we have discussed moving FTM Source tree between two computers just by using the USB flash drive. Hence if you would like to transfer your tree file from one computer to another successfully then you first need to have the FTM 2019 installed on both your computers. Moreover, in order to move your tree files you would need to have a removable storage device like a thumb flash drive or an external hard drive.

Furthermore, you also have the option to transfer your tree files through a computer network or cloud. You should know that using a USB flash drive is known to be the easiest way to share a tree from one computer to another. Therefore if you don’t have one then it might be worth your time to purchase one and then continue with the following steps.

Moving FTM Source Tree Between Two Computers

FTM Source File on the First Computer

Follow the steps below carefully on your first computer to move the FTM source tree between two computers:

1. Open FTM 2019 on your computer that has the current FTM tree.
2. Then you should take a complete backup of your FTM Source Tree.
3. Now go to the ‘File’ section and click on the ‘Backup’ option.
4. Moreover, if you need a new name to differentiate between your file from the original tree then all you must do is type a new name in the given ‘Backup file name.’

Select the backup option as mentioned below

• DVD or flash drive – Select the Removable media’ option. From the drop-down list.
• Hard Disk – Here you would need to select the ‘Working directory’ to be able to save the backup file to your Family Tree Maker folder in the ‘Documents’ folder.
• Custom Directory – Click on the ‘Change’ button to select a new location to store the backup file on your hard disk.
• Media files – This checkbox lets you include the media items from your family tree’s media folder.
• The Historical Events checkbox – this is if you want to include events that you created or edited for timelines.

Additional Instructions for How to Move FTM Source Tree Between Two Computer

You also need to select the ‘Web Favorite’ checkbox –  doing so will then include the web addresses which you added to the ‘Manage Favorites’ list that is on the ‘Web Search’ workspace.

1. You then need to click on the ‘Backup’ option and you should see a notification stating that your tree has successfully backed up.
2. After that, you should go to the location of the backup file that you created and then copy the file to your flash drive.
3. Also, keep in mind that you should frequently do a full backup manually of your tree whenever possible. This is because an up-to-date backup helps to make sure that you can restore your tree in case something unexpectedly goes wrong with your file.
4. Moreover, storing up full backups of your trees outside your computer frequently is a good habit as it saves you from losing any data.

Now finally you just need to unplug your flash drive from the first computer.

FTM Source File on the Second computer

Follow these steps accordingly on your second computer to move your Family Tree Maker Source tree between your two computers:

1. You need to start by inserting the flash drive into an available USB port on your second computer. This is the computer to which you want to transfer your Family Tree Maker trees.
2. And then you should copy your backup file to your second computer’s hard disk before you move on with the ‘File Restore’ process.
3. After doing so you must open FTM 2019 then click on the ‘File’ menu and choose the ‘Restore’ button.
4. Now in the given dialog box that displays on your screen, you need to navigate to the location where you had saved the backup file, select the file and then just click on the ‘Open’ button.
5. You will now have the ‘Save’ dialog open on your screen you then need to select the location on your hard disk where your tree is.
6. Once that is done you just have to click on ‘Save’ to have your tree restored from the backup file. And now at last your restore tree will open in Family Tree Maker.

Update the TreeVault Antenna Tree on your Second Computer

Also, you must keep in mind that you update the TreeVault Antenna tree on your second computer as this is necessary: To do so you need to follow the steps given below;

1. Firstly, you will have to log into the same TreeVault account that you used when you first created your Antenna tree on your first computer.
2. Now go ahead and choose ‘View > Tree Browser’ or you could click on the ‘Select Tree’ pop-up menu that is on the left of the main toolbar and then just click on ‘Tree Browser.’
3. You will then see the ‘Tree Browser’ window open on your screen.
4. Now in the ‘Tree Browser’ window, you would need to select TreeVault on the left side and then click on the ‘Next’ button that is in the window’s bottom right-side corner.
5. After doing so you will need to click on the ‘Find FTM Tree’ option.
6. Then just go ahead and select your tree from ‘Results’ for the ‘Family Tree Maker Source Tree’ column.
7. At last, you now have your tree linked to the ‘Antenna Tree’ and therefore it becomes the Family Tree Maker tree.

FAQs