When transitioning to a new computer, one crucial step in ensuring the smooth transfer of files is to copy the FTM file to the new computer. The FTM file, which refers to the Family Tree Maker file, contains all your genealogical data, including family trees, events, facts, and sources. To copy the FTM file to the new computer, you’ll first need to locate the file on the old computer. This file typically has the extension .ftm, and it is usually stored in a specific directory chosen during the initial setup of Family Tree Maker. Once you’ve found the FTM file, the next step is to copy it to a portable storage device such as a USB drive or an external hard drive.
After transferring the FTM file to the new computer, you can simply paste it into the desired location on the new machine. However, it’s important to ensure that you also transfer any associated media files, such as images, documents, and other multimedia items that may be linked within your FTM file. Without these media files, some references in your family tree may not display correctly on the new computer. Once everything is transferred, open Family Tree Maker on the new machine, and load the FTM file. If you have followed these steps carefully, your entire family tree, including all data and media files, should now be accessible on the new computer.
To prevent any data loss or corruption during the process, it’s recommended to create a backup of the FTM file before copying it. This way, if anything goes wrong, you have a safeguard in place. The process of copying the FTM file to the new computer is generally straightforward but requires careful attention to detail to ensure that everything is transferred successfully.