Protect your family history with proper backups. Follow this step-by-step guide to compact and back up your Family Tree Maker files.
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Protect Your Trees
Whether you are getting ready to update your copy of Family Tree Maker or about to embark on any other significant event such as using a new synching technology like FamilySync® for the first time, it's a good idea to make sure your main tree is protected with a full, restorable copy that's not in your computer.
All Users Should Compact and Save
You should compact and save your main tree manually into a location other than your computer. Here's how:
1
Compact Your File
Simplified Instructions:
- Open your tree, then select Compact File from the Tools menu.
- In the window that appears, click Compact.
- In the window that appears confirming compacting was successful, click OK.
Step-by-step:
For detailed illustrated instructions, click here.
2
Back Up Your File
Simplified Instructions:
- Select Backup from the File menu.
- In the Backup the Tree window, check boxes to include media files and historical events.
- If your tree is linked with one on Ancestry.com, make sure "Allow restored file to resume syncing" is selected.
- Click Backup.
- In the window confirming a successful backup, click OK.
Step-by-step:
For detailed illustrated instructions, click here.
3
Move to a Safe Place
All too often, we hear from users who have lost their tree file in a flood, fire, or hard drive crash. That can be completely avoided by moving a copy to a location away from your computer.
- Using File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS), locate your backup file.
- Connect an external drive or cloud storage service like Dropbox.
- Copy the backup file to the external drive or cloud storage.
- If using a physical drive, eject it properly to avoid corruption.
Pro Tip: Keep a copy in a safe deposit box at your bank for maximum protection.
Compacting a File in FTM 2017, 2019 and 2024
As you add, delete, move, and edit records and objects in your tree file, the database may need some periodic maintenance. The easy-to-use Compact File tool helps you to perform that maintenance, resulting in a smaller and smoother-running tree file.
Compacting the file may take several minutes, depending on the size of your tree.
How do I compact a file in FTM 2017, 2019 or 2024?
- Choose Compact File from the Tools menu.
- If you did not have a tree file open, a dialog will appear. Navigate to the file you want to compact, select it, and click Open.
- In the Compact File dialog, make sure Perform extended analysis is checked. This will analyze the tree file more deeply, looking for errors and fixing them.
- Click the Compact button to proceed.
- Once complete, a message will appear telling you by how much the file size has been reduced. Click OK.
Previously, we recommended repeating these steps until the completion message tells you the file size has been reduced by 0.00%. This is no longer necessary. If you choose to do so, it won't harm your file.
Mac Instructions
- Make sure your tree is open and choose File > Backup.
- Type a new name in the Backup Filename field if needed.
- Select backup location: DVD, flash drive, or hard disk.
- Check Media files to include all media items.
- Check Historical events to include timelines.
- Check Allow restored file to resume syncing for Ancestry.
- Click Backup.
Backup files can only be opened with the version of FTM they were created in.
Windows Instructions
- Make sure your tree is open and click File > Backup.
- Type a new name in the Backup file name field if needed.
- Select backup location: DVD, flash drive, or hard disk.
- Check Media files to include all media items.
- Check Historical events to include timelines.
- Check Allow restored file to resume syncing for Ancestry.
- Click Backup.
Backup files have a .ftmb extension.
Need Help?
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