How to Compact and Back Up a Tree in Family Tree Maker

Learning how to compact and back up a tree in Family Tree Maker is crucial. Compacting removes unnecessary data to optimize file size and speed, while backing up creates a secure copy to prevent loss from crashes or updates. This process keeps your research intact and efficient.

Why You Need to Compact and Back Up a Tree in Family Tree Maker

Regular maintenance like compacting reduces bloat from deleted items or temporary files, improving software performance. Backups protect against hardware failures, accidental deletions, or software glitches. Without them, years of genealogy effort could vanish. Experts recommend doing this before major changes, such as syncing with Ancestry or updating the program.

Step-by-Step: How to Compact a Tree in Family Tree Maker

Start by opening your tree file. Go to the Tools menu and select Compact File. A window will pop up—click Compact to begin. The software scans and removes redundant data. Once done, a confirmation appears; hit OK. This usually takes a few minutes, depending on file size. Always compact before backing up for a cleaner archive.

Step-by-Step: How to Back Up a Tree in Family Tree Maker

With your tree open, navigate to the File menu and choose Backup. In the dialog box, enter a custom name if needed to track versions, like adding the date. Select your save location: an external drive, cloud service, or local folder. Check boxes for including media files (photos, documents), historical events, and web favorites. If linked to Ancestry, enable the option to resume syncing on restore. Click Backup, and wait for the success message.

After creating the file (ending in .ftmb), move it to a safe spot. Use File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac to copy it to a USB drive or cloud like Dropbox. Eject devices properly to avoid corruption. Test by opening the backup on another computer with Family Tree Maker installed.

Best Practices for Compacting and Backing Up

Compact weekly if you add data often, and back up after every session. Don’t rely on Ancestry syncs alone—they miss some local elements. For Family Tree Maker 2019 users with TreeVault, enjoy automatic cloud saves every 15 seconds, plus rollback features for changes. Store multiple backups in different locations to guard against disasters. Avoid auto-backups as sole protection; they lack media and sync links.

By mastering how to compact and back up a tree in Family Tree Maker, you ensure your family legacy endures. This routine takes little time but offers big peace of mind.

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