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Accessing a computerized family file from more than one computer Column published: 26 April 2007 By: Rick Roberts, Biography & Archived Articles We recently received an inquiry from a Global Gazette reader who requested advice about setting up his home computer system so that he could access his family file (in this case, created in Family Tree Maker) from more than one computer in his home. The recommended solution can be used with most genealogy software programs. Question:
I have 4 computers; one has FTM 16 and the others have version 9. Can I synchronize the software? Also can I sync the data between the various pc's and laptops. I know I can take GEDCOM and reload files; but can I compare data between pc's and note differences ... I have done 9 wks in Europe and know I have data on my trip that are different from my other pc's; also some data on the other 4 pc's 'may' have data not on the laptop I had on my trip. Harold
You have a few choices. If all four of your computers have the same edition of FTM loaded on them, and they are within 100 feet of each other, the easiest way to deal with a it is to set up a local area network... wireless is best for most users. Place the family file on one computer, then point all of the other computers' FTMs to the same file over your local area network. By doing that, regardless of which coputer you are using, you are updating one centralized file. That eliminates the need to constantly copy the updated file and reload it to a bunch of computers. The local area network also gives you internet accesss to all of your PCs no matter where they are. Choosing which computer will host your family file is important. The best bet would be to put it on the laptop that you travel with. That way, you could have the file with you when you travel away from home, without having to make a copy of it. When you get home, the newly updated information would be immediatly available to you from any of the computers. The computer that hosts the file has to be turned on for other computers on your home network to be able to access the file. To set up the local area network you need a regular router or a wireless router. If you use the wired router you have to run cable from the router to each computer. That can be a hassle if the computers are in different rooms, or if you want to move a laptop to different places in and around the house. It can also be expensive to have long network cables custom made. I'd suggest considering wireless. It's not expensive and is extremely handy. Many computers (especially laptops) come with wireless capability already built in. Those that don't, can have a wireless card added easily.  The convenience is astonishing. I work on my genealogy on a wireless laptop in the backyard. Wireless is also secure as long as you activate the security password feature. You only have to do that once. Afterwards, the network recognizes the computer whenever it is turned on or it comes into range of the wireless router. The new wireless routers have a wide range. We also have a wireless router in our business office that is used to provide internet access to computers in our classroom which is 100 feet away from the wireless router. There are several interior partitions between. The signal is strong and has never let us down. At home our wireless router is in my den which was a second storey front bedroom. I can access the wireless signal successfully in every part of the house or in the backyard, and even in the garage (I play with old cars in my spare time). Without a local area network, you are going to spend a lot of your time transferring files, updating files, and trying to keep track of which files are the most recently updated. Hope this helps :) Rick Roberts Shopping Cart & Order Desk Global Genealogy & History Shoppe 1-800-361-5168 ( 9-5 Tuesday to Saturday )
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