Going From a PC to a Mac ~ Part 2

Here is Part 1 in case you haven't read it and care to ~ If you have read it you will remember I am trying to move my Family Tree Maker tree from my PC to my new Mac with Family Tree Maker Mac2.


After the hard shut down on the laptop, I put it in the office on the floor, restraining myself from hucking it through the window. Then I moved my Mac back into the office next to my husband's computer, again. I did a search on Google again to try to come to the same spot I found before while in the dining room on my laptop.  Luckily, I soon found what I wanted, did the download, added my file, and finally had a converted version! (I never realized I needed to convert the file in the beginning of all of this.)

I let out a BIG sigh of relief, as I mentally told myself, "I did it!" I was so pleased, and excited that I finally was finished with this project. Now, I just needed to go back and delete the program I had just used off the hubby's computer.  I needed to remember to remove the first one I had added also, the one that I didn't need. I would do that one later, though. I was on a roll and wanted to finish my things first.

It was just a few seconds later when I realized I was out of directions and didn't know what to do next! I felt my blood pressure rising again, and wondered if planning to get this done in one day was even logical for me to accomplish.

So, it was back to finding new directions on what to do next. I put my new converted tree on my memory stick, brought the Mac to the family room and decided to sit in my chair with it and relax a bit while finding directions that were useful for me with the next step of this process. After a bit of searching I found what I needed to do next.

I put my memory stick in the Mac to proceed, and a little window popped up telling me I needed to "convert to a newer version!" Oh no... really? My head was about to explode. I just did this with their online info, why hadn't it converted with the latest version to begin with? Of course I said yes, convert to the latest version, I couldn't go any further unless I did this step anyway.

Next, I needed to download the converted tree from the memory stick to the program. The newly found directions helped me to proceed. I followed the directions, closed FTM for Mac2 program and reopened. The tree wasn't there in the program! I saw it...but didn't looked like it had saved. But why not? I didn't have a clue. I went through the routine again, closed down and opened back up.

This time it was there, in my program, not once, but twice! I'll take twice, I can delete one of them and also update the name of the file I keep. Now, I truly accomplished this task! I did it, and on my own! But oh, what a process. I am very grateful we had another computer to move my trees to, although I have them stored in the cloud and on a portable hard drive also. I needed computer access to first convert the tree!

Although the whole process seemed to take forever, it actually only took me about 3 hours of researching, reading, hooking up to the PC (twice), working the directions, getting frustrated, re-trying, setting up a laptop, taking down a laptop, moving the Mac here, there and everywhere and an interruption before I finally saw the perfect outcome of my determination. Actually not to bad, time wise, although someone who really knew what they were doing would have accomplished this in less than have that time.

Last year I was in la la land trying to set up my own URL, that was a several week issue. After that, I told myself I was done learning, my brain was fried, I didn't want to learn anymore, about anything! Whose idea was it anyway for me to buy a Mac? Oh yeah, the daughter who lives hundreds of miles away, who wouldn't be able to help me get everything transferred, nor would see the frustration I would go through to accomplish that. But, bottom line, it is not her fault, it is mine as I went along with the idea.

So far, I have to say I like the Mac, in general. It is very easy to use and tends to "makes sense" on how you think things "should be." I had better learn to LOVE it though, because I do not wish to change computers again for a very, very long time!

I won't try to put a time limit on the life span of my Mac, as I tried to with my last PC. Maybe, just maybe, that is what jinxed me with the laptop, I gave it an "expected lifespan." Heck, it didn't even make it half way through that expected life span.

In my next post, I will lay out the directions in accomplishing this task as it should be, and in order. With these directions it would take no time at all to complete this task. I am hoping the directions I post will save at least one person some time in making the same transfer.

Russ Worthington was kind enough to take time to add a comment to Part 1 of this post, which gives a link or two with directions on transferring FTM from a PC to a Mac. I will include his directions in the next post also. Thank you Russ, I greatly appreciate the information. Watch out now though, as I  am sure I will have a question or two for you in the future!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!





Copyright © 2012 By Cheryl Palmer All Rights Reserved

Comments

  1. Im glad you are liking your Mac, so far. I switched from pc to Mac in 07 and it took a bit, but I love my Mac! Sorry it took so much playing around to get your trees up and going on it. If you need any help, I'm here!

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  2. Ggreat job! So proud of you and Im glad you are enjoying your mac! You're a brave woman!

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