9.01 to 9.04 guidance sought

[E Wilcock 0]

I have used TMG for many years since Generations closed. I purchased every upgrade. I am using TMG UK 9.01. Following help on this forum, I backed up my multiple projects from version 8 and restored them with my custom settings in 9.01.

 

I do most of my genealogy in the winter so failed to look for upgrades to 9.01 during the summer and also did not know until 2 days ago that TMG was to be discontinued. I intend to go on using TMG and would be grateful for some guidance.

 

Following Terry Reigal's instructions for which I am grateful, I have downloaded and saved what I hope is the final UK version of TMG. The file name does not indicate the full version number. But I hope it is 9.04.

 

Please could someone give me some advice.

 

First on installation.

Do I need to uninstall version 9.01 before installing version 9.04? I am using Windows 7 Home on a 64 bit Sony desktop and all is fine with 9.01.

 

Secondly on Projects -

 

My understanding is that I must again back up all my projects from 9.01 and then restore them in 9.04.

It would be easier to do this if I can run both programs, but if not, I must generate back ups of all my projects first, then uninstall 9.01 and then restore all my projects in the download which I trust to be 9.04.

 

Once I have installed TMG 9.04 is it able to open TMG Projects created in versions earlier than 8? I have some projects from version 7 which have not been opened in version 8, and a number of small projects going back even earlier so I have no idea which version I created them. They were created in the course of historical research and I do not want to lose the information in them. I mean the data, not customisations.

 

I also run 9.01 on an xp Netbook for taking out to the national archives. I assume I will have to use 9.04 there as well as the Projects wont be openable in both versions of TMG 9?

 

I have assumed that 9.04 must be handled as if it is an entirely new version, but may be I am wrong. Please could someone knowledgeable guide me? There may be other happy users of TMG who want to continue using it for research but are as confused as I am.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Michael Hannah 0]

Please could someone give me some advice.

Happy to try.

First on installation. Do I need to uninstall version 9.01 before installing version 9.04?

Either way will work. You can simply run the V9.04 installer, and it will recognize that you already have v9.01 and replace it. But you could uninstall v9.01 and then run the V9.04 installer. Some of us find that more reassuring. Whichever way you prefer.

Secondly on Projects - My understanding is that I must again back up all my projects from 9.01 and then restore them in 9.04.

No, not necessary. Your V9.01 projects will be recognized by V9.04 and updated in place. However, it never hurts at least to backup all your projects first just to be safe.

It would be easier to do this if I can run both programs

Since they are the same Major version number (version 9) they are the same program and cannot both be run at the same time on the same machine. If they were different Major Versions (e.g. V8 and V9) you could run both at the same time on the same machine as they are considered different programs.

Once I have installed TMG 9.04 is it able to open TMG Projects created in versions earlier than 8?

Yes, you can simply open any project back to Version 5 in V9.04. The even earlier Version 4 projects and backups must be "Imported" but can still be read in that way. But it is always recommended to make some kind of backup of older projects, even just making a Zip file of the folder, before opening them and upgrading them in the newer program version.

 

As TMG is not going to have another Major version, now is probably a good time to do the housekeeping of upgrading all your older projects from whatever version to become V9 projects. Then they would be directly available whenever you want to use them in the future.

I also run 9.01 on an xp Netbook for taking out to the national archives. I assume I will have to use 9.04 there as well as the Projects wont be openable in both versions of TMG 9?

Correct, once you upgrade a project to V9.04 you cannot open it with an earlier program version.

I have assumed that 9.04 must be handled as if it is an entirely new version

As I mentioned above, only new Major Version numbers need to be handled as entirely new programs.

There may be other happy users of TMG who want to continue using it for research but are as confused as I am.

Hope this helps relieve the confusion. And if Wholly Genes releases another bugfix for Version 9 before January, all of the above would apply to that release with respect to already having V9.01 or V9.04 installed.

[E Wilcock 0]

Michael - Thank you so much for the trouble you have taken to help me. I am sorry that I was not more exact in setting out the questions. In my original post, I used the word backup specifically to mean creating (and later restoring) a ****.sqz file with data and customisations. I didnt use it in the sense of backing up (regularly copying) my projects to an external drive.

 

Creating and restoring a sqz file for each project was is what I was helpfully advised to do when changing from one full version of TMG to the next as moving from 8 to 9.

 

I think you have reassured me that moving from 9.01 to 9.04 will not require this. Project files already used in Version 9, will be recognised complete with the customisations, regardless of whether 9.04 is installed over the earlier version or after uninstalling the earlier one?

 

Unfortunately I am unclear which customisations reside within projects and which reside within the overall TMG program. I have both Terry Riegal (2008) and Lee Hoffman's (2003) invaluable books, if you care to give me a page reference. But I have not been able to discover which customisations are to Projects and which are there in the TMG program itself.

 

My customisations have been to my work space with custom tool bar and layout.

When I upgraded to Version 9, I lost these and with help of this Forum, retrieved them from a back up of my C drive luckily made when I had to wipe the hard disc.

 

If I were to uninstall 9.01, I assume I will lose them again so need to take some steps first? Or would you advise me not to bother with this unless the other method reveals problems?

 

If I simply run the new version 9.04 without uninstalling the old, will these lay out and tool bar files be preserved?

 

I ask this because I read that the update facility had been removed - I have previously updated without any worry, using Check for an update - and the .****.exe file downloaded with a complete version number. But this time I have had to download 9.04 UK as a complete program (thanks Virginia, from your reply on another thread I now have the full reference number) and if it installs itself with identical directories, it could wipe the settings files already in them?

 

I apologise for asking these questions - I purchased TMG years back because of the way it allows me to handle and to accumulate biographical data for an individual, in the context of his family relationships. I have always used family relationships within my historical research and TMG does exactly what I want. However, I regularly lost custom settings on an upgrade and when I have needed technical insight, I have turned to this Forum.

Edited October 9, 2014 by E Wilcock

[Jim Byram 0]

If I were to uninstall 9.01, I assume I will lose them again so need to take some steps first?

You won't lose them. The v9 program installation and the various v9 user folders are completely independent. Everything will be in place when v9.04 is installed.

[E Wilcock 0]

Jim, I am now in big trouble. I made a copy of the documents folder with all my version 9 projects - as a precaution.

I then ran the download for 4.09 and I am unable to open a Project. When I select a project to open, the screen is looking for a file type other than pjc - (sorry I did not make a note of this) and although I can see all the component files of the project, I cant select anything that will open the project.

 

Meanwhile TMG froze and when using Alt Control and Delete I also have a screen open for the sample project with nothing showing. This problem may have hit me because the UK sample project which was overwritten in the installation has somehow opened as a default and is blocking something.

After reading other posts, I was really anxious about moving from 9.01 and it seems I have messed it up.

Am going to try and uninstall it. Now.

Edited October 9, 2014 by E Wilcock

[E Wilcock 0]

Panic over - I used Windows 7 to uninstall TMG, then reinstalled version 4.01 because I knew that was what you Jim would tell me to do next - and behaviour looks normal. A project has been opened, backed up and updated. My custom layout and tool bar are indeed there - Thank you both.

However it seems a bit of an understatement to say some people find it more reassuring to uninstall completely and then reinstall!

Some people are driven out of their minds when their software doesnt work.