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How can I access the Ancestry Genealogy Library from within TMG?

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How can I access the Ancestry Genealogy Library™ from within TMG?

Applies to: TMG

 

Answer: TMG4 came with a second CD-ROM which contained the Ancestry Genealogy Library™. TMG5 sells for a lower price and does not include the AGL. However, those who have upgraded from TMG4 may continue to access the AGL from within TMG5 by following the steps outlined below.

 

The special edition of the Ancestry Genealogy Library™ that was distributed with TMG4 contained these reference databases:

  • The Source
  • Red Book
  • Ancestry’s Concise Genealogical Dictionary
  • 1854 Gazetteer of the United States
  • Genealogical Publications of the Library of Congress

Important:

  • Caution: In addition to the material described above, the AGL CD-ROM includes the American Biographical Library (a free bonus from Ancestry.com) and a number of other research databases which you may have unlocked through a separate purchase from Ancestry.com. If you have unlocked any of that material, then you should continue to access the AGL from its current location in the TMG4\Ancestry folder. If you reinstall the AGL, then you will need the unlock codes that were previously issued to you by Ancestry.com in order to access those additional databases. Wholly Genes Software does not have access to those unlock codes and cannot provide them to you.
  • The procedures below require that you manually edit some configuration files with a text editor. WordPad is an editor that is installed with most versions of Windows (access Start > Programs > Accessories > WordPad) and is good for this purpose.
  • Be sure to backup any file before you edit it and be sure to save any changes as a pure text (i.e., “Text Only” or “ASCII text”) file.
  • If you are uncomfortable with these instructions, then seek help before proceeding.

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STEP 1: Install the Ancestry Genealogy Library™

If the AGL is already installed on your computer, then skip to step 2.

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Use your Windows Explorer to create an empty folder called c:\ancestry. (You might choose another name and location for the folder but the AGL does not recognize folder names that are longer than 8 characters or include embedded spaces.)

 

Use a text editor to create a file called iii.ini in the Windows folder, e.g., c:\windows\iii.ini. (If this file already exists then the AGL is already installed on your computer and you should skip directly to Step 2.)

 

Cut and paste the following three lines into the new file.

 

[Paths]

Wholly Genes FHCD Source=e:\

Wholly Genes FHCD Dest=c:\ancestry

 

In this example, e:\ is the CD-ROM drive and c:\ancestry is the folder that you created above. Modify those references as appropriate for your computer.

 

Save your changes, being sure to specify that the file type is a text file.

 

Open the Windows Explorer and access a list of files on the AGL CD-ROM. Double-click on BONUS.EXE in order to perform the installation.

 

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STEP 2: Add the Ancestry Genealogy Library as an “External Utility” to TMG5.

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Use a text editor to edit the APP.INI file in the TMG program folder (e.g., c:\program files\the master genealogist\app.ini). Cut and paste the following two lines into the bottom of APP.INI:

 

[ExternalUtilities]

Utilities2=Ancestry Genealogy Library,c:\ancestry\unlock.exe

 

If necessary, modify the path to reflect the proper AGL installation folder (i.e., where UNLOCK.EXE can be found). If the AGL was installed with TMG4, for instance, the default location would be c:\tmgw\ancestry\unlock.exe

 

Save your changes to APP.INI as a text file.

 

Exit the editor and restart TMG5.

 

Access the Tools menu in TMG5 and choose External Utilities > Ancestry Genealogy Library to access the databases.

 

TIP: You can also create custom toolbar buttons to access the AGL or each the individual databases within it. The function of the button should be "Execute a Windows Program" and the target file is unlock.exe with its full path. For the optional parameter, you can enter a number between 1 and 5 to access an individual database.

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