Using the File Finder in Family Tree Maker 2011-2014

When Family Tree Maker is opened for the first time, a window will appear to aid in finding existing family tree files. This window only appears the first time the program is opened. If you would like the file finder to open on startup again, you will need to modify the user configuration file using the process outlined in this article.

• Windows Vista & 7
• Windows 8 & 10

1. Right-click the Start button and choose File Explorer (Windows 7 Users – choose Open Windows Explorer).
2. Navigate to the C:\Users folder.
3. Open your profile folder. This is the name of your Windows user account (typically your name).
4. Open the AppData folder.

   Note: If you do not see an AppData folder, click the Organize button in the top left of this window and choose Folder and Search Options. When this window opens, click the View tab from the top. On the View tab, select the bullet next to Show hidden files and folders and click OK. The Local Settings folder should now be displayed. If you still can’t find Local Settings, you selected the wrong profile folder. Go back to Users and pick another profile folder.

   

5. Open the Local folder.
6. Open the Ancestry.com folder.

   Note: If you do not see this folder, you selected the wrong profile folder. Go back to the Users folder and pick another account.

7. Open the FTM.exe_StrongName_cfyfhex4ymwhpskcyivzre5fvowz3iws folder.
8. Open the folder that represents your version of Family Tree Maker
   • Family Tree Maker 2011 - Open 20.0*.
   • Family Tree Maker 2012 - Open 21.0*.
   • Family Tree Maker 2014 - Open 22.0*.
9. Open the user.config file with Notepad. It is unlikely that the user.config file will be associated to open with Notepad by default. To learn how to open this file with a program like Notepad, please refer to the links below.

• Windows Vista: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Change-the-program-that-opens-a-type-of-file
• Windows 7: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Change-the-program-that-opens-a-type-of-file

• Once Notepad opens, scroll down and find the text <setting name="IsFirstRun" serializeAs="String">.

  

• Just below this line of text is another line <value>False</value>. Change the text from False to True.

  

• Click File → Save, then close the Notepad window.

  

• Open Family Tree Maker.
• The registration window for Family Tree Maker should appear. Select Register Later.
• The file finder window will open. Check the box next to the files you want to import and click OK to import the selected files.

Windows 8 & 10

From the desktop, press the Windows logo key + Q to open the Search pane.

1. Type computer into the search dialog box.
2. Click This PC from the search results to open the File Explorer (click Computer on Windows 8).

   

3. From the File Explorer, navigate to the C:\Users folder.
4. Open your profile folder. This is the name of your Windows user account (typically your name).
5. Open the AppData folder.

   Note: If you do not see this folder, select the View tab from the top and click Options > Change folder and search options. When this window opens, click the View tab from the top. Place the bullet next to Show hidden files and folders and click OK. The AppData folder should now be displayed.

6. Open the Ancestry.com folder.

   Note: If you do not see this folder, you selected the wrong profile folder. Go back to the Users folder pick another profile folder.

7. Open the FTM.exe_StrongName_cfyfhex4ymwhpskcyivzre5fvowz3iws folder.
8. Open the folder that represents your version of Family Tree Maker.
   • Family Tree Maker 2012 - Open 21.0*.
   • Family Tree Maker 2014 - Open 22.0*.
9. Open the file labeled user.config with Notepad. If the file does not automatically open with Notepad, click More Options and select Notepad from the list of programs.
10. Once Notepad opens, scroll down and find the text <setting name="IsFirstRun" serializeAs="String">.

    

11. Just below this line of text is another line <value>False</value>. Change the text from False to True.

    

12. Click File → Save, then close the Notepad window.

    

13. Open Family Tree Maker.
14. The registration window for Family Tree Maker should appear. Select Register Later.
15. The file finder window will open. Check the box next to the files you want to import and click OK to import the selected files.
16. The file finder window should appear. Check the box next to the files you want to import and click OK.