Repairing a damaged Family Tree Maker for Mac file
The easiest way to recover from file damage is to restore a backup of your data that was created prior to when the damage occurred. We recommend that our members protect themselves against data loss by maintaining a good backup system. For help on backing up your data, click here.
If you do not have a healthy backup, you can try to repair the damage using the processes below:
1. With Family Tree Maker open, choose Close Window from the File menu to close the tree.
2. Choose Compact File from the Tools menu.
3. Locate the family tree in question, select the file, and then click Choose.
4. In the dialog that appears, click Compact.
5. The file will be compacted. You will receive a window stating the compact is complete and the file size was reduced by a percentage. Note the percentage and click OK.
6. Repeat this process until the percent compacted is 0.00%.
Upload/Download using Ancestry
Step 1: Upload to Ancestry
1. Open the tree then select the People workspace.
2. Click the Share button at the upper-right corner and select Upload to Ancestry...
3. Select the Upload without linking box and then click OK.
4. In the Upload to Ancestry dialog, do not change the settings and click OK.
5. The file will be uploaded to Ancestry. Your default browser will open a page titled Upload Your Family Tree Maker Tree.
6. Please wait while Ancestry processes the tree. Large trees will take more time to process.
Enter a tree name, select the I accept the submission agreement checkbox, and then click Upload.
Step 2: Download from Ancestry
1. Open the New Tree tab by choosing New from the File menu.
2. Select the option Download a tree from Ancestry.
3. A list with the trees(s) you have on Ancestry should now be displayed. Click the Export or Download button for the tree you want.
- The Export button will be available if you have never downloaded your tree from Ancestry. After you click it, a file will be prepared for downloading. Once it's prepared, a Download button will become available.
- Download will show for trees you downloaded in the past but haven't updated on Ancestry since the last time they were downloaded. If you click it, the download will start immediately.
4. Once the file has been downloaded, a small window asking if you want to import this file as a new tree or merge it with an existing one.
- Selecting Import creates an entirely new tree file for this downloaded tree. A window will appear asking where you want to save the file. This option is good because it gives you a chance to create a new file without damage.
- Selecting Merge will first import the file, and then open a window asking which file you would like to merge this file with. After choosing the file, the merge wizard will open. This option is good because sometimes merging 2 files can remove or overwrite damaged data. For more help merging files, please click here and proceed from step 5.
5. Your file will now be available in Family Tree Maker.
- This file is a copy of the tree you have on Ancestry. Any new information added to this tree through Family Tree Maker will not be added to your tree on Ancestry. Ancestry and Family Tree Maker cannot fully synchronize currently.
Exporting your file as a GEDCOM
Exporting your file as a GEDCOM should be used as a last resort, as it may fix your file, but all media items will be stripped from the newly imported file. If attempting the options listed above still doesn’t fix your file, please try exporting a GEDCOM file per the instructions below.
1. Choose Export from the File menu.
2. The Export window opens. Select Entire File if it isn’t currently selected.
3.Change the Output Format to GEDCOM 5.5.
4. Leave all the items selected and click Export.
5. Navigate to the location you want to save this file to, type a name for your new file, and click Save.
6. Once this process is complete, you will receive a window saying the export was successful. Click OK.
7. Re-import this file.