AQ - Preparing for the Unexpected!

Each days' work is valuable, yet, without thinking one can easily click a backup away or the backup is on the same computer as the genealogical/family history data. With all digital devices, it is a fact they all fail at some point in time, not knowing the when puts the emphasis on taking the necessary steps to make backups and copy files to a safe place.

In Ancestral Quest there is a way to tell the program to back up your files to a specific location, like a flash drive, drop box, google drive, iCloud or an external hard drive. When in the program simply  go to Tools--> Preferences and click on the tab marked " Files and Folders". Once there take time to set up where to store your backup files.

Click on "Browse" and locate your external location, a flash drive, drop box, some place other than your own computer. Once you've located the place to put your files, you'll see the exact location to the right of "Backup", click "OK" and you are set. Each time you backup the file it will automatically back up to the chosen location.

On a separate note, copying any digital pictures and documents to perhaps the same location is also a wise idea. If something goes wrong with the computer, an electrical storm, an unexpected power serge, or even the computer is and old one your files and data are safely stored!

If you have to retrieve a file because something happened or you replaced your computer, you will simply need to copy the most recent backup to your new computer's document folder. Re-download the program from here: http://ancquest.com/ver15.htm, run and install it. 

With the program open, go to File-->Restore you will look for the file you placed there and click "Open", then he "Save As" window will appear asking you where to save it and what name to give the file.

Once you fill in the information, click "Restore" and the file will be there. If you have done this on an existing computer, be sure to change the name as it will overwrite what may be there. Note: If you are on a new computer you'll need to establish the back up location once again.

Taking these precautions will allow you to continue your research knowing it will not disappear regardless of what may happen with the computer.

Take advantage of this and many other great features of Ancestral Quest 15 today, click here to purchase, download and start enjoying this great program which helps you grow your family tree with only a few clicks.

Remember Ancestral Quest is fully FamilySearch Certified!

Comments and questions are always welcome!

Happy Ancestraling...Claire ;)

AQ Cues & Clues Blog:http://ancquest.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AncQuest

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ancquest

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/inclinesoftware

(c) 1994-2019 Incline Software, All Rights Reserved

     ancquest@ancquest.com

Backing-Up Family Files

Each day individuals spend a major amount of time working on the Family History and/or Genealogy, some perhaps as often as time will allow. At the end of the day Ancestral Quest is closed down and it is often assumed that all will be there tomorrow or the next time you open that particular program.

Unfortunately it isn't always so. Individuals around the world have turned on their computers only to find that there has been a hard disk failure. This is a scary situation as we rely on computers as a storage place of valuable data including our ancestral families, photos and documents.

To add to this dilema, the multiple digital devices used on a daily basis to store pictures of family and friends at different gatherings, perhaps photos of tombstones from visiting the cemetery and a host of other media is stored on a large variety devices.

Without a schedule or a regular habit, years of research can be gone in moment. 

Currently the back-up process requires an individual to go to "File" and click on "Backup" as follows:

At this point you'll have to decide where to save it to. It is advisable to store backups on an external drive and/or a USB Flash Drive, this way you'll be able to have your data, etc. 

On the top right side, click the down arrow to expand your choices of where to save your backup file. I have an external drive so have chosen this as my backup location. Once you select the location, you click on "Backup" and it is complete. This is the message you will receive:

This completes your backup of your family file data. If you have multiple family files, it is suggested you do this to each of them. It is recommended to do a backup each time you finish using the program. If you do a backup once a week and have to resort to going back to that particular date, then all you have done since then would be lost if you had problem with your computer.

This simple backup can save your years of research!

Remember Ancestral Quest is fully FamilySearch Certified!

Comments and questions are always welcome!

Happy Ancestraling...Claire ;)

AQ Cues & Clues Blog:http://ancquest.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AncQuest

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ancquest

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/inclinesoftware

(c) 1994-2015 Incline Software, All Rights Reserved
 gfindlay@ancquest.com