Family Tree Maker to be pensioned off. NOT!

[Bob Spiers]

However when I know it may be a while between FTM sessions or when I do fully shut down the PC for a longer break I irreverently hit the X button. The auto back up is quite quick and not too much of a delay. You can turn this feature off in Options if you do not like it.
The only time I get a warning to compact the database is when FTM has closed down unexpectedly - normally Windows deciding to do its own thing

Yes I believe at least one 'incorrect shutdown' may have been as a result of a Microsoft induced restart when I had FTM open. One other when I performed a shut down without realising FTM had not been closed. But for the remainder after performing what I believed to be a correct shutdown. Incidentally MacKiev 'Help' lists two closure options; the File/Exit or clicking on 'X' so theoretically having followed either procedure I should not get incorrect closure messages.

I agree the auto backup is quick and was aware it could be turned off, but hoped by keeping it as a default it would prevent the messages. I shall persevere and see what happens and may have to contact MacKiev if the problem continues.

 

[Bob Spiers]

When I checked the number of media against the number in Ancestry there was a discrepancy. Using the Media report in FTM to identify unlinked media I was able to correct the numbers.

Ah, so that how one checks on unlinked media, will check that out. Thanks.

 

[peter]

However when using Ancestry itself, if I should leave its page and get on with something else- and my absence is half an hour or more - invariably I return to a 'cannot locate server : re-search or refresh' message.

I've also noticed that recently.

 

[trebor]

However when using Ancestry itself, if I should leave its page and get on with something else- and my absence is half an hour or more - invariably I return to a 'cannot locate server : re-search or refresh' message. I am used to such with my Tribal Pages which has always had a time out period, but is a new thing with Ancestry. More of a minor irritation than anything as it is not difficult to return and pick up where I left off.

I often leave FTM open for longish periods without any activity and have not once come back to it to find it disconnected. Is your connection wi-fi or wired? If the former maybe a short dropout has cased the loss of connection.

 

[FredC]

Below is the message I get from FTM, which suggests that it is not a local issue.

"We are experiencing frequent brief interruptions in sync service connections this morning. As a precaution, we are temporarily blocking all syncing, downloading and uploading for FTM 2017. We will resume sync services as soon as we have a steady connection again for at least two hours".

 

[Bob Spiers]

I often leave FTM open for longish periods without any activity and have not once come back to it to find it disconnected. Is your connection wi-fi or wired? If the former maybe a short dropout has cased the loss of connection.

Thanks trebor, but can I emphasise the disconnection problem I reported was when using Ancestry itself, not FTM. (The PC is wired by the way and as with all my devices unless I am in the process of an upgrade download, is shut down after each day's session). I experience NO disconnection problems with FTM, just the spell of 'incorrect shutdown' reports about which I posted. I now make great effort to ensure I shutdown via File/Exit and on the last two occasions at least, FTM has opened without a problem.

I use Ancestry on one PC and FTM on another (both wired incidentally). If Ancestry is open and actively being worked, then usually no problem. But should I leave its page (without closing) and go on to other things -and the interval is longer than (say) half an hour - when returning all I find is a blank page and the 'cannot locate server' message; suggesting I re-search or refresh. The quickest route back for me to click on a New tab and select Ancestry from 'most visited' programs; it then opens to the last page visited.

Before - no matter how long inactive - on returning I would find it displaying as it was left. So I can only deduce Ancestry has now decided to introduce an 'inactivity time out' which, whilst not uncommon with other sites (I quoted 'Tribal Pages' which has always had a time out period) it is, I believe, new for Ancestry. I may well ask them to comment!

 

[PhilGee]

... I now make great effort to ensure I shutdown via File/Exit and on the last two occasions at least, FTM has opened without a problem.

I use Ancestry on one PC and FTM on another (both wired incidentally). If Ancestry is open and actively being worked, then usually no problem. But should I leave its page (without closing) and go on to other things -and the interval is longer than (say) half an hour - when returning all I find is a blank page and the 'cannot locate server' message; suggesting I re-search or refresh. The quickest route back for me to click on a New tab and select Ancestry from 'most visited' programs; it then opens to the last page visited.

Before - no matter how long inactive - on returning I would find it displaying as it was left. So I can only deduce Ancestry has now decided to introduce an 'inactivity time out' which, whilst not uncommon with other sites (I quoted 'Tribal Pages' which has always had a time out period) it is, I believe, new for Ancestry. I may well ask them to comment!

The program shutdown problem may not be new, though I cannot recall whether it was a "MS Windows" or "Linux" problem. I only recall it was a browser problem and, in my case, clicking "X" did nothing.

The 'cannot locate server' is more likely a DNS problem - I have such an issue now and again when opening multiple pages (tabs) from the same source and one may contain such a message. The page loads with a refresh.

Phil

 

[Bob Spiers]

Below is the message I get from FTM, which suggests that it is not a local issue.

"We are experiencing frequent brief interruptions in sync service connections this morning. As a precaution, we are temporarily blocking all syncing, downloading and uploading for FTM 2017. We will resume sync services as soon as we have a steady connection again for at least two hours".

I was about to say that I had not experience such a report, when to check this out before replying, up came the 'Orange' reports thus:


So obviously all is not well on the syncing front. I still wonder if it has anything to do with the sporadic timing out of Ancestry being experienced outside of FTM. Best wait and see.

 

[Bob Spiers]

The 'cannot locate server' is more likely a DNS problem - I have such an issue now and again when opening multiple pages (tabs) from the same source and one may contain such a message. The page loads with a refresh.

Yes I can relate to this as well, as when I open multiple tabs for (e.g.) FMP. On returning to a previous tab I may sometime find a blank page and a refresh message.

With regard Ancestry - and it may be a separate issue - I recently had a spate of security reports telling me they were using an 'invalid certificate' (the reports courtesy of either courtesy Kaspersky or Google, can't remember which). Regardless of whether I selected 'Discontinue' or 'Continue' (in the latter case generating a second 'are you sure' Y/N message) Ancestry opened normally. The reports cropped up for about a week and then disappeared and have not returned since. I checked for Malware and did a security scan but nothing showed.

 

[Bob Spiers]

Just to report this morning FTM both opened without a problem and the sync Green light is back in business. For now at least.

 

[FredC]

It's important to do regular full back ups of FTM since "Auto-Backups made by the application do not contain media, nor do they have the information needed to relink your tree to Ancestry, so you should not rely on them as your only backups"

 

[peter]

This is slightly off-topic, but relevant.... I get a lot of emails from LostCousins members with queries about this or that family tree program. I generally refer them to the forum, and am wondering whether we ought to have a dedicated area of the forum with separate sections for each of the main programs.

Any thoughts?

 

[Tim]

Sounds good.

 

[Heather]

This is slightly off-topic, but relevant.... I get a lot of emails from LostCousins members with queries about this or that family tree program. I generally refer them to the forum, and am wondering whether we ought to have a dedicated area of the forum with separate sections for each of the main programs. Any thoughts?

Great idea Peter.

 

[FredC]

This is slightly off-topic, but relevant.... I get a lot of emails from LostCousins members with queries about this or that family tree program. I generally refer them to the forum, and am wondering whether we ought to have a dedicated area of the forum with separate sections for each of the main programs.

Any thoughts?

Good move

 

[peter]

Would somebody like to come up with a list of programs - I guess there's no point including programs that have never been mentioned on the forum?

 

[Rhian]

For my part there is only one - Gramps, but I know you are expecting more! Perhaps people who prefer one or two other programmes should suggest them.

 

[Bob Spiers]

Well as a starter from memory I know the following have been mentioned before in the Forum: -no order or preference intended and remember there will be old and new versions in use. As far as I know all work under Windows, except the last mentioned.

Brothers Keeper:
Legacy :
Roots Magic:
Family Tree Maker (FTM)-MacKiev version:
Tribal Pages: *
Gramps:*
MacFamily Tree: which (3 guesses) is for Mac users

*both allow sharing with others

I could have included 'Family Tree Legends' ( my all time favourite) but does not work beyond Windows XP but keep in mind should somebody ask. There are others (Family Historian comes to mind) but will need to be endorsed by someone else.

 

[Bob Spiers]

Oh dear I missed out Genopro: how remiss of me and I use it as well, although not as a data base but unequalled for producing family tree charts.

 

[pjd]

Good idea Peter

It might be worth having a separate section for Mac to include:
Reunion
TreeView2
as well as FTM Mac version (which I use)

Also various 'apps' such as GedView, Branches Pro for iPad (both of which I use for quick reference) . . .