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First Sync Questions

First Sync Questions

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 3:16AM GMT
Classification: Query
I imported my tree to FTM3 Mac in January and named it with the date. I've deliberately *not* synced because I'm afraid it will screw things up. But I've noticed my tree, by the same name, is at Ancestry.com already. I never uploaded it that I can recall, because as I said I wanted to wait until I wasn't afraid of the sync feature issues. Well I guess I must have and just knew it was uploading only not syncing. I also have hints showing in FTM3, but the sync symbol *is* x'd out. I thought I'd only have hints in FTM3 if syncing?

Well today I decided to sync and first backed up my file and also made exports ... just securing in every way I could. But I'm not sure whether to sync the two trees as they are, or whether to delete the one at Ancestry and start over with a new upload. Any important changes I believe are in my FTM3 version. Should I just sync to the one already online?

This all sounds rather obvious. Delete the tree online and start over, but I am just skittish about this syncing feature. I don't really trust it.

Re: First Sync Questions

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 7:01PM GMT
Classification: Query
If it were me, if you are POSITIVE the online tree is of no use to you, delete it. But ONLY if you know you have everything you need from it.

I would then upload and sync your tree from FTM. You may have hit the upload button once before and thats why you have the tree online. You can upload without syncing.

Sometimes it may look like your tree didn't upload 100%, but this is probably because media is still processing or something. Give it a good day before you start to question if it uploaded completely or not.

You can get hints for a tree you just have on FTM. There's a preference in the settings that lets you toggle this on or off.

You should be fine if you have backups and exports like you said.

Re: First Sync Questions

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 7:49PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you for your reassurance. I'm usually a rational person but for some reason I don't trust sync because I've heard so many issues, so I'm coming from fear haha! I recently converted to FTM for these features though so time I get on with!

Re: First Sync Questions

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 7:51PM GMT
Classification: Query
Oh, a lot of people say they prefer manual sync to automatic. Something to keep in mind when you are doing your initial setup.

Re: First Sync Questions

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 7:56PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thanks for that tip, and is it generally better to only make changes either online or offline, but not both? For example maybe I'm best off processing all hints in FTM3 in my hard drive then "syncing" up? I would thin if hints are processed on both sides and then you do a manual sync, maybe things get messed up?

Re: First Sync Questions

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 8:05PM GMT
Classification: Query
I have yet to have an issue with working on either end. I do stuff on the website and I do stuff in FTM.

Hints in FTM got annoying, though, because in the mac product, you can't turn off hints for member trees like you can in the windows product, so I just turned off all hints in FTM.

I do, however, add info I find on other websites, add photos, etc. all through FTM while syncing changes made on the website from hints. I also like to review my place names and make them all uniform in FTM and then sync those up to the website.

The biggest issues seem to come with really large trees or people that have a lot of media. The tree I'm working on has only 1200-ish people and I have less than 500 media. So maybe if you have a huge tree it would be more worthwhile to pick one and sync to the other.

Anytime I've had conflicting information FTM always asks me to review/fix it before it continues with the sync.

I also sync a lot. I don't do a lot of work and then sync, I sync probably every 20-30 minutes. I figure the less changes it has to make at one time the less likely it will screw up....i hope lol

So long story short, its up to you the route you want to go as far as syncing one way or the other. I am using version 22.2.4.781 and I am on Yosemite 10.3. I haven't had hardly any problems at all. Keep copies of your backups just in case :)

Re: First Sync Questions

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 8:10PM GMT
Classification: Query
Sorry for all the info lol but I thought of something else I do, too:

I try to sync when I have changes only from one end. For example, if I've been working with hints on the website, I will sync that before I start doing anything in FTM. Same for the other way around, if I've been working in FTM, before I go do stuff on the website I will make sure i have synced and I have refreshed the website after that sync has completed.

Re: First Sync Questions

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 8:35PM GMT
Classification: Query
Okay, thanks. I was curious how many media items I have, but whereas when I click People, Sources and Places I see a full count above the search field, when I click Media no total. When I highlight them all, no total.

Re: First Sync Questions

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 8:37PM GMT
Classification: Query
Your media total is at the bottom in the same bar that has the "thumbnail size" thing.

Just to the right of the "groups" and "History" options in your left pane.

Re: First Sync Questions

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 8:38PM GMT
Classification: Query
No apology needed - you're being soooo helpful! I really appreciate it, you doing your act of genealogical kindness :-)
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