Introduction
Knowing where Family Historian stores its data and settings on your PC greatly aids routine processes such as backup or future migration/upgrade to a new or additional PC. This article gives an overview of where both data and settings are stored.
Project Data
Each Project in ƒh stores its user data in a separate Windows subfolder within the nominated ƒh projects folder. When the program is installed, it creates a Family Historian Projects folder at the default location for the user’s Documents folder, C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Family Historian Projects.
To change this if required, select File > Project Window > More Tasks > Project List > Choose Location for Projects….
This default project location applies to all accounts on the PC, not per individual logged on user. If all accounts use the installation default of C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Family Historian Projects, ƒh will manage separate folders for each user account on the PC, but if Documents has been mapped to another location for any account (e.g. within OneDrive), or an absolute path is defined (for example on a second hard disk or network drive), ƒh can only use the same folder for all users. This limitation has existed for a long time, and it is perhaps surprising that even ƒh7, released in late 2020, is not fully compatible with a Documents folder in other than the default location.
When you create a new project, {projectname}, this is stored in the nominated projects folder as a new subfolder called {projectname}.
Each project folder generally contains a data subfolder (e.g. {projectname}.fh_data), comprising the actual tree data file ({projectname}.ged), plus various subfolders for things like defined charts, books, saved snapshots, etc. There is also a Public subfolder, which is the default location for user output.
| Items | Family Historian Project Folder |
| Books | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Books |
| Image thumbnails | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Cache\Thumbcache.dat |
| Internet hints (V6+) | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Cache |
| Charts (1) | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Charts |
| Project only FactFacts are one of the key concepts at the heart of Family Historian; they are how you record the things that happened to, or described, each ancestor (Individual). Types (V7+) | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Fact Types |
| Log Files specific to one project, such as import errors (V6+) | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Log Files |
| Media (2) | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Media |
| Websites & Family Tree CD/DVD (V7+) | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Packages |
| Plugin data (used by some pluginsPlugins are small programs that allow new features to be added without upgrading Family Historian itself; some plugins are written by Calico Pie and others are written by users.) | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Plugin Data |
| Settings for CD or websites creation | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Settings |
| Snapshots (automatic backups of the GEDCOMGEDCOM, an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunication, is a specification for exchanging genealogical data between different genealogy software. It is a file format that most genealogical programs and online trees recognise. file only) | \{projectname}\{projectname}.fh_data\Snapshots |
(1) – If a generated diagram is saved as a Family Historian Chart, it is stored in this folder and is specific to the project. If, however, it is saved as a Custom Diagram Type, it is stored in the ProgramData Diagrams folder (see below) and is available as a template for all projects.
(2) – See below for a more detailed discussion of media file storage.
ƒh5 used the Public Documents folder (a shared Documents folder available to all users of the PC) for tutorial files associated with the Family Historian book, but later versions have discontinued this practice.Media Files
The Media subfolder is for media items associated with the project. Although use of this folder is optional, it is the recommended approach, particularly for beginners, as it enables ƒh to manage the media, in particular backup, and ensures smooth migration or copying to another PC in the future. More advanced users who are familiar with the Windows file structures may wish to store their media elsewhere (for example, if it is not used exclusively by ƒh). In this case, the user needs to maintain their own backup protocol, as ƒh does not backup data outside its own project folders. In addition, moving or copying project data between PCs can be more complex if media are not stored in the project folders.
Irrespective of whether media are stored within the Project folder or elsewhere, it is often useful to create subfolder for different items, for example censusCensus records are national collections of population statistics. They usually record details about members of a household on a particular date, and are typically collected every ten years. entries, Parish Registers, Civil Registration certificates, etc. ƒh doesn’t care whether a folder contains dozen items or thousands, but greater granularity can help the user keep track of files.
Media File References
The only difference between media files stored within the Project folder or elsewhere is the filename stored in the GEDCOM data file. For media stored within the Project folder, it is a relative file reference, such as Media\1841 Census\My Media File.jpg. This means that the filename is independent of the precise location of the Project folder.
For media stored outside the Project folder, a complete filename with full path is used, such as C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Media Files\1841 Census\My Media File.jpg. If the media are moved, or the project is copied to another PC with a different absolute path description, ƒh loses track of the file and reports a broken link. While there are tools available that repair links automatically, this can be inconvenient if changes are frequent.
Family Historian Settings
ƒh is a highly configurable application. There are a wide variety of options available for how the data are presented on screen, how output such as reports and charts are defined, how data are entered, etc. In addition, there are facilities such as plugins, queriesQuerying is a very powerful feature that allows you to specify and save criteria for identifying a set of records of a given record type. and fact setsA Fact Set is a defined list of types of Facts - that is types of Events and Attributes. that rely on additional configuration files. In time, the large majority of ƒh users are likely to adjust the program settings and options to suit their preferred style of working.Unfortunately, ƒh stores these additional files and configuration information in a wide variety of locations, and none of them are backed up by the standard ƒh backup routine. Detailed instructions are given elsewhere on backing up and restoring settings, or migrating to a new or additional PC. This section provides more detail on exactly what is stored where. It is not necessary to be familiar with this level of detail to follow the backup or migration instructions, but it is provided for the more advanced user who wants to understand exactly what each step is doing.
Export and Import Options
ƒh provides the facility to both export and import single examples of configuration and supplementary files such as Fact Sets, Plugins or Queries. The example below is the Export menu from ƒh7 (note that not all the options listed are available in earlier versions). While this is quick and convenient for single examples, it is not suitable for more general copy or backup.
ProgramData Folder
In modern versions of Windows (starting with Vista, released in 2007), Microsoft encourages applications to store configuration data that applies to all users in the ProgramData folder, keeping it separate from the actual program files themselves. Calico PieCalico Pie Limited is a UK software house, and the publishers of Family Historian. follow this convention, and the large majority of settings data are saved in various subfolders within the C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian folder.
This folder is usually hidden by default in a new Windows installation, so it is necessary to enable viewing hidden files, folders and drives in Windows File Explorer. The following table summarises the various subfolders typically found:
| Items | Family Historian Program Data Folder |
| Accent Sets (V6+) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\International |
| Autotext (V7) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Autotext |
| Autotext for Data Entry Assistants (V7) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Autotext for Plugins |
| Colour Schemes (V6+) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Themes |
| Diagrams | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Diagrams\Standard |
| \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Diagrams\Custom | |
| Error Logs (V7) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Log Files |
| Fact Types | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Fact Types\Standard |
| \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Fact Types\Custom | |
| Fan Chart/Plugins (V5+) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\General |
| Flags | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Flags |
| Icons | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Icons |
| Internet Search | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Web Search |
| Language Packs (V7) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Lang |
| Map GeocodingGeocoding is the process of converting addresses/places (like a street address) into geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude), which you can use to place markers on a map. (V6+) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Map\Cache |
| \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Geocode | |
| Plugin Data (V5+) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Plugin Data |
| Plugins (V5+) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Plugins |
| Property BoxThe Property Box is the primary window for data entry and for viewing details of stored records. It is used with records of all types. Tabs (V4+) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Property Box |
| Queries | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Queries\Standard |
| \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Queries\Custom | |
| Reports | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Reports\Standard |
| \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Reports\Custom | |
| Source TemplatesFamily Historian Version 7 introduced the ability to define sources using 'Source Templates' to aid precision and consistency in entering source-identifying information. (V7) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\SourceSource: "where information was found". This could be anything from an archive in a county records office, a book, or even a relative's recorded recollection. Citing your Sources helps to show how you reached a particular conclusion about an Individual. Templates\Standard |
| \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Source Templates\Custom | |
| Spell Checker for Rich TextRich text can be applied to most long text fields such as Notes and Text From Source, and offers a word-processing style of formatting. NotesFamily Historian version 6 and below supports two types of Notes: Local notes (associated with a single person, record, or fact); and Note Records (sometimes called Shared Notes), that can be linked to multiple records and/or facts. Version 7 introduced Window (V7) | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Spellcheck |
| Text Schemes | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Text Schemes\Standard |
| \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Text Schemes\Custom | |
| Website Family Tree | \Calico Pie\Family Historian\Settings |
AppData Folder
Again following modern Windows conventions, configuration data that are specific to the individual user are stored in the local AppData folder under the user name. For example, a typical location would be C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Calico Pie\Family Historian. This folder is also usually hidden by default in a new Windows installation.
Relatively little user data are stored in the AppData folder compared with ProgramData, but examples include individual user preferences in the Preferences\prefs.dat file, and custom plugin data under the Plugin Data folder.
Note that if you are running ƒh on an Mac or Linux PC using an emulator, the detailed location of these folders may differ from the standard Windows values.
Windows Registry
Ever since the early days of Windows, the Registry has provided a repositoryA repository is a place (physical or online) where collections of original source data are stored and maintained. for basic application and user settings, which can be either system-wide, applying to all users, or specific to individual users. Unlike the ProgramData and AppData folders, the Registry is limited to simple settings, and cannot be used to store entire files or other larger pieces of data.
While it is possible to edit the Registry manually using the regedit command, this is not recommended for the general user, and changes to the Registry should normally be left to application programs and plugins to manage.
Two separate Registry areas are used, one for global changes that apply to the ƒh program itself, so affect all users, and another for user-specific settings.
Global features
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Calico Pie\Family Historian\2.0\Preferences:
- File > Project Window > Location for Project root folder path (V4+), except as noted below
- File > Import/Export > Import > User Credentials for Internet Data Matches (V6+)
- Tools > Work with Data > PlacesAccording to GEDCOM, a Place should hold "The jurisdictional name of the place where the event took place…" > Columns option
- Tools > Work with Data > Addresses"The address structure should be formed as it would appear on a mailing label…", according to GEDCOM; however, this is capable of a number of interpretations, and Address and Place are best considered together. > Columns option (V5+)
- Tools > Preferences > General tab all options
- Tools > Preferences > Startup tab Default Startup File & Register as Default for GEDCOM
- Tools > Preferences > Property Box tab Captions
- Tools > Preferences > Diagrams tab all options
- Tools > Preferences > File Load/Save tab options (except Automatic snapshot) (V6+)
- Tools > Preferences > Estimates tab all options
- Tools > Preferences > Named ListsNamed Lists are a way in FH to group related items — which can be records of any type(s) — so that you can easily find them to work with. tab all options
- Tools > Preferences > Backup tab all options
- Tools > Preferences > International tab option
- Lists > Configure Record Window Columns for each Record Window tab per User
- Activation record (V7)
User-specific features
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Calico Pie\Family Historian:
- Tools > Preferences > Navigation/Display tab all options (V5/V6+)
- Tools > Preferences > Startup tab Display the Records WindowThe Records Window provides a comprehensive view of all the information stored within a Family Historian project. & Check for Updates
- Tools > Preferences > Focus WindowThe Focus Window is the primary workspace window. It displays information about a chosen person, called the 'Focus Person'. tab all options (V4+)
- Tools > Preferences > Internet Data Matches tab all options (V6+)
- Tools > Preferences > Property Box tab all options (except that Captions affect whole PC)
- Tools > Preferences > Records Window tab all options (V5+)
- Tools > Preferences > Media tab all options (V6+)
- Tools > Preferences > Map Window tab all options (V6+)
- Tools > Preferences > Query Window tab all options
- Tools > Preferences > File Load/Save tab Automatic snapshot (V6+)
- Tools > Preferences > Workspaces tab all options (V6+)
- Tools > Record Window Options tabs and options (V4)
- Lists > Configure Record Window Columns for each Record Window tab
- Diagram (V5+) > Diagram Options for the Core Standard Diagrams settings
- Window/Pane/Column sizes & positions (for some windows)