{"id":11292,"date":"2020-09-05T14:56:29","date_gmt":"2020-09-05T14:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fhug.org.uk\/kb\/?post_type=kb_article&p=11292"},"modified":"2026-09-23T11:18:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:18:26","slug":"understanding-the-scope-of-features","status":"publish","type":"kb_article","link":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/kb-article\/understanding-the-scope-of-features\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Scope of Features"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

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.\u00a0 This article gives an overview of where both data and settings are stored.<\/p>\n\u0192h<\/span><\/span>8 keeps its settings apart from earlier versions, so that both can be installed at once. The structure is the same, but the folders are C:\\ProgramData\\Calico Pie\\Family Historian 8<\/code> and C:\\Users\\UserName\\AppData\\Roaming\\Calico Pie\\Family Historian 8<\/code>, and the registry keys are HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\SOFTWARE\\Calico Pie\\Family Historian 8<\/code> and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Calico Pie\\Family Historian 8\\2.0\\Preferences<\/code> (not under WOW6432Node, as Version 8 is 64-bit). The ProgramData and AppData details below have been checked against Version 8; the Registry lists were compiled for Version 7. \u0192h<\/span><\/span>8 also has Backup Settings<\/em> on File > Backup\/Restore > Backup\/Restore Settings<\/a>, which saves all of these settings to one file.<\/p>\n

Project Data<\/h2>\n

Each Project in \u0192h<\/span><\/span> stores its user data in a separate Windows subfolder within the nominated \u0192h<\/span><\/span> projects folder.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

To change this if required, select\u00a0 File > Project Window > More Tasks > Project List > Choose Location for Projects…<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This default project location applies to all accounts on the PC, not per individual logged on user.\u00a0 If all accounts use the installation default of C:\\Users\\UserName\\Documents\\Family Historian Projects, \u0192h<\/span><\/span> 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), \u0192h<\/span><\/span> can only use the same folder for all users.\u00a0 This limitation has existed for a long time, and it is perhaps surprising that even \u0192h<\/span><\/span>7, released in late 2020, is not fully compatible with a Documents folder in other than the default location.<\/p>\n

When you create a new project, {projectname}, this is stored in the nominated projects folder as a new subfolder called {projectname}.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 There is also a Public subfolder, which is the default location for user output.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Items<\/td>\nFamily Historian Project Folder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Books<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Books<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Image thumbnails<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Cache\\Thumbcache.dat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Internet hints (V6+)<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Cache<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charts (1)<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Charts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Project only Fact Types (V7+)<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Fact Types<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Log Files specific to one project, such as import errors (V6+)<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Log Files<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Media (2)<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Media<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Websites & Family Tree CD\/DVD (V7+)<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Packages<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plugin data (used by some plugins)<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Plugin Data<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Settings for CD or websites creation<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Settings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Snapshots (automatic backups of the GEDCOM file only)<\/td>\n\\{projectname}\\{projectname}.fh_data\\Snapshots<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

(1) – If a generated diagram is saved as a Family Historian Chart, it is stored in this folder and is specific to the project.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

(2) – See below for a more detailed discussion of media file storage.<\/p>\n

Media Files<\/h3>\n

The Media subfolder is for media items associated with the project.\u00a0 Although use of this folder is optional, it is the recommended approach, particularly for beginners, as it enables \u0192h<\/span><\/span> to manage the media, in particular backup, and ensures smooth migration or copying to another PC in the future.\u00a0 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 \u0192h<\/span><\/span>).\u00a0 In this case, the user needs to maintain their own backup protocol, as \u0192h<\/span><\/span> does not backup data outside its own project folders.\u00a0 In addition, moving or copying project data between PCs can be more complex if media are not stored in the project folders.<\/p>\n

Irrespective of whether media are stored within the Project folder or elsewhere, it is often useful to create subfolder for different items, for example census entries, Parish Registers, Civil Registration certificates, etc.\u00a0 \u0192h<\/span><\/span> doesn’t care whether a folder contains dozen items or thousands, but greater granularity can help the user keep track of files.<\/p>\n

Media File References<\/h3><\/summary>

The only difference between media files stored within the Project folder or elsewhere is the filename stored in the GEDCOM data file.\u00a0 For media stored within the Project folder, it is a relative file reference, such as Media\\1841 Census\\My Media File.jpg.\u00a0 This means that the filename is independent of the precise location of the Project folder.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 If the media are moved, or the project is copied to another PC with a different absolute path description, \u0192h<\/span><\/span> loses track of the file and reports a broken link.\u00a0 While there are tools available that repair links automatically, this can be inconvenient if changes are frequent.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n

Family Historian Settings<\/h2>\n\u0192h<\/span><\/span> is a highly configurable application.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 In addition, there are facilities such as plugins, queries and fact sets that rely on additional configuration files.\u00a0 In time, the large majority of \u0192h<\/span><\/span> users are likely to adjust the program settings and options to suit their preferred style of working.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, \u0192h<\/span><\/span> stores these additional files and configuration information in a wide variety of locations, and none of them are backed up by the standard \u0192h<\/span><\/span> backup routine.\u00a0 Detailed instructions are given elsewhere on backing up and restoring settings<\/a>, or migrating to a new or additional PC<\/a>.\u00a0 This section provides more detail on exactly what is stored where.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Export and Import Options<\/h3>\n\u0192h<\/span><\/span> provides the facility to both export and import single examples of configuration and supplementary files such as Fact Sets, Plugins or Queries.\u00a0 The example below is the Export menu from \u0192h<\/span><\/span>7 (note that not all the options listed are available in earlier versions).\u00a0 While this is quick and convenient for single examples, it is not suitable for more general copy or backup.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

ProgramData Folder<\/h3>\n

Windows encourages applications to store configuration data that applies to all users in the ProgramData folder, keeping it separate from the actual program files themselves.\u00a0 Calico Pie follow this convention, and the large majority of settings data are saved in various subfolders within C:\\ProgramData\\Calico Pie\\Family Historian (Version 7) or C:\\ProgramData\\Calico Pie\\Family Historian 8 (Version 8).<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 The table below lists the subfolders found in Version 8, most of which are the same in Version 7; items marked (V8) are new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Items<\/td>\nSubfolder of the Family Historian Program Data Folder<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accent Sets<\/td>\nInternational<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Autotext<\/td>\nAutotext<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Autotext for Data Entry Assistants<\/td>\nAutotext for Plugins<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Colour Schemes<\/td>\nThemes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diagram Box Presets (V8)<\/td>\nDiagram Box Presets\\Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diagram Box Presets\\Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diagrams (custom diagram types)<\/td>\nDiagrams\\Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diagrams\\Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fact Types<\/td>\nFact Types\\Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fact Types\\Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fan and pedigree chart settings, plugin list and other general settings<\/td>\nGeneral<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flags<\/td>\nFlags<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Icons (in category subfolders in V8)<\/td>\nIcons<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Internet Search<\/td>\nWeb Search<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Language Packs<\/td>\nLang<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Log Files<\/td>\nLog Files<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Map geocoding and caches<\/td>\nGeocode<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Map\\Cache<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Map Overlays (V8)<\/td>\nMap\\Overlays<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plugin Data<\/td>\nPlugin Data<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plugins<\/td>\nPlugins<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Property Box Tabs<\/td>\nProperty Box<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Queries<\/td>\nQueries\\Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Queries\\Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reports<\/td>\nReports\\Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reports\\Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Smart Folders (V8)<\/td>\nSmart Folders\\Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Smart Folders\\Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Source Templates<\/td>\nSource Templates\\Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Source Templates\\Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spell Checker for Rich Text<\/td>\nSpellcheck<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Text Schemes<\/td>\nText Schemes\\Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Text Schemes\\Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Website Family Tree (V7 only)<\/td>\nSettings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

AppData Folder<\/h3>\n

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.\u00a0 For example, a typical location would be C:\\Users\\UserName\\AppData\\Roaming\\Calico Pie\\Family Historian (or Family Historian 8).\u00a0 This folder is also usually hidden by default in a new Windows installation.<\/p>\n

Relatively little user data are stored in the AppData folder compared with ProgramData, but examples include individual user preferences in Preferences\\prefs.dat, Internet search bookmarks in Preferences\\WebSearchSites.dat, some plugin data under Plugin Data and, in Version 8, per-user query and smart folder settings under Preferences\\Queries and Preferences\\Smart Folders.<\/p>\n

Note that if you are running \u0192h<\/span><\/span> on an Mac or Linux PC using an emulator, the detailed location of these folders may differ from the standard Windows values.<\/p>\n

Windows Registry<\/h3>\n

Ever since the early days of Windows, the Registry has provided a repository for basic application and user settings, which can be either system-wide, applying to all users, or specific to individual users.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Two separate Registry areas are used, one for global changes that apply to the \u0192h<\/span><\/span> program itself, so affect all users, and another for user-specific settings.<\/p>\n

Global features<\/h4>\n

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\WOW6432Node\\Calico Pie\\Family Historian\\2.0\\Preferences:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • File > Project Window > Location for Project root folder path (V4+), except as noted below<\/li>\n
  • File > Import\/Export > Import > User Credentials for Internet Data Matches (V6+)<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Work with Data > Places > Columns option<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Work with Data > Addresses > Columns option (V5+)<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Preferences > General tab all options<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Preferences > Startup tab Default Startup File & Register as Default for GEDCOM<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Preferences > Property Box tab Captions<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Preferences > Diagrams tab all options<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Preferences > File Load\/Save tab options (except Automatic snapshot) (V6+)<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Preferences > Estimates tab all options<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Preferences > Named Lists tab all options<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Preferences > Backup tab all options<\/li>\n
  • Tools > Preferences > International tab option<\/li>\n
  • Lists > Configure Record Window Columns for each Record Window tab per User<\/li>\n
  • Activation record (V7)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    User-specific features<\/h4>\n

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\SOFTWARE\\Calico Pie\\Family Historian:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Tools > Preferences > Navigation\/Display tab all options (V5\/V6+)<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Preferences > Startup tab Display the Records Window & Check for Updates<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Preferences > Focus Window tab all options (V4+)<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Preferences > Internet Data Matches tab all options (V6+)<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Preferences > Property Box tab all options (except that Captions affect whole PC)<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Preferences > Records Window tab all options (V5+)<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Preferences > Media tab all options (V6+)<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Preferences > Map Window tab all options\u00a0 (V6+)<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Preferences > Query Window tab all options<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Preferences > File Load\/Save tab Automatic snapshot (V6+)<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Preferences > Workspaces tab all options (V6+)<\/li>\n
    • Tools > Record Window Options tabs and options (V4)<\/li>\n
    • Lists > Configure Record Window Columns for each Record Window tab<\/li>\n
    • Diagram (V5+) > Diagram Options for the Core Standard Diagrams settings<\/li>\n
    • Window\/Pane\/Column sizes & positions (for some windows)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"template":"","fh_version":[13,14,15,739,826],"skill_level":[18],"topic":[104,66,65],"class_list":["post-11292","kb_article","type-kb_article","status-publish","hentry","fh_version-v4","fh_version-v5","fh_version-v6","fh_version-v7","fh_version-v8","skill_level-advanced","topic-customisation","topic-fh-folders-and-files","topic-installing-migrating-and-upgrading"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb_article\/11292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb_article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/kb_article"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb_article\/11292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11951,"href":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb_article\/11292\/revisions\/11951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"fh_version","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fh_version?post=11292"},{"taxonomy":"skill_level","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/skill_level?post=11292"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=11292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}