The program FamilyTreeFactory is installed with a setup program which can be downloaded from the Internet (www.familytreefactory.com) or that is offered as a retail box version. Start the setup program FTFsetup.exe and follow the instructions in the dialog. In newer Windows versions you must be logged in as an administrator. FamilyTreeFactory will not make any entries in the Windows registry. Any installation directory can be selected. We recommend the default installation directory C:\Program Files.

When installing FamilyTreeFactory, the folder 'FamilyTreeFactory' with sub-folders 'Image files' and 'Document files' are created in the 'My Documents' folder (also called 'Documents' under Windows Vista and Windows 7) of the user performing installation. When FamilyTreeFactory is started by another user, these folders will also be created in the 'My Documents' folder of this user. We recommend saving personal family files, image files, etc. in these folders.

In the appendix in the section Program Directories, the uses for the directories are explained. The application data directories are also explained there, which depend on the Windows version and selected installation directory.

---

FamilyTreeFactory is made up of the following files:

The subdirectory Manual will be created in the installation directory, where the files for the manual in HTML format will be saved. A manual in PDF format is also available from the FamilyTreeFactory homepage. It will not be installed automatically. The HTML manual is recommended for use on the computer. The PDF manual is generally intended for printing out.

The program will create the file FamilyTreeFactory.ini (initialization file) in the application data directory after starting for the first time. Various functions will create temporary files in the application data directory.

The symbol font Genealog-Symbols is loaded when the program starts (GnlgSmbl.ttf file). This font contains various symbols for events such as "born", "married" and "deceased" that are much clearer than the symbols available in normal fonts.

The setup routine also creates two sample files: Samplefam.fml and Samplefam.ged. This will allow users who do not yet have any available personal data to use FamilyTreeFactory right away. The sample files are created in the subdirectory 'FamilyTreeFactory' in the directory 'My Documents' (also called 'Documents' under Windows Vista and Windows 7).

The output language file FamilyTreeFactory.lng allows you to use other languages besides English for output of graphics and file cards (not for menus and dialogs). The output language file can be opened with the integrated output language file editor to change any existing language elements or add a new language.

If a user uses the context sorting file editor to change or expand the preset rules, the context sorting file FamilyTreeFactory.cts is created in the application data directory. It contains the words for configuring the algorithm for context sorting of multipart surnames.

---

FamilyTreeFactory uses the files described in the following paragraphs. It is highly recommended that these user-specific data files not be saved in the installation directory or the program's application data directory. For saving your own data files select the subdirectory 'FamilyTreeFactory' in the directory 'My Documents' (also called 'Documents' under Windows Vista and Windows 7). If multiple users of the computer would like to use the same data, choose a directory that is accessible by all users, such as 'D:\FamilyTreeFactory files'.

The personal data and the most recently-used treeview options are saved for each family in family files *.fml. Backup copies of family files are automatically saved in *.fmb files in the same directory. In addition, Gedcom files *.ged can be imported and exported. These files only contain the records of personal data and do not include the extensive treeview options that determine the automatically-created appearance of the graphic. Gedcom Options can be saved in Gedcom options files *.gco.

Treeview Options can be saved in Treeview options files *.tvo. This option is particularly important for users who only work with Gedcom files, which cannot save any of the options used in FamilyTreeFactory.

For manually-edited graphics and/or graphics containing Free Image, Text or Geo Objects, the treeview data (structural data, object data and treeview options, no personal data) can be saved in Treeview files *.trv. This allows a graphic to be restored exactly as shown. Treeview files should be saved in the same directory as the underlying family file.

Free Image, Text and Geo Objects can be saved as Free Placeable Object files *.fpo to create back-ups or to insert them in other graphics.

Any associated image files (photos, frame images, background images, Free Image Objects, title coat of arms images and card index title images) can be saved in a selected directory. It is recommended that you use the subdirectory 'Image Files' in the directory 'My Documents\FamilyTreeFactory' (under Windows Vista and Windows 7, 'Documents\FamilyTreeFactory'). This directory must be selected in the Program Options, Directories tab. The image files will be read from this directory and its subdirectories. You can use subdirectories to organize your image files, such as by using directories like Photos Family1, Photos Family2, Background Images, Coats of Arms. Be sure not to specify a root directory such as C:\ for your image directory. This will cause your entire C: drive and its subdirectories to be searched for images, which can take a very long time.

Any associated document files, referred to in personal data, can be saved in a selected directory. It is recommended that you use the subdirectory 'Document Files' in the directory 'My Documents\FamilyTreeFactory' (under Windows Vista and Windows 7, 'Documents\FamilyTreeFactory'). This directory must be selected in the Program Options, Directories tab. The document files will be read from this directory and its subdirectories.

up