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RootsMagic
Technical Support

 

 

Questions about using RootsMagic:

* How do I restore broken links to photos and images?

* How do I delete an "Unknown" spouse?

* How can I enter same sex marriages?

* How do I change the order of siblings?

*How do I change the primary spouse?

* How do I delete blank people from my database?

* How do I get RootsMagic to display the record numbers?

* Why is the pedigree view empty after importing a database?

* How do I increase the font size in RootsMagic (data entry screens)?

* Why, when I have edited a place name in a persons facts, do all of the database entries for that place name have changed

* How do I solve the "Windows has encountered a problem..." error message when trying to run RootsMagic?

* Why is the help system not working (Vista)?

* Why is the Platinum online link not working?

* How do I get the tutorial video to run?

* Still having problems?

 

How do I restore broken links to photos and images?

 ^Top

This is usually caused by photos being moved, renamed or deleted. It can also happen when you transfer your data to another PC and the photos are stored in a different folder.

1 - Open RootsMagic
2 - Select an individual that has a missing photo
3 - Go to "Edit" - "Multimedia scrap book" - "Person"
4 - Click "Properties"
5 - Where it says "File name" write down the full path except for the file name e.g. C:/Program files/my pictures/*

*NOTE. Do not highlight all of the text, only select the path to the file and not the filename itself. e.g. C:\documents and settings\user\pictures NOT C:\documents and settings\user\pictures\freds picture.jpg

6 - Press "Cancel"
7 - Press "Cancel"
8 - Go to "Search" - "Search and replace"
9 - In "Search in" select "Multimedia filenames"
10 - In "Search for" enter the path that you recorded in step 5
11 - In "Replace with" enter the path to where your pictures are now located. If you do not know what the path is then do the following:

Windows XP
a - Navigate to the folder in Windows
b - Once you have located the folder go to "Tools" - "Folder options"
c - Click the "View" tab and tick the box next to "Display full path in address bar"
d - Click "OK". You should now see the full path displayed in the address bar. Write this down or copy it. If you cannot see the address bar then go to "View" - "Toolbars" and select "Address bar".

Windows Vista
a - Navigate to the folder in Windows
b - Right-click in the address bar and select "Copy address as text"
c - In RootsMagic, right-click in the "Replace with" box and select paste

12 - Click "OK"
13 - Click "Replace all"

Your pictures should now appear in RootsMagic. If they do not, check that you have accurately entered the old filename path and new filename path.

 

How do I delete an "Unknown" spouse?

^Top

With the unknown spouse highlighted go to Edit>delete>Family>and choose the default "Unlink these people as a family, but leave the people in the database"> click Delete.

This will not delete any of the people and will eliminate the Unknown Spouse place holder.

 

How can I enter same sex marriages?

^Top

 

Same sex marriages are not supported by RootsMagic.

A work-around is available:

Enter both Judy and Jane, but mark one of them as a male and one as female.
Join them in unholy matrimony.
Export a GEDCOM of just this family. (these two people)

Open the GEDCOM file with WordPad or something and change the sex of one of the people and save it again.

Delete the original family in your database,
Import this GEDCOM
Now, you have Judy and Jane, married and both female.

(OR, Jack and John, both male.)"

No guarantee this won't cause some kind of unforseen technical problem in your database though.

 

How do I change the order of siblings?

^Top

1 - Select the Parent of the children you wish to organise
2 - Right click on them and select "Edit Family" - "General info"
3 - Click the "Arrange children" button
4 - Use "move up", "move down" or "Sort by birthdate" to get the desired arrangement.

   

How do I change the primary spouse?

^Top

1 - Open RootsMagic and make sure you are in pedigree view
2 - Right click on the person who you are having problems with
3 - Select "Edit family" - "general info"
4 - Click the "sort husbands" or "sort wives" button and you can now set which marriage you wish to be the primary one.

   

How do I delete blank people from my database?

^Top

Go to "Search" - "Person list...". Highlight the blank entry in the person list then press "Select". Next go to "Edit" - "Delete" - "Person..." when prompted press yes.

If you cannot find the entry in the person list then select the persons parents. In pedigree view, click on the "Spouses" tab, highlight the blank child (marked with a ch) and click "Switch to highlighted person".
Now DO NOT CLICK ANYWHERE ELSE accept "Edit" - "Delete" - "Person". Click yes.

   

How do I get RootsMagic to display the record numbers?

^Top

Open RootsMagic and select Tools, Options. Click on "Database options" and select it to display record number on screen. Click "OK" and they will now be displayed at the top of the screen when an individual is highlighted.

   

Why is the pedigree view empty after importing a database?

^Top

Click "Search" - "Person list". Select the person that you wish to be the root person (RootsMagic will show this person each time you open your database) and click "select".
In pedigree view, right click on the person and select "Set as Root Person".

   

How do I increase the font size in RootsMagic (data entry screens)?

^Top

You cannot increase the font size in RootsMagic (apart from charts etc). You can change the font size for windows by doing the following.

1 - Go to "Start" - "Control panel"
2 - Click on "Display"
3 - When the "Display properties" box appears, click on "Settings" tab
4 - Click the advanced button
5 - Under "General" is a section for "Display", change the DPI setting
from 96dpi to
120dpi.
6 - Press ok

   

Why, when I have edited a place name in a persons facts, do all of the database entries for that place name have changed

^Top

When editing a fact with a place name you will be prompted "do you want to make the same change to every other fact that occurred in this place?" you should press "No"

   

How do I solve the "Windows has encountered a problem..." error message when trying to run RootsMagic?

^Top

1 - Press CTRL+SHIFT_U (at the same time)

2 - Click "Reset program settings"

3 - Click "Yes"

4 - Close RootsMagic

Or

Search for and delete the rootsmagic.ini file.

1 - Click on "Start" - "Search" - "For files and folders"
2 - Click on "More advanced options"
3 - Tick "Search system folders", "Search hidden files and folder", and "Search subfolders".
4 - Type in the filename "rootsmagic.ini"
5 - Press Search
6 - When you get a result for "Rootsmagic.ini" right-click on it and select "Delete"

If you are struggling to find the file it will be located in C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\RootsMagic. Replace "user" with your windows account name. (XP) This folder is a hidden folder so it may not be visible unless you have window view options set to "Show hidden files and folders".

   

Why is the help system not working (Vista)?

^Top

Download the latest RootsMagic update. Early version of RM3 used a different help system.

   

Why is the Platinum online link not working?

^Top

Use this web link:
http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/rootsmagic

   

How do I get the tutorial video to run?

^Top

1 - Go to "My Computer"
2 - Right-click on your CD drive and select "Open"
3 - Open the "fsCommand" folder
4 - Double left-click the file "Camplay.exe"
5 - When Camtasia player starts, click on "File" - "Open"
6 - Select the file "RootsMagicTour.avi" and click "Open"

 

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