Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, because the inner workings of the program are the same on both operating systems, the files used by the program are identical and interchangeable between platforms.

• Database files: Both AQ for Windows and AQ for Mac can open, edit, and save .aq and .paf database files.
• Collaboration Working Files: If you are using AQ's Collaboration feature, you can share and collaborate your database with other AQ collaborators, regardless of their operating system.
• Backup files: You can backup and restore native .aqz and PAF .zip backup files between copies of AQ on either operating system.
• GEDCOM files: You can export and import .ged files to and from AQ for Windows and Mac as well as between other genealogy programs and services that support the GEDCOM standard.

Once you have identified data files that you no longer need, you can delete them in either of two ways:

• Go to the menu bar in AQ and select File, then Delete. This will bring up a typical Windows browse window that will let you select a file to remove. Once you highlight a filename, you can click on the Delete button to remove it. USE THIS FEATURE WITH GREAT CAUTION! You do not want to delete a database you have any doubts about.
• You can use File Explorer/My Computer or Finder to locate the extraneous file and delete it. The same cautions apply, as above.

Here are the steps you would follow to backup your database to a flash memory (thumb) drive.

Windows

1. Insert your external/flash drive into your computer. A message will usually appear on the screen briefly to let you know which letter has been assigned to that drive. Make note of that drive letter.
2. In Ancestral Quest, go up on the menu bar, and choose File > Backup.
3. The "Backup Database to..." window appears. Here is where you determine the location and name for the backup file.
   We now need to access the flash drive. At the top of this window, next to Look in:, click the down arrow...
4. ...then you may need to scroll up or down to locate and click on the drive letter and name of your flash drive that you noted on step 1 of this procedure (in the example, below, LEXAR-P2-60).
5. Down below, the suggested file name will appear; you can leave that name as it, or you can change it, as desired. Click the Backup button.
6. The database will now be backed up to the Flash drive. Once the backup is complete, click OK.
7. Now that the file is backed up, you can close out of Ancestral Quest and then safely remove the flash drive (down in the Notification Area, click the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon, then choose to Eject the approproiate device).

Mac

1. Insert your flash drive. An icon representing your flash drive should appear on the Mac Desktop. Just make note of the name of the flash drive, like PKBACK001, or in the example, below, LEXAR-P2-60.
2. In Ancestral Quest, go up on the menu bar, and choose File > Backup.
3. The "Backup Database to..." window appears. Here is where you determine the location and name for the backup file.
   We now need to access the flash drive. At the top of this window, next to Look in:, click the down arrow...
4. ...then you will probably need to scroll up to locate and click on the forward slash /.
   1. Now, within the main part of the window, locate and double-click on the Volumes folder.
   2. Inside the Volumes folder, locate and double-click on the folder that is the same name as your flash drive that you noted on step 1 of this procedure (in the example, below, LEXAR-P2-60).
5. Down below, the suggested file name will appear; you can leave that name as it, or you can change it, as desired. Click the Backup button.
6. The database will now be backed up to the Flash drive. Once the backup is complete, click OK.
7. Now that the file is backed up, you can close out of Ancestral Quest and then eject the flash drive (drag it to the trash).

Depending on your CD writer and the software you have installed, you may be able to directly backup to the CD, or you might have to do a two-step backup. If you get any kind of error message while trying to backup directly to the CD, then try this procedure:

1. Backup your file to your hard drive (usually 'C:'). When you do this, pay attention to the folder you are saving to, and the name of the backup file.
2. Exit AQ.
3. Use the method you use to transfer other files to the CD to copy this backup file from its location on the C: drive to your CD.

There was an issue when performing a backup directly to a flash memory drive or other removable drive that has a capacity of two gigabytes (2GB) or larger. This has been resolved with the release of Ancestral Quest 12.1 build 21, released on 9/18/2009. If you have AQ 12.1 build 21 or later (including AQ 14), this issue is resolved.

If you have an earlier version of AQ, there is a work-around that will involve a two-step backup routine. Please follow this procedure:

1. Backup your file to your hard drive (usually 'C:'). When you do this, pay attention to the folder in which you are saving the file, as well as the name of the backup file.
2. Use (My) Computer, or another preferred method, to copy the backup file that you had just created onto the desired flash or removable drive.

The first time you import a GEDCOM file into an existing database, AQ will automatically make a temporary backup file of your database before proceeding. This file will have the name of your database file, but will have an extension of ".tqz". On subsequent imports into this file, AQ will ask if you want to replace this temporary backup before importing.

If you want to restore your database to the state prior to the import, simply restore from this ".tqz" file. To do this, close your file, then go to File > Restore. Look for the .tqz file and restore it.