I have an extensive family tree I’ve built over a number of years, however the last time I used it was in 2022.
Several births required to be added to the family tree. This was done successfully in the 5.1 version I was using. I noted the availability of 6.08 so I backed up my database, and installed the new version (Win 64) when trying to convert the database to SQL I receive an error message about advising “An attempt to convert the database failed. Perhaps it needs updating”
I’m now stuck unable to proceed.
Can you please advise a solution? Thank you in anticipation of a “cure”.
5.1 was probably using the BSDDB database engine. (Where SQLite was an optional conversion.)
Gramps has since switched to SQLite and retired BSDDB.
The normal expectation during upgrades is that you will do a backup to a .gramps XML file before installing the upgraded application. Or if you are switching to another computer rather than merely updating an application, backup to a .gpkg archive which includes media.
Then import that backup file into a new blank Tree.
This has the advantage of repacking the database file… but the disadvantage that any manually re-ordered children in a family or events will revert back to ‘creation order’
Version 5.2 has a reliable BSDDB to SQLite conversion. But that is not available in the 6.x family. (Because of library upgrades having incompatibilities.) So you could install 5.2 and convert, then switch back to 6.0.8
@BMS, you might also look at your gramps user profile. During previous upgrade process, backup files were copied under this location in the past. So, I do not remember well if it was only by importing an old Gramps XML or if this is implemented on DB upgrade process too.
Thank you @emyoulation and romjerome I very much appreciate the prompt replies to my question and problem. I take the suggested action and see how that goes. Thanks again, Boris
You were absolutely right. Not easy to find old release downloads.
(Found it by looking at an Announcements posting in this forum about a new release, popping ‘up’ a level from that specific release to all releases.
But that was too much scrolling past all the bullet points per release. So switched from the Releases listings to the Tagged listings.
I could’ve selected a version from the Previous Releases page on the wiki too. That page is a manually curated list rather than a database driven listing. So it is more susceptible to link rot.)
Now I have to reacquaint myself with how to do certain tasks as I’ve not used this in 5 years and updating now with two additions to the family. Have to remember how to do several things but I’m sure Ill get there.
A suggestion…
Jumpstart the refreshing of your memory. Watch some of the tutorial videos.
I find reviewing instructional videos at 2x playing speed to be less frustrating… with Closed Captioning enabled and translated to my native language. (For example, @PLegoux has a few YouTube videos where he discusses Gramps with users … but they are all in French and I only speak english. So I enable YouTube’s auto-generated captions… which are also in French and I read French very poorly. So I use their auto-translate captioning option.
(Fair warning: the Auto-translate is confused by “umm” speaking hesitations… aka filler words. And filler words are common in any demo video where a narrated task can be more quickly “said” than “done”. So French “ahh/uh/umm” {“euh/hien”} are inserted as best-contextual-guess words in English. I wasted a lot of time looking for the Umm French feature. It seemed like it was used extensively on almost every advanced technique!)
