Frequently Asked Questions¶

General about PastPaths¶

Is PastPaths free?

Yes, PastPaths is free in the current version.

Is my genealogical data sent anywhere?

No. PastPaths is a local program — all data lives on your computer. Nothing is sent to external servers, nothing is shared with third parties. You have full control over the data.

There are two exceptions to be aware of:

If you import from WordPress, images are downloaded from your WordPress server
If you export and share a GEDCOM file yourself — that's your own choice

Does PastPaths work on Mac?

Not yet. Right now there's a Windows version. Linux support and a mobile app for Android are on the drawing board. Mac might come further down the line.

Do I need an internet connection?

Only for:

Installation (to download the program)
Updates (to download the update)
WordPress import (if your WordPress installation is on the internet)
If you want to use the map feature

Regular use — adding people, editing, searching — works entirely offline.

How do I update PastPaths?

Download the latest version from pastpaths.se and run the installer. Your data isn't affected — the database and uploaded files live in a separate folder the installer doesn't touch.

It's still a good habit to take a backup before updating.

Can I have several separate family trees?

Not in the same installation. PastPaths is designed for one tree per installation. If you want to keep, say, your own family and a research project separate, you can install PastPaths in a separate folder.

What color themes are available?

PastPaths has ten themes to choose from: Forest, Ocean, Forge, Farmstead, Desert, Fortress, Maritime, Nordic, Monastery, and City. You switch themes under Account → Appearance.

Data and backup¶

Where is my data saved?

Installation

This is where the program is saved if you didn't choose a different folder during installation: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\PastPaths

Database

This is where all the text you enter and links to files are saved. C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\PastPaths\pastpaths.db An SQLite file you can open with DB Browser for SQLite.

Backups:

When you make a backup, it's saved here: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\PastPaths-Backups

Back up regularly. Especially before installing new versions of the program.

All data — the database, all images, all documents — lives in a folder on your computer. Backing up that folder = backing up your entire genealogical research.

How do I take a backup?

Administration → Import & Export → System backup
Copy the entire export folder to an external hard drive, a USB stick, or a cloud service (Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud — your choice).

→ More about backup

Can I sync between multiple computers?

Not automatically. PastPaths is designed to be used locally, but you can keep the data folder in a synced cloud folder (OneDrive, Dropbox) — just be careful not to have the program open on two computers at the same time.

Risk of data corruption

If PastPaths is open on computer A while syncing in from computer B, the database can become corrupted. Close the program before switching computers.

Can I move my PastPaths data to a new computer?

Yes. Here's how:

Close PastPaths on the old computer.
Install PastPaths on the new computer and close it after the first start.
Copy the following from the old installation folder (default %LOCALAPPDATA%\PastPaths\) to the same location on the new computer:
- pastpaths.db
- the uploads\ folder
Start PastPaths on the new computer.

Want to move your backups too — also copy %USERPROFILE%\Documents\PastPaths-Backups\.

Tip

If the app was installed somewhere other than the default location — right-click the shortcut and choose "Open file location" to find the installation folder.

Import and export¶

Which formats can I import?

GEDCOM from standard programs, plus support for Ancestry, MyHeritage, and TNG. WordPress XML for blogs. Zip files containing GEDCOM data.

Can I import from Min Släkt or Disgen?

Yes, export to GEDCOM from that program and import it into PastPaths as standard GEDCOM.

Do I lose images during GEDCOM import?

Only if the image files don't come along with the GEDCOM file. The GEDCOM file only points to the image files' names — you need to put the actual images in the right place on your computer when importing, if they didn't come with the GEDCOM file.

Can I export back to my old program?

Yes, export GEDCOM from PastPaths and import it into your old program. Some special fields (PastPaths-specific metadata) might not be carried over — but persons, events, sources, and relationships work.

Can I undo an import?

Yes. Under Administration → Import & Export → Import history, you can see all the imports you've made and undo them. Undoing removes all persons, events, places, and media created by that import.

Global tags and categories aren't removed when undoing.

Features¶

Is there a family tree to look at?

→ More about the family tree

Can I collaborate with other genealogists?

Not directly within the program. But you can export GEDCOM and share it with others. Further ahead there are plans for a platform for exchanging genealogy research, but nothing is finalized yet.

Can PastPaths work out kinship?

Yes — if you've entered direct relationships (parents, partner, children), PastPaths works out indirect ones (cousin, grandmother, brother-in-law).

Does PastPaths support same-sex couples and adoptions?

Yes. Let us know if some kind of relationship is missing, and we'll add it in the next update of the program.

Can I print or export reports?

Yes. Under Administration → Reports, you can generate ancestor charts, descendant charts, family group sheets, and person profiles as PDF. The files are saved in Documents\PastPaths\Reports\ and open automatically once they're ready.

What's the difference between tags and categories?

Categories are hierarchical — you can have a category "Sweden" with the subcategory "Dalarna." They're good for structuring and grouping.

Tags are flat keywords — quick to add and good for free-text labeling like "emigrant," "sailor," or "unclear source."

Both can be linked to persons, events, places, media, sources, and blog posts.

Can I favorite mark people or events?

There is no explicit way to mark Favorites in PastPaths, but you can create a tag called Favorite and give it a yellow color (or choose your own favorite color).

The smart thing about using a tag or category is that you choose what you call it and it can be used for most entries in the app, including places and media or blog posts. You can also have several different kinda of favorites such as Favorite Places, Favorite Events, or Ongoing Research.

I divide my genealogy research into small projects. Can I manage that in PastPaths?

There is no project tool per se, but as with favorites, you can get a lot done by using categories and tags that you name based on project name, priority, etc. Along with categories and tags in blog posts where you can write more freely, there are still quite powerful tools in PastPaths. The project can have its own category and then you create tags called, for example, Priority 1, Priority 2, Ongoing, Done, and so on.

Security and privacy¶

How is my password protected?

PastPaths currently has no password management, since it's built to be used locally on a personal computer.

Can anyone else access my PastPaths data?

Only someone with physical access to your computer. The information isn't in the cloud — it's as private as the computer it's on.

What happens with living relatives' information?

PastPaths has a "living" flag that helps you hide sensitive information in printouts and reports. But it's still your responsibility to respect your relatives' privacy — consider asking before saving information, and be careful when sharing GEDCOM files.

Technical questions¶

Which database does PastPaths use?

SQLite — a file-based database. The entire database is one file that lives in your data folder. That's what makes it easy to back up and move.

Is PastPaths open source?

No, PastPaths isn't open source. The program is free to use, but the source code isn't publicly available.