Genealogy Gems reader and listener Walt has enjoyed creating some exciting family history and genealogy maps and files in Google Earth using the strategies I teach here at Genealogy Gems. He wrote me recently to say that he is thrilled to have a new computer, but he is now faced with how to transfer Google Earth files he created for family history from his old computer to his shiny new one. The good news is that it’s not difficult at all!
How to transfer your Google Earth files:
1. On your old computer open Google Earth
2. All of your files in Google Earth are in the Places panel. In the Places panel, click the small arrow pointing at “My Places” to close it
3. Right-click on MyPlaces and select “Save Place As” from the little pop up menu
4. Name the file OLD GOOGLE EARTH and select where you want to save it on your hard drive. (Saving it to your Desktop will make it easy to find, or just your C: drive. If you use Dropbox, you could save it there and then easily access it from Dropbox on your new computer.)
click “Save”
5. Send an email to yourself and attached the save .KMZ file that you just created.
6. Open the email on your new computer
(make sure you already have Google Earth downloaded on to your new computer)
7. Double click the attached KMZ file to open it
8. Your computer will detect it is a Google Earth file and will open it in Google Earth.
9. The file will be stored in the Places panel under Temporary Places
Click, drag and drop the file from Temporary to MyPlaces
Under the menu click FILE > SAVE > SAVE MY PLACES to save it.
Want to learn more about using maps in Google earth for your family history research? Watch my FREE class on Google Earth for Genealogy. And we have a 2 disk video tutorial bundle in our store that will walk you through exciting projects step by step.
Genealogy Gems Premium members can also watch my NEW video class online, 5 Ways to Enhance Your Genealogy Research with Old Maps. (Not a Premium member? Learn more here.)
