What is a .FWT file?
A .FWT file can be one of two things:
- Family Tree Maker (FTM) file: FWT files are the native file format for FTM, a popular family history software program. FTM users can use FWT files to store and manage their family tree data, including names, dates, places, relationships, and photos.
- FacetWin Configuration file: FWT files are also used by FacetWin, a program that provides Unix/Linux integration to Windows clients. FacetWin users can use FWT files to configure their Windows environment to work with Unix/Linux systems.
Other, less common uses for .FWT files include:
- Facil NC Text Document
- Font file
To determine what type of .FWT file you have, you can open it in a text editor. If the file contains text data, it is likely a Facil NC Text Document. If the file contains binary data, it is likely a Family Tree Maker file or a FacetWin Configuration file.
You can also use a file identification tool to identify the type of .FWT file you have. File identification tools can scan your file and tell you what type of file it is and what software program created it.
Here are some tips for working with .FWT files:
- Always make a backup of your .FWT files before editing them.
- Be careful when sharing .FWT files with others, as they may not have the software program necessary to open them.
- If you are having trouble opening or using a .FWT file, try searching for help online or contacting the software developer.
How do I open a .FWT file?
To open a .FWT file, you will need to use the software program that created it. If you are not sure what software program created the .FWT file, you can try opening it with a variety of different programs, such as:
- Family Tree Maker (FTM): FTM is a popular family history software program that uses .FWT files as its native file format.
- FacetWin: FacetWin is a program that provides Unix/Linux integration to Windows clients. It also uses .FWT files for configuration.
- Generic text editor: A generic text editor, such as Notepad or TextEdit, can be used to open and view .FWT files, but it will not be able to display the data in a formatted way.
If you are unable to open the .FWT file with any software program, it may be corrupted. In this case, you may need to use a data recovery software program to recover the file.
Here are some additional tips for opening .FWT files:
- If you are using FTM to open a .FWT file, make sure that you have the latest version of the software installed.
- If you are using FacetWin to open a .FWT file, make sure that you have the latest version of the software installed and that you have configured FacetWin correctly.
- If you are using a generic text editor to open a .FWT file, try changing the encoding of the file to UTF-8.
How do I convert a .FWT file to another format?
There are a few ways to convert a .FWT file to another format.
- Use the software program that created the file. Many software programs that use .FWT files also have the ability to convert them to other formats. For example, Family Tree Maker FTM can convert .FWT files to GEDCOM files, which is a standard file format for genealogy data.
- Use a third-party file converter. There are a number of third-party file converters that can be used to convert .FWT files to other formats. For example, Zamzar and FileZigZag can convert .FWT files to PDF, DOC, and TXT files.
- Use a text editor. If the .FWT file contains text, you can use a text editor to open it and then save it as a different file format, such as TXT or PDF.
Here are some reasons why you might want to convert a .FWT file to another format:
- To make the file compatible with another software program. For example, if you want to open a .FWT file in a different genealogy program, you may need to convert it to a GEDCOM file.
- To make the file more portable. For example, if you want to share a .FWT file with someone who does not have the software program that created it, you may want to convert it to a more common format, such as PDF or DOC.
- To back up the file. It is a good idea to back up your important files regularly, and converting them to a more common format can make it easier to back them up and restore them if needed.
Tips for converting .FWT files:
- Always make a backup of the original .FWT file before converting it.
- Make sure that the software program or file converter that you are using is compatible with the file format that you want to convert the file to.
- If you are converting the .FWT file to a text format, such as TXT or PDF, make sure that you change the encoding of the file to UTF-8.
How do I recover a lost or corrupted .FWT file?
There are a few ways to recover a lost or corrupted .FWT file.
- Use the software program that created the file. Many software programs that use .FWT files also have the ability to recover lost or corrupted files. For example, FTM has a built-in file recovery tool that can be used to recover lost or corrupted .FWT files.
- Use a third-party data recovery software program. There are a number of third-party data recovery software programs that can be used to recover lost or corrupted .FWT files. For example, Recuva and Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery can recover .FWT files from a variety of storage devices, including hard drives, USB drives, and SD cards.
- Contact the software developer. If you are unable to recover the lost or corrupted .FWT file using either of the above methods, you can contact the software developer for assistance.
Here are some tips for recovering lost or corrupted .FWT files:
- Stop using the storage device that contains the lost or corrupted .FWT file as soon as possible. This will reduce the risk of the file being overwritten.
- If you are using a data recovery software program, make sure that you scan the entire storage device, not just the folder where the .FWT file was located.
- Once you have recovered the .FWT file, save it to a different storage device as soon as possible.
If you are having trouble recovering a lost or corrupted .FWT file, you can search for help online or contact the software developer.
Additional tips:
- Make sure you have a backup of your important files, including .FWT files.
- Use a reliable antivirus program to protect your computer from viruses and malware.
- Avoid using pirated software, as it can be infected with viruses and malware.
- Be careful when downloading files from the internet.
- Keep your computer's operating system and software up to date.
How do I troubleshoot common problems with .FWT files?
Here are some tips on how to troubleshoot common problems with .FWT files:
- Make sure that you have the latest version of the software program that created the .FWT file installed. Software developers often release updates to their programs that fix bugs and add new features. Installing the latest version of the software program may fix the problem you are having with the .FWT file.
- Try opening the .FWT file with a different software program. If you are unable to open the .FWT file with the software program that created it, try opening it with a different software program. For example, if you are unable to open a .FWT file with FTM, try opening it with FacetWin or a generic text editor.
- Try converting the .FWT file to a different format. If you are unable to open the .FWT file with any software program, try converting it to a different format, such as PDF, DOC, or TXT. You can use the software program that created the .FWT file to convert it, or you can use a third-party file converter.
- Try recovering the .FWT file. If the .FWT file is lost or corrupted, you can try recovering it using a data recovery software program. There are a number of third-party data recovery software programs available.
- Contact the software developer. If you are still having trouble with the .FWT file, you can contact the software developer for assistance.
Here are some specific problems that you may encounter with .FWT files and their solutions:
- Problem: I am unable to open the .FWT file.
- Solution: Make sure that you have the latest version of the software program that created the .FWT file installed. If you are still unable to open the file, try opening it with a different software program or try converting it to a different format.
- Problem: The .FWT file is corrupted.
- Solution: Try recovering the .FWT file using a data recovery software program. If you are unable to recover the file, contact the software developer for assistance.
- Problem: I am unable to convert the .FWT file to a different format.
- Solution: Make sure that the software program or file converter that you are using is compatible with the file format that you want to convert the file to. If you are still unable to convert the file, contact the software developer for assistance.