General
Q1: What is new in Historian 6?
A: New features are:
• New icons.
• Changed the term from “Vault” to “Cabinet” to better represent the digital
repository for the group of files stored in Historian 6.
• Improved Facial Recognition tool.
• Improved connection with your FOREVER Storage Account.
• More powerful Auto Fix tool.
• Ability to share photos with Artisan 6.
• “Stored in FOREVER” designation for better visibility of files that are in your
FOREVER Storage Account.
• All new - DARK MODE!
• Limited de-duplication when uploading files to FOREVER.
• Improved the Historian Help message window that displays for a better user
experience.
• Updated the Facebook Connector; users can download from Facebook only.
Facebook restricts sharing photos to their site.
• Includes Time with Date on photos for improved file organization.
• Ability to assign the same star rating to a group of photos in the Work Area
• Ability to “ignore all” suggestions when running Facial Recognition on import.
• Ability to “exclude all” suggestions when running Facial Recognition on import.
While still on the screen, users can also click the option a second time to “include
all” if necessary.
• Updated the Merge Cabinets process so that manually-added Tags are included in
the merge.
• No longer populating the Tell your story field with the filename during import.
• Fixed a bug with the Preview image when importing from a scanner.
• Flickr connection removed.
• Ability to burn files to CD/DVD removed.
Q2: Can I access my shadow copy and/or backup files that I already have on a CD or DVD in Historian 6?
A: Yes. As long as you have a computer that can read CDs/DVDs, or you own a CD/DVD external drive, you can still read the files you burned to CD/DVD from past versions of the software.
Q3: How do I backup my Historian files?
A: You can still create a Shadow Copy, an Incremental Backup, or a Full Backup of your Historian Cabinet. We recommend that you save your backup files to a different drive than the one where you store your Cabinet. An External Hard Drive (EHD), or flash drive work well for this purpose. For more information on backing up your files, go to the Help Desk at https://forever1.zendesk.com/hc/en-us and search “backup.”
Q4: What are the updates to the Perfectly Clear® options in the Auto Fix tool?
A: Historian™ 6 features seven different options from Perfectly Clear® They are:
• Perfectly Clear®: The updated version of Perfectly Clear® that we offered in
Historian 4, which lightens and brightens your photos with a single click.
• Perfectly Clear® Beautify: Specifically designed to smooth faces, so it is good for
portraits and close-up photos of people.
• Perfectly Clear® Beautify Plus: All the benefits of Perfectly Clear® Beautify, plus
gentle color and tone corrections.
• Perfectly Clear® Vivid: Specifically designed for scenery and landscape photos to
brighten and make the colors in the photos “pop.”
• Perfectly Clear® Outdoor Sunlight: Brightens while reducing glare and is a good
choice for sunrise and sunset photos.
• Perfectly Clear® Gentle Boost: A softer version of Perfectly Clear® that works
particularly well on photos taken at night, indoors, or with a smartphone or other
mobile device.
• Perfectly Clear® Natural Skin Tone: Shows skin tones as they would appear in a
natural, rather than artificial, light.
Any of the Perfectly Clear® options in our Auto Fix tool can be used on any of your
photos - the choice of preset and look of your photos is totally up to you!
Q5: Why can’t I see the options when I click on the Auto Fix tool?
A: There are two different versions of the Auto Fix tool. The one in the Image Editor (double-click one image to open the Image Editor) will offer all the options we have added. The Auto Fix tool on the Home ribbon of the Media Library will apply the latest version of the original tool – Perfectly Clear® – to all the photos you select.
Q6: I am new to FOREVER Historian. How do I get started?
A: When you open Historian, click on the question mark in the upper right corner to expand the Help Menu. In the drop-down menu click on “Historian Help.” In the Resources window, click on “Getting Started Guide” for the Historian 6 online tool that is published by our pixels2Pages team.
Q7: What version of Windows do I need in order to run Historian 6?
A: You should use Windows 10 or Windows 11 to run Historian 6 since those are the versions that Microsoft recommends and supports. If you choose to run Historian 6 in an older version of Windows, please keep in mind that the software will not operate as efficiently as it will on newer Windows platforms.
Q7: Can I still purchase Historian 4?
A: No. Historian 4 is no longer available for purchase. If you purchased Historian 4 in the past and need to re-download it for any reason, please visit www.forever.com/downloads or contact FOREVER Client Care for assistance.
Q8: Can I share photos to Artisan 6 from Historian 6?
A: Yes. As long as Historian 6 and Artisan 6 are installed on the same machine and available for use (you have purchased the programs or your trial versions have not expired), you can share files from Historian 6 to Artisan 6.
Q9: Where do I find the version number of Historian 6?
A: Click on the Help Menu icon in Historian (question mark in the blue circle in the upper right part of the screen). When the menu expands, click on “About.” The window that displays will include the version number. To find out the current version number, please click here.
Q10: Do I need to own FOREVER Storage to use Historian 6 in Trial or Licensed (active) mode?
A: While you do not need to own FOREVER Storage to use Historian 6 in Trial or Licensed mode, you will need to create a free intro FOREVER Account to properly authenticate the Trial or Licensed version of Historian 6.
Q11: Can I use FOREVER Digital Art in Historian 6?
A: No. Historian is primarily an organizational and editing tool. While it does offer the ability to create quick and easy photo albums, it does not offer the scrapbooking functionality of Artisan.
Q12: Can I create photo books in Historian 6?
A: Yes. Historian offers 12x12, 8x8, 8.5x11 and 11x8.5 Hard Cover Photo Books. Click on the “My Albums” tab and choose “New Album” at the top. Historian will walk you through the process of creating a photo book. Once you have added your photos and are ready to print your photo book project, go to File > Order to upload your project to FOREVER, where you can Add to Cart and complete your order.
Q13: Can I create other photo products - besides photo books - in Historian 6?
A: No. Historian only offers Hard Cover Photo Books. Other products can be created with Artisan 6 or through our online platforms - FOREVER Design & Print and FOREVER AutoPrint. Visit the Create & Print page of our website at www.forever.com for more details.
Q14: How does the Album Planner work?
A: You can add photos to an Album Planner in Historian to arrange these photos in the order you want them in your Photo Book. When you share those photos to Artisan or your FOREVER Account, they will already be in the correct order for creating your photo book project. The Album Planner tool can be accessed from the My Albums tab in Historian.
Q15: What sources can I use when importing files to Historian 6?
A: Files can be imported from folders on your computer, a flash drive, or an external hard drive (EHD). You can also import files from your FOREVER Storage Account, a camera or other device (such as a smartphone), or a scanner.
Q16: What file types does Historian 6 accept?
A: Historian accepts the following files:
• Photo: .jpg, .jpe, .jpeg, .tif, .tiff, .png, .bmp, .dib, .gif
• Video: .wmv, .avi, .mpg, .mpeg, .mp2, .mpv, .mpa, .mp4, .mov, .m2v, .m4v, .qt, .m2t,
.m2ts, .mts, .3g2, .3gp
• Audio: .wav, .wma, .mp3, .aif, .aiff, .cda
• Document: .pdf
Q17: What does the “Search Computer” tool do?
A: The “Search Computer” tool will search selected folders on your computer for any eligible media files which have not been imported to Historian. This is especially helpful if you have files in various folders on your computer and want to import them to Historian to organize and edit. After creating a new cabinet, click the Media Library tab, then click on the Search Computer tool in the Home ribbon. Historian will walk you through the process to choose which files to import.
Q18: I imported files to Historian 6, and now those are the only files I see in my Cabinet. What happened to my existing files?
A: After you import files to Historian, the software automatically changes the timeline to the Import Date view with today’s date selected to display the files that you just imported. This behavior can be changed using a setting in the Import section of the Options menu.
To see all your files, expand the Timeline at the bottom of the screen and select “All” and “Media.” You can also return to your previous view by clicking the back arrow button in the Media Library title bar, or you can return to your default view by clicking the Home button in the View section of the Home ribbon.
Q19: Can I sort files by type (e.g., photo, video)?
A: Yes! When viewing your Cabinet in Historian, click on “Media Types” in the Find section of the Home ribbon. You will see a drop-down menu where you can choose which files to view.
Q20: Can I upload all file types (photo, video, audio, documents) from Historian 6 to FOREVER?
A: Yes! Both Historian and FOREVER support photo, video, audio, and document (pdf) files. Please note that some file extensions are not supported by both platforms. For example, only Historian supports bitmap (.bmp) files while only FOREVER supports WebP (.webp) files for photos.
Q21: Can I download all file types (photo, video, audio, documents) from FOREVER to Historian 6?
A: Yes! Both Historian and FOREVER support photo, video, audio, and document (pdf) files. Please note that some file extensions are not supported by both platforms. For example, only Historian supports bitmap (.bmp) files while only FOREVER supports WebP (.webp) files for photos.
Q22: How do I email a file to someone?
A: You need to set up your email address in Historian by accessing the Software Options. Then you can use the Email option from the Share menu/ribbon to email files to friends and family. If you need assistance with this tool, please reach out to our Client Care team for assistance at 1-888-FOREVER (367-3837) or support@forever.com.
Q23: How do I get photos from Facebook?
A: In your Media Library, go to the Get Files section of the Home ribbon and click “Other.” Click “Facebook” when the menu expands for access to the photos and videos in your Facebook account.
Activation and Trial Mode
Q24: Do I have to log in every time I open Historian?
A: No. You will need to log in the first time you open Historian 6. You will not need to log in again unless you change the password of your FOREVER Account.
Q25: How long does the Trial Mode last?
A: The Trial Mode of Historian lasts 30 consecutive days. During that 30-day period, your Cabinet can be opened 100 times. Please note that you must be connected to the internet to use Historian in Trial Mode.
Q26: What can I do if I am in Trial Mode and have already opened my Cabinet 100 times?
A: You have two options for continuing to work in Historian 6: create a second (new) Cabinet or purchase a License for Historian 6 and activate your software. If you create a second (new) Cabinet, it is possible to merge your Cabinets at any time.
Q27: If I start in Trial Mode and use Historian 6 for less than 30 days, can I extend my trial period?
A: No. The software is designed to calculate the length of the trial period beginning with the day you open it in Trial Mode. We are not able to extend it for any reason.
Q28: Do I need to enter an Activation Code to activate my Historian 6 software license?
A: You no longer need to enter an Activation Code to activate your software. We do all of that for you! Simply purchase Historian 6, download and install the program, open it up, and enter the email and password associated with your FOREVER Account. It’s that easy!
Q29: I downloaded and opened Historian 6 in Trial Mode before purchasing it. How do I activate the software after purchasing it?
A: To activate a trial version of Historian 6 after purchasing the software, simply open Historian 6 while connected to the internet. The software will check your FOREVER Account, detect your purchased license, and activate the program. Note: if Historian 6 is open when you purchase the License, click on the Help Menu icon (question mark in the upper right corner) and choose “Activate.” Historian
will verify that you have purchased a license and display a message that it is activated.
Q30: What should I do if I purchased Historian 6 and my software doesn’t activate?
A: If your internet connection is interrupted during the activation process, you might have trouble opening your software the first time. We suggest you try activating again by clicking “Activate” in the Help Menu (question mark in the upper right corner). If it still does not work, please contact FOREVER Client Care at 1-888-FOREVER (1-888-367-3837) or support@forever.com. Someone will be happy to assist you.
Cabinet FAQs
Q31: What is a Cabinet?
A: A Cabinet in Historian 6 is a digital repository for a group of files. It has the same functionality that a Media Vault or Memory Vault had in previous versions of the software. You can keep all your Historian files in one Cabinet or separate them into multiple Cabinets - the choice is totally up to you!
Q32: Where should I save my Historian 6 Cabinet?
A: You can save your Historian 6 Cabinet right to your computer’s hard drive. You can also save it to an external hard drive (EHD) that you connect to your machine whenever you are using Historian 6. It is important to remember to store the Shadow Copy and / or Backup Copy(ies) of your Cabinet to a separate EHD and not on the same drive where you are storing your original Cabinet. Also, keep the Shadow Copy and Backup Copy up-to-date so your files can be restored if something unexpected happens to your computer. The default location for new Cabinets is C:\Users\Public\Public Documents. Other folders or locations may be selected.
Q33: What is a Shadow Copy?
A: A Shadow Copy is a copy of your Cabinet that is automatically updated after you make changes. It can be activated when you create a new Cabinet, or by going to the Cabinet ribbon and choosing “Shadow Copy” at the top of the screen. Once you have created a Shadow Copy, Historian will update it whenever you close the software as long as the other drive is connected.
Q34: Where should I save a Shadow Copy?
A: You should save your Shadow Copy on a separate drive from the one that you use for storing files and working in Historian.
Q35: What is a Full Backup?
A: Historian allows you to create a complete, or full, backup of all the files you have in your Cabinet. While the Full Backup will need to be manually updated using the Incremental Backup tool, this allows you to keep an extra copy of your Cabinet on a separate hard drive.
Q36: Where should I store my Backup file?
A: You should store your Backup file on a separate drive from the one that you use for storing files and working in Historian. If you also have a Shadow Copy, the Incremental Backup and Shadow Copy should also be on separate drives.
Q37: What is an Incremental Backup?
A: An Incremental Backup adds new or updated items to an existing (Full) Backup file.
Q38: Can I open a vault created in Historian 4 or Memory Manager with Historian 6?
A: Yes. Once you have purchased your License of Historian 6 and activated your software, you can open any Cabinet or Vault on your computer with Historian 6. From the Home ribbon of the Welcome screen, select Open a Cabinet and browse to the folder location where your Historian 4 or Memory Manager vault is stored. (Note: if you are in Trial Mode of Historian 6, you will only be
able to open the Cabinet(s) you create in Historian 6 until you activate the software.)
Facial Recognition
Q39: I used Facial Recognition in Historian 4. When I open my Cabinet in Historian 6, will all those face tags still be associated with my photos?
A: Yes. All the existing organization from Historian 4 will be preserved in Historian 6. However, Historian 6 has a new process for detecting faces and suggesting Face Tags, so you will need to “teach” the new tool who the various people are in the new photos you import.
Q40: How do I use the Facial Recognition tool?
A: When you create a new Cabinet, check the box next to “Enable facial recognition for this cabinet.” Then you can run the Facial Recognition tool either when importing files or after they have been imported to Historian. Click here to find out how to use facial recognition.
Q41: Do I have to use the Facial Recognition tool to assign Tags to photos?
A: No. You can create and assign Tags without using the Facial Recognition tool.
Q42: What is the benefit of running the Facial Recognition tool instead of Tagging the photos on my own?
A: The Facial Recognition tool will detect faces in your photos and allow you to assign a Face Tag to each face. If you choose to Tag photos on your own – which is also acceptable – the Tags you assign are connected to the overall photo, not to a specific face in the photo. This is just one way that Historian 6 helps you organize your photos.
FOREVER Connector
Q43: What is new in the FOREVER Connector?
A: The new FOREVER Connector allows you to upload your Historian files to your Gallery and Albums. It also allows you to download files from your Gallery, Albums, and Tags. The Connector maintains the organization you created in your FOREVER Account, and it offers the same sorting and searching capabilities that you currently find in your FOREVER Account.
Q44: Can I search for and sort my photos in the FOREVER Connector?
A: Yes, you can. All the sorting and filtering capability that you have in your FOREVER Account is now available in the FOREVER Connector. If you want to use both sort / filter and search options together, you need to change the sort field first. And remember that the Search tool in FOREVER is “additive,” which means it will return everything in the sort parameters AND everything that matches – or is a near
match for – your search term.
Q45: Why do I lose the sort options when I enter text in the Search bar of the FOREVER Connector?
A: The code in Historian 6 does not currently allow us to sort the results of a search. Since you are not currently able to apply any sort options to the search results, we disable the sort options when a search term is entered.
Q46: How is Historian 6 different from FOREVER Storage®?
A: Historian is a desktop software program that helps you organize your files and work with them offline after initial activation. It also offers some powerful editing tools. When you purchase FOREVER Storage, you own your permanent cloud storage account. Here you can upload and access your files anywhere you have an internet connection. Your files stored with FOREVER are secure, permanent, and private.
Q47: Can I add a new Album to my FOREVER Account when I upload photos to FOREVER?
A: Yes. Click the plus (+) symbol next to “Album” to add one at the main level. Or, select any Album in your Account and click the plus (+) symbol next to the Album Name to add a Nested Album. Once you enter the Album name, click the check mark to the right of the name field to create the new Album. Then click “Upload” to add the selected files from Historian to the new Album or Nested Album in your FOREVER Account.
Q48: Can I upload files to the Gallery, Albums, and Tags in my FOREVER Account?
A: You can upload to the Gallery, Albums, and even Nested Albums. And you can create a new Album or Nested Album during the upload process. Since Tags are an organizational tool, not a “location” in your Account, it is not possible to upload files to a Tag. You can, however, add Tags to your files in Historian
and maintain those Tag “assignments” as the files are uploaded to your FOREVER Account. In other words, any Tags you create/assign in Historian 6 will be imported to your FOREVER Account.
Q49: Can I download files from my Gallery, Albums, and Tags in my FOREVER Account?
A: Yes. With the updated connector between Historian 6 and FOREVER, you can navigate to any file(s) in your FOREVER Account and take advantage of the existing organization in your Account as well as the sorting options in your Gallery.