How do I transfer stored user data between my v5 USB and my v5 download, DVD or School Network Product?

Edition: 10 April 2019a

Note you MUST NOT attempt to move data from Wordshark to Numbershark, or vice versa!

There are several ways to transfer user data between a USB and a download install and a school network or (now discontinued) DVD product, depending on what it is you want to transfer across. Choose the most appropriate to your needs:

I have made a word list on one Wordshark, which I want to copy to my other one:

I want to copy the (Wordshark or Numbershark) data for selected users only to my other machine

I want to copy ALL of my program user data from one machine/usb to another

I have made a word list on one Wordshark, which I want to copy to my other install:

Put your Wordshark USB stick into the “download” computer  (If transferring data from one “download” computer to another, insert an ordinary memory stick or memory card instead)

Sign on as the user that created the word list, on the program that already has that list.

Go to Actions / Own Word Lists. Click on the word list you want to copy. Use the “Export” button to export any word lists you wish to move (circled below)  Hint: On a Windows machine, hold the “ctrl” key down to click on several word lists)

“Browse” to a suitable location, e.g. the computer desktop /memory card.  “Open”, then “OK” to export the word list(s)  (including the sounds, pictures and text all bundled as one file for each word list)

You may find it helpful to click “Yes” on the dialogue box “Open a window showing the location of the exported file(s).  You will see the “exported” word list(s), in this case it would appear a “Macbeth.shw”.

To reduce clutter, you can close this instance of Wordshark.

Open the other Wordshark  (move memory stick between computers if you are transferring between computers). Go to Actions / Own Word lists. Click on the “Import” button  (arrow going into the black box).  

Select “From saved .shw files” and  browse to the location of the exported word list(s) Hint: On a Windows machine, hold the “ctrl” key down to click on several word lists)  Then click “Open”: The word list(s) will be imported, ready for you to use in the usual way.

You will see that you have the red “Save As” button, should you wish to work on and adjust a copy of your newly imported word list whilst leaving the original unchanged.

I want to copy the (Wordshark or Numbershark) data for selected users only to my other machine

Any Administrator can do this:  If you are copying from a school network product, note that “Teacher” level access does not permit this.

Ensure that administrator, teacher or student is NOT currently signed on.  (you cannot “move yourself”)

Before starting, check that the username, e.g. “SENCO” or “Mum” that you want to move across is NOT already registered on the other instance of the program – if it is, you are liable to lose data. It is not possible to synchronise/join together data from 2 users with the same username.  If you wish to move one to the other, then you first need to sign on as Administrator / Add and Manage / click on the user that is no longer needed and “Remove” using the red/white x icon (select “remove completely” if given an option)

Sign on as an administrator.  Go to Admin / Add and Manage Students & staff. Click on the user you wish to copy across, then on the  “Export” button. 

Save the user file to a suitable location (desktop, memory stick or otherwise)  This will export that user, with all of their records and any word lists created by that user, as a “.shu” file.

That file may now be accessed from the other instance of the program, via the “Import” button.

Note that this can be usefully emailed to a parent for use on their home install, or emailed from your school network to your home email for use on your home machine.

I want to copy ALL of my data from my USB to my other install

Before starting, check that all username that you want to move across are NOT already registered on the other instance of the program – if it is, you are liable to lose data. It is not possible to synchronise/join together data from 2 users with the same username.  If you wish to move one to the other, then you first need to sign on as Administrator / Add and Manage / click on the user that is no longer needed and “Remove” using the red/white x icon (select “remove completely” if given an option)

Sign on as an administrator.  (Note – if on a school network product – you need to be signed on at administrator level, not “teacher” level for this)

Go to Admin / Advanced / Create a zipped copy / Including user information

You will be given this warning:

You will then need to move your zipped data folder [word][number]shark-shared to the “other machine”:  Unzip, and copy ONLY the following:

The contents of these folders, if present:  

Resources   /   Records 

Keypads (ONLY if this machine has “user created keypads” created)

Look into the root of the [word][number]shark-shared, and move ONLY the .sha files  (NOT any .lock, XML or other files)

You can now open the program, and check that your data has transferred across.

KEEP your zipped copy until you are absolutely sure all is well.  If you think anything appears to be missing, check back with the old computer, note any discrepancies, then contact support for assistance.