How do I transfer my recipes and other files from another computer or previous version of MasterCook and into MasterCook 14?

We have a video tutorial you can watch. CLICK HERE. The first half shows you how to transfer files from a previous version installed on the same computer. The second part of that video (about 3 minutes into the video) explains how to transfer your files from another computer using a USB drive.

Otherwise, you can restore files from a previous version as explained below.

FROM VERSIONS 4 AND LESS:

Versions 4 and less cookbook files are *.MCF and *.MRF. (The Mac versions will need these file extensions added when you transfer them to a PC computer before the PC version of MasterCook can open them.) The MCF file holds the text portion of the cookbook, and the MRF file stores the recipe pictures. If there are no recipe pictures in the cookbook, there won't be an MRF file. These two file types must always remain within the same folder on the computer since they work together.

Find those files on your computer. Use Windows Search if needed. You should back them up to another disk or drive on a regular basis.

Select OPEN from the File menu in MasterCook 14 and direct it to the MCF file. MasterCook will create its own cookbook files (MC2/MCX), leaving the original files intact.

FROM VERSIONS 5 AND GREATER:

COOKBOOKS AND MENU/MEAL PLAN FILES

All versions of MasterCook 5 and Greater expect those cookbook files to be within their own My Collection folder on your computer. If you installed MasterCook 14 onto your computer at the default installation location, you will find the My Collection folder on your computer at this location:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\MasterCook 14\My Collection

Follow the numbered steps below to add your cookbook files to MasterCook 14.

1. Open the C drive on your computer.
2. Open the Users folder.
3. Open the Public folder.
4. Open the Documents folder.
5. Open the MasterCook 14 folder.
6. Open the My Collection folder.
7. Place a copy of your .mc2 and .mcx cookbook files into this My Collection folder.
8. Then start up MasterCook 14 on your computer and go to the Cookbooks screen.
9. Select Refresh File List from the Tools menu.

This will make your cookbooks appear in the program. If you have menus or meal plan files, those are the .mnu and .pln files. They can also be copied into the My Collection folder and refresh MasterCook as explained above.

ALL OTHER FILES

All other files (ingredients, shopping lists, print templates, etc.) are expected to be within the MC Tools folder.

If you installed MasterCook 14 onto your computer at the default installation location, you will find the MC Tools folder on your computer at this location:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\MasterCook 14\MC Tools

Follow the numbered steps below to add your cookbook files to MasterCook 14.

1. Open the C drive on your computer.
2. Open the Users folder.
3. Open the Public folder.
4. Open the Documents folder.
5. Open the MasterCook 14 folder.
6. Open the MC Tools folder.
7. Place a copy of your other files into this MC Tools folder.
8. Then start up MasterCook 14 on your computer and go to the Cookbooks screen.
9. Select Refresh File List from the Tools menu.

This will make the rest of your files appear in the program.

Which files contain my content?

In the Collection Folders:
.pln - meal plans
.mnu - menus
.mc2 - cookbook text
.mcx - cookbook pictures

In the MC Tools Folder:
.mcd - print designs
.mcp - paper definitions
.sl - shopping lists
.pl - pantry
.el - equivalents
.bl - substitutions
.src - saved search criteria
MC Ingredients.ing - ingredient file (if you edited it)
MC Prep Methods.mtd - prep list
MC Alt Sources.mtd - alternate source labels
MC Alt Times.mtd - alternate times labels
MC Wine List.wl - wine list
MC Favorites.mfv - favorites
MC Tips.mtf - Tips file (if you edited it)
MC Tips.mcx - Tips pictures (if you edited Tips file or added a picture)
userdic.tlx - words added to dictionary for spellchecker