How do I get a new iMac to inherit Time Machine backups from my old iMac?

After successfully migrating from my old iMac to my new iMac, I connected my Time Machine drive (containing the backup files from my old iMac).  Following the instructions from my Apple Genius Desk guru, I opened System Preference>Time Machine and selected the Time Machine drive to be my designated Time Machine for my new iMac.   I was presented with a dialog asking if I wanted to "Inherit the backup files that existed on the drive" (or words to that effect).  I selected "Yes".  I was told that this would create a continuous backup record, so that I would be able, using the "Enter Time Machine" command, to access all the backups going forward for my new iMac, but also all the files from my previous iMac, in a "seamless" chain of backups.  However, it didn't work out as I expected.  Looking in the Finder at the contents of my Time Machine drive, I saw that both the current and the prior backup files appeared to be there, all inside one folder, as I expected.  But using the "Enter Time Machine" command from the Time Machine drop-down menu I could not go back any further than the moment of migration to the new iMac.  On the upside, it seems like I will be able to recover old backup files using the Finder, but, on the downside it appears that I will NOT be able to use "Enter Time Machine" to return to search the backup files from my old iMac, in a "seamless" fashion as I had expected.  Did I miss something???  Or is this just the way it is???

Without knowing what you have tried please open System Preferences - Sharing - File Sharing and select File Sharing. If you still have trouble you can call AppleCare in the morning when they re-open. You have 90 days of telephone support if you haven't already bought AppleCare.

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