* Missing standard queries in loaded program

[Ted]

Version 5.0.9. In the View menu, Standard Queries responds <empty>! There is a queries sub folder in the Family Historian program folder with named queries of 1 & 2 KB with .fhq file type suffix. How do I get these standard queries to load with the program? In the Queries Window there are no queries in the drop down window and all choices are greyed out.

[tatewise]

First of all DO NOT TOUCH the C:\Program Files (x86)\Family Historian\Queries folder.

To help us help you, could you please give a little background to this problem.
Please answer all questions as fully as possible.

Which version of Windows are you using (XP, Vista, 7, 8) ?

Have you just installed FH V5.0.9 on a new PC?
OR
Has FH V5.0.9 been installed for some time with View > Standard Queries OK, and the problem has just started?

What is in folder C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\Queries\Standard ?

Do the following commands work OK with expected displays ?
Publish > Narrative Reports
Tools > Work with Fact Sets
Tools > Plugins
View > Standard Diagram Types

Have there been any significant changes leading up to the problem arising ?

P.S.
Could you please click User Control Panel at the top of this web page, then on Profile tab set your Family Historian Version and Submit, so it appears in the panel to the right of your posting instead of None.

[Ted]

Thanks for reply, have amended profile as suggested!

WIndows XP Pro all latest updates (planning to change to Windows 7 soon, with trepidation!)
Same PC as before.
Not sure re queries as have not used this item before them from the menu.
No folder "Progam Data, but a Calico Pie folder in C:\Program Files which has "Family Historian PDF" folder. Within this there are two folders: "AMD64" and "i386" plus other files including - License.rtf, Customer-support.html and uninstall files.
"Queries folder" is in C:\Program Files\Family Historian and contains files with .fhq suffix as reported.

I did have a problem a few months ago when I uninstalled BT Cloud service as it took over my PC. Several programs were corrupted, only detected when I came to use them and had to be re-installed, including FH, which seemed to re-install OK and place a shortcut on the desktop etc. I have used the program regularly since, but have only now noticed the absence of standard queries (I have not set up any custom queries).

[Ted]

Update
Have looked at the Knowledge Base again and find some worrying instructions. It would appear that my re-install of FH did not work properly as the files seem to be in different places. I looked in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Calico Pie\Family Historian and found several folders with no files including Flags, Queries\Standard, Diagrams\Standard, Icons, Property Box, Web Search.

However - standard diagrams work OK from within the program, I did set up some custom fact sets following your advice earlier, but the Custom Fact folder is empty, whereas the Standard seems OK.

Will await your reply, but it looks as though I should uninstall and re-install, following closely the instructions in Knowledge Base?

[tatewise]

OK, as you are using Windows XP some of the folders I mentioned above are incorrect.

First of all DO NOT TOUCH any of the C:\Program Files\... program installation folders.

You say C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Calico Pie\Family Historian\... has several empty folders, which does explain the symptoms, and suggests the previous install partially failed.
This is the Windows XP version of the C:\ProgramData\... folder.
See glossary:family_historian_program_data_folder|> Family Historian Program Data Folder for details.

I suspect some of the following commands do NOT work OK:
Publish > Narrative Reports
Tools > Work with Fact Sets
Tools > Plugins
View > Standard Diagram Types

Although standard diagrams will display, I suspect they have no text in the boxes, which is wrong.

If the folders you mention are empty then certainly the installation is incorrect.
As you suggest, a re-install of FH v5.0.9 should fix things.
You do not need to uninstall anything, unless that re-install fails to fix the problem.

In that case, un-install FH v5.0.9, restart the PC, then re-install FH Full v5 or the Upgrade v4 to v5.
The how_to:reinstall_family_historian|> How to (Re-)install Family Historian has all the details you should need.

For future reference, you should include C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Calico Pie\ in your regular backups in order to preserve your Custom settings such as Fact Sets.
See glossary:backup_and_recovery|> Backup and Recovery.
Alternatively, as also mentioned therein, use the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings Plugin regularly.

[Ted]

Will check where files should be and do a reinstall and check to see that it has installed properly. Currently I back up the full file set from the program after making changes to the file being worked on, but presumably this is only the the data directly associated with the Gedcom file - I only have one file by the way, I came from a shareware program called Cumberland Family Tree and it warned not to try to "split" family history files, so have never attempted this with FH either. I do make regular backups of "My Documents", but looks like I should re-set to include Documents and Settings as well?

Thanks for your usual patience

[tatewise]

Yes, FH Backups only save "the data directly associated with the Gedcom file" as explained in glossary:backup_and_recovery|> Backup and Recovery.

Usually we also advise only having one Family Tree Project, so that is OK.

If you use the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings Plugin regularly, and backup into your Family Tree Project folder, then both the FH Backup and your regular backups of My Documents will suffice. The Plugin also includes Windows Registry settings and other folders & files that a backup of Documents and Settings would NOT cover.

Is your Gedcom file incorporated into a FH Project structure?
In other words, does FH display - Family Historian Project - on the very top window bar, and does File > Backup/Restore offer Small Backup, Medium Backup & Full Backup options?

If not, then I would strongly advise you convert sooner rather than later, before migrating to Windows 7, especially if you have linked Multimedia photos/images. See how_to:v4:understanding_projects|> Understanding Projects for details.

[Ted]

"Is your Gedcom file incorporated into a FH Project structure.....?" - Yes to all and I back up to an external hard drive in addition to a folder in Dropbox. Will download the back up plug in when I have sorted out my problem.

I tried re-running the v5.0.9 upgrade file with no success. I have contacted the software website as I am unsure what to do now as the only v5 program on offer is a trial version. If I un-install my current program and download and run the trial version, will it accept my key and will it be the latest v5.0.9 or will I have to re-download and run the upgrade?

[tatewise]

Did you review the how_to:reinstall_family_historian|> How to (Re-)install Family Historian advice beforehand?

Before running the FH V5.0.9 installation, did you download it from http://www.family-historian.co.uk/downl ... ee-upgrade just in case the copy on your PC has been corrupted in some way.

You can only use the http://www.family-historian.co.uk/downl ... -day-trial if you bought a Full V5 Licence.

If you bought an Upgrade V4 to V5 Licence then you MUST use the associated installation CD/Download.

Have you not kept a backup of the CD/Download installation file? - It is valuable. - You paid good money for it!

[Ted]

I have carefully read the knowledge base articles & diagram on re-installing and found the statement that I only need to use my v4 to 5 upgrade file. I have all my original download files, including paid for and free upgrades, purchase acknowledgents and keys.

I intend uninstalling my FH program and re-installing with my v4 to 5 upgrade file, then upgrading via the fresh download of the 5.0.9 free upgrade, which now has the suffix "b".

However I presumably cannot use the migration/back up/restore instructions as files are not currently in their correct paths, so presumably I will lose program files associated with my project file eg custom fact set, plug ins, Ancestral Sources etc? Or will I?

Will cross fingers and toes and let you know how I get on, will plan for this weekend, not tonight!.

Thanks again for assistance.