* restoring settings

[Johnr65]

Have done what was said about 'back up and restore fh settings' but it doesn't work, there are no media items and when I look at the external settings there are loads of x's in my media files!
This is extremely complicated even with 2 pcs , the new and the old side by side, it would be impossible otherwise?
I fail to understand the back up thing when it says you can't have x's or letters-there are no x's and the drive letter c will not delete?
HELP

[tatewise]

The Backup and Restore FH Settings Plugin is nothing to do with broken Media links to photo/image files.

That is covered by step 2 back in thread pc renewal (13025):

2. Perform all the steps in the V6 & Standard Migration Guide for the old PC and both PC,...

In particular how_to:family_historian_migration_guide|> Family Historian V5 & V6 Migration Guide first Standard Migration Step:

On the old PC use Tools > (Work with) External File Links in each Project and ensure all File Links are listed in Project Data Folder - Media without any X marks, and drive letters such as C: are NOT mentioned. Otherwise stop and ask for help in the Forums.

Did you do that?

Alternatively, you did "Copy the entire …\Family Historian Projects\ folder from old PC to some intermediate storage...".
That should have included all the photo/image files in the Media folder within each Project. Did you do that?

Please follow the steps carefully and if you do not understand anything, just ask.

[Johnr65]

It's not possible:
On the old PC use Tools > (Work with) External File Links in each Project and ensure all File Links are listed in Project Data Folder - Media without any X marks, and drive letters such as C: are NOT mentioned. Otherwise stop and ask for help in the Forums.
When I did it, it has c: as the drive which CANNOT be deleted, there were no x's in it before I backed it up to my portable hard drive but there were loads of x's when I restored it!
I'm guessing it would be simpler for me to add the photos back on to my 16k plus tree than persevere with something that doesn't work!?

[tatewise]

It is the C: drive links that, as it said, should NOT have been mentioned.
As soon as you saw the C: drive links and could not delete them you should have asked for help then!!!
That is why the links are broken, because the new PC is looking for the Media files in that C: drive location, which does not exist on new PC. What is worse, is that those Media files may not have even been in your Project folder, and not copied to your external drive, so they may now only exist on the old PC. Thus you may not even be able to add them manually.

It would all work if you were to follow the instructions. It is also safer with both PC side by side.

Please use Tools > External File Links and give us some examples of what file paths are listed.
That may offer a workaround.
i.e.
Ideally Upload attachment screenshot something like:

External File Links.png (14.62 KiB) Viewed 8995 times

[Johnr65]

screenshot FH6 back up settings 061215.jpg (244.68 KiB) Viewed 8990 times

Here is the screen shot from FH6 on new pc.

[tatewise]

Before we start all this I notice the old PC links refer to Rosser 030714 but the project name at top is Rosser Henderson 051215.
So the technique below probably won't work.
Can you explain the change of name?

I must go out now, so if you have any problems then wait until I return late this evening or tomorrow.

OK, select the Family Historian Projects folder in File Links.

Click the Re-Map button, and choose Re-map to Other Location.

Browse to your (My) Documents folder and expand it to check it holds Family Historian Projects folder.
Select that (My) Documents folder and click OK.
Then all he X should vanish and your Media will be OK.

BUT if that works, then use Re-Map and select Re-map within Project Data Folder, which is what you should have done on old PC to eliminate C: drive and avoid all this hassle!!!

[Johnr65]

When I backed up on settings on the old pc it asked me to back up my tree as a gedcom, so I named it for today's date and restored it as such.
Where is FILE LINKS? I can't find it on FH6?

[tatewise]

Are you pulling my leg John?

It is not just the date that has changed, but also from Rosser to Rosser Henderson.
Nowhere in the Migration Guide does it mention using a Backup of the Project.
If you only backed up the Gedcom then that excludes all your image photos.

What exactly did you copy to your external drive???

The File Links are in the Work with External File Links dialogue in your screenshot!!!!

[Johnr65]

No I'm not pulling your leg as you remarked.
However, I'll try to start again.
Back to the old pc version of FH6, attached screen shot of back up settings, also I've backed up a copy of my proper project. Presumably I can delete the gedcom version from my new pc FH6?
Please bear in mind that I'm an elderly pensioner and I'm a bit of a technophobe when it comes to FH6 protocol.
FTM15 was a piece of cake compared to this.
I'm afraid you'll have to spoon feed me.

[tatewise]

No John, do NOT delete anything just yet.

I need to find out the exact filename of your Rosser Henderson 061215 Project.

So in FH, with that Project open, use the File > File Statistics command.

Select the entire File Statistics contents from File Name: C:\Users\ through to Multimedia Records so it all turns blue.

Then Copy & Paste that into your Reply to this thread.


BTW: Did you ever need to migrate FTM15 and your Projects & Media from PC to PC?

[Johnr65]

Can you tell me which pc you want these settings from?

[tatewise]

John, are you telling me you have both old PC and new PC running simultaneously?

Originally in pc renewal (13025) you said "I've not got the facilities to run both PCs" simultaneously, so we were pursuing a much more complex strategy.

If you are now running both PC simultaneously, then there is a much simpler solution.

[Johnr65]

Yes although I'm running the new pc I still have access to the old pc.

[tatewise]

OK, so now we can use the conventional how_to:family_historian_migration_guide|> Family Historian V5 & V6 Migration Guide for two PC running together, that should be much simpler, which is important if you are a bit of a technophobe.

You appear to have performed most of the Version 6 Migration Steps.

But please ensure you have done so, and as confirmation perform the last step:
Check the new PC 4-digit version is identical to the old PC by holding down the Shft key while using Help > About Family Historian on both PC.
Please post both the old PC and new PC 4-digit version numbers in your Reply here.

In Standard Migration Steps we will fix the problem with Tools > External File Links listing the C: drive.

On the old PC open each of your Projects in turn via the File > Project Window.
i.e. Select a Family Historian Projects name and click Open Project button.
In each Project in turn, use Tools > External File Links.
If drive letter C: is listed, then click Re-Map button, and select Re-map within Project Data Folder.
That should remove drive letter C: and list every file within Project Data Folder - Media without any X marks.

If you have any problems with the above then please ask.

[Johnr65]

Both pc's have version 6.04.0 on them.
When I use tools>ext file links, i can't amend the top file but if I click on media then remap as you suggested, I see 'Browse for folder' which shows in the box: Media >birth>census>new folder; at bottom it says: Make new folder or OK or Cancel.
What options should I use?

[tatewise]

The PC FH Version numbers look good.

Sorry John, I got the process slightly wrong, so try this:

In each Project in turn, use Tools > External File Links.
If drive letter C: is listed, then select all the files within the Media folder as follows:

• Click on first file, so it turns blue - I suspect it is 1 - Billy Healey & Ada Cloughs Marriage
• Scroll to bottom of window so you can see last file
• While holding dowm the Shft key, click on that last file, so all the files turn blue

Now, click the Re-Map button, and select Re-map within Project Data Folder....
When Browse For Folder offers Media, then click OK.
That should remove drive letter C: and list every file within Project Data Folder - Media without any X marks.

[Johnr65]

What do I next after that procedure?
Should I delete my media less project on FH6 on my new pc?

[Johnr65]

Hit a snag!
Using your procedure to remap, followed it and everything went blue including project file, media and names, pressed remap and got a pop up which said:
Multiple selection is valid for this action. But all the selected items must belong to the same folder.
????

[tatewise]

When you select the first file, make sure it is the one below Media.
Do NOT select the Prosser folder or the Media folder.

Only the lowest level files should go blue, not the folders above them.

P.S.
Are you sure the C: drive is listed on this old PC????
This morning your Attachment FH6 OLD 71215.docx shows everthing listed within Project Data Folder - Media so nothing needed to be done!!!!

[Johnr65]

You must be misreading the doc on old pc, I can see c: on my copy?
What do I do once the media files go blue? Should I delete my media less project on the new pc?

[tatewise]

We are only looking in the Work with External File Links window and within the File Links pane, NOT the Current Tree File box at the top.

If you still can see C: in File Links then follow steps I posted at 4:33 today.

Do not delete anything yet.

[Johnr65]

We seem to be going round in circles, I've got the all the media items to turn blue but it still won't remap. See screenshot. By the way I've only 1 project.

[tatewise]

John, we are going round in circles, because you are not really taking any notice of my instructions.
I know you are technophobe, but please read what I say carefully, and if not clear then please ask.

I said: We are only looking in the Work with External File Links window and within the File Links pane, NOT the Current Tree File box at the top.

In your screenshot, ignore the Current Tree File box at the top, that contains c:\users\...
In your screenshot, drive C: is NOT LISTED in the lower File Links pane is it?

All files are already in listed within Project Data Folder - Media as shown in your screenshot, so NOTHING needs to be done with the Re-Map button.

Therefore, we are now ready to move on to the next migration steps.

First you can delete the media-less Project on the new PC.
On the new PC, use File > Project Window, select that Project, and use More Tasks > Delete Project.
You must click OK in the information message.
In the Delete Project window, tick the I want all files listed above to be deleted to confirm deletion only if you really do.
Finally click Delete All button, but if in doubt click Cancel.

Now work through the other Standard Migration Steps one by one, and if anything is not clear, then stop and ask.

At 4th step on old PC use Windows/File Explorer to Copy the entire Family Historian Projects folder to your external drive.
Do not use any Backup commands. Just use Windows/File Explorer.
Then on your new PC use Windows/File Explorer to Copy the entire Family Historian Projects folder from the external drive to overwrite the Family Historian Projects folder in the Documents folder on C: drive of the new PC.

Finally perform steps 5, 6 & 7.

[Johnr65]

Ah the penny is about to drop!
Have used file explorer to copy the project on to C drive on old pc and thence on to the portable hard drive. Apparently the new win 7 pc doesn't have a windows/file explorer, so I can't copy the project to the documents folder on the new pc? In any case should I paste it to the folder by right clicking it?
Where are steps 5, 6 and 7?

[tatewise]

I hope you are following all the steps in how_to:family_historian_migration_guide|> Family Historian V5 & V6 Migration Guide under Standard Migration Steps as instructed. You will have to click that oange link above, and read & follow the detailed instructions carefully. I have summarised them below, and I rewrote Step 4) specifically for your external drive scenario to make it easier for you to follow.

1) Perform External File Links checks that we have just completed.

2) Download the Plugin to both PC.

3) Run this Plugin on the old PC.

4) Copy the entire …\Family Historian Projects\ folder from old PC to new PC.

Every Windows PC from before Windows XP through to Windows 10 DOES have Windows/File Explorer.
Click the Start Menu and then My Computer or My Documents and you are opening Windows/File Explorer.
Alternatively, hold down the Windows Logo key (between Ctrl and Alt) and click the letter E key, and that will open Windows/File Explorer.

If you can see the external drive FH Project folder in order to click it, then you are using Windows/File Explorer.

I hope the folder you are copying is the Family Historian Projects folder as instructed.

5) On the new PC check File > Projects Window and External File Links.

6) On the new PC check Tools > Preferences.

7) Run the Plugin on the new PC.