Family Historian User Group

Two stupid questions today:
How do you copy and paste individual records from one project to another?
And if that's not possible, can you open two different projects side by side so I can copy-type the details across myself?

Sorry, but I can't find the answer on Knowledge Base. Bit befuddled!

Not sure about copy between projects, at worst I suppose you could export then import/merge a GEDCOM file if there was a reasonable amount of data.

But you can run more than one instance of FH, but you need to be careful if you make any "customisations" as you will not know which instance will save the "program" settings (as opposed to the project settings/data.

This post has more details.
running more than one instance of FH (11292)

Another option may be to run a report (or save a query etc), which might make copy/paste easier.

Opening two instances of Family Historian side by side can sometimes be useful if you have enough screen space to see/compare two FH data-files or to compare your own project with an external GEDCOM File. Unfortunately, you can't use 'Drag and Drop' to copy individual records between two data-files but you can, at least, use the normal Windows Copy and Paste functions to transfer text entries in individual records and also to create any 'duplicate' Sources etc. that may need to be added to/edited in one of the data-files.

Mervyn

You question begs the question "Why?".

It suggests you have two closely related Projects with overlapping families.

In which case I would strongly advise merging them into one composite Project.

Many users have been in that situation before and rarely does merging pose any long term problems with producing selective Reports or Diagrams for family sub-groups.

BTW: When you say "individual records" do you mean records of Individuals, or single records of any type?

Thank you all very much for your help!

Mervyn: Luckily I have a huge monitor so I did what you suggested and opened up the two projects side-by-side and copy-and-pasted. Happy days!

Mike: I thought I might be able to merge something but I'm too scared of losing all my precious stuff! Even before my stroke, my IT skills were limited so I like to play it 'safe and sound' even if it takes a lot longer. As to the reason (now don't laugh because I know there was probably an easier way!), I have four main projects, covering the ancestors of each of my four grandparents. I wanted to create a simple project just combining my main 'direct-line' ancestors from all four lines which I could use as a basic GEDCOM to upload to the DNA websites? Sorry if that doesn't make sense but I've only been doing this for a couple of years and I have SO much to learn!

With Mike's suggestion of merging your 4 separate projects, you could then easily export from that a new gedcom just containing your direct ancestors. If your 4 projects only have you as the common link, then merging becomes much more straightforward, and you would only merge those 4 projects (each in turn) into a new composite project (ie. you wouldn't modify your existing projects in any way, so no danger of messing them up).

However, if you really want to keep it simple, just export an ancestor only gedcom from each of your 4 projects, then merge those into a new project, so again no danger of messing up you existing projects.

In any case, you do have backup copies of your existing projects, don't you

I'm sure that Mike can help you through each step, whichever way you choose.

David is spot on with his advice.
It is quite easy and safe to merge those four grandparent Projects because there is virtually no overlap.
Also it is easy to export a GEDCOM of just your direct line Ancestors from that composite Project.
From then on - no more copy & pasting of duplicate data entry, which, if you worry about upsetting data, is fraught with pitfalls!