* Split Tree Helper not deleting media

[davidm_uk]

I'm attempting to create a sub tree to send to a relative. I have:

• made copy of main project
  in the copy of project
  created named list of people I want to keep
  set split tree helper to:
  • delete individuals not found by individual query
    delete notes, multimedia and source records with no links them
  run the split tree helper and select named list

The copy project now has the subset of people, and with just their source records, but:

• ALL of the Place records from the main project, and the media records and files (photos of churches, houses etc) associated with those Places are still there
  ALL of the multimedia files have been copied from the main project.

What's the best way of removing all of these unwanted media records and files (and now empty folders where applicable) from the new project?

I'd have thought the the Split Tree Helper should have taken care of all this - is this maybe a wish list item?

[tatewise]

Unfortunately, although File > Export > GEDCOM File has an exclude Place records option, the Split Tree Helper still does not, and I don't think unlinked Media files themselves are ever deleted.

Presumably, your relative is actually using FH V6, otherwise the Gedcom/Project may not be compatible. If your relative is using another genealogy product, then use File > Export > GEDCOM File to produce a sub-tree and run the Export Gedcom File Plugin on the exported Gedcom file with suitable options.

There are more details about the pros and cons of various method in how_to:exporting_gedcom_with_multimedia|> Exporting a Family Tree with Multimedia that do deal with your issues of Place records, Media records & files, and other issues you may not have considered.

[Jane]

You would have been better to use the Export and then create a Project from it, but you can still tidy up by "Deleting all Multimedia records with no links and then using the New Project option to create a Project from the Gedcom in your existing one. This will copy over only the linked media and you can then delete the project you made using Split Tree helper.

There are instructions in the Knowledge base for this as Mike says.

[BobWard]

I did what I think you are trying to do for my wife's side of the family tree awhile back.

If I copied the following link correctly on my iPhone, you might read this to see what was recommended.

Create Separate FH Project File For Spouse's Family (13549)

[davidm_uk]

Just some follow up now that I've achieved what I wanted.

The relative I was sending the sub-tree to uses FH6, hence wanting to send him a project (not just a ged file), complete with all the media files just for that project (and not any customisations).

Having gotten to the point as described in my initial post I then (after some experimenting):

used FH...Tools...Work with Data...Places, then sorted the places on the Used column to bring all of the ones with 0 together at the bottom of the list, select the bottom entry, then scroll up to the first used real entry and shift-click to select all the "0 Used" plus one real entry, then merge all of those, selecting the real one as the Merge into place. (I could have used the named list approach from the Places tab, but I think my way has fewer mouse clicks, and it's all done from the one window).

used the "Check for unlinked media" plugin to display the list on unlinked media (to check it) then run again to delete all of the unlinked media.

closed FH, used Windows Explorer to delete empty or unwanted folders (I keep some research folders at the top level of each project), and delete the ThumbCache.dat file.

open FH to double check everything's ok (and let it rebuild the much smaller ThumbCache.dat file).

run a full FH Project Backup to create a ZIP file for emailing to my relative.

Job done, now it just remains for me to remember all this for when I need to do it again in a few months (or years) time - that's the hard part

(NOTE re Places - I don't use Address, all of my address information is in Places - 7 parts)

[tatewise]

David, I can see your method achieves what you want, but it is a bit convoluted, because the Split Tree Helper is not as helpful as it could be in this scenario.

This export sub-tree scenario has been investigated in depth and believe me the Export > GEDCOM File method is much more effective as explained in how_to:exporting_gedcom_with_multimedia|> Exporting a Family Tree with Multimedia.

Using this method allows unused Place records and associated unused Media records to be excluded initially.
The subsequent Project only contains the Media files required, and the Cache folder and Public folder are empty.
So the whole process is very straightforward; no need to copy your original Project; no need to merge any Place records; no need to run any Plugins; no need to use Windows Explorer.

[davidm_uk]

Ah, I see now

What had confused me was "For the Multimedia Records option select Use Full File Paths for External File Links such that the Media folder & file paths are retained." in the KB page, and then looking in the exported GED and seeing the complete absolute path eg:

1 FILE D:\_Data\Family Historian Projects\Miller\Miller.fh_data\Media\Certificates and Indexes\Birth and Christening\Indexes\Birth Index ANC - Victor Taylor (b1936).jpg

What I hadn't realised (having not read the instructions to the end - what did they always tell us at school about exams - "always read the whole question to the end" ) was that the next step of creating a new Project from that exported GED file would make set of project folders including a new media folder for that project, copy the media over and create relative file links to the media files in the new location, and generate a new ThumbCache.dat file.

Having done it and written this I might now remember it for next time - maybe duh!

Thank you Mike for your persistence in dragging me back to the straight and narrow. Happy New Year.