* Recovery Question

[E Wilcock]

I move my projects between desktop and lap top at least twice a week using windows file system and drop box.
It has never been a problem till now. This morning on the desk top fh cannot "see" one of my Projects. Smith. It does not show in the Project folder at all.

I have checked that the Smith project is not still on the lap top and not in drop box. I believe the problem was caused by a failure to sync drop box completely when I had to close the lap top down in a hurry in the archive last Friday.

The problem seems to be that the Smith Project folder now on the desk top contains only the Smith fh data and that folder contains only the Smith gedcom file.
If I click on that file in windows file explorer, windows opens fh and all the most recent edits are there. It all looks normal.

So I have lost no data. I also have a small back up on the lap top, made before the failed transfer to the desk top. Also a complete copy of the project from a couple of weeks ago.

The question now is what do I do next? To restore the normal fh behaviour?
My intention was to move this Project to the lap top this morning and set off for work where I would be using this Smith Project. But only to refer to one person so I can work interim from a copy.

[Jane]

If it's in Dropbox you can use Dropbox to recover back the files or simply copy the missing .fh_proj manually from the PC to the Laptop.

[E Wilcock]

Thank you Jane.
I have the main gedcom file up to date. That transferred.
There is nothing in drop box and only old copies and back ups on the lap top. To avoid confusion, I keep only one active working copy.

What are missing are all the other files that normally are inside any fh project folder. I have looked in Getting the Most book and looked at the fh sample Project folder but I am ashed to say I have never really understood what the other fh files are.

If I copy and paste the missing files from an earlier copy of this project, can I do that without losing any of the data subsequently entered in the project?

[DavidNewton]

As Jane says, if the files were recently deleted (30 days) from Dropbox online then they can be recovered. See this link for details

https://www.dropbox.com/help/security/r ... es-folders

David

[E Wilcock]

Thank you David - You taught me something I did not know.
Unfortunately the restored file is the same as I now have on my desk top.

I cant say whether this is a problem with one of my computers or due to the archive closing down their wi fi at closing time. At some point the Project folder moved with the data file (i.e. the gedcom) but not the rest.

I am a bit mystified by what has happened as not only are all my edits from last Friday on the desk top but an additional edit done after I got home.

I have copies of the complete Project folder from that Friday morning. But I want to be sure that the contents of that Project file wont mess up all the data entry I did on Friday.

[LornaCraig]

It should be OK, but I suggest that you first make a copy of the .ged file which includes the data you entered on Friday. . Also make a copy of the complete Friday morning version of the project folder. You will then know that you still have that data safe.

Then EITHER copy all the missing folders (i.e. everything except the .ged file) from the Friday morning version of the project into the incomplete project folder, OR replace the .ged file in the Friday morning project folder with the newer .ged file .

[tatewise]

I suspect the key file that is missing is the ...\Smith\Smith.fh_proj Project File.
That can be recovered from any old copy of the Smith Project (or even any other Project and suitably renamed).

[E Wilcock]

Thank you all. Particularly Mike for the reassurance. Yes that is what happened.
I was out yesterday without fh, hence the delay in thanking you.
I have copied and renamed from another project just in case the Smith project file had some problem.

I did have some odd behaviour - may be on both computers - before this happened- a warning that auto save couldn't function as the file was being used by another application. I had no idea what this was and responded clicking the save button myself, as I worked. That did not trigger any error message.

Just one question about size of fh projects. This project is my largest, over 3,000 individuals and growing, tho I guess that is nothing compared to some people here.
Could the size be too much for my lap top which is an inexpensive and basic. Lenovo Yoga 3 from 2015.
I do not understand the specs but they are:
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) M-5Y10c CPU @ 0.80GHz, 1001 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 8.00 GB,Total Physical Memory 7.92 GB, Available Physical Memory 5.41 GB
Total Virtual Memory 9.17 GB,Available Virtual Memory 6.32 GB
Page File Space 1.25 GB
It seems to meet Calico Pie system requirements which dont mention processor - only disc space. But these days almost everyone I see in archives (and in cinema films) seems to be using Mac lap tops.

[tatewise]

The Auto-Save warning, and similar warnings on any Save, will occur from time to time if you are using Dropbox, or any other cloud store, or have Antivirus scans, or scheduled Backups running in the background.
It occurs when the FH save of the GEDCOM file happens to collide with the background utility accessing that same file.
Usually when you try the save again it is all OK.
At least now FH V6 detects the collision, whereas previous versions just upset the GEDCOM.

The size of the GEDCOM file is largely irrelevant, even for Projects with thousands of records.
The GEDCOM file is a text file about the same size as just one large Media image file.
The processing requirements of FH are quite modest except perhaps for some large Diagrams or extensive Plugins.

[E Wilcock]

Thank you Mike.
Unfortunately this morning on the desk top and working on another project, just adding three people, I have the same error. I made a snip of the error message, but it seems you dont need that.
I have always used McAfee and drop box - so nothing is particularly different.
Have you any suggestions please?
I could uninstall drop box from this computer?

[E Wilcock]

All on my desk top windows 7 computer - I uninstalled Drop box and checked Plus net was not backing me up unsolicited.
I reopened the Project and today's additions had not been saved.

[tatewise]

The warning message usually offers to retry the Save.
Did you choose that option?
Or did you use the Save command manually to save the changes before closing FH?

I thought you needed Dropbox to synchronise the desktop and laptop Projects?

Usually with antivirus products like McAfee it is possible to exclude a folder such as Family Historian Projects and all subfolders so they won't be scanned and thus prevent the collision.
Antivirus products are being regularly updated and can decide to more aggressively scan files they did not scan before.

[E Wilcock]

Mike - first thank you for taking care of me. When I saw you replied, I heaved a sigh of relief.

I uninstalled drop box and re entered the three people and this time they have stuck and I have had no error messages. I entered two people into another fh project and all seems well.

I will reinstall drop box now.

I dont sync with drop box. I use it more like a removal van. I never edit a fh project in Drop box.
My method is to open drop box on the computer and then open file explorer.
If one clicks and drags a file or folder from ones computer to drop box, the default offer is to Move the file to drop box. I leave Drop box ten minutes or so to sync.
Then on the lap top, I move it again from drop box to the lap top family Historian folder.
Sometimes I panic that this default Moving the file to a cloud based Drop box might be risky. So I copy it instead and this could have triggered something.
The only major change recently has been changing our internet/phone provider from BT to Plus Net. On change over day I was not really able to understand and disable things. But today I checked. Plus net dont seem to be backing anything up for me but they include a version of McAfee which could be in conflict with our own subscribed version. So I have now removed their add on as I read that it is not wise to run two difference virus protection programs.

[E Wilcock]

I shall be away from the computer the rest of today.
But after reinstalling drop box, I entered a few more fictional people in fh and didnt have a problem saving them.
I will uninstall and reinstall drop box on the lap top tomorrow.

I will be working on the lap top on Friday - so it may be some days before I can be sure the problem is solved.
It is very odd tho as I sent a file from lap top in the library to my husband at home using drop box yesterday and it worked fine. fh is the only software affected.

[tatewise]

Since FH is not Saving directly to the Dropbox folder, then Dropbox cannot be the problem.

It is more likely that having two versions of McAfee interfering with each other is the source of the problem.

BTW:
I'm concerned that you MOVE the GEDCOM file out of the Family Historian Projects folder and into the Dropbox folder.
If that is true, then the FH Project has no GEDCOM file to work with, and thus is very 'broken', unless you always MOVE it back after synchronisation on both desktop and laptop.
I suggest you always COPY the GEDCOM file from Family Historian Projects to Dropbox.

[E Wilcock]

Mike. I move a whole folder, not disparate files which is why I am mystified that one file got "lost".

In windows Documents/Family Historian Projects/ there is a separate folder for each of my many projects. These were created I believe by fh - But in TMG I myself created a folder for each project. I move the entire folder for the Project or projects I am going to need on my lap top that day.
I know this is not the recommended manner, but I have done this for more than two years now - never a problem till now. And you conceded when I was new to fh that, since it worked for me, I could go on using it. I have a copy of the Program Data file from Calico Pie on my lap top too.
But the double virus protection may remain awkward as (even though it is free) plus net say it wont vanish till the end of our billing month.
I am still at home due to plumbing emergency - and have notes from yesterday to input. So think it best to leave it for now till I have done a session working on fh and can report back if the problem is still there.

I suspect it is sorted and that things got bad because I didnt realise the warnings were significant and ignored them for a whole day.

[tatewise]

"never a problem till now" is a risky strategy.
Does not matter whether it is just the GEDCOM file or the whole Project folder; MOVE is more risky than COPY.

What I probably conceded was keeping the Family Historian Project folder outside the Dropbox folder.
I doubt that I specifically condoned MOVE rather than COPY.

It should be possible to temporarily disable one copy of McAfee to inhibit it running.
Explain to PlusNet the problem of the two McAfee installations interfering with each other, that they should recognise as a major problem, and ask them to offer a solution today not at the end of the month.

Sorry about your plumbing emergency!

[E Wilcock]

The plumbing emergency means there will be some delay till I next use the lap top.
For any other user reading this.
First, I am informed by plus net that unless I downloaded and installed their virus protection, it is not on my computers.
Secondly, Mike never authorised me to move or to copy - You gave me permission Mike to use windows file system to shift my fh to my lap top rather than use the fh back up or copy. This permission was for me personally, to continue the method I had for years used with TMG .
Thirdly, I agree that moving the fh project folder to a cloud, Drop Box system is not ideal. However, I have usually made a back up on closing it after the previous work session. Or I copy and paste the whole folder into a folder called Old fh Projects.

Moving does though have one advantage which may be why it seems now to be the Windows/Dropbox default.
It prevents a user of Drop Box having an active editable version of the Project on more than one location. We have had fh users on this forum lament that by using Microsoft One drive or Drop Box, they have added new data to the wrong out of date version of their Project.
I find it really convenient being old and forgetful to know that I only ever have one active copy of a fh project.

Lastly I apologise Mike that I didnt pay more attention to error messages and often just click the little x top right. My mind is totally on my work and searching records and I am lost to everything else. Over the next week will keep a careful record.

But as far as fh goes, I am fairly certain that thanks to you, my Project and everything else is back in order. Thank you so much.

[NickiP]

"never a problem till now" is a risky strategy.
It should be possible to temporarily disable one copy of McAfee to inhibit it running.
Explain to PlusNet the problem of the two McAfee installations interfering with each other, that they should recognise as a major problem, and ask them to offer a solution today not at the end of the month.

I don't believe there is any compulsion in installing the PlusNet free McAfee software. I've been with PlusNet since 2008 and have never installed it. For that matter I don't use McAfee anyway and never have at home. I think its just a free perk in case a customer has no installed antivirus software, something which sadly still seems to happen in spite of all the warnings.