* Merge Two Projects

[Con]

Following a desktop PC breakdown needing some replacement parts I think I have caused some errors in FH. I suspect I did not realise there were problems for a while but carried on with entries etc. Once I did I found my external backup drive had duplicate copies of my whole project but I could not delete one of them. Back on the main drive I soon had the same problem and ended up with the same project in the project window hree times with different names to differentiate them. Checking the file statistics they are duplicates. I guess that I have somehow backed up incorrectly without being aware. Using the FH Guide book I have tried to merge any two of them but then cannot risk deleting them as I see their names are the same during the deletion so I cancelled.

I do struggle with FH's specific vocabulary but hope it may be possible for me to understand any suggestions and unscramble my blunders.

Connie

[tatewise]

To post screenshots see the info:forums#posting_topics|> Posting Topics advice.

It would be extremely helpful to see your File > Project Window with its three Projects because that does not usually happen and they may not actually be three distinct Projects.

Do not attempt to do anything else for risk of making matters worse.

[Con]

Thank youMike. I will do that but will have to read it up in the knowledge base to see how to do it.

Connie

[Con]

I think I might have managed the screenshot??

Connie

[tatewise]

I am glad I asked for a screenshot because that shows you have complicated things somehow.

Unfortunately, you did not provide any explanation of exactly what you did or which Projects are giving you problems.
Also your original posting only talked about one Project, but there are several others listed.
So which was the original Project and how did it appear as the problems unfolded ?

I presume the current problem is with the four dated 31/01/2020 ?
Let me explain what I am seeing.

1. The complete Project named CMW's Family Final Version
2. Components of Project named Connie's Family History do not amend this one but sitting inside the folder CMW's Family Final Version of the Project above
3. Components of Project named Connie's Family History Main Working Version but sitting inside the folder Merged Sample of the Project below
4. The complete Project named Merged Sample

What do you mean by you have backed up incorrectly ?

What exactly did you do to try and merge two of them ?
( Merge usually means using the File > Merge/Compare File command, but maybe you mean something different. )

Which of those four Projects do you think is the one in the 'best' condition ?

What Full Project Backups do you have that could be restored ?

[Con]

I apologise for being such a nuisance and will readily withdrew at any point if you should wish.

There should be five Projects in total. The other 4 have not been touched in a very long time and I presume are unchanged.

Extras Clothiers is meant to be just a storage area for names that may or may not have a close connection with my overall tree because CLOTHIER is a very common name. It could be deleted with no harm as I now know that branch pretty well.

Helen Priest's Tree is a copy of a small tree belonging to someone unconnected who is kind to me and has no PC ability so it is for her.

Nanette's Own Family Tree has 6 members. She is my adopted daughter and I made that tree long ago to frame it in her room for her. It could be merged or deleted but there has been no need for either to date. It was my first ever tree.

Richard CLOTHIER is a separate small tree following contact from a family that after his death found he was my half brother. I kept it separate out of respect and feeling unsure how to deal with it.

The others are all my whole tree. I am CMW. That - or those - tree (s) are the problem. there are around 1000 names. Using File Statistics and after some careful editing I know that all those trees are almost identical - enough to be able to delete any. CMW's Final Version would be the tree to hope to keep.

I do not really understand what you mean by COMPONENTS of projects - but hopefully I do not need to?

I have always completed full backups very carefully knowing that I am a novice , including a full backup to an external drive. But when the outcome of a backup began to look different in my documents folder AND the external drive, I supposed that I had done something wrong. Perhaps I did not notice a change in file structure when I did the backup? It may also have a connection with the local PC Repair person fitting a new spinning drive and other items and so many general settings were different.

in the last week or two I have tried to merge/compare the PROJECTS using the official guide book (page 212). I renamed an original copy then merged. Then I tried to keep the merged one and delete the earlier one.

The CMW's Family Final Version has the correct File Statistics so would be the primary one.

[tatewise]

OK, so as I suspected we need to focus on the four entries dated 31/01/2020.

When describing something that you think is not correct, please be specific or provide a screenshot.
You say "the outcome of a backup began to look different in my documents folder AND the external drive".
Now you know how it looked different, but I don't, so please describe the significant differences.

The merge and delete probably failed because your main Projects appear to be malformed.

There are two possible ways to make good your CMW's Family Final Version main Project.

1) Windows File Explorer
This involves reorganising the folders and files that are the components of your Project.
So you will need to become a little more familiar with the Project structure.
See how_to:v4:understanding_projects#project_structure|> Project Structure for an explanation of the structure.

In Windows File Explorer, navigate to the C:\Users\Connie\Documents\Family Historian Projects folder.
That will contain a folder with the same name as each of your Projects.
But that will NOT include the two named Connie's Family History ... because they are malformed.
Now open the CMW's Family Final Version main Project folder.
It should contain a CMW's Family Final Version.fh_data folder, a Public folder, and CMW's Family Final Version.fh_proj Project File, but nothing else.
The CMW's Family Final Version.fh_data folder should contain various folders such as Charts, Media, Settings, and the CMW's Family Final Version.ged GEDCOM file. Please describe anything different or post a screenshot.

Go back up to the CMW's Family Final Version main Project folder.
I suspect it has a Connie's Family History do not amend this one.fh_proj Project File and maybe a Connie's Family History do not amend this one.fh_data folder.
Please confirm that, and describe the contents of that Connie's ... .fh_data folder or post a screenshot.

If my assumptions are correct, then those Connie's Family History ... components need deleting.
~ BUT DON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL I SAY SO ~

A similar analysis applies to the Merged Sample main Project folder, and its malformed Connie's Family History Main Working Version components. If the CMW's Family Final Version main Project is made good, these can all be deleted.

2) Restore Project Backup
This involves deleting all the disrupted Projects and relying on restoring from a backup file such as:
FH Project Backup - CMW's Family Final Version - 2020-01-30 1738.zip compressed (zipped) folder.
But since you say they began to look different, I am not certain that will be successful.

With your feedback from the above analysis and explanation of what you think is right/wrong with your backups, then we can move forward with either 1) or 2) above.

[Con]

I will now work through your instructions. At least I have 'almost' learned what is a screenshot and how to create one.

[Con]

My second screenshot from Explorer

[tatewise]

Connie, in your File Explorer select the View tab at the top and choose Details instead of List.
That will give a clearer indication of what each file actually contains.
e.g.
Connie's Family History Saved January 2020 is a stand alone GEDCOM File
FH Project Backup - ... are FH compressed (zipped) folder Project backups

Yes, those two screenshots are exactly what I expected.

BTW: You can attach up to 3 screenshots per posting.

[Con]

Mike, I am so extremely grateful for your trouble.

[tatewise]

I have to go out now, but continue exploring and compare with the Knowledge Base Project structure.

You will see both the Connie's Family History do not amend this one items should not be there.
I cannot explain how those have found their way into the CMW's Family Final Version project structure.

[Con]

Mike, I have been carefully looking through my folders and trying to understand more about them but at the moment, and in courtesy to your instruction ~ BUT DON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL I SAY SO ~ I have indeed done nothing. I did find that it was possible to move some items out pf thier folders onto the desktop to no apparent effect on the others and then return them again. So.. I think that I might be able to untangle my queries now.

Many thanks for your help, you have been wonderfully patient.

Connie

[tatewise]

You said your CMW's Family Final Version main Project is the one you want to keep.

So in your latest screenshot there are:
Connie's Family History do not amend this one.fh_data File folder
Connie's Family History do not amend this one.fh_proj Family Historian Project File
Those two rogue items can both be deleted, leaving the other three items alone.
( If really needed, those two deleted items can be retrieved from the Recycle Bin, but that is unlikely to be necessary. )

In your penultimate screenshot, you can delete the Merged Sample File folder in its entirety.
I believe that is a completely rogue Project that you don't want to keep.

Now open FH and check the File > Project Window which should be back to your desired five Projects.
In particular review your CMW's Family Final Version main Project to check it is satisfactorily complete.

Reply when you are happy with the results, and we can then review your FH Project Backup zip files.

[Con]

Mike, that is all good and the file statistics are exactly correct.

Connie

[tatewise]

OK, that is excellent, and I hope you understood what we did.
Usually I would advise managing Projects via the FH File > Project Window > More Tasks options, but with some scenarios that is not possible, and this was one of those cases.

Now we should focus on tidying up your Project backups.

In your penultimate screenshot there were some backups for Connie's Family History... that are presumably now redundant and can be deleted.
Any other backups for Connie's Family History... anywhere else on your PC can also be deleted now.

You said that you keep backups on an external drive, so don't forget to delete any unwanted backups from there too.

I presume that is where you have some FH Project Backup - CMW's Family Final Version - 2020-...zip files.
Maybe there are other similar FH Project Backup zip files for your other Projects.
From time to time such backups need to be reviewed and any old redundant ones deleted, as FH will not do that for you.

You only really need to keep the last few for each Project, and the rest can be deleted.

BTW: Do you have much customisation of Diagrams, Reports, Queries, Plugins, Fact Types, etc, etc?
If so, then use the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings Plugin to backup all those custom settings because they are NOT included in the Project backups, and if your PC or disk crash you risk losing all those customisations.

[Con]

Mike, Working from your last instructions it now seems that everything is back in good order again. I have been working through every aspect of the programme that I could and have aimed to check almost every entry. Of course I found a few duplications and errors but everything now does check out against everything else; and it has been a worthwhile learning process. I will be printing off our communication for future reference as well.

I had no customisation knowing that my abilities to deal with it are so limited and so far I have had very little need.

I am deeply grateful for your help and your teaching and it is difficult to be able to thank you enough. So many, many thanks indeed.

Connie