* Everything gone after Windows blue screen

[JoopvB]

This morning I had a (nowadays rare) blue screen event. After starting up FH and opening the project I was working on everything was gone. The .ged file seemed intact, so it probably has something to do with the .fh_proj file?

Does anybody know an easy way to fix this, or is the solution restoring the last backup?

[ColeValleyGirl]

Do you have a backup of the last fh_proj file? In which case, restoring that should be sufficient.

[JoopvB]

Yes, I've been too long in IT to not backup and backup again... and again.

I was just wondering if this kind of mysterious breakup between the 'project' and all the data (that is still there) has happened to anybody else. And, one never knows, maybe someone knows how to 'flip the switch' and everything reappears.

BTW (and off topic) Helen, did you find a few minutes to try out my Change source template plugin? I have been using it the past few days in a number of different scenario's and found it quite helpful and easy to use; but which cook isn't fond of his own cooking?

[tatewise]

That kind of disruption to Projects happens quite regularly and users posting here need assistance to restore things.
There are a few key elements to a Project folder that are essential for FH to see it as a valid Project in the Project Window.
If any of those are upset then the Project vanishes even though most of it is still present and correct.
The FHUG KB Understanding Projects under Project Structure identifies those key elements.
It needs some minor updates for FH V7 but is still essentially correct.
e.g. The content of the .fh_proj file is no longer identical for each Project.

[JoopvB]

I read the KB item and understand the structure, but what I find odd (to say the least) is that the file structure is completely intact, all the files exist and seem ok. But when opening the project, all persons, families, sources etc. are gone. Which set me thinking that just one little piece of reference info somewhere got mixed up. Since I'm using OneDrive, I'm not ruling out that it's not FH that caused the mix-up but the syncing of OneDrive.

But the restore worked ok and I'm now in the process of replaying my modifications (if memory serves ).

[tatewise]

Well, all the types of record you mention are held exclusively in the GEDCOM file.
So assuming you checked the Records Window and all its tabs were empty then the GEDCOM file was empty.

Were the Snapshot backup files available? They may have got back nearer to the latest state.
That assumes that all the Media folder files are OK.

[JoopvB]

Yes, wherever I checked, all empty (also in the statusline at the bottom of the window: 0, 0 etc.)

In Windows explorer I see for this project ('XX'):
XX.ged is 949 KB
latest snapshot: 20210323A.fhss (date modified: 22-3-2021)
XX.fh_proj is 1 KB content:

[Family Historian]
Version=7
LastFW=3
Recent Individuals=
Recent Sources=
Recent Repositories=
[Id]
add9ba69ec00b63cdd045165308b9bdb=29645B61018C49B19EBB32FB105316C7
d5b7090bb5596109341d398ecfb3b0ee=1864E532ABD047FB95027A380CDFF4C4
[Snapshots]
Fast=3
Slow=2
F1=20210321
F2=20210322
F3=20210323
F4=20210319
F5=20210320
S1=20210304
S2=20210309
S3=20210227
[Gen]
Last Media Folder=

So, because all looks (so) well, I didn't understand it. And still don't

[tatewise]

Yes, that is odd
Are the latest Snapshot files the same size as the GEDCOM?

If you open the GEDCOM in a plain text editor, does its contents look reasonable?
If you double-click it does FH open it as a standalone GEDCOM?

How does its XX.fh_proj file compare with the restored version?

[JoopvB]

Mike, I should have looked at the GEDCOM before. The whole file = NUL. No idea how it's possible, but it explains the problem.

Glad that I now understand what and why (except all the NUL's of course).

Thanks for your help!