* Access Lost to all Queries

[Little.auk]

Hi All,

I am running FH (Windows) version 7.0.9, my project files are all on OneDrive. This morning I have lost access to all queries.

The last time a ran a query was a couple of days ago, and everything was working.

I have changed nothing, but this morning the "QUERY" drop down on the ribbon is giving me just three options, "Query Window", "All Custom Queries and "New Custom Query". The Standard Query option has completely disappeared, and clicking on "All Custom Queries" shows a box saying "No custom queries found". I am hoping this is just a broken link.

I have also checked the "PUBLISH" option, I was using the MEDIA report yesterday but now all reports have disappeared as well!
=============================================
Th same things happen if I load the "Sample" project.

I have found the "Query" and "Report" folders and tried to re-install Queries and Reports but all I get is the message "Error occurred cannot install ......"

Can anyone advise what is wrong?

Would a re-install of 7.0.9 help?

=============================================
And it gets worse! I HAVE LOST ALL MY PLUGINS AS WELL - Again I have found the folder, but they won't upload!

[tatewise]

Those symptoms are rather concerning!

The problem is nothing to do with your Project databases.

The problem is associated with two sets of shared data holding the Diagram, Report, Query, etc, etc, definitions.

1) Installation folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Family Historian\
That has subfolders for installed Diagrams, Reports, Queries, etc, but you should not change them in any way.
They should get reset by re-installing FH v7.0.9 and if that cures the problem it begs the question of how they got upset.
Usually, those folders would only ever be read from and never written to.

2) Program Data folder C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\
This has many subfolders that hold both Standard and Custom settings for Diagrams, Reports, Queries, etc, etc.
This is where custom versions of those tools are saved and they have global write access which is open to abuse.

If the contents of either of the above folders are upset then that can cause your symptoms.
By inspecting carefully with File Explorer, does it look like the Standard tools are listed in those folders or are they empty or are the folders missing completely? Have you any explanation for what might have caused such an upset?

The Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings plugin provides a backup of the Program Data folder and other places where settings are saved such as the Windows Registry. Have you used that plugin? It would offer a potential solution.

The problem needs some careful analysis to understand this very rare occurrence.
Is it a software failure, a hardware failure, or human error?

[Little.auk]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the information. I have checked in the ProgramData folders, and found three "shortcuts" called Plugin, Queries, and Reports, that I don't think should be there. None of them took you anywhere, so I took a risk and deleted them. Everything else looked O.K., except that the Custom Queries folder only contained the first three custom queries I created back in July / August.

I did a couple of wild card searches using *.fhq on the C:\ drive and OneDrive to see if I could find them - and I did in the OneDrive\Desktop in a folder named "FH" which contained the folders Backup, Plugin Data, Plugins, Queries and Reports. I found the missing Custom queries and copied them over into the ProgramData folders and they are now working!

I think the FH folder had been accidently dragged from the main OneDrive folder into Desktop, as I created it for FH backups, they also stopped working yesterday and I couldn't find where the folder had gone!

I am now wondering if the shortcuts pointed to this FH folder - to late to check now!

Anyway everything seem to be restored, but I will install the Backup and Restore plugin.

[Little.auk]

Hi Mike,
I am not sure if there is still something funny going on.

I have just installed the Backup and Restore plugin, and re-installed Ancestral Sources. They are both working, but as well as appearing in the ProgramData plugin data folder the ".DAT" files are also appearing in a Plugin Data folder in my Rollin Family Project Data folder - is this normal?

Note - I am using OneDrive, and I have two other projects, the FH Sample project and an Evans Family Project. There is no Plugin Data folder in either of those and installing a plugin with one of those open does not put data in my Rollin Family folder.

[tatewise]

It sounds like File Explorer dragging of folders between C:\ProgramData and OneDrive and Desktop caused the problem.

It is quite normal for some Plugins to save their settings in the C:\ProgramData &/or Project local Plugin Data folder.
That is how the Plugin remembers what options you prefer from one run to the next.
However, some simpler Plugins don't have any settings or don't save them, so don't use the Plugin Data folders.

[Little.auk]

I use a Wacom pen tablet in preference to a mouse, and on occasion have accidently dragged something to where it shouldn't be in documents, this is the first time I have done it with a folder.

The C:\ProgramData folder was not involved in this dragging, all of my "User" files including OneDrive are on a D:\ drive partition, completely separated from the OS and program files on C:\ drive. So I very rarely need to access the C:\ drive, and as all my data is on OneDrive, I use a desktop shortcut to take me straight there.

The folder "FH" is my Family Historian Backup folder on OneDrive (path \OneDrive\FH\) above it is the path \OneDrive\Desktop\. While moving the cursor I must have inadvertently picked up the FH folder and dragged it into the Desktop folder, i.e. to \OneDrive\Desktop\FH\, without noticing. I can see why this would break the backup link, but don't see why it broke Queries and plugins, unless the shortcuts I deleted in C:\ProgramData were pointing to the folders in FH. Actually I think these were Windows quick access links, not shortcuts, I have no idea where they came from!

[tatewise]

I don't think the 'shortcuts' were Windows File Explorer Quick Access links because they are not stored in folders.

Have you perhaps experimented with FHUG Knowledge Base Synchronizing Family Historian Settings Using Directory Junctions to include those custom settings in OneDrive and forgotten about that setup?
Maybe coincidental, but that focuses on Plugins and Queries (which were your problem) but does extend to other settings.
If those junctions did exist and you dragged the OneDrive folder they referred to then I suspect that would upset things.

[Little.auk]

Thanks Mike - that is the answer!

Now you have jogged my memory - I had to do that to be able to synchronise FH between my PC and Laptop.

At the age of 75 it is hard to remember what you had for tea last Friday, let alone what you did six months ago!

Looks like I need to do it again to repair the links

[Little.auk]

Hi Mike,

Just to close this one out, thanks for your help. I have recreated the Directory Junctions and used a more meaningful folder name in OneDrive this time.

All is working as expected.