Family Historian User Group

I've got into a bit of a fix re-installing the above on my laptop, and somewhat unsure as to the next step, I've done the first part of the restore - options - select Registry Data Keys and I'm not sure if I should choose Copy Old Backup File, Keep New Current File, Copy All Old Files or Keep All New Files. I've had a look back at one of my previous posts about this, but I want to be sure before I continue.

You are wise to ask if unsure.

What is the recent history that has led to needing to use the Backup and Restore FH Settings plugin?
Have you had to reinstall FH V6.2.7?

Simply reinstalling FH should not upset the settings, unless you have also reinstalled Windows.
So using the plugin to restore your settings may not be necessary.

Looking at the date-time stamps it seems you only created the plugin backup earlier this afternoon. Is that true?

Hi Mike, Yes, I've had to do a complete re-install of Windows 10 because I've got a new hard drive. Many thanks for your help.

Yes, I did create the plug in this afternoon, I couldn't find my back up folder so started again.

So you fitted the new drive and reinstalled everything between 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm this afternoon.
In that case, choose Copy All Old Files which will reinstate exactly what you had before.

The reason some files are dated later is that FH updates them regularly but to the current status.
That is not what you want. You want their status when you created the backup.

I chose Copy All Old Files and now FH is asking If I should delete this file, Is this correct? I don't know how I got into such a muddle with this, sorry.

I suggest you choose Keep All Files just in case. That is the 'safe' option.

Thanks Mike, please can you let me know what I should do next.

Registry Data Keys which is what the Options tab select Registry Data Keys enables.

Take care to follow the instructions at the end to close plugin, close FH, then enter Y and press Enter to finish process.

All is working well now, thanks again for you help Mike. Much appreciated.

Just for clarification, I have always been scared by that Warning message as well, because I do not fully understand the consequences of one option versus the other. As a result, I have always chosen the "Skip Operation" option.

Under what conditions would one select the "Registry Data Keys" option?

That option restores all the Windows Registry data keys custom settings for FH.
See the FHUG Knowledge Base Understanding the Scope of Features that explains where FH saves all its settings and look under Windows Registry to see what is saved there.

If you wish to restore everything then using that option is crucial.
For example, it includes your default settings for the core Diagrams opened from the toolbar.

I have a question regarding the Back up and Restore Plugin. I only use the standard diagram and queries, a few plugins from the plugin store on the Tools tab, plus Custom and Kinsfolk fact sets, could I use the File, import fact sets option instead of the Backup and Restore plugin for future reinstalling? Many thanks

Depends on whether you have ever configured any of the following settings:

1. Standard Diagrams ~ default Options
2. Tools > Preferences ~ almost anything
3. Records Window ~ custom columns
4. Property Box ~ custom fields or tabs
5. Standard Fact Set ~ edited any fact settings
6. Layout or position of any floating windows

Have you ever used record Flags, added Diagram Icons, or customised any Reports?

If you can confidently say NO to all the above, and you Export the Custom and Kinsfolk fact sets after any changes, then yes you can just Import those two exported fact set files, and download the Plugins again.

Many thanks for the information Mike. I'll have a look and see.

Following on from my last post, can I just ask, if I selected File, Import/Export - Import Fact Set would this be in my Documents- Family Historian Projects- Family Historian Program Data - Fact Types - Custom & Standard and click on Custom and import from there, or:

Family Historian Projects - Janes Family Tree - Public - Family Historian Program Data - Fact Types - Custom and import form there?

Many thanks

Jane, your path Documents\Family Historian Projects\Family Historian Program Data\Fact Types\Custom is mysterious.
How have you concocted that path?

If your objective is to backup a copy of a Fact Set then use File > Import/Export > Export > Fact Set > Custom Fact Set... and choose the Fact Set (e.g. Custom or Kinsfolk) then Export and Save it somewhere.
Typically that would be in the Project's Public folder but can be anywhere you regularly backup.
That must be performed every time you make a change to that Fact Set.

Later on, if you need to restore that Fact Set then use File > Import/Export > Import > Fact Set... and choose the file saved above.

Hi Mike,
I've had another look at this, and my path is showing; Documents/Family Historian Projects/Family Historian/ Program Data (Fact Types and other folders including Plugins Text Schemes etc. are held within this folder.

Well, that is the backup created by the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings plugin.
But you say you don't want to use that plugin, in which case that folder won't exist in future.

At the start of this thread you created that backup by running the plugin and restored from that backup using the plugin.

But you want to avoid using the plugin, and if you do that then you cannot rely on that folder existing.
You must use the process I outlined to backup/restore just Fact Sets.

Thank you so much for your help Mike.