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2 copies of the same project
Posted: 29 Oct 2022 10:04
by Michael508
I have got a copy of my project both in One Drive and in this PC under my Documents both with the same name.
I go into FH using the short cut on my desk top and it is this copy that has some 100 more people than the one in One Drive. My back ups all go to One Drive.
When trying to use AS, also enterd by the desktop Icon, I found that it did not have the people whom I had recently entered.
There are two problems getting the FH entries combined and then linking to AS in One Drive.
I would like to have it all in One Drive.
I have tried to paste a screen shot here but not succeded.

Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 29 Oct 2022 10:40
by tatewise
To post a screenshot see FHUG Knowledge Base
Forum Usage Tips under
Attachments and
Taking Screenshots.
Have you any explanation for why there are 2 copies of the same Project?
What are the Windows File Explorer full file paths for the two Projects?
e.g.
C:\Users\Mike\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Family Historian Sample Project
C:\Users\Mike\OneDrive\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Family Historian Sample Project
In FH, in the
File > Project Window what is the
Location: path?
What is the
Tools > Preferences > Startup > Default Startup File path?
With those details, we should be able to explain what to do.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 29 Oct 2022 15:24
by Michael508
The way I got here is because I think I tried to drag and drop the project from my documents into One Drive but it was some time ago, about April according to the AS log files.
Project window location in both cases is
C:Users\Michael\One drive Documents\Family Historian Projects
The start up file path again in both cases is
C:\Users\Michael\Documents\Family Historian\Family Historian projects\Michael& Barbara Family\Michael& Barbara family.fh_data\Michael & Barbara family.ged
I hope that helps
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 29 Oct 2022 15:30
by johnmorrisoniom
The project location is totally different to the default startup file location, pointing to different version of your project files (The startup file is NOT on One Drive)
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 29 Oct 2022 16:11
by tatewise
As John says, you have provided two paths that are different.
You say in "both cases" and give just one path, which cannot apply to "both cases" because one must be on OneDrive and the other somewhere else.
You have not answered all my questions, so it is difficult to give definitive advice.
You say there are 2 copies of the Project.
Question 1) In Windows File Explorer what are the full paths of those 2 copies?
One is probably the same as the Default Startup File, which is what automatically opens when you click the FH icon:
C:\Users\Michael\Documents\Family Historian\Family Historian projects\Michael& Barbara Family\Michael& Barbara family.fh_data\Michael & Barbara family.ged
What is the other one that probably starts:
C:Users\Michael\One drive Documents\Family Historian Projects\...
Question 2) In the FH File > Project Window... what is the Location: path?
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 31 Oct 2022 11:17
by Michael508
I have attched some screen shots to try to show what is going on .
Whilst going from one to another the path has changed and the copy I now get from my short cut on my desktop is the copy that is in One Drive and as you will see both copies still have the same path but with one drive included.
I can now only get the larger copy from This PC\my documents as indicated in the screen shot.
I was going to include another screen shot showing both copies open with the default start up showing but it will not accept it.
I will make it a seperate post.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 31 Oct 2022 11:19
by Michael508
Attached the screen shot with both copies open
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 31 Oct 2022 12:30
by tatewise
Michael, thank you for those screenshots.
There do seem to be a number of confusingly similar named folder paths as summarised below.
I assume This PC translates to C:\Users\Michael
C:\Users\Michael\OneDrive\Documents\Family Historian Projects\... holds your default Projects.
C:\Users\Michael\OneDrive\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Family Historian\...
C:\Users\Michael\Documents\Family Historian\Family Historian Projects\... holds your duplicate Projects.
You seem to have changed the Default Startup File setting.
It is currently C:\Users\Michael\OneDrive\Documents\Family Historian Projects\...
Before it was C:\Users\Michael\Documents\Family Historian\Family Historian Projects\...
It is crucial for the Default Startup File setting to be the same as the File > Project Window... Location: setting.
Then one of the listed Projects will have a green tick indicating it is the Default Startup File.
Otherwise, it can get confusing with so many similarly named Project files in various folders.
I believe what you currently have is your preferred final configuration on OneDrive.
From your original posting, it is the C:\Users\Michael\Documents\Family Historian\Family Historian Projects\... copy that holds your latest set of data with 100 extra people and dated 31/10/2022. You want that to become your default Default Startup File Project in OneDrive.
To be on the safe side I suggest you use File > Project Window... > More Tasks... > Rename Project... to rename your current Michael & Barbara family Project to a Michael & Barbara family copy Sep 2022 Project.
In File Explorer copy C:\Users\Michael\Documents\Family Historian\Family Historian Projects\Michael & Barbara family folder into C:\Users\Michael\OneDrive\Documents\Family Historian Projects\
That Michael & Barbara family folder should then appear alongside the Michael & Barbara family copy... folders inside the Family Historian Projects folder.
In FH, it should be listed in the File > Project Window... where you can make it the Default Project with a green tick by using the More Tasks... > Set as Default Project option.
Once you have achieved that successfully, we can tackle tidying up the redundant files, and configuring AS and OneDrive to prevent any future mishaps.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 31 Oct 2022 16:14
by Michael508
Unfortunatly your first assumption is not correct see attached screen shot which I meant to send previously but this is the prefered folder.
I understand the logic in what you are suggesting but perhaps we ought to know why This PC is showing One Drive in its path.
You say I have altered default start up settings I agree the paths have changed from neither including One Drive to both including One Drive, I did not change anything intentionally and most certainly have not been typing anything into either of the paths.
The situation now is that if I want the prefered copy I have to go into My PC\ Documents etc as the screen shot shows
If I use the desktop shortcut I now get the smaller copy; a total reversal to what was happening when I began this post.
I await any comments you may have before I action your suggestions.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 31 Oct 2022 17:20
by tatewise
Michael, your latest screenshot shows two paths, so it is not clear which you are referring to.
File Explorer path: This PC\Documents\Family Historian\Family Historian Projects\Michael & Barabara family\...
Default Startup File: C:\Users\Michael\OneDrive\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Michael & Barabara family\...
This PC is showing OneDrive in its path because that folder resides on the C: drive on your PC.
Try clicking to the right of the path shown in the address box at the top of File Explorer and it will show the raw path.
May I rephrase what I was saying in my earlier posting...
C:\Users\Michael\OneDrive\Documents\Family Historian Projects\... is the default path where you want all your Projects to be located in future. That is what you requested in your first posting.
Currently, FH is set up to use that default OneDrive path, so we don't need to change that FH setting.
What we need to do is move your 'preferred' Project into that FH default path folder so that FH can see it by default.
This PC\Documents\Family Historian\Family Historian Projects\Michael & Barabara family\... is the path where your 'preferred', larger, more recently updated Project is currently located, but FH cannot see it by default.
So my earlier instructions explain how to safely move that 'preferred' Project so FH can see it on OneDrive.
You must rename the Michael & Barabara family Project currently shown in FH to avoid a conflict with the identically named 'preferred' Project.
Then you can use File Explorer to copy your 'preferred' Project from its current path to the OneDrive path.
When you open FH that 'preferred' Michael & Barabara family Project will appear in the File > Project Window... with an October 2022 Last Updated date.
Let me know when you have achieved that.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 31 Oct 2022 18:24
by Michael508
One more querie before doing as suggested
When I go into Fh via This PC\Documents\Family Historian I get the correct copy BUT when opening the project window if I high light and Open Michael & Barbara Family I open the other copy that I do not want, so if I highlight and do more tasks>rename project. Will I be renaming the preferred project. Also the last updated date [8/9/22] does not agree with the date shown in windows Explorer.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 31 Oct 2022 18:50
by tatewise
I presume you realise it is perfectly feasible to have two files with the same filename as long as they are in different folders.
It is like having two identical-looking filing cabinets, but keeping them in different rooms and with different contents.
Looking at the outside of the cabinets you cannot tell which is which, but their location and contents differentiate them.
That is the case here.
There are two sets of files named Michael & Barbara family... but the full folder file path differentiates them.
One set is in the FH default Projects folder:-
C:\Users\Michael\OneDrive\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Michael & Barbara family\...
The other set, your 'preferred' Project, is in another folder:-
This PC\Documents\Family Historian\Family Historian Projects\Michael & Barabara family\...
Since they are two distinct sets of files they can have completely different characteristics, such as the last changed dates and Project data contents.
So renaming the FH default Project has absolutely no affect on your 'preferred' Project files.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 03 Nov 2022 16:14
by Michael508
I now have Michael & Barbara Default in One Drive and opening with the desktop shortcut.
I attach two screen shots so you can see One Drive and This Pc opened at family Historian.
Is there anything else that is neede to keep it all operating in One Drive that is still in This PC file or is it best to delete the lot or just leave it.
After that I would like to get AS conecting with One Drive which it is not doing at the moment.Many thanks for your patience and help.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 03 Nov 2022 16:21
by tatewise
Michael, can you please post a screenshot of the FH File > Project Window... as I think some tidying is needed there.
I suspect it says Michael & Barbara family (Folder: Michael & Barbara Default) which is not correct.
Is your 'preferred' default Michael & Barbara family Project behaving correctly in FH with all Individuals required?
Do all the Media look OK?
Please use Tools > External File Links... and tick Show Broken Links Only. Are any links listed?
Then we can move on to getting AS working on OneDrive.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 03 Nov 2022 16:44
by Michael508
Project window as you suspected
No broken links and all media looks OK and seems to be behaving as I would expect
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 03 Nov 2022 17:06
by tatewise
That is because your Project folder names don't quite agree:-
...\OneDrive\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Michael & Barbara Default\Michael & Barbara family.fh_data
So in File Explorer, rename the folder Michael & Barbara Default to Michael & Barbara family
After that the (Folder: ... ) warning will vanish but you will need to reset it as the Default Project.
I notice that you now only have one old copy of the Project named copy Nov 2020 but Last Updated 22/09/2022.
I guess you deleted the other Projects.
Are you happy to delete all the old redundant Project files from This PC\ Documents\Family Historian\...?
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 04 Nov 2022 12:48
by Michael508
I have posted screen shot of the project window as you see all Ok and removed the Nov 2020 copy also
Yes I am very happy to have all surplus files removed from My PC are there any that ought to be in One Drive?
Family historian Notes Includes the licence details for the upgrade to FH6
I have removed some files that I knew I did not need see attached screen shot.
A clean up of files and connection to AS should I hope see me out of your hair!
Thanks
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 04 Nov 2022 14:42
by tatewise
File Cleanup
The files that can be deleted are the Project folders:
Michael & Barbara family copy Nov 2020
Michael & Barbara family
Family Historian Sample Project
Others seem to have copies in
OneDrive already so can probably be deleted:
Family Historian Installation Details [FHUG Knowledge Base]
Query Individual ~ Flag Living [FHUG Knowledge Base]
Family Historian Archive
The following should be moved to the
OneDrive version of
Family Historian Archive:
Family Historian Notes.doc
upgrade_fh5_to_6.0.0_dl.exe
IMO the following are not required so can be deleted too:
Birth Date from Age at Death.fhq if necessary install this Query into FH before deletion
Ancestors UK Census Checker.fh_lua if necessary install this Plugin into FH before deletion
upgrade_fh5_to_5.0.9.exe is not needed
Then you should be able to delete the
This PC version of the
Family Historian Projects folder that should now be empty.
If in the future you re-install FH, it may recreate that folder containing the Family Historian Sample Project and set the Project Window Location to point to that folder. So all your Projects will appear to vanish. However, you just need to reset the Location to the OneDrive version of the
Family Historian Projects folder and all will be back to normal.
Is there anything in the
This PC version of the
Family Historian folder that is not in the
OneDrive version of the folder with the same name?
Ancestral Sources
I recommend you download the
Ancestral Sources Data Entry plugin from the
Plugin Store.
When run, this plugin guarantees that AS opens your current Project with various defaults preset.
If you wish you can then close FH while using AS. Do whatever you do now when using AS.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 04 Nov 2022 15:08
by NickWalker
Just to add to Mike's answer... If you happen to open up Ancestral Sources normally (e.g. from the start menu or desktop) rather than via the FH plugin then just go to the File menu and Open FH Project and then select your project in there. Then go back to the File menu and choose Make Current Project Default. This should mean that AS will always open up with that project in future.
Re: 2 copies of the same project
Posted: 04 Nov 2022 15:57
by Michael508
Many thanks everything now OK No FH projects in FH in This PC,
and all connected to AS
my thanks to Mike and Nick