Family Historian User Group

I am new to FH and want to take the source driven approach, so I committed myself to learning about the source templates that the program offers. Because I use a laptop, as well, I installed FH on both desktop and laptop. That's how I found that there is an inconsistency between the record Id numbers used in both machines. Why is that? I'd like to use these numbers when looking up a template (I have both the essential and the advanced collection) I was planning to use the copy of Evidence Explained I have for looking up a page of the book. You will understand that the quickest way to do this is to start from consistent record numbering.... BUT ... that doesn't really work when the numbers differ. To give you an example: on the desktop the number 1 is used for Email(s). The laptop starts with Email(s) also, but uses the number 45. And on the desktop I find the numver 45 being used for Online Images.. This is rather confusing.
More importantly, is there a way to solve this, so I can still go ahead as planned? Can I somehow 're-number' these records???

The Source Templates are numbered in the order you add them to your project. Record IDs aren't r4eused, so if you remove templates and then add others, ypu'll find gaps in the numbering as well (just as ypu would for Individual and Family Record IDs).

. Are your projects on laptop and desktop synchronised using OneDrive, DropBox etc. or are they effectively different projects (in which case the source templates ids are always likely to be different).

You can renumber them using Tools > Record IDs for the Source Template IDs, but there's little point as they'll still diverge as you add or remove templates.

The lookups you want to do are probably best done based on the Template name.

Thanks for the explanation. It would be nice to be able to generate a Unique ID for Source templates that are being provided, no matter if you delete them. But never mind, I will take a different approach

Just to be clear, even if the Projects were on the same PC, there is no mechanism to ensure any type of record will adopt the same Record id. Apart from ensuring each Record id is unique to differentiate every record even if they have the same name/title, the Record Id have no numerical significance.

More concerning is that you do not seem to be synchronising the two Projects. If they are intended to record the family history of the same people then it is crucial that they are synchronised in some way. Otherwise, there will be many more differences than just Record Id.

Marcuse601 wrote: ↑

19 Apr 2023 09:13

It would be nice to be able to generate a Unique ID for Source templates that are being provided, no matter if you delete them.

For some reason, you can't assign a Custom ID to a Source Template record as you can to e.g. Individual Records. You might want to ask Calico Pie if it's something they're considered.

However, you can add a Note &/or a Reference that don't seem to have any particular purpose.
So the Reference could effectively hold a 'Custom Id'.

Well, as I said, "I am new to FH", which also means that I should learn about synchronisation. After all, that was the main reason for installing FH on 2 computers. I am using a NAS device in my home and the directories / folders are synchronised to the exact same path on both computers. I think that should be an adequate start to syncing, but if there is some page you can point me at to learn more, please do so!
As it is, now, I only have a database connected to my desktop. The laptop installation is just over a day old. I am using the MUNRO demo file for the moment.
Any other advice?? Please tell me.

However, you can add a Note &/or a Reference that don't seem to have any particular purpose.
So the Reference could effectively hold a 'Custom Id'.


good tip!!!

tatewise wrote: ↑

19 Apr 2023 09:54

However, you can add a Note &/or a Reference that don't seem to have any particular purpose.
So the Reference could effectively hold a 'Custom Id'.

I was wary of suggesting the Reference field as it could get confused with a Reference metafield in the same source template. Note might be the safer option.

Marcuse601 wrote: ↑

19 Apr 2023 10:35

Well, as I said, "I am new to FH", which also means that I should learn about synchronisation. After all, that was the main reason for installing FH on 2 computers. I am using a NAS device in my home and the directories / folders are synchronised to the exact same path on both computers. I think that should be an adequate start to syncing, but if there is some page you can point me at to learn more, please do so!

See Synchronising Family Historian between 2 PCs

As it is, now, I only have a database connected to my desktop. The laptop installation is just over a day old. I am using the MUNRO demo file for the moment.

Be aware that the demo project is reset every time an upgrade to the software is carried out, so perhaps make a copy of the demo and practice on that. (In the Project Window, select the project, then More Tasks and Copy Project...)

In FH, use the File > Project Window... command. Is the Location: set to My Documents\Family Historian Projects?
That is probably C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Family Historian Projects

In that folder, you will find the Family Historian Sample Project folder.
The FHUG Knowledge Base > Understanding Projects article explains that folder structure under Project Structure.

A popular way of syncing those folders across two PC is via a cloud storage system such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
That is the method that Helen has referred you to in the Knowledge Base.

However, with a shared NAS drive it should be possible to make both PC use the same folders and sync that way.
With FH closed, move the Family Historian Projects folder from one PC to the NAS drive.

Then open FH and click the link next to Location:, select Choose Location... and specify the Family Historian Projects folder that is now on the NAS drive.
That should display the Family Historian Sample Project database on that PC. Close FH on that PC.

Open FH on the other PC and repeat the Location: change to display the same Family Historian Sample Project database.
You can then delete the C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Family Historian Projects folder.

Presumably, you have a reliable backup regime for everything on the NAS drive, because it holds the one and only copy of your Project databases and associated Media.

BEWARE:

1. Only run FH on one PC at a time to prevent database corruption and avoid violating the licence terms.
2. When FH is reinstalled, it will reset the Family Historian Sample Project database!
   So, to prevent your 'experiments' from being upset you should work in a copy of that Project.
   i.e. In the Project Window use More Tasks... > Copy Project...
3. The process described above only syncs the Project database but not the customisations of Diagrams, Reports, Queries, Plugins, Fact Sets, Source Template Definitions, Property Box format, etc.
   Once you have the Projects in sync we can discuss syncing the customisations.

Well, I was already impressed with the software part of FH (and AS) , but I would like to add that this discussion has been very helpful. Thanks very much for your elaborate responses!II This User Group is a real asset.
I think I even understand how it would work.
Not that it matters to you (I think), but just to add a little explanation of my own: The NAS I am using is a Synology one, which - through the software combination of Synology drive and Synology Office manages to produce a - synchronised - path on both Desktop and PC. So, Family Historian is really and has been in a 'synchronised state' on a location like "C:\Users\marcu\SynologyDrive\Family Historian Projects"
I will heed your warnings about the location, however. It is perfectly understandable that one should not have two instances of FH working on the same database. I will make sure, therefor, that FH is closed on one PC before I open it on the other.
Marc

If the two PC and their FH Projects have been in a 'synchronised state' via the Synology drive, why did your Source Template Record Id get out of step as you described in your OP? If the Projects are synced then so are the Record Id.

Marc, don't overlook the FH customisations that I mentioned.
They are saved in various locations including C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\ and the Windows Registry.

You need to use one of the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings plugins to backup on one PC and restore on the other PC from time to time to keep the custom settings in sync such as Source Template Definitions.

This may need more explanation before you grasp all the implications.

"If the two PC and their FH Projects have been in a 'synchronised state' via the Synology drive, why did your Source Template Record Id get out of step as you described in your OP? If the Projects are synced then so are the Record Id."

Good point, but I think this is explained by the fact that on the PC I had a database open of my family, whereas on the laptop I am using the demo project.
Of course I will look into the issues and solutions you mentioned over the next few days.
And also, if I need more explanation I will be back with more questions.

In that case, the explanation is that there is no automatic synchronisation of anything held within the database of one Project and the database of another Project. They are two completely independent entities.

It is sometimes possible to export from one Project and import to another Project to synchronise records, but it requires expert knowledge to be successful.

As a general rule, we recommend that all your main family tree information is kept within one master Project.
Any derivative sub-Projects can be produced by exporting or copying from that master Project. Then all Record Id and other data will be consistent. But if you 'fork' those derived Projects, then the data will probably become inconsistent.

Nobody has mentioned the Knowledge Base Topic: Synchronising data with the Internet and it's two threads Synchronising Family Historian between 2 PCs and Synchronizing Family Historian Settings Using Directory Junctions. Have you looked at these?

If you are planning to work on the same project on two different computers I would suggest these as required reading.

Synchronising project files is pretty straightforward - but if you plan to use Custom Queries, Reports or Source Templates, or any Plugins, these are all held in the AppData folder on the root drive (usually C:\). Synchronising these either requires either manually copying them from one PC to the other, or using Directory Junctions.

It is a major fault with FH, that all these Custom files are saved on the root drive in this way, so are NOT backed up as part of the FH project backup routine.

Little.auk wrote: ↑

20 Apr 2023 10:29

Nobody has mentioned the Knowledge Base Topic: Synchronising data with the Internet and it's two threads Synchronising Family Historian between 2 PCs and Synchronizing Family Historian Settings Using Directory Junctions.

ColeValleyGirl wrote: ↑

19 Apr 2023 11:06

See Synchronising Family Historian between 2 PCs

Little.auk wrote: ↑

20 Apr 2023 10:29

Nobody has mentioned the Knowledge Base Topic: Synchronising data with the Internet and it's two threads Synchronising Family Historian between 2 PCs and Synchronizing Family Historian Settings Using Directory Junctions.

tatewise wrote: ↑

19 Apr 2023 11:14

A popular way of syncing those folders across two PC is via a cloud storage system such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. That is the method that Helen has referred you to in the Knowledge Base.

However, with a shared NAS drive it should be possible to make both PC use the same folders and sync that way.
With FH closed, move the Family Historian Projects folder from one PC to the NAS drive.

The process described above only syncs the Project database but not the customisations of Diagrams, Reports, Queries, Plugins, Fact Sets, Source Template Definitions, Property Box format, etc.
Once you have the Projects in sync we can discuss syncing the customisations.

Ok, we have not specifically mentioned Directory Junctions yet, but one step at a time is best for a new user.
The user is already syncing his Projects via NAS drives.