* Media files changed to .ptl files - won't open

[Neal]

Few of the files in my Media subfolders in my main FH project are now recognised by FH.  They have been changed to .ptl files and aren't recognised by FH 4.1 or 5.0.

The message received when I click on them is 'Unable to load object.  Error on file open'.  In Tools>Work with External File Links, most files have crosses against them.

When I look at these files in the Media directory, they have all be changed from their original names and types to numerically named '.ptl' files, whatever that is.  So, for instance, the file, '1841 Census for Calverley Road, Gown Fields, Tunbridge Wells - Samuel Wickens.jpg' has become '1574.jpg.ptl'.  In FH, the linked file is still the original name, for instance, 'MediaWickens1841 Census for Calverley Road, Gown Fields, Tunbridge Wells - Samuel Wickens.jpg'.

When I find the original file somewhere else and place it in this Media sub-folder, the object view in FH works fine.  Also, if I rename the ptl file back to the original name, that also works fine.

New files that I'm entering as multimedia objects now seem to be working fine, and are appearing in the relevant Media sub-folders as their original names and file types.

I've been ill lately so I'm a little unclear when the problem began - it may have arisen during up and downgrading during beta testing for v.5 or may have existed before.  It may also have happened when changing to a new computer.

Any ideas what has gone wrong? And, without manually going through all the files in the Media subdirectories and changing the names back to the original (which I know from FH), what can I do to fix it?

Help please [confused]

Thanks,
Neal

ID:6255

[tatewise]

There is some suggestion from a Google search that the extra .ptl file extension is caused by backup software such as Memeo, for an external hard disk such as GoFlex, etc.
.ptl stands for Path Too Long.

Do you have any backups of your image files (perhaps on your old PC) that you can restore?

Alternatively, this link may help http://wealllbe20.blogspot.co.uk/2011/0 ... ption.html.

[Neal]

Thanks very much tatewise, I think you're right.  I've now come to the same conclusion after a lot of Googling and reading your post.  I used a Western Digital external hard-drive (My Book World) running Memeo to transfer all my old files to my new computer - and I suspect it changed the names of all files that it deemed were titled too long.

Unfortunately, the fix on the link doesn't work because the folders don't contain the information files suggested (even with hidden files revealed).  However, I am pretty sure that I will have most of the files on my old computer still.  Any others, I'll have to rename manually.  Not to worry.

This should serve as a warning to people though - anyone using Memeo back-up software to either back up or transfer FH media files should check to see whether it's renamed them on the external drive.  Better still, back up all your FH folders and files to a separate drive regularly without using back-up software like Memeo.

[tatewise]

Several users have found it more reliable to use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer files and settings from an old PC to a new Windows 7 PC.

WET not only transfers your FH Project files, but also the Program Data ...Calico PieFamily Historian... customisation files, and we believe Windows Registry preference settings too.

You might still want to try it. See how to Move Family Historian Settings for details.