Family Historian User Group

After making some changes to my tree I tried to open it and got the message
'Unrecognised File Format'
If you are trying to insert a picture, video, document or other etc etc.

I'm sure the file name is the same as it's always been.
I have other Gedcom files saved and they all open OK.
I must have changed something without realising. Can you help me please.

ID:2645

It sounds as if your file may have become damaged. I would restore your most recent backup file to a new name and ensure that one is Ok

The first thing that comes to mind is that you're trying to open a backup rather than your proper Gedcom. Did you make a backup and name it with your main Gedcom's name?

To check the state of your file go into Explorer (not Internet Explorer, just normal Explorer, also I'm assuming you're running XP) and right click on the filename. From the menu choose 'Open With', then 'Choose Program...'. From the list of programs presented look for Notepad and select it. If Notepad warns about 'binary characters', then you've probably overwritten your Gedcom with your backup. The file's first couple of characters will be 'PK' in this case (followed by loads of weird characters). If this happens, rename this file, go into FH and do a restore using the file. If the first few characters are not 'PK' then you've overwritten the file with some other file, and you'll need to restore from a previous backup.

If Notepad opens the file with no warnings, have a look at the first few characters. Does they start with something like '0 HEAD' (no quotes). That indicates that it's a Gedcom file. Make sure that all the lines in it start with a numeric digit.

HTH

Thanks very much.I must have overwritten the file somehow.
I should have said I'm using Vista Home Premium but I forgot to put it in. I was able to restore the file from my Windows Live One Care backup which I keep up to date on a weekly basis.
That's one up to Vista!