FH can't find my file

mfro · Post by **mfro** » 11 Jun 2012 20:10

I have Family Historian 4.1.3

Earlier this afternoon, I was working on my personal project, and saved it before closing. Returning to it a short time later, I cannot open the project.

Normally as the default project, it opens itself with the tips window on top of it. This time FH opened with the window that displays the list of all my projects. I tried to open it using the Open Project button, but I got an error message that read 'Unable to open [file location details follow etc]. File not found.'

I can see the zipped file that, going by the date and time, must be the recent save, in a Folder called Family History files, but I can also see the GED file there.

And in the folder called Family Historian Projects, I can see a folder, inside which I can see the file that FH states it can't find. It's the one with the fh_data string inside it.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received. It's my default project and has all the details of my personal research, much of which I would not dream of having in an online folder.

I am in a slight state of panic. Does this mean the file is corrupt and if so, is there a way to retrieve my data?

Thank you!

ID:6304

Post by **tatewise** » 11 Jun 2012 20:48

First of all the .zip file is not created by Save but by Backup, and if a recent backup it should be an alternative way of retrieving your .ged file if necessary.

Sounds like you have the default set-up with your projects stored in My DocumentsFamily Historian Projects.

The error message Unable to open file C:....{username}My DocumentsFamily Historian Projects{projectname}{projectname}.fh_data{projectname}.ged. File not found. is telling you exactly which file is missing.
Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the My DocumentsFamily Historian Projects{projectname}{projectname}.fh_data folder.
Does it contain the {projectname}.ged file?

If not, could anything you did, after closing FH, possibly have disrupted it?

Does the {projectname}.ged file you can see in Family History files folder have today's date?
If so, try copying it to My DocumentsFamily Historian Projects{projectname}{projectname}.fh_data folder.

If all else fails, then in FH use File > Backup/Restore > Restore and select the {projectname} - {date time}.zip file.
Then navigate to My DocumentsFamily Historian Projects{projectname}{projectname}.fh_data folder and Save there.

mfro · Post by **mfro** » 12 Jun 2012 12:06

Thank you for these explicit instructions, and your calm demeanour. I have delayed replying as I wanted to be sure to be tackling this without any chance of interruptions and in the best possible reading light.

Yes, I think I do have the projects stored in the Default settings, no doubt those prevailing with the first version of Family Historian I purchased. My intention was probably to tamper as little as possible with it.

First of all, with regard to your question (about whether I did anything after closing that might have disrupted the file) there wasn't anything unusual I did after closing it HOWEVER recently, say over the past couple of weeks, at the point of closing, having saved the file and closed the Project, the usual prompt to Backup the file doesn't always appear. And yesterday I was puzzled because when I tried to force a Backup, by going to File>Backup it asked me where I wanted to back up, instead of presenting me with the folder in which the zip Backup files are stored. Unfortunately, I was distracted at the time, but thinking back, I am positive that I chose the Family History files folder, where the most recent zipped file for that project has today's date. .

When I navigate to the Family Historian Projects folder, and open the folder for the default project, I see a Public Folder and a folder called Project Name.fh_data, and also separately i.e. not inside a folder a file of the type project file with a date in November 2010. Although its got the picture that I have associated with a ged file, on viewing the details it doesnt have the ged tag in the file name, and its size is a mere 1 kb, so not much in that then.

The GED file is in the Family History Files folder. Holding the cursor over the file it has the date 13/11/2010 and the file size is 158kb. I'm a bit concerned that it doesn't have yesterday's date, or even a date in the past few weeks. In late 2010 and early 2011, I experienced two major failures of my laptop, so I now wonder whether this file's not having a recent date is an issue linked with the first of those episodes.

As the GED file doesn't have yesterday's date, could you please confirm that I am now in the situation of having to act as suggested in your 'If all else fails' paragraph?

Again thank you for your helpful, swift response, which was and is much appreciated.

Post by **tatewise** » 12 Jun 2012 12:36

First use Windows Explorer to navigate to the My DocumentsFamily Historian Projects{projectname}{projectname}.fh_data folder.
Looking inside this folder, does it contain your {projectname}.ged file?
That is what FH needs to open your Project.

The fact that FH lost the Backup folder preference setting, and now cannot open your Default Project, coupled with your recent laptop failures, makes me wonder if you have a faulty PC.

The preference settings needed for the above operations to work are stored in the Windows Registry and if that is not operating reliably it suggests a problem with the PC.

I advise that you backup all important documents and files to an external hard disk or DVD or USB pen drive, etc.
Then get the PC checked professionally.

mfro · Post by **mfro** » 12 Jun 2012 17:49

Thank you. I have been backing up important files to a mobile drive regularly and I have a Backup USB stick, that backs up all changes to my Family History folders but I'll back up to the mobile drive again immediately.
I can't carry out the last suggestion on your earlier list ('If all else fails' with the zipped file) because I can't open my Default Project.
The only way I can view the File Backup Restore sequence is if I open a different project. (My other projects seem unaffected.)
If I open a different project, and do the File>Backup/ Restore>Restore, selecting the latest Zipped file for my last Project, will FH associate the file I'm selecting as one that I want to associate with whatever project I've opened to access that command and deal with it accordingly?
Or will it be dealt with, and appear in a form that won't object to my taking it to My Documents and saving it inside the FH folder you described?
The notes on Backup at the very end of Getting the Most from Family Historian don't go into detail about what steps to expect when you do this kind of Restore operation.
Can I run the File Backup Restore Command from the More Tasks button in the Project Window where there is an option described as GEDCOM tasks?
Thanks for your patience.

Post by **tatewise** » 12 Jun 2012 20:30

You still appear not to have used Windows Explorer to navigate to the My DocumentsFamily Historian Projects{projectname}{projectname}.fh_data folder.
Looking inside this folder, does it contain your {projectname}.ged file?
That is what FH needs to open your Project.

There is NOT a Restore option under the Project Window > More Tasks button.

You can use the 'If all else fails, ...' technique from any open Project.
What matters is the {projectname}.fh_data folder where you Save the {projectname}.ged file.

johnmorrisoniom · Post by **johnmorrisoniom** » 12 Jun 2012 23:56

It might also be worth using windows search to search all files and folders for '*.ged' (Without the ' ').
This will find all the gedcom files on your computer, regardless of where they are.

mfro · Post by **mfro** » 13 Jun 2012 17:49

Hi Tatewise. I did go to the Family Historian folder as suggested.

I was probably too long-winded in my response and it got lost from sight. It wasn't actually inside the fh_data folder and it was also too small in size. But I did find a larger GED file in the folder mentioned below, and although it was larger, the date bothered me. It's probably easier if I copy and paste from my earlier post.

Here's what I found when I following your earlier advice. (I wanted to embolden the key file names, as you did, but the HTML code didn't seem to be in the right place, and didn't show on the Preview, and that probably didn't help.)

When I navigate to the Family Historian Projects folder, and open the folder for the default project, I see a Public Folder and a folder called Project Name.fh_data, and also separately i.e. not inside a folder a file of the type project file with a date in November 2010. Although its got the symbole that I think goes with a gedcom file, on viewing the details it doesnt have the ged tag in the file name, and its size is a mere 1 kb, so not much inside then as that's the size of an empty folder.

What looks to me like the 'real' GED file is in the Family History Files folder i.e. the same folder as 'hosts' the zipped files. Holding the cursor over the file it has the date 13/11/2010 and the file size is 158kb.' But November 2010 is a long time ago.

Thank you for having come back to me on this.

mfro · Post by **mfro** » 13 Jun 2012 17:54

Thank you JohnMorrisoniom!

I will try the Windows Search as well, and see whether the GED file pops up anywhere else. I'm a bit worried that the one I found is from 2010, but I think it may have been about when I exported some data.

I certainly hope the zipped files are up to date. As least they've got dates!

Post by **LornaCraig** » 13 Jun 2012 19:17

'When I navigate to the Family Historian Projects folder, and open the folder for the default project, I see a Public Folder and a folder called Project Name.fh_data,...'

The .ged file should be INSIDE the Project Name.fh_data folder. Can you confirm that you have looked INSIDE this folder?

The Project Name.fh_proj file which you found (1 kb in size) does indeed have a very similar icon to the .ged file icon, but it is multi-coloured (red, green, yellow squares) while the .ged icon has three green squares. (The similarity of these icons has caught me out in the past).

mfro · Post by **mfro** » 15 Jun 2012 05:28

Thank you for pointing out the difference in the icons, which I hadn't noticed partly because they're so small but also because I hadn't paid enough attention. (I'd confirmed the file types, when posting earlier, by viewing the details.)

Yes, I have looked inside the Project Folder. I'll list separately the contents of the folders in the order I opened them.

Inside the Family Historian Folder are several folders for the different family projects I am working on.
One of these folders is the folder for my Default Project.

When I open that I see in list form two folders and a file.
The first folder is the Project Name.fh_data folder.
The second folder is a folder called Public which has nothing inside it.
Below that file is the file Project Name.fh_proj and that is the 1kb file with the multi-coloured icon which I understand should be inside the Project Name.fh_data folder

Here is what is actually inside the Project Name.fh_data folder: A folder called Charts which contains two charts I seem to have made at some point, and one called Media which has photographs.

I appreciate your help. Thank you.

Post by **tatewise** » 15 Jun 2012 10:05

Do NOT move the Project Name.fh_proj file with

icon.
It is in the correct position and every project has the same file.
Just compare with your other satisfactory projects.

The Project Name.fh_data folder should contain the Charts and Media folders.
It should also contain your Project Name.ged file with

icon.
Again compare with your other satisfactory projects.

If the .ged is not there the recover it from your routine Windows file backups, or Restore from an FH Backup (.zip) file as discussed above.

mfro · Post by **mfro** » 15 Jun 2012 12:02

Thank you for coming back on this Tatewise. I have not yet dared to move any files because I am worried about the integrity of the other projects. I hardly dare even to check they will still open!

[Incidentally, I still have the same question about following the Restore instructions, given that I can't open the default project, and therefore can't do the Restore inside Family Historian, but I'll find it in one of the earlier posts and paste it at the end of this update, if that's OK.]

I did a search for GED files on my system, as suggested, and the report found a GED file for 'Family of MG' i.e. my Default Project, in three different places in My Documents. Sometimes it's 'Family of MG.GED' and sometimes 'Family of MG.ged'.

I'll start with the location most in use i.e. where all but one of the zip files are and where the most recent file path goes
usual preambleMy DocumentsusernameFamily History filesProject Name - 2012-06-11 1908.zip
This is also the file which I backed up shortly before returning and not being able to open the Default Project.

Oddly enough there's a single ged file with the same name dated a few days earlier just sitting in My Documents. Here's its file path:
usual preambleMy DocumentsusernameProject Name - 2012-06-01 1608.zip
I think this must be the one where I was challenged on where I wanted it saved, although I'm pretty sure that happened on the day of the 'crisis'. And I'm also pretty sure that I saved it in the right place on the day of said crisis.

And here's the third location!
usual preambleusernameMy DocumentsFamily History files

I'm not sure how to quote on this forum and I don't want to experiment, so here the question is again with apologies if the answer's obvious. This was my question.

The only way I can view the File Backup Restore sequence is if I open a different project. (My other projects seem unaffected.)
If I open a different project, and do the File>Backup/ Restore>Restore, selecting the latest Zipped file for my last Project, will FH associate the file I'm selecting as one that I want to associate with whatever project I've opened to access that command and deal with it accordingly?
Or will it be dealt with, and appear in a form that won't object to my taking it to My Documents and saving it inside the FH folder you named?
The notes on Backup at the very end of Getting the Most from Family Historian don't go into detail about what steps to expect when you do this kind of Restore operation.
Can I run the File Backup Restore Command from the More Tasks button in the Project Window where there is an option described as GEDCOM tasks?

Thanks again for your time, your patience -- and perseverance(!)

Post by **tatewise** » 15 Jun 2012 12:33

The first two Family of MG.ged files are within the Family of MG - 2012-06-11 ***.zip files created by FH Backup and so can be FH Restored as described below.

The third Family of MG.ged file must have simply been copied there somehow.

There is NOT a Restore option under the Project Window > More Tasks button.

You can use the 'If all else fails, ...' technique to Restore any Project as follows.
Open FH and from the Project Window either open any Project or Close the window by clicking its X top right.
Use File > Backup/Restore > Restore Backup and select a Family of MG - 2012-06-11 ***.zip file.
In the Enter Restore File Name window navigate to My DocumentsFamily Historian ProjectsFamily of MGFamily of MG.fh_data folder and Save the Family of MG.ged file there.

At no stage have you mentioned any file Backups as part of a regular regime for all your Windows PC files.
I strongly advise that you establish a routine/automatic file Backup policy as soon as possible.
If your PC or disk drive develops a fault, then without such Backups, ALL your files will be lost, not just FH files!!!

mfro · Post by **mfro** » 17 Jun 2012 18:13

The instructions were perfect. The Restoration worked! (Well, I've opened the file, which is the last option in the sequence, and it's opened.)

There were no surprises or unexpected options to respond to (or anxious moments) thanks to Tatewise's superb, clear instructions. And patience. And perseverance.

But I also greatly appreciate all the posters who ventured suggestions e.g. pointing out the difference betwen icons (!). I learnt something from each of you. Thank you for taking the trouble to think through the problem and to offer suggestions.

Tatewise, I do back up regularly to a mobile drive, and, as my pc is 5years old, I also have a USB Backup stick that backs up all my vital files as I use them. From the start I have had Family Historian inviting me to create a backup file on exiting. That's an issue that might still need to be sorted out, as I had, just before the 'crisis', been exiting without being offered the Backup option, though not with all projects.

Thank you.

Post by **tatewise** » 17 Jun 2012 18:53

I am glad that you have got your data back OK.

Since you keep regular mobile drive and USB stick backups, presumably you could have retrieved the .ged file from them.

Remember that until Version 5, FH only offers a backup of the .ged file, not the whole Project, and usually to the same disk drive as the .ged file.
Thus it is important to backup all the Project folders and files to an external medium independently from FH.

It is somewhat concerning that some Projects offer to Backup on Exit and other Projects do not.
This setting is stored in the Windows Registry and should affect all Projects in all User Accounts in the same way for the entire PC.

mfro · Post by **mfro** » 24 Jun 2012 21:23

I hadn't grasped the significance of the ged file only being backed up, so thanks for that final pointer.
I'll certainly think about upgrading to Family Historian 5.
Thanks again.

Post by **Valkrider** » 24 Jun 2012 21:56

It is worth having a look at Synctoy which is free from Microsoft. You can set it to backup your backup to an external drive either manually or automatically. It can back up anything else important too like your My Documents folder.

Post by **tatewise** » 25 Jun 2012 10:46

There are several alternative network &/or cloud backup &/or synchronisation tools, some of which are listed in the Knowledge Base in FHUG Downloads ~ Synchronise & Backup Tools.

mfro · Post by **mfro** » 01 Jul 2012 07:31

Thanks both for the last two suggestions.

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