bug - lost attribute

kmh · Post by **kmh** » 19 Mar 2005 05:07

I have a custom attribute Privacy, which I add for people I know or assume to be still living, so that I can easily filter them out when I convert to HTML pages for public display. I had not converted my FH file in several months, just recently discovered that the Privacy attribute was gone. I assume that the problem occurred with the upgrade to 2.3.1; a backup from late October has the Privacy attibute, but one from late November does not. I ran some experiments:

#1: Open an old FH file that still has the Privacy attribute, make a change (e.g. to a name), save, reopen. -> Privacy attribute is gone from every person.
#2: Open a FH file without the Privacy attribute, add it to one person, save, reopen. -> Privacy attribute is gone.
#3: Open a FH file without the Privacy attribute, add it to one person, type 'x' in the first field, save, reopen. -> Privacy attribute is still there.

#1 explains how the attribute disappeared. #2 is how I added the attribute in previous versions. #3 is a reasonable workaround, so my file can be fixed.

If #3 is now the proper method, then I can live with it. But, part of the annoyance with #2 is that the attribute seems to be just fine, and can be entered for multiple people; it is only when the file is saved that it disappears.

ID:842

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 19 Mar 2005 11:20

Is the attribute a 'proper' custom attribute eg one which does not have a starburst. There were changes to requirements for Queries using custom attributes. If you could screen grab and post the property dialog showing the attribute listed I can try and reproduce the problem as I can not reproduce it currently

kmh · Post by **kmh** » 19 Mar 2005 18:49

To reproduce problem #2:
01 double click on a GED file -> FH launches
02 double click an individual -> Properties dialog opens
03 click tab Events
04 click button Add Event/Attribute -> Add Event or Attribute dialog opens
05 select radio button Show Attributes -> is selected
06 click button Add -> Add Custom Attribute dialog opens
07 type into field New Individual Attribute: 'Privacy' (or whatever; 'Test' will do just as well)
08 click button OK -> 'Privacy' appears in Events list
09 close Properties dialog
10 double click same individual again -> Properties dialog opens
11 click tab Events -> 'Privacy' attribute is still in Events list
12 click button Add Event/Attribute -> Add Event or Attribute dialog opens
13 select radio button Show Attributes -> 'Privacy (custom attribute)' is in list
14 close Add Event or Attribute dialog
15 close Properties dialog
16 select menu item File Save
17 exit FH
18 double click on GED file -> FH launches
19 double click same individual -> Properties dialog opens
20 click tab Events -> 'Privacy' attribute is gone
21 click button Add Event/Attribute -> Add Event or Attribute dialog opens
22 select radio button Show Attributes -> 'Privacy (custom attribute)' is gone
23 close Add Event or Attribute dialog
24 close Properties dialog
25 exit FH
26 open GED file in Notepad -> 'Privacy' is not in file

To reproduce workaround #3:
Follow steps above exactly, except between steps 08 and 09 (with the Events tab selected, and 'Privacy' in the list):
08a select event Privacy
08b type into field Privacy: 'x' (or type into any other field, e.g. Date)
Now when the GED file is opened in FH, the 'Privacy' event remains; and when the GED file is opened in Notepad, _ATTR 'x' with TYPE 'Privacy' is there.

When my old GED file (a backup made before the problem occurred) is opened in Notepad, there is blank _ATTR with TYPE 'Privacy'. All instances of this disappear when the file is modified and saved, even if the attribute itself is never touched. It seems that the rules have changed, and an attribute must have some accompanying data, which is fine, except that the rule is not enforced during data entry, and legacy data is not attended to, so as a consequence data gets lost unexpectedly.

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 19 Mar 2005 23:40

I suspect what you are seeing is probably a 'bug' fix although obviously to you it is not.

I know that Calico did some work to ensure attributes and events with no data was cleared in 2.3

I have passed this post on to Calico to see what they say.

Post by **SimonOrde** » 23 Mar 2005 15:43

To kmh

I've had a look at this and you are of course quite right, 'empty' custom attributes are automatically deleted when you save. So as you say, the solution for now is just to add any data at all when you create your custom attribute.

It happened because we completely re-implemented custom events and attributes, to make them work in a way that was much more efficient - in anticipation of future requirements. But this change crept in as part of that re-implementation process. It will be corrected in the next release. Sorry if it has caused you problems.

kmh · Post by **kmh** » 26 Mar 2005 01:23

Thanks for your response. I fixed my file without much difficulty, thanks to the new feature of copy and paste for events/attributes. As a computer programmer, I've caused my share of undesirable side effects, so I don't find them especially disturbing.

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