Family Historian User Group

Love V4 - the changes to the Properties window is worth the upgrade cost alone!
Brilliant!

I understand that in the long run it would be preferable to convert my gedcom files into projects. Although I have a very organized folder/file system and a very thorough backup system, I'm willing to do this. In effect, it just moves one lot of folders from one place to another.

However, I have files (and folders containing them) in my 'Family Historian' data folder that are not linked in the gedcom file but are nonetheless pertinent and relevant to the 'whole' picture of my family tree - extensive research notes, other source gedcom files which have been imported in, my 'to do' list etc.

What are the implications of moving these files/folders into the project folder so that everything is contained in the one folder? I realise that when creating a CD/Web family tree only those files linked in the gedcom file will be included - that's OK as I wouldn't want my notes etc published. But are there any downsides? Will project management routines in FH have a fit with these extraneous files?

Thanks
Mark

ID:3687

Further to Mark's comments, I would also appreciate some further detail concerning files and folders relating to FH4.

I ran a test upgrade yesterday and have been examining what files and folders FH creates by default and where it locates them. My program is installed on the C: drive, but all my genealogy data and research files are located on a different partition.

I cannot find where the default file path of the Family Historian Projects folder containing the Sample Project can be redefined. However, FH seems to accept its relocation by dragging and dropping without problem.

For familiarisation purposes I have created a Test project and have added Audio, Document, Picture and Video sub-folders to the Media folder to segregate the different types of file. Similarly I have added a Backup folder within the Test project folder. Again, there seems to be no conflict with the FH software.

I note that Public folders exist within each project. What purpose do they serve?

As the new software requires some subtle changes to user's configurations, it is worth taking time to ensure that any changes that are made will not create problems at some later date, either with FH4 or its future development

From the help file in V4:

Each folder has a subfolder called 'public' and you are encouraged to use this to store anything you want to keep with the project, which isn't already handled by Family Historian. If you generate a website, or a family tree CD, FH will suggest outputting the website files to the project's 'public' folder, by default.

John said:

I cannot find where the default file path of the Family Historian Projects folder containing the Sample Project can be redefined. However, FH seems to accept its relocation by dragging and dropping without problem.

To quote Helen from another thread:

Once you've moved the projects, you change the default location using File > Project Window > More Tasks > Choose location for projects.

Thank you for clarifying the intended function of Public folders, Helen. Is that useage detailed somewhere in the FH4 documentation?

Apologies if I did not express my enquiry adequately, but I think you missed my point, Nick, I had already found how to store new projects in a location of personal choice by means of the procedure that you have correctly stated. However, other than leaving the Family History Projects folder where it defaults to, which in my case is not where I would like it to be, other than dragging and dropping it, there does not seem to be any way of otherwise defining where it should relocate to.

This subject also relates to a thread in topic 'Project folders and media files' where Geoff Browne reported that he has run into a problem where Windows path name lengths are being exceeded. Simon responded by suggesting that Geoff reduce the length of his project file name, but made no mention of using an alternative location outside of the default Family Historian Projects folder, the name of which is 25 characters (including spaces) long.

I understand Simon's recommendation for using project folders, but would be grateful if he could clarify what effect, if any, locating projects outside of his default would have, for current functions and for his future plans. Clarification of if and how the Family Historian Project folders relocation can be defined, and if it's folder name can be changed would also be appreciated.

Thank you for your ongoing interest.

1. The recommended usage of the Public folder is detailed in the Version 4 help documentation accessed from within the program.

2. I'm a bit confused -- what is it you need to know about chaning the default location for projects that isn't answered by File > Project Window > More Tasks > Choose location for projects. I can confirm that I have relocated my default location (onto a networked drive) without any apparent ill effects; and I'm sure that Simon wouldn't provide the capability to change the default if he didn't expect us to use it.

Hi Helen

I'll attempt to clarify. When I upgraded to FH4, I noted that it had installed a Family History Projects folder within the My Documents folder on Drive C:.

I use Dive E: for everything related to family history - that is it's sole use.

I can create new projects on Drive E by means of the File > Project Window > More Tasks > Choose location for projects facility. So no problem there.

I would prefer that the default folder Family History Projects, with it's sub-folder samples is relocated to drive E, rather than leving it where it currently resides and will not be used, but other than dragging and dropping it, there is no obvious way of defining where it should move to.

Try moving the Family History Projects to an alternative location on your PC and maybe you'll understand my question.

More later.

OK - I understand. And yes, dragging and dropping (or cutting and pasting, or whatever is your standard method of moving a directory structure within Windows) seems to be the only way of moving the sample FH project -- or any other FH project. Which is similar to the options in V3 for moving a GEDcom file, if I remember -- it was done via windows.

(Although I have discovered one other way of moving the sample project, not I suspect the intended way -- open the default project within FH, open the Project Window > More Tasks > Samples > Reset Sample Project. It creates a copy of the sample project in your new default location and I have deleted the original copy without any apparent ill effects. Simpler though to drag and drop!)

Personally, I have got rid of the sample project entirely -- I don't need it cluttering up my storage now I've got a few projects of my own set up. If I do need to recreate it, the same menu sequence starting from the Project Window recreates it if it's missing, in your chosen default location).

Hi Helen

Great. I was beginning to think I had a problem with my software install.

With reference to your earlier comment 'I'm sure that Simon wouldn't provide the capability to change the default if he didn't expect us to use it', if you read the thread in the other topic that I've mentioned above, why do you think Simon did not suggest to Geoff to use a folder other than the default Family Historian Projects to overcome his path length problem?

I just have an uneasy feeling that there may be other factors relating to the defaults that we are not yet aware of. Better to ensure the foundations are sound before the house is built. Hence my request for clarification from Simon.

The simplest explanation of Simon's answer is that he gave the first answer he thought of, not the only possible one. And possibly it's most sensible to have short project names -- if somebody does have a really long project name, repeating it twice in a path might be a problem no matter where the default project directory is located.

As a designer I doubt that Simon would have responded without due thought and consideration, which is what makes me wonder if we are overlooking something.

From your and my tests, and unless someone advises otherwise, I believe that Geoff's solution would be to move his project from the default Family Historian Projects folder, where he stated it currently resides, to a new folder at a location of his preference - ideally at drive root level. By giving the new folder a much shorter name, say, FH Data, FH4, or even just FH, this should overcome his path length problem.