Moving Source Citations

IainA · Post by **IainA** » 05 Mar 2011 22:40

Hi

Does anyone know if it is possible to globally move all text entered in the field 'Where within source' to the field 'Text from Source'.

I need to do this as it appears that I have entered all my source information in the wrong location!

If not then I'll leave them, as I have so many that re-typing them would be awful.

Thanks very much for any help.

Kind regards

Iain

ID:5028

PeterR · Post by **PeterR** » 05 Mar 2011 23:17

There is no facility in FH to make the sort of change you need. However, it may be possible to automate the change by using a text editor such as PSPad with the Multiline Search / Replace extension.

But it is first essential to check whether the text should be moved
(a) to the Text From Source field of the Citation or
(b) to the Text From Source field of the Source record itself.

Move (a) would be appropriate if the text is relevant only to the particular record/field/fact to which the citation is attached (and this could be automated with a text editor).
Move (b) would be appropriate if the text is relevant to several record/field/fact entries each with its own citation of the same source (and this could most easily be achieved by copying and pasting rather than retyping).

IainA · Post by **IainA** » 06 Mar 2011 15:51

Thanks Peter

It will definitely be the 'Text from source' for the citation as they would not be applicable to the master source.

I could copy and paste but with over a thousand source citations it wouldn't be practical.

When I first started using Family Historian I made some choices that now clearly seem wrong. The problem is that there are many ways to do the same thing and at first it isn't always clear which is best. I've now gone too far down the road to change direction.

Thanks again.

Iain

Post by **tatewise** » 06 Mar 2011 16:56

In that case you can automate the change using PSPad text editor with the phReplace add-on.
See Knowledge Base FHUG Downloads for Utility ~ PSPad phReplace Multiline Search & Replace and full installation instructions:
http://www.fhug.org.uk/wiki/doku.php?id ... _phreplace

First ensure you have a backup copy of your GEDCOM file.
Once installed, you run PSPad on your GEDCOM file.
Invoke phReplace using Scripts > Multiline Search / Replace.
Then enter Search For and Replace With text as below.

e.g.
Search For
3 PAGE (.*)
3 DATA
4 DATE (.*)
Replace With
3 DATA
4 DATE $2
4 TEXT $1

Ensure the last line in both entries is terminated with a new line.
Ensure the Use Regular Expression option is ticked.
Finally click Replace All button and Save the results.

This works for all Citations that have an Entry Date, a Where within Source value, and no existing Text From Source.

To cope with Citations that have no Entry Date, then repeat the above, but omit the two lines that start 4 DATE.

Run FH on the resulting GEDCOM and use File > Validate just to check all is OK.

IainA · Post by **IainA** » 06 Mar 2011 19:14

Thanks very much for your reply and detailed instructions on how to do what I need. It is very much appreciated.

I will give PSPad a try.

Kind regards.

Iain

Family Historian User Group