* Saving Options

[plantheaven]

I am using FH5 and only have of the three 'save as' backup options enabled when closing. I am using the FH GEDCOM and agree that the small (GEDCOM only) option is the one I would use, however, occasionally I like to backup the entire project folder to an external hard drive. When I set the Preferences to let me choose/full back up and then save I get an error message and no changes are saved. What am I doing wrong?[confused]

ID:6263

[Jane]

What error message are you getting?

[johnmorrisoniom]

Are you opening your gedcom file directly, or have you converted to a project?

[plantheaven]

Hi Jane,

When I change the backup to full under 'backup/restore' options and then try to close the program I am prompted and click 'backup' then I get the 'A problem occurred. Task may not have saved properly'. When I reopen, the work I saved prior to closing has not been saved, even when I have hit the save symbol beforehand.
[cry]

[Jane]

The full backup should not affect the normal save.

If you skip the backup at the end does it work correctly?

Do you have any automatic save systems, like Mosy or similar?

[plantheaven]

The programme normally saves correctly if I use 'small (GEDCOM only)or if I skip backup. The problem seems to lie with trying to do a full backup.

[Jane]

Can you check you have V5.0.2 I think this includes some fixes for large gedcoms.

http://www.family-historian.co.uk/downl ... ee-upgrade

[tatewise]

I get that error message from time to time with any Save operations, because I use Windows Live Mesh which occasionally locks files and inhibits FH access.
When I retry the Save it usually succeeds OK.

[plantheaven]

I have downloaded the update and retried but the same error message comes up.
I have no other backup system running and I am using Windows 7.
Getting desperate![cry]

[gerrynuk]

plantheaven said:
I have downloaded the update and retried but the same error message comes up.
I have no other backup system running and I am using Windows 7.  
Getting desperate!

I know this sounds terribly obvious but are you sure you have enough disk space for a full backup? To backup the complete project you would need to have at least as much spare space as the size of your existing project - images included - and probably quite a bit more as the operating system uses some of the disk space for swap files etc.

Gerry

[plantheaven]

I am useless with things technical, I admit it, hence the call for help but I can confirm that I have more than enough memory on the hard drive to save a full backup several times over. Please feel free to suggest anything, however basic (I really am that useless!)as it could possibly the answer.

[johnmorrisoniom]

From your initial post, it looks like you are just opening a gedcom & not a project, thus the medium and full backups wouldn't be a valid option. This could be why it is failing.
Can you please confirm whether you are using a project or just opening a gedcom file.

[plantheaven]

I am just using a GEDCOM but I do have projects and I want to do a complete backup of both GEDCOMs and Projects.

[johnmorrisoniom]

When you are only opening a gedcom, the only backup that will work is Small (Backup Gedcom) because there is no project structure to backup.
The Medium and Large Backups should (and do on mine) work on your projects on a project by project basis.

If you want to back everything up as one item, then either copy the entire FH folder to another location or use another type of backup software to backup the entire folder.

[tatewise]

John, you have identified the problem.

Set Tools > Preferences > Backup as follows.
Tick Prompt for Backup on Exit.
Set Backup Button Action to Medium Backup or Full Backup.
This works fine for a Project structure.

But this fails...
Open a standalone GEDCOM with no Project structure, make a change, and then close FH.
At the Backup on Exit prompt click Backup button.
Produces error message A problem occurred. Task may not have completed correctly.

The error message could be better worded, by saying 'Medium/Full Backup is not supported in Standalone GEDCOM mode'.
FH knows about this restriction, because if you use File > Backup/Restore the Medium/Full Backup options are greyed out.

The interim solution is to set Tools > Preferences > Backup > Backup Button Action to Let Me Choose Backup Type.
On exit from FH, this will grey out the Medium/Full Backup options when not available.

I am tempted to report the above problem direct to Calico Pie.

[plantheaven]

Thanks for explicit explanation - NOW I understand (told you I was useless!. It just seems a shame that you cannot back up both project and GEDCOM when only the GEDCOM has been worked on. I have purchased the book form of 'getting the most from FH5' so will have to sit down and give myself a more thorough lesson in this version.
Thanks for all your help, it has been much appreciated as has your patience with this idiot.
Thanks again.[smile]

[tatewise]

Firstly, you are NOT a useless idiot, because that error message clearly fooled several of us more experienced users too!!!

Secondly, all three Backup options are available in a Family Historian Project regardless of what has been worked on.
The error message implies that you are NOT working on a GEDCOM in a Family Historian Project structure, but on a standalone GEDCOM with your own project structure.

A Family Historian Project has a defined folder and file structure, which you must employ in order to utilise Project features, such as Medium/Full Project Backup.

If you need advice on converting from standalone GEDCOM to a Family Historian Project structure, then please post another thread.