* Editing sources

[RogerW]

Hi
My first visit so please be kind!
I have merged two family history files to make one. But when I look at my media images I find they are still referenced to the old family history files. I want to delete these old files as I have a composite one but I’m afraid if I do that I will lose my sources. Is there any way I can tidy this up?
Thanks for any help.

[tatewise]

Welcome to the FHUG Roger.

Could you provide an overview of how you got to where you are because merging is quite advanced for a newcomer?
e.g.
What product(s) have you migrated from?
How familiar you are with genealogy research topics?
Are familiar with the way FH handles Media, with Media records in the Project GEDCOM linked to separate Media files?

Presumably, you used the File > Merge/Compare File... command to merge a GEDCOM file into your Project?

A common mistake is to only review the Individuals tab of the dialogue and overlook the other tabs such as the Media tab.
Did you review the Media tab?

I am sure that near the end of the merge process it asks about moving Media files into the Project.
That should copy them from where they were located by the GEDCOM into your Project's internal Media folder.

I am a bit confused by what you mean by composite files and how Media files impact your Source records.

Do your Source records link to Media and have you checked they still do so?
Are they the Media you plan to delete or not?
In the Records Window on the Media tab you can check whether the Media you plan to delete are used by anything.

[RogerW]

Hi Mike
Thanks for your prompt response. I have been chasing family records for many years and have had FHS for some time. I have had a lot of success with my family research but more recently I have realised I have been very amiss in recording my sources. So Media, sources and Citations are new to me. I think you’re right that the problem arose during the merging of two projects to one . I probably didn’t fully understand the process but luckily, other than some orphans, the new combined project (sorry I used composite) looks good. But some of the media is sourced to the old project. For example, (I could send an attachment but I don’t know how), there is a birth image of a parish register in Wiltshire. When I open it in the Media file and hit the links tab it shows this path:
…\family historian projects\Hornblow Puzzle\Hornblow Puzzle.fh-data\Hornblow Puzzle.ged
The dots before just show the original path from C: drive
Now if I look at the source in detail it shows it has 458 citations and pic (the one I mentioned. So my question was: if I delete the Hornblow Puzzle project, which I no longer need, what will happen to media item on my record for that individual and will I lose any citations which might be relevant to new project Watts/Hornblow?
I hope this is now a bit clearer but you’re right I don’t have a solid understanding of the relationship between Media, Sources, and Citations. I know what they are but I don’t know how they are linked in Family Historian.
Thanks for your help
Roger

[tatewise]

Hi Roger,
Thank you for that summary which clarifies your situation much better.
I think when you joined the FHUG you were referred to the Knowledge Base advice Key Features for Newcomers.
For this topic the sections Project Structure and Location and Sources are most relevant but do check the others.
In the Introduction, it refers to Forum Usage Tips that among other things explains how to attach screenshot images.

BTW: See Merge/Compare File for advice on using that command

Do not delete your Hornblow Puzzle project as that will delete the associated Media files.
You say a parish register birth image links to …\Hornblow Puzzle\Hornblow Puzzle.fh-data\Hornblow Puzzle.ged
But that is the Hornblow Puzzle GEDCOM file and not an image file such as a jpg or png.
I would expect a Media file path more like …\Hornblow Puzzle\Hornblow Puzzle.fh-data\Media\ParishRegBirth.jpg

The way to get a comprehensive list of Media file paths is to use the Tools > External File Links... command.
Please attach a screenshot for a section of that for the Hornblow Puzzle file paths.

You mention a Source that has 458 citations and pic. Please attach a screenshot of those details.

Armed with those screenshots I will have a much better idea of what to do next.

[RogerW]

Thanks Mike
I’ll have a look at all that and get back to you.
Roger

[RogerW]

Hi Mike
I've had another look at the media file and the sources. There are only four or five of the media records linked to the old project. I checked them out and a couple of them were spurious going nowhere. Another was a photo of my grandfather. i just deleted that an used another one from my media. Anyway, I deleted these media files with the odd sources. I checked an individual on the new tree which was imported from the Hornblow Puzzle and his media and citations were fine so I think they were just a few "orphans" that were left after the merge.
But i will read your recommended help literature so that I understand media, sources and citations a little better.
I will now check back on the new Hornblow project tree and check out each individual on the direct path to the oldest ancester (1570!) and make sure there sources are OK.
I think FH is a great programme but it is very complicated to understand the subtlies. I hve the manual but then again there's a lot in it!
Thanks for your help
roger

[RogerW]

Mike I’ve just had a look at the combined tree and I’ve lost all my citations! It’s odd because I added all sources and citations to the combine tree after merging. Is there a way I can list all the citations in a project?
Roger

[tatewise]

This is getting confusing! FH is not in the habit of randomly discarding data.
This afternoon you said you had "checked an individual on the new tree and his media and citations were fine".

What exactly do you mean by "sources and citations"?
How did you add them all after merging, as the process of adding source citations takes quite some time?
Are you sure you are looking at the same Project?

I think some screenshots giving evidence of what you are seeing would help me understand.

[RogerW]

Mike
I sent the last post after a long afternoon trying to understand and check up of sources and citations on my tree and so i was a bit tired I am eighty years old!) and fed up hence the panic post about losing all my citations. I haven't lost them all and the ones I put into the merged tree are OK. But for the individuals that were in the files that were merged eg hornblow puzzle, there are problems and those are the problems I mentioned in my second post. I have looked at the documentation you recommended me to read and I found that very helpul. So here are the attachments you wanted ( I hope!). Let me know if you require any others
thanks and regards
Roger

[tatewise]

Roger, sorry to be an annoyance, but you need to explain to me what the 'problems' are and how they are illustrated by the screenshots. Unfortunately, I cannot read your mind.

Your list of Source Records shows all but one has at least one Citation, and the File (merged): sources have hundreds.
Your other screenshot shows a Birth Event with a Citation showing it was merged from Hornblow Puzzle.
They look fine to me.

I hope you have not deleted the Hornblow Puzzle project if data from that project has not merged successfully, as the merge may need to be repeated.

[RogerW]

Thanks Mike
I am coming to the same conclusion. I think I’ll go with what I’ve got. The original query was about what you said in the last sentence. How can I delete the Hornblow Puzzle project (which just used for putting the Hornblow pieces together before adding them to my tree) now I don’t need it. I think your answer is: you can’t.
Before I leave you in peace.
My mother’s family are from Devon - Barnstaple and Martinhoe. She was a Morrish and her family were by in large ag labs. Her father was a Rattenbury, which is more interested. I’m having another look them especially as there was a smuggler called Rattenbury and it would be nice for the grandchildren to have a smuggler in the family. Is your FHS worth joining for help in making some links?
Ignore this if you like!
Regards and thanks again
Roger

[tatewise]

Not sure where you got that answer from.
If you are really, really sure you no longer need the Hornblow Puzzle project then in the File > Records Window... select that project and use More Tasks > Delete Project... and check the dialogue carefully.
If any doubt, then create a Project Backup first; use File > Backup/Restore > Full Backup.

I have retired to Devon, have no family history connections here, and am not involved in the FHS. Sorry!

[arishmell]

Roger W, all my ancestors are from Devon and I can tell you it is well worth joining the Devon FHS. It only costs £12 for a year, they have lots of parish and other records not available elsewhere and a very active and supportive membership.

Incidentally, my mother was a Morrish, but they were from round Crediton and I have no Rattenburys in the tree!