* Ancestoral Sources:"Error reading GEDCOM file"

[themoudie]

Please may I ask for some help in loading a GEDCOM into AS?

On trying to load a GEDCOM into AS v7.2.4 that I have been creating in FH v6.2 from new, I immediately saw a 'Error' window, with a white cross in a circle, with a red background, with the following message:

"File cannot be loaded:

Invalid GEDCOM Error on line 1597: 1 FAMS @F401@
Record links to non-existent family record: @F401@"

OK

I have tried the right-hand click on the mouse to obtain a screen dump, but I am unable to see the menu box I expected! So, my writing it out in full above.

AS also continues to try and load the GEDCOM (Green bar, on lower left of AS screen).

I suspect that I have created the error, but not understanding the code used in the 'Error window', I have no idea how I might solve the problem, if and when I find it in FH v6.2

Thank you for your time.

Good health, Bill

[Jane]

Have you tried opening the file in FH6 and running File>Validate?

[tatewise]

The error is referring to a Family record with Record Id 401 which it claims is missing.

In FH in the Records Window, open the Families tab, and sort into Rec Id order by clicking the Rec Id column header.
You should be able to confirm that Rec Id 401 does not exist.

That Family record is trying to be used by an Individual with a Spouse family link (%INDI.FAMS%) to F401.
I'm not sure if that broken link can be detected via a Query.
If interested, you could open the Project GEDCOM file in a plain text editor and go to line 1597.
Then working back you would be able to find the Individual record details.

I suspect the File > Validate... command will fix the problem by removing the broken link, but that may leave your Project with two Spouses that are not linked together.

Alternatively, use the File > Backup/Restore > Revert to Snapshot... command and choose a Snapshot Taken recently.
That will revert your Project GEDCOM file to that date and hopefully mend the broken link, unless the problem has existed for a long time.

It is not obvious how such a structural problem could arise apart from some fault in FH v6.2.
You say the Project has been created from new in FH v6.2. Is that just recently, or over many years?
What is the recent history of the Project development that might explain such a GEDCOM error?
e.g. Has it been derived from a GEDCOM imported from elsewhere?

[themoudie]

Thank you Jane and Mike for your rapid and comprehensive replies. I shall have a crack at solving this a wee bit later on today and post the result.

Good health, BillR

[themoudie]

Good morning Jane and Mike,

In FH in the Records Window, open the Families tab, and sort into Rec Id order by clicking the Rec Id column header.
You should be able to confirm that Rec Id 401 does not exist.

Yes.

I suspect the File > Validate... command will fix the problem by removing the broken link, but that may leave your Project with two Spouses that are not linked together.

Yes it did and left no link between the womens husband or her father and mother, whose details all appear on the Scottish Statuatory Register entry from 1964.

I then did a full FH "Project backup" and then backed this up to a separate remote disk.

The faulty records were entered on 3rd April 2019, according to the FH, Records window, individual, table.

Whilst AS now loads the project very quickly, when I try to re-link the death register image within the Project, Media, Family, Document file with the 4 individuals recorded on it I now have a new set of "problems"! The AS image viewer shows no Project, Media folders, at all, when I try to re-connect the individuals to the image that remains in the Project, Media, Folders.

I select the "Link existing image....." radio button. Both, but separately, "Show image titles" or " Show image file names" radio buttons. Whilst unticking the "Only show images with relevant titles or file paths" box, so that all files should be selectable. The display window below remains blank, regardless of the combination of the buttons that I select?

If I try to use the same image that I keep in a separate folder tree that I use to assemble data, before using AS to load it into the FH Project, I can link to the image, but when trying to allocate "Keywords" to the image, the extensive keyword list that I have built up, is not available for selection and appears to have disappeared! Consequently, I have not made any further additions to the Project data. Using either AS or FH.

It appears that the File> Validate process has wreaked a fair bit of havoc in removing links that I didn't know that it would remove.

When closing AS after making entries, I 'Close' the GEDCOM, before closing AS. Then I 'Open' FH and load the project. I NEVER try to make entries using AS, whilst FH is open, let alone has the same project 'Open' in it.

I attach the GEDCOM report file and the VALIDATION files produced, when I tried to clean up the links. Hopefully they give an insight as to what may have gone wrong.

I could go back to a snapshot taken earlier this week, as there appeared to be no problems at that time. If I have to go back to the 2019 entries, I shall greet and probably give up on software genealogy! Much as I understand it's advantages.

Maybe time to reload AS v7.4.2 and upgrade to FH v7.08, but, I would rather not and sort the glitch out first.

Thank you for your time.

Good health, BillR

[tatewise]

Oh dear!
It is my impression that the GEDCOM file has somehow been truncated and so all the records near the end are lost.
That is why the GEDCOM Report lists so many Source records, Media records, and some Family records.
They are the ones that exist near the end of the GEDCOM file.
It is my guess that you don't use Repository records or Note records, as they would have been lost too.

Notice the GEDCOM Report starts with an anomaly in the Family record F385, which is the one Validate complains about.
I think it is at that point the GEDCOM truncation has occurred.

I imagine in that 'broken' Project, in the Records Window, there are no records listed on the Notes, Sources, Repositories, or Media tabs, and the Places tab records were all Updated yesterday.
The number of Project records is now so small that AS loads the GEDCOM much faster.
That lack of Media records explains why AS cannot find any existing Media files.

The best recourse is to use a saved Snapshot of the GEDCOM file. That is what they are for ~ to recover from disasters.
Alternatively, use a saved Project Backup. I hope you do keep regular backups, not just for FH but for any important files.
PC malfunctions can arise at any time without warning, so backups on a separate medium are crucial.

[themoudie]

Good afternoon Mike,

Notice the GEDCOM Report starts with an anomaly in the Family record F385, which is the one Validate complains about.
I think it is at that point the GEDCOM truncation has occurred.

Correct. No Family records after F385.

I imagine in that 'broken' Project, in the Records Window, there are no records listed on the Notes, Sources, Repositories, or Media tabs, and the Places tab records were all Updated yesterday.

Correct.
All Individuals have been retained.
Famalies have been reduced in number.
Notes are absent.
Sources are absent.
Repositories are absent.
Media are absent.
Places are reduced in number.

As suggested, I have reverted to the 'Snapshot' immediately before the truncation event. Saved it and then run a "Full backup". I also deleted the truncated Snapshots and "Full backups".

Should I run a FH> Validate on this snapshot version before starting to add more records, or any other checks?

I do create a FH "Full backup" after every data amendment session and retain 5 of these at any one time on my D: drive. The whole D: drive is backed up to a remote terabyte hard drive at least once a week and to another remote terabyte hard drive once a month, using the MS tool 'SyncToy v2.1(x64). As I only have a desktop computer and not "trusting" of cloud storage this is my backup routine for all my data. I have all my programmes/apps on a SSD C:/ and all my folders on a SSD D:/, with all my images on a terabyte HDD E:/. Backup takes a wee while! Thoughts are welcome.

Thank you for your continued work on the forum and for answering queries. I am sure that FH would not be as popular software if it were not for your time and effort. Good health and have a good festive break, in the sunny sarf.

BillR

[tatewise]

Yes, that all seems to confirm what I thought.

Yes, run File > Validate... just to check all is well.

Your backup regime seems quite good. except perhaps for any common mode disaster such as fire, flood, theft, etc, that impacts them all being in the same location. Keeping a copy with a friend or relative, or in the cloud, are possible solutions.

It is not so sunny in the 'sarf' today ~ cold, grey, and damp!

[themoudie]

Good evening Mike,

I have just run FH File> Validate and all appears to be well. So, I shall start entering more data.

Hope the weather brightens for us all.

Again, my thanks and good health, BillR

[tatewise]

I've added this to the FH General Usage forum as it is probably not an Ancestral Sources problem.

[themoudie]

Thank you Mike, if it helps others, all well and good.

My regards, BillR