Multimedia records

somerlee · Post by **somerlee** » 14 Feb 2010 20:42

I am sorry but I just do not understand why I seem to be adding multi media Ok and it is there in that particular project - but next time I log on the photos are replaced in the focus window with a blank white box.
Looking at the records in the multimedia window all the file names for the pictures are there but just crosses through a white blank box
I read that I could use the tools menu - work with external file links - to correct the file path, but I do not understand what to do. What should the file name say? At the moment it says e.g. media/Bill Evans.jpg and has a cross through the actual photo. Dropping down the small cross by the side of the file name I get all the correct details of where the photo is but no photo.
Should I re-map? What does re-map mean and where should I re-map it too?
Sorry to be so dense on this but feel i need to understand it!
Many thanks

ID:4353

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 15 Feb 2010 09:41

The first thing to check is that your Project is opened as a project, there is a know issue if you open a shortcut.

So try from the File menu select Project Window and open your project that way. Does your media show correctly?

Also look in your project folder and in the media folder with in it can you see your images there?

somerlee · Post by **somerlee** » 18 Feb 2010 14:53

Thank you for replying. I do open my projects from the file - project window route and the pictures do not show there.
When I use the tools external links the photos are not showing there. Just blanks with crosses.
The pathway of these blanks is C : project data folder : media : HMS Warrior.jpg. [just one example.]
I have the original photos stored in C : my docs : pictures
have I got this all wrong?

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 18 Feb 2010 21:55

When you add images, FH gives you the option of copying the files to the media folder of the project, if you look in the folder in windows explorer are the images there?

somerlee · Post by **somerlee** » 21 Feb 2010 13:38

No the photos are not in the media folder at all. It is empty.
But I have choosen to copy to the default place when I have tried to add a picture.

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 22 Feb 2010 06:45

Have you tried copying a file in to the folder manually, it's possible your Project folder path is too long, make sure your Project title is shorter than around 20 characters.

somerlee · Post by **somerlee** » 22 Feb 2010 19:59

Thank you for that. I have checked a few and it maybe that is the problem. I will look at them all in details.
Many thanks

royston · Post by **royston** » 22 Mar 2010 12:30

newbie user here.

I've added images to the multimedia window using the 'copy to default location' opion - all fine so far.

How do I REMOVE/DELETE images wrongly added? - if I delete them in windows the project still thinks they exist - can I delete them withing the project (images not necessarily linked to any records yet)

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 22 Mar 2010 13:59

To remove them from the project just go to the media windows and select them and press delete.

somerlee · Post by **somerlee** » 14 Aug 2010 21:18

I have written before with this problem and thought I had solved it. But I am still having problems with my multimedia jpegs. Some show and some are a blank box with a cross through. Some are just a blank box with no cross through. And what is stranger is that to start with i can see a jpg and then a week later it appears as a crossed through box. I have read about length of file name being a problem, but to be honest don't really understand it! The ones that do show have a mix of somelong and some short file names.... so i don't know what I am looking for.
I am on V 4 with xp.
sorry to be so dense about this.

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 15 Aug 2010 09:13

A couple of things to check.

1. Make sure the name of your Project is fairly short (less than 30 characters.

2. Check the Work With External File links tool to see what images are missing and fix them if required.

3. Make sure you are running V4.1 which resolves an occasional problem where a project gedcom opens in non project mode.

somerlee · Post by **somerlee** » 15 Aug 2010 20:48

Thanks for the reply. I am using 4.1 and now I have shortened all my project names.
I have looked at the working with external links and some of my files I find that i have changed the name of the file. eg from Bill and Tom.jpg to 1935 Bill and Tom.jpg. So in the external links window I have altered these. But I still cannot see the picture. The picture itself is in C/documents and settings/my pictures etc. But in FH the file name is C/documents and settings/family historian/media. as it has copied to the default directory.
What am I doing wrong? There is something i obviously do not understand.
I am still lost!

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 16 Aug 2010 10:59

If Family Historian is showing media as the folder you should have your images in the media folder of your Project.

The first job the check the files you have in your project media folder and the names they have and check these against the files you originally linked to Family Historian.

It's important once you have put files in the media folder that you do not rename or move them.

somerlee · Post by **somerlee** » 16 Aug 2010 20:21

Right thank you - I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel! [About time you might say!]
Anyway I will check all the photos in the media file against the originals.
many thanks for all your patience and explanations.

Family Historian User Group