* Computer Crash

[DerekAth]

I've just had the worst moment of my life when the computer crashed and I could not open my Family Historian (FH) package for my One-Name Study - I kept getting the message "Unrecognized file format"

Fortunately (!) I did a back up yesterday of my Tribal Pages website and could therefore retrieve a gedfile from the website. All was not lost - or so I thought!

The problem is that it has put all my separate notes into 1 single note in FH - so instead of seeing the normal 7 or 8 separate notes listing Census BMDs etc - it is all of a jumble in 1 Note! (And of course - in the notes) inserting brackets where it all now reads "<br>" instead of "(" or ")".

Is there a way out of this predicament - I do not fancy going through my 25,500 names in my FH programme, separating all the notes!

Derek

[Valkrider]

Derek

Have you been doing a backup of your FH project on exit of the programme as prompted? If so then you can restore your backup and make that your working project.

If not and Tribal Pages Gedcom is the only way to go then you can always bulk edit the TP Gedcom with something like Notepad++ doing a search and replace to get rid of the unwanted tags before importing to FH.

[tatewise]

Derek, I am sorry that has happened.
I have moved this thread to General Usage because it is not really to do with Importing and Exporting.

See glossary:backup_and_recovery|> Glossary > Backup and Recovery that may offer a solution.

However, since you are using FH V4 only your GEDCOM will be backed up by FH, and not your media image files, etc, etc.

Which version of Windows are you using? If Windows 7 then there may be an easy way to get recent versions of files back from its automatic backups.

Do you backup your My Documents files and folders on a regular basis, either to CD/DVD, or USB pen-drive, or cloud storage, or even somewhere else on your C: drive?

LET THIS BE A WARNING TO OTHER USERS ~ SOONER OR LATER THIS WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.

[Jane]

Derek, do you not have any proper backups, the ones Family Historian makes by default when you exit FH? You should be able to restore one of those, using the File > Restore, also check in Notepad the "faulty file" you may find some of your data is in there. Also check the Project fh_data folder as if FH failed while writing the file, it's just possible the temporary file may be in there.

[DerekAth]

Many thanks for your very helpful comments.

Firstly can I say that I made an error when I said I use version 4 when I logged on - I use the latest version 5.09 (brain addled this morning after much frustration! I also use Windows 7.

Sadly my FH backups were not set up - as has been said previously a severe warning to others - as I relied on "Mozy" which is a daily back-up of my whole system. The problem with Mozy is that if you are not careful(!) you can omit to back-up particular files. I set Mozy up to back-up all of my data - little did I know that as you enter new files (as I did) they are not automatically backed up - I was not aware of this!

In effect when I changed the name of my One-Name Study file, it was not being backed up! I realized this when I went to restore it!

I have tried using fh_data, Windows restore etc without any success - I am unaware of the mass edit that was discussed - and I have never used Notepad[++] - how easy/difficult is it to use?

You can only but imagine my total frustration! Be warned!

Derek

[tatewise]

OK David, first a bit of admin:
Please use the User Control Panel at the top of this FHUG page, and on the Profile tab change your Family Historian version so it appears in the panel on the right of your postings. Then we know you are using FH V5.

As Jane said, it may still be possible to resurrect most of your GEDCOM data.
The GEDCOM file is plain text that can be edited using a plain text editor.
There are several plain text editors to choose from but here are a couple:
Windows always offers Start > All Programs > Accessories > Notepad which will work just fine.
Also fhugdownloads:contents:pspad_editor|> Download and Links > Utility ~ PSPad Editor has specific GEDCOM editing capabilities.

"Where is my GEDCOM file?" I hear you ask.
Let's say your Project name is One-Name then the GEDCOM file will probably be:
C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Family Historian Projects\One-Name\One-Name.fh_data\One-Name.ged

BUT before you get started editing, make sure you backup whatever Project files you have got.
Please tell us what is in your C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Family Historian Projects\One-Name\One-Name.fh_data folder.
There may be sub-folders such as Books, Charts, Media, Plugin Data, Settings, but we are more interested in data files such as One-Name.ged or any unusually named files.

We can then suggest what to do next.

[DerekAth]

Mike,

The file to my One-Name Study (that will not open) is:

Libraries/Documents/Family Historian Projects/Atherton One Name Study - it is listed as a Gedcomfile. This was modified at 04/06/2014 at 1700.

The version I downloaded (with all it's problems) is as above only it has a "2" (without quotes) after Study - This was modified at 04/06/2014 at 2016.

Derek

[tatewise]

If you had a genuine Project then the Gedcom File would not be located there, but within Project folders with the same name.

Instead of opening the Libraries\Documents\Family Historian Projects path try opening C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Family Historian Projects instead (where {username} is your a Windows Account name).
Within that folder there should be an Atherton One Name Study folder.
Within that folder there should be an Atherton One Name Study.fh_data folder.

Unless of course if you never actually created an FH Project, but still used FH V3 style standalone GEDCOM.

What have you got?
If you can use the Snipping Tool or any other screen-shot tool it would be useful to post screen-shots of your folders.

[DerekAth]

Mike,

It is - as you suspect - not a Project as such! For whatever reason between 2010-12 during 3 house moves, chaos reigned. Not making excuses but it's fact! so I assume this is the V3 style "stand alone"

I attach a screen shot of the folder in question.

Derek

[tatewise]

OK, this is Software Forensics...

Although 18 months old there is the FH Gedcom Backup - ATHERTON ....zip archive file, that you could File > Backup/Restore in FH, but use a new filename!!!!
Depends how much you have added in those 18 months as to whether this is useful.

Is there anything useful inside the ATHERTON One Name Study.fh_data folder?

Just to confirm - if you right-click ATHERTON One Name Study Gedcom File and choose Restore previous versions there is nothing on offer?

Likewise if you do the same with the root Family Historian Projects folder, not the nested one listed above?

BTW: What is inside the nested Family Historian Projects folder listed above?

Finally, use Notepad (as mentioned above) on the ATHERTON One Name Study Gedcom File, and post the first few dozen lines.
I presume that is the residual Gedcom File left from the crash.

[DerekAth]

Mike,

I would guess that in the past 18 months I've probably added 10,000 names with all their Census/B, M and D details - using that is not an option I would like to even consider!

In the fh_data folder there are just 4 x Plug ins (that I've never got round to using) - pathetic aren't I?

I can also confirm that there are no previous versions available under the Atherton One Name Gedcom file or the FH Projects - all is blank!

The projects within FH Project File is attached, as is the Notepad (total confusion for me now!).

Derek

[tatewise]

Sorry, I am afraid nothing there looks promising.
The Notepad GEDCOM file looks nothing like I expected, as it should be 'readable' text something like:

Code: Select all

0 HEAD
1 SOUR FAMILY_HISTORIAN
2 VERS 5.0
2 NAME Family Historian
2 CORP Calico Pie Limited
1 FILE C:\Users\Mike\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Family Historian Sample Project\Family Historian Sample Project.fh_data\Family Historian Sample Project.ged
1 GEDC
2 VERS 5.5
2 FORM LINEAGE-LINKED
1 CHAR ANSI
1 _UID {13F463F0-5340-4056-AB3F-49972FE733CB}
1 _LIST Key Individuals
1 _LIST Work in Progress
1 _LIST Bookmarks
1 _ROOT @I6@
0 @I1@ INDI
1 NAME Anthony Edward /Munro/
1 SEX M
1 BIRT

Perhaps someone else has some ideas?

[DerekAth]

Mike,

When I went into Notepad to open up the files, the only "Text" Files I could see were the top 4 that were shown in my previous attachment of the FH Projects Folder - they were all listed as Type "File Folders".

Until I opted to see "All Files" I could not see the file in question.

Never having used Notepad before, I do find it confusing!

Derek

[trevorrix]

I would suggest that you search the whole of your computer for GEDCOM files in case there is one that would be useful in a location that you have not looked in before. Simply click your Start button, type *.ged, and click Search or press Enter.

It would also be useful if you switch on your Windows file extensions so that you can see what you are doing. Click the Tools menu at the top of any window that lists your files/folders. Select Folder Options, click the View tab, untick "Hide extensions for known file types", click OK. All of your GEDCOM files will now show the .ged extension. Text files have the extension .txt, and so on.

Have you ever used any other form of backup external to your computer, such as a USB memory stick, external hard drive or another Cloud service? Or have you recently emailed a copy of your GEDCOM file to anyone.

When you are back up and running you really do need a reliable backup in the Cloud, preferably several. I have my Family Historian set to save automatically every minute. Every minute a copy of my GEDCOM is automatically uploaded to my Dropbox account as I work. Dropbox keeps previous versions for 30 days, or forever with the Packrat option, so I can easily revert to the most recent or an earlier version at any time.

[Jane]

Mike, I did a Join.Me with Derek and have cleaned up the notes a bit using your plug in.

I tried to sort the dates which are in the format

"BET JAN 1847 & MAR 1847" but could not get your plugin not to warn for each replace when I wanted to replace the & with AND before I searched and replaced the quotes around it, as it wanted to prompt each one as the replacement would be a date phrase, I did untick the prompt every replace, is there a quick way around it using your plugin or do I need to write a custom one?

[DerekAth]

Just a quick note to thank Jane for her time trying to sort me out - very much appreciated.

Derek

[tatewise]

Derek, I apologise for not mentioning that you need to select All Files in Notepad before it will list the Gedcom Files.
Notepad will usually open any file whatsoever, but it only makes any sense if the contents is plain text.
Clearly your ATHERTON One Name Study.ged file is something else, unless by scrolling down you find any readable text.

There are many, many Gedcom Files listed in the folder screen-shots, but I suspect none of them hold your One Name Study data.

I am very tidy minded and that set of files that date back many years I would have to spring clean and re-organise.

[tatewise]

Jane use the following:
Search: "(.*)&(.*)"
Replace: %1AND%2
with LUA Pattern Mode

[DerekAth]

Mike (and Jane),

I've just completed the search and replace - most dates are now sorted - there is a small number (e.g. shown as "BET Jul 1877 and Sep 1877") that wasn't replaced but I'm sure I can sort that now.

Very many thanks to you both for the time and effort that you have put into this problem for me - it really is appreciated.

For Mike - yes, I've now spring cleaned my FH Data!

Thanks again,

Derek

[tatewise]

While you are tidying up and sorting out, may I suggest you convert your GEDCOM to an FH Project.
It is not very difficult, and you still have a GEDCOM file, but it sits within a formal folder structure.
There are several benefits, especially when it comes to moving from PC to PC, as will inevitably be needed one day.

See the how_to:v4:understanding_projects|> Understanding Projects for full details.
Read it through thoroughly and checkout the FH Help pages identified.

If you need any further advice then don't hesitate to ask, particularly if you have linked Multimedia files that need to be incorporated.

[DerekAth]

Mike

I have already done this now on the advice of Jane earlier this evening - thank you anyway!

[DerekAth]

I've just noticed one other "fall-out" from my little problem!

All the children in my families are now listed in Alphabetical order, rather than date of birth order - is there a way to "fix" that? This is obviously not as important as what has been done previously, but it would be nice to resolve if possible?

Thanks again,

Derek

[Jane]

Derek, from the menu select Tools>Reorder out of Sequence Data

[Jane]

Date Phrase Fixer (Tribal Pages).fh_lua

(3.88 KiB) Downloaded 116 times

Please try the plugin above to fix all your Qtr Dates. It will just run and show a result set of everything it has done.

[DerekAth]

Jane,

Many thanks again!).

Re-order sorted inside 3 minutes. More of a problem with the Date Phrase change because there are more variations offered. This will not be a problem as I will change those variations "by hand" (only about 30 of them) - for info this is what is showing: <(DECEASED)>

There are also a couple of similar phrases but with "(?)" and "(Unknown)" where "(Deceased) is shown above.

Where would I have been without you and your team!

Derek