* Location of FH 'Project' files and folders?

[themoudie]

My apologies for cluttering up the forum, but my 'bet noir' has struck again! I appear not to be able to get my head around the 'Folder', 'File' structure used by FH. I have attached 3 screen dumps to illustrate my inability and used the 'Help' and the FHv6 manual to try and sort this out! I suspect that I am not being 'brave' enough.

I am trying to create a copy of my 'v2 Project' as the base for my '2016 Project', as there are multiple data errors/additions to make. I had achieved this and started to edit, but moved the 'Project' file in the folder structure as one wasn't in a similar position to where the other was in the specific 'Project' folder. Numpty!

Is my solution to the problem to open my 'v2 Gedcom' and then create a 'New Project' when saving the data, before making any amendments? Both 'v2' and '2016' projects are backed up and I could 'Import' them from the backup, but that wouldn't clarify why I am getting this so horribly wrong. I am running Windows7 and FHv6.2.

Thank you for your time, Bill

[BillH]

Hi Bill,

I'm not sure but your folder structure seems a bit odd to me.

Here is the structure for my project:

D:\My Documents\FH\Main\Main.fh_data

I changed "Family Historian Projects" to "FH" to make it shorter. The name of my project is "Main".

There has to be a folder in FH with the name of your project, in my case "Main". Under this there must be a folder called "project name.fh_data", in my case "Main.fh_data".

This is the folder that contains the subfolders Cache, Media, Settings, etc. This is also where the .ged file lives.

In your case you have a structure that has:

...\Family Historian Projects\rayner_anderson_2016.fh_data\rayner_anderson_2016.fh_data\...

I think the first rayner_anderson_2016.fh_data needs to actually be rayner_anderson_2016 (no .fh_data).

Hope this helps.

Bill

[tatewise]

I suspect the cause of your problem is you have been 'messing about' with the Project folders in Windows Explorer instead of using the FH Project management tools, and that has really upset the whole structure. To copy/rename a Project simply use the File > Project Window > More Tasks > Copy/Rename Project options.

Also the File > Project Window > Location should be F:\Family History\Family Historian Projects.

Considering your rayner_anderson_2016 project, its folder structure should be:

Code: Select all

Family Historian Projects            File folder
    Family Historian Sample Project  File folder
    rayner_anderson_2016             File folder
        rayner_anderson_2016.fh_proj Family Historian Project File icon red/blue/yellow boxes 
        Public                       File folder
        rayner_anderson_2016.fh_data File folder
            Cache                    File folder
            Log Files                File folder
            Media                    File folder
            Snapshots                File folder
            rayner_anderson_2016.ged Gedcom File icon 3 green boxes

You will not see the .fh_proj and .ged file extensions.
I have no idea why you have a Media_all folder instead of the standard Media folder.
After you have sorted out the folder & file structure we will need to sort out the Media too.

The rayner_anderson_16-03-2011_v2 must have an identical structure but with rayner_anderson_2016 replaced by rayner_anderson_16-03-2011_v2 in four places (2 folders & 2 files).

[themoudie]

Good morning Bill and Mike, thank you both for your constructive observations upon my debacle. I am going to sit down quietly, reload an earlier copy from my backup and start again!

Bill: Old habits from the late '80's die hard and I don't 'trust' 'My Documents', with everything getting dumped into the one bin. Too much micro-management on my part!

Mike: Not sure myself about the 'Media_all' and there is nothing to sort out in 'Media' as it is empty. I was going to start populating it, hence my making a copy project, with a new title, just in case of these events!

I will post how I get on, but off for a walk to clear the head.

My regards, Bill

[tatewise]

It is perfectly Ok to use your F: drive instead of My Documents for exactly the reason you mention. I do the same.
But the File > Project Window > Location must refer to the correct folder.

Use the Family Historian Sample Project as your model.
Just replace Family Historian Sample Project with rayner_anderson_2016 or whatever Project name you want, in all 4 places.

See also how_to:v4:understanding_projects|> Understanding Projects especially Project Structure.

[themoudie]

Aye Mike, after a long walk, I came back to the debacle and took drastic action. I deleted the 'F:\Family History\Family Historian Project' folder, created a folder 'F:\Family History\FH_Projects' and then used FH to copy across my projects from earlier backups. Using this string 'To copy/rename a Project simply use the File > Project Window > More Tasks > Copy/Rename Project options.' I am being a pedant here Mike, your message reads "To copy/rename a Project simply use the Tools > Project Window > More Tasks > Copy/Rename Project options.", the "Tools" threw me at the start!

However, you were correct in assuming that my "'messing about' with the Project folders in Windows Explorer" was at the root of the problem, I think I nested a 'Project' within a 'Project' and by copying across in FH only the 'Project File and Project Data Subfolder Only' option, rather than the 'Entire Project Folder' option, I have retrieved what I required.

These 'FH_Projects' appear similar to 'Projects' in GIS programmes, they are like the envelope, within a folder for the individual documents from a specific job, with all the documents being available, instead of you having to find and open them individually.

Now to do a 'backup' of the revised folders in F:\

Thank you for your patience.

My regards, Bill

[tatewise]

Sorry about the typo of Tools v File (now corrected) and glad it is all sorted now.
The FH Projects concept is similar to Projects in several programs, and should rarely be manipulated in Windows/File Explorer, except for the Public folder, which is for general purpose 'public' use.