* pc to pc migration probs

[Mocky]

I expect this a question that rears up often.
My old comp is gradually giving up on me so I want to migrate my project to a new one. I have followed the info on the web page, https://www.fhug.org.uk/wiki/doku.php?i ... tion_guide , but my media/photos does not open on the FH focus pages only the dreaded black X. I think it may be that i'm unsure of what to do with these pathways, as stated

" On the new PC ensure the File > Project Window > Location: and Tools > Preferences > Startup > Default Startup File and Tools > Preferences > Backup > Default Backup Folder are specified correctly as these settings are NOT included in the migration data, because they are unique to the new PC.
Location: will usually be the …\Documents\Family Historian Projects folder.
Default Startup File is set by Select > Make Current File the Default assuming the main Project is open.
Default Backup Folder usually is …\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Backup folder."

So two questions
1, Is there anyone that could talk me through the proceedure
2. Or is there an easier migration method

Many thanks

Steve

[Mocky]

Sorry edition V5 is my current program

[LornaCraig]

The important step where Media files are concerned is this one:

In the following steps the Family Historian Projects folder refers to whatever folder the File > Project Window > Location: specifies.

1) On the old PC use Tools > (Work with) External File Links in each Project and check File Links pane to:
Ensure ALL File Links are listed in Project Data Folder - Media.
Ensure NO files or folders have any X marks.
Ensure drive letters such as C: are NOT listed in File Links.
If any of those tests fail, then stop and ask for help in the Forums.

For the transfer to be successful the media files need to be located within the Media folder of the Project, and the filepaths in FH need to be specified relative to that folder. There is advice on how to move media files and repair the links here: how_to:changing_external_file_links|> Changing External File Links

If you need help, on the old PC, use Tools > (Work with) External File Links to display the file paths where FH is looking for the Media, and post a screenshot here so that we can see where the media are currently located and give advice on what needs to be done.

[Mocky]

Hi Lorna thanks for your reply,

I've tried the external links option but on an original project I saved to "OneDrive" about 2 yrs ago, but on this new project I have been backing up to a folder on my desktop. The external links only is picking up the "Onedrive" path not the desktop path. How can I obtain my desktop path to get external links to find. Having said that I'm experimenting changing default location in project window. One other thing to access back up & restore I have to open a new project using a gedcom, so how does that work

[LornaCraig]

I have moved this topic to the General forum, because the Importing & Exporting forum is for discussions about "Importing from or exporting to another genealogy program".

You say you are 'backing up' to the desktop, but what matters is not where the backups are but where the media files are, relative to the rest of the project. The important point is that if you keep your media files within the Media folder of your Project you can move your entire project and change the default location where FH looks for the project and the media links will still be intact. You can (and should) keep backups in a different place for safety.

Can you first check that the media for this particular project were displayed correctly on the old PC. Use Tools>External File Links on the old PC and if possible post a screenshot here.

[Mocky]

Screenshot.jpg

Even though I have backed up my project to desktop folder the path in external links still shows that it runs to onedrive even though there is no original project associated with FH only current project

Screenshot.jpg

. not sure how to proceed

[davidm_uk]

Mocky,

Your screenshot did not display anything.

It will help if you can give us (type it in if you can't get the screenshot to work) is the information circled in this window:

Project WIndow.JPG (61.39 KiB) Viewed 11828 times

With FH open, from the File menu, click on Project Window to display the above. This tells us what live projects you have, and where FH thinks they are. This is NOT the same as backups.

[LornaCraig]

Mocky, to add a screenshot to your post either drag and drop the .jpg file into the box where you type the message, or use the Attachments button below that box and click Add File to browse for the file.

David has suggested a screenshot of the Project Window which will show the current location of your project. That would be useful but we also need to see a screenshot of the Tools> External file links window, which will show the filepaths FH is trying to use.

[Mocky]

screenshot

Screenshot.jpg (82.02 KiB) Viewed 11823 times

this is what happens when I drag and drop

[Mocky]

Screenshot 2.jpg (39.24 KiB) Viewed 11822 times

Screenshot 2.jpg (39.24 KiB) Viewed 11822 times

[Mocky]

The update reads 15/04/2016 even though I updated about 1hr ago

[LornaCraig]

OK, I think the first issue to sort out is the updated date. Did that screenshot of the Project window come from the same computer on which you say you updated the project an hour ago? If so you have been updating a different copy of the project.

You said you have been experimenting with changing the default project location. Do you have a copy of the project somewhere else on the PC? What method do you use to open a project? Do you open FH and click on the project name in the project window? Or do you click on a Gedcom file? If so where do you find that file?

[Mocky]

Lorna , I normally open by clicking on the FH icon in my taskbar and all is well. I set the new location to the default as seen on screenshot and backed up so that is sitting there but when I open the ged file in that location most of the media data is missing so somewhere the info is being transferred elsewhere. A mystery !

[davidm_uk]

Sounds like Mocky has more than one copy of his "tree", plus a few odd files in the Desktop and Downloads folders. I wonder if he's using OneDrive to copy from old to new PC, or is using it for backups (or both).

For the moment I'll leave it to you Lorna, two of us commenting could lead to confusion.

[BillH]

Steve,

The following works in Windows 10 which is what I have. I'm not sure what version you have.

Right click on the FH icon in the task bar and a window pops up that looks like this.

image1.jpg (23.32 KiB) Viewed 11803 times

Select the first .ged file in the list. (In my case it is Main.ged.) Then right click on that file and select Properties. Another window will pop up that looks like this.

image2.jpg (101.98 KiB) Viewed 11803 times

After the header Location: it will show where the file you are updating is located.

[LornaCraig]

I am not sure if we are talking about three different projects or three copies of the same project or three versions (older and newer) of the same project.

The screenshot of the External file links shows a Mockford 1 project, but the screenshot of the Project Window shows a Mockford 3 project. However it also shows that the 'current project' (the one you had open when you took the screenshot) is Mockford All. Is the Mockford All project an updated version of the Mockford1 and/or 3 project? Should Mockford All contain all the same media (plus more, perhaps) as Mockford 1?

On the new computer, open FH in the way you described (clicking on the FH icon in the taskbar) so that you are looking at the project you think you have most recently updated. This is probably Mockford All. Then use Tools> External file links and post a screenshot of that. We can then see where that project folder is, and what media FH is looking for.

[Mocky]

Lorna I have found where the project is and the media. It is in onedrive and because it hadn't synced recently was not able to seen on the new pc. That being so can someone help me to bring it down and connect to the media so it all works if poss

[LornaCraig]

Now I'm confused, because if the project you are currently working on is still on Onedrive and the Media are also on Onedrive (in the Media folder of the project?) there shouldn't be a problem with the Media not displaying in FH. But you started the topic by saying the media/photos did not open, and FH was displaying the X. I assume the current project is Mockford All. If it has the same or similar media files as Mockford 1 there are only three files FH can't find.

I don't use Onedrive myself so I had better not try to give instructions regarding that. Perhaps someone else who is familiar with Onedrive can help there.

Once you have successfully relocated the project to your local PC you will need to avoid confusion between similarly named projects. When you have decided where on the PC you want to keep the project we can tell you how to set it as the default location in the Project Window. We'll also need to see a screenshot of the External file links for the Mockford All project to advise on how to repair any links which are broken as a result of the move, but if the arrangement is similar to Mockford 1 it should be fairly easy.

[Mocky]

Thanks Lorna it is confusing I agree. I will play about with it for a while and post tomorrow if you are around we may be able to sort it. In the mean time have a good evening and Happy New Year

[davidm_uk]

A bit more information will help us:

What version of Windows was the old PC running? (I'm guessing Win7 or even Win XP, the Project Window screen shot you posted refers to a "My Documents" folder, that is Win7/XP terminology).

What version of Windows is the new PC running, I assume Win10?

I assume that you have used OneDrive to transfer all your files to the new PC?

Have you done any changes to your FH data (added new people or information about people) since creating the OneDrive copy? If so we need to work out which is the latest version.

Does you new PC just have a hard disk with just a C: drive, or is there also a D: drive (a hard disk, not CD/DVD). If it has a D: drive it's common for people to have their data on there, and leave C: with just Windows and Program files. Do you want to do this, or leave your FH project on C:?

I use OneDrive, so am familiar with it, although I use it for backups which is a bit different.

[tatewise]

Mocky, there are multiple inconsistencies in the organisation of your data.

There seem to be at least three Projects:-

1. Mockford All located in the non-standard folder C:\users\stephen\onedrive\mockford 1\mockford all\...
2. Mockford located in the non-standard folder C:\users\stephen\onedrive\mockford 1\mockford\...
3. Mockford 3 located in standard folder C:\users\stephen\Documents\Family Historian Projects\Mockford 3\...

I assume the primary Project you are updating is Mockford All which is why you will not see Last Updated change in the Project Window because that applies to Mockford 3.

Please tell us the significance and relationship between those three Projects.

To focus on Mockford All, in the Project Window select More Tasks > Project List > Choose Location for Projects and browse to C:\users\stephen\onedrive\mockford 1\. That will show Mockford All in the Project Window with a correct Last Updated date & time. I think that will also list the Project called Mockford and maybe others.

The other big problem is that none of the Media are located within the Project folder of Mockford All as listed in 1. above and at the top of your External File Links screenshot. The Media are mostly located within the Project called Mockford as listed in your External File Links screenshot. i.e. located at C:\users\stephen\onedrive\mockford 1\mockford\...

Please confirm that all your Media should be within Mockford All and we can explain how to sort it out.

Until the above inconsistencies are resolved any migration to a new PC will be fraught with difficulties.