* Broken external links

[Famquick]

Hi

I've got a broken link (for now will probably get more, but before that happens I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong and how to fix it)
I've earlier had broken links and did like in this video how_to:changing_external_file_links|> Changing External File Links and that helped on those back then they were named like this fx though: "BAP Ebbe and Uffe Christoffersen 1941" (without the "), I still had to manually change all the names though. The repair thing didn't really work like that.
Is it normal that you have to manually go and change the filename both in C: drive FH6 project media folder and in FH6 external files AND in the file adress in FH6 program project folder?
My files names doesn't change unless i do that, even though i edit its name in the external files box first.
I've tried deleting the ( ) from the file I'm asking about now, I've changed it to the same name everywhere like I did with the other broken links I had too, where doing that worked, but that doesn't help now.
I think I've read that () is bad to name files in windows right? So I should refrain from that right? It doesn't help on the external files not found though.

PS.
HAHA I just saw the above box saying you can't use the box to rename files
BUT how do I fix the broken link then? And where CAN you rename media files? and not break them and the stuff it's linked to?

[Jane]

If the files are within the Media folder or attached to Family Historian, the simple answer is DO NOT RENAME them.

If you move the files, but change the location FH can repair the links if you change the names of the files, there is no way obviously for Family Historian to find them.

If you really want to do this the best answer is to create a plugin which changes the file name and changes the link to the file at the same time.

[tatewise]

There are just two items that must match for the External File Links to be correct.

1. The Media Window media Property Box in its File box as in your 2nd screenshot
2. The Project's C: drive ...\Media\... folder path, filename & extension as in your 3rd screenshot.

The problem in this case is nothing to do with parentheses ( ).
You have omitted the file extension from the File box, which should probably be .jpg as the other media have in your 1st screenshot.

You can edit that manually, but another way is to double-left-click the thumbnail with the X on the right of screenshots.
Then click the red File not found and use the options provided to browse for the file.

Usually when you add Media files the whole file path, name & extension should get entered automatically.
Can you explain why in this case that has not happened.

It also may help if the file extension is shown in your Windows File Explorer displays (3rd screenshot).
Open the Vis (View) tab and towards right tick File name extensions.

As Jane says, don't rename Media by hand, use the plugins:help:search_and_replace:search_and_replace|> Search and Replace Plugin instead, which when Media ~ Property Box ~ File box filename is changed the actual file is automatically renamed too.

[Famquick]

I see okay. I guess that's on the wishlist for plugins. Thank you

I found out how to fix the broken link though, Tate had this answer in another post and it helped so YES!
Sorry I wasn't able to find that post before right now, I had been looking.

:

Will, I have started new thread for this new topic.

What is displaying?
If it is a white box with an X, looking a bit like an envelope, then it is not the thumbnail cache that is broken, but the Media file link.

If you rename a Media file then you must make the change in two places.
1) Edit the Linked File field in the Media record within FH.
2) Rename the file in the Project's Media sub-folder using Windows/File Explorer.

You can combine the two into one as follows:
Open the Property Box of the Media record.
Click on the [...] edit icon to the right of the Linked File field.
This will open a Select file dialog in which to rename the file, select it, and click Open bottom right.
That will update the Linked File field, and you have finished.

So I can use () ?

From this https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/window ... onventions
Use a backslash () to separate the components of a path. The backslash divides the file name from the path to it, and one directory name from another directory name in a path. You cannot use a backslash in the name for the actual file or directory because it is a reserved character that separates the names into components.

it seems like I can't right? It's a bit difficult for me to understand.
So then I'll just use () in the media titel and not in the file media name

[Famquick]

sorry didn't see new post reading it now

[tatewise]

That advice to "Use a backslash () to separate the components of a path." is a typing error.
It should say "Use a backslash \ to separate the components of a path." as shown in the next bullet point.

The only reserved characters are shown a few bullet points later. Parentheses ( and ) are not listed so are OK.
If you try to use an invalid reserved character then Windows File Explorer pops up a message saying you cannot use that.

[Famquick]

That advice to "Use a backslash () to separate the components of a path." is a typing error.
It should say "Use a backslash \ to separate the components of a path." as shown in the next bullet point.

The only reserved characters are shown a few bullet points later. Parentheses ( and ) are not listed so are OK.
If you try to use an invalid reserved character then Windows File Explorer pops up a message saying you cannot use that.

YES! Okay! Thank you so much that helps a lot 'cause it makes it way more easy to read and sort for me that way thank you. : D

[tatewise]

Did you fix your file extension broken link mismatch?

[Famquick]

Did you fix your file extension broken link mismatch?

Yes