* Cannot open Family Historian Backup files.

[barbara348]

Hello, Hope someone can help me with a problem concerning saved Backup files please.

Last year I had to have a new hard drive on my Windows 10 PC and when I loaded all my Libraries I reloaded my version 5 Family History which then appeared in a Folder in my Documents, listed as Family Historian Projects.
I then opened a new folder for saving Family Historian Backup files.
As I only backup about every 6-8 weeks, I've had no reason to open any of them until today when I needed to check some details prior to sending the Gedcom file to a friend and none of the files would open - I keep getting the message.Unable to open the file, .........., file path not valid.
So I opened a newly named Folder and opened the Projects window, changed the Backup location (well, thought I had) to the new folder and saved a backup.
I then opened the new folder and I'm still getting the same message - can't open.
I'm not too clever with Historian and I'm not able to use it as much as I would like, so I'm wondering if someone (patient) could tell me where I'm going wrong with this Backup problem.
I'd really appreciate some advice please.

Thank you

Barbara.

[LornaCraig]

Hi Barbara,

You need to use the FH commands File > Backup/Restore > Restore Backup. You then select the desired backup from the list displayed. Give it a new name prior to restoring, so that you don't confuse it with your most up to date file.

[barbara348]

Hi, Barbara again,
I should also have added that I did access the Backup/restore notes in the file menu and changed the default location to the new folder I'd set up but I still couldn't open it.

[tatewise]

Barbara, it would really help us if you were more specific about the exact commands you are using.
In other words, instead saying you cannot open a folder, say I used the File > Backup/Restore > Restore Backup command, and in the Select File to Restore window, I could not expand the backup folder, or could not find the folder, or whatever the problem was.

[barbara348]

For Lorna.

Thanks very much Lorna for that straight forward advice because I don't think I explained my actions in trying to solve the problem too well.

I've never been too clever working out how to do manage some aspects of Family Historian and not having had the time to use it as much as I would have liked hasn't helped.
I rather envy the people on this Forum who have such a good grasp of it all.

I'll keep trying to get it right.

Thanks again

Barbara.

[barbara348]

For Tatewise.

Thank you Mike for your reply.

It appears from your post that I could/should have explained the action I took in trying to solve my problem in a clearer way.

I'm hoping that as I get the chance to use Family Historian more often, that I'll get more used to the way it all works, and not need to request help on what would seem to be straight forward issues.

However, in this instance I'll 'Soldier on' and hopefully get there in the end.

Barbara.

[tatewise]

Barbara, please don't 'soldier on' without asking for advice.

All I am saying is for us to help you we need to visualise what you are seeing and doing.

Either attach a screenshot of your problem, or describe a bit more explicitly what commands you are using. You know what you are clicking and seeing but we don't.

[LornaCraig]

Barbara,

If you have still not managed to open your backup do please ask again. People here are always willing to help and it is important that you know how to restore a backup in case you ever need to do so in a real crisis.

When you make a backup, how do you do it? Do you use FH's built-in backup option when you close FH? If so, do you back up the whole Project or just the Gedcom file?

What commands did you use when trying to open or restore the backup?

In your first post you said you got an error message saying the file path was not valid. If you are still getting that error message can you tell us what that file path is? (Copy and paste it from the error message, or attach a screen shot of the error message if you can).