* Back up and Restore Family Historian Settings

[janefrances]

My hard drive packed up a couple of days ago and I'm in the process of restoring FH from my back up. (D) I've successfully re-installed and opened my project with no issues, however I need to restore my custom settings using the above plug in. I've stopped short of the restore because I'm a bit unsure of my next step.

On the options tab - allow registry data - should this be selected? and on the Restore tab the option of Program Data Files or Registry Data Keys which one should I select (if any?) Many thanks

[tatewise]

Several FH settings are saved in the Windows Registry every time you run FH.
Those include most Tools > Preferences settings and all customisation of the standard Diagrams opened via the toolbar icons.
So to restore those settings you need to tick the Options tab Allow Restore Registry Data option, which will enable the Registry Data Keys button on the Restore tab.

The Program Data Files button restores all custom files to the C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian folder.
Use that one first, then the Registry Data Keys button, and take care to follow the instructions to close the Plugin and FH before saying Yes in the command prompt window.

[janefrances]

Thanks Mike, I've now got to the next stage in the Restore Tab, which gives me four options to choose from:
Copy Old Backup File
Keep New Program Data File
Copy Old Files
Keep All New Files

Not sure which one to opt for?

[tatewise]

The first two options apply file by file for every customisation file where the modified dates disagree.
The filename is shown as the Data Filename in the Status box above.

If it is a customisation file that you had modified before taking the Backup, then Copy Old Backup File.
If it looks more like a customisation file that FH would manage then Keep New Program Data File.
if not sure, then make a note of the Data Filename and choose Keep New Program Data File.
Post here a list of the filenames you have noted for advice.
Then the Plugin can be run again to restore any that need copying from backup.

The other two options will get applied to all subsequent customisation files where the modified dates disagree.
So do not choose either of those options.

[janefrances]

If I understand correctly then the only customisation files I can think of before doing my last back up was for several charts files so am I right in thinking that FH would manage these, so I select the Keep New Data option?

[tatewise]

No, Saved Charts (as opposed to Diagram Types) are managed within each Project so do NOT fall within the scope of this global settings Plugin at all. Such Charts should not figure in the Data Filenames.

If unsure then make a list of each Data Filename and choose Keep New Program Data File, and post the list here.

[janefrances]

Data file name Fact Types\Standard\Group Index.fhdata
Statue Restore performed by 20 data files
I've tried to insert a snapshot but can't remember how!

[janefrances]

Date Filename is now blank and the status restore completed for 226 files for 1 program

[tatewise]

The Fact Types\Standard\Group Index.fhdata is managed by FH to index all the Fact Types definitions.
So that one did not need to be restored, but even if you had, then FH would soon regenerate the index.

Everything else appears to have restored 226 customisation files OK.

So now on to restore the Registry Data Keys which is a bit fiddly so just carefully follow the instructions.

[janefrances]

Followed instructions carefully esp. the closing of FH and it didn't take long, all seems well, thank you for your help.