* most of my media gone; bad jpg file

[settingup]

I transferred several gedcom files from an OLD program into their own project then merged them. I have spent several days working with that data fixing errors and learning the Family Historian 7 program. There are around 700 media objects pictures, etc. that show as a white box with an x inside. If I try to open them I receive an error message stating Unable to load object bad JPG file. I originally thought that they may not be jpg files and if there is a way I could let the Family Historian program know that then I could get them to reappear. Except I have found no such function and a lot of them are actually jpg files.
I have tried the Tools > External File Links then selected Auto Repair Links on the Work with External File Links window. This didn't appear to do anything. Maybe because the gedcom files copied the pictures and not links.

- I do not want to have to reenter all of this by hand. Is there a way to fix this? ​

- On Work with External File Links window it shows the file names of the pictures located in . . . Project Data Folder/Media. I have the original photos in a separate folder on my computer without the notes and captions that I added in the OLD Heritage family tree program. Would it be possible to cut and paste the file, the additional copies of the pictures, using File Explorer into this folder? My thought is that the file names of the picture would be the same (unless gedcom or Family Histroian changed the name) the good pictures that I can view outside of any family tree program would replace the bad damaged jpg files. Would that work? Or would they not link up to the individuals correctly?

- Is there a way to export a new gedcom file from the old program that only contain the names, relationships, sources and media files with out all the other wrong and duplicate facts gunking up my current family tree project? I am aware that I can edit as it merges, but with the condition my files are in that took a long time and I have already input and corrected some of that data form the original merge. Just trying to get the pictures that were attached to people and sources.

Please help, Thank you

[tatewise]

Welcome to the FHUG.

The X marks indicate that FH cannot find the Media Files where the Media Records are saying they should exist.
They should exist inside the Project Data Folder in its Media sub-folder, but they are not there.
In other words, when you imported the GEDCOM file as a Project it did not copy the Media Files.

You say the Media Files exist elsewhere on disk and so the Auto Repair Links button should have found them if the filenames matched up.

You could try copying the Media Files into the Project's Media folder. Do you know where that is?

It would help us if you could confirm a few details.

Did you use the File > Project Window... > New Project... > Import a GEDCOM File option and leave the Copy any linked media files into the new project folder option ticked?

What does it say on the very top border of the FH window?
Should be like: <project name> - Family Historian Project - [Focus Window]

What OLD product are you migrating from? We may have specific advice for that product if users have migrated before.
See FHUG Knowledge Base Importing to Family Historian advice.

[settingup]

Thank you for the reply. I was afraid to do anything for fear I'd screw it up worse.
The OLD Heritage family tree program is Heritage Family Tree Deluxe 3.0. I had to export from that program to gedcom and it was the gedcom that I imported.
Yes, the check box stating Copy any linked media files into the new project folder was checked.
The media files don't appear to be there regardless if I try to view them on the window labeled with Individual: <the individual's name> or <project name> - Family Historian Project - [Focus Window] or <project name> - Family Historian Project - [Media Window]. When I tried the Tools > External File Links then selected Auto Repair Links on the Work with External File Links window. The pop up box was labeled Auto-Repair Broken Links at the top. Below that it said searching for missing files. This may take some time. Then it showed a bar that it is working on something followed by the text Broken Media Links Repaired 0 of 2 and under that Folders Searched: (and an increasing number)
The copy paste in file explorer helped, but there are still around 600 white boxes with an x and no picture. When trying to open the missing media file I get the message " Unable to load object [207] Bad JPG file" except many (all?) of these are not JPG files.
For example if I look at the pictures for my aunt. The main combined project was meant to have four pictures three jpeg and one jpg only the jpg shows a picture. The other three show the box with the x, which when I open the media folder shows as a file. The thumbnail is a graphic of a blue sky with a couple of mountains. When I try to open it in explorer I get the message "<name of the file> Sorry, photos can't open this file because the format is currently unsupported, or the file is corrupted"
The problem with the pictures is the gedcom file I was using. When exporting into a gedcom file I was given the option (check boxes) if I wanted to include things like notes, sources, confidential information, info on the living, scrapbook links, etc. I wanted to include EVERYTHING. Under scrapbook links was another check box labeled Encode Scrapbook Items and I had it checked. If that is unchecked then the pictures transfer over into the new Family Historian project.
Thanks again for taking the time to help.

[tatewise]

So if I understand your last few sentences correctly, all the Media files have been imported to your FH Project successfully and all your problems have been resolved.

[settingup]

The media file imported, but I have to start over from scratch on merging the files. Which is a long process, and from they way I understand it I can't stop in the middle or all of my selections will be lost. I was trying to avoid this, but don't see how I can with new gedcom files. But yes the media files appear to be there.

[tatewise]

Since you know how to use File Explorer to move Media files into a Project's Media folder, try copying the newly imported Project's Media folder contents to the merged Project's Media folder.

That should resolve most if not all the Media files you need, and if it does not work you have lost nothing.

If that is successful then post back here because there will be a great many 'encoded' Media files that need purging.
There is a Plugin in FH that makes that task easy.

You will also want to Delete the newly imported Project that is now redundant.

Tip: After importing from another product, carefully review all aspects before performing any further adjustments.
See the FHUG Knowledge Base Importing to Family Historian and the other Importing advice.

[settingup]

That is a good idea, unfortunately it didn't work for me. It appears some of the file names are different not sure why. I do have multiples for several of the pictures. Is that what the plug in is for? Which plug-in are you referring to?

[tatewise]

For the few that do not work, presumably they still have an X in Tools > External File Links... etc.
You will need to review the Media File Links, which define where FH expects to find the file versus the actual filenames.
i.e. If the File Link says Media\Certificate\John Smith Birth.jpg then the file must be in the Project's Media folder and Certificate sub-folder with the filename John Smith Birth.jpg
The Auto Repair Links button tries to do that automatically. Alternatively, it needs manual override.

You will need to explain in more detail regarding multiples of the same pictures for me to provide advice.
If the same path is in the File Links more than once that could confuse FH.

The plugin obtained from the Plugin Store is Check for Unlinked Media and finds/deletes files in the Media folder that are not linked to a Media Record in the Project database.
For an overview of Plugins see FHUG Knowledge Base Family Historian Plugins.