* Create Separate FH Project File For Spouse's Family

[BobWard]

I currently have all of my wife's family included in my FH project file. Some of her nieces and nephews now want to buy FH so that they can have access to all my FH data, which is already formatted with tons of media & text linked to individuals.

So, I am trying to figure out a way to isolate all the ancestors/relatives on my wife's side of the tree and create a new FH project file for just her family, that will retain all the correctly linked media to everyone. It is critical that all my media files and links come across to this new project so that I can just give her nieces & nephews a copy of the new FH project file that they can just download into their new copy of FH, thus having an instant family tree that would include all the research and media that I have compiled for my wife's side of the family.

Can such a task be done in a manner that will preserve all the media links?

[PeterR]

I think this is most easily done by using File, Import/Export, Export > GEDCOM File... with suitable queries to select the required records.  It is important to specify the Multimedia Records option Use Existing File Paths for External File Links and to save the resulting new GEDCOM files in the same folder as the original GEDCOM file.  At this stage each new standalone GEDCOM file will still have valid links to its images.

Then you can easily create the new project by importing the new GEDCOM file; this will automatically copy just the required multimedia files to the new project folder.

[BobWard]

Peter,

When using File, Import/Export, Export > GEDCOM File, I do not see an option to add any queries to filter out certain people. I only see the options of "Add All" or "Select". Using the "Select" option, I would have to manually go through my database and select everyone on my wife's side of the family.

I am probably missing something in what you are trying to say about adding "suitable queries", i.e., what "queries" and where would they be incorporated into the process of creating the new FH project file?

I was hoping that I might be able to just create an "All Ancestors" chart for my wife's family, then select all the people in that chart and tell FH to create a new project file based on the people in that selection. Sounds too easy though.

[tatewise]

Sorry Peter but your suggestion is not the simplest approach.

The fist step is to create a copy of your current Project including all Media.
Use File > Project Window select your Project then More Tasks> Copy Project and choose the name you want to describe your wife's Project.

Open that new Project and create a Full Backup just in case!

Now use File > Split Tree Helper to remove unwanted Individuals and the consequential redundant records.
By using appropriate Queries focussed on your wife/yourself you should be able to select all Individuals to include/exclude.
If you get stuck then ask for help here.
See KB Family Historian entries for Export/Import & Backup/Restore section which includes how to work from a Diagram via Named List to Query in Split Tree Helper.
All other Records no longer linked to anything can be automatically deleted using the options.

What does not get deleted is Media files that are no longer linked because the Media records have been deleted.
The Check for Unlinked Media Plugin is designed to delete such files.

Finally, use Tools > External File Links and ensure they are all listed within Project Data Folder - Media.
Otherwise, the Links will get broken when transferred to your relations.

Probably the best way to transfer the Project is to create a Medium Backup and send the .zip file so your relations can use File > Restore.

Another consideration is whether you have any Customised Fact Definitions, or custom Diagrams, Reports, Queries, etc, that you relations will need. If so then some files from the C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian folder will also need to be sent.

[PeterR]

At the bottom of the Select Records window is a button Add using Query...; you need to use an appropriate query to select the records to be exported, e.g. your wife's relatives. Then you tick the boxes to Exclude any types of record you do not wish to share, and choose Use Existing File Paths for External File Links and save the exported GEDCOM file in the same folder as your master GEDCOM. Then create a new Project by importing the exported GEDCOM. This method automatically preserves the media links. I find it a lot simpler than using the Split Tree Helper.

[LornaCraig]

Depending on how wide ranging your research has been, the All Relatives query with your wife as starting person may not include quite everyone you want. It will include all her ancestors and all their descendants and all spouses of those people. However it will not include relatives of spouses. So if you have any information in your file about the families (including other spouses) of people who married into the family they will have to be added.

[BobWard]

Lorna,

Are you referring to "non-blood relatives" of spouses as the ones that would not be included? For example, the wife of a brother of the spouse would not be included, but the brother would be. In this case, the brother would be blood-related to my wife, but the brother's wife would not be.

[LornaCraig]

If someone who married into your wife's family (the 'spouse') is not related to her in any other way then they are not a blood relative of your wife. FH will include them among your wife's relatives because they married one of her blood relatives. However the link stops there. The spouse's brother is definitely not a blood relative of your wife (unless he happens to be related in some other way as well). None of the spouse's relatives will be included. So if the spouse had a second spouse or a brother or a brother-in-law who is in your file they will not be included in a query to find your wife's relatives.

It is for this reason that you will be included among your wife's relatives but none of the rest of you own family, apart from any descendants you have with her, will be.

If you have only a small number of such people you could add them manually to a named list and add the query result set to the same named list. Then use the 'named list ' query as the basis for selection.

[davidm_uk]

This must be a not uncommon requirement!

I'm not conversant enough with expressions but I wonder if it might be possible to write a custom report (or even a plugin) that for a specified individual would list all of the people "in their tree", including all relatives of non blood relatives, but perhaps excluding any relatives of that individual's spouse/partner, and excluding any unconnected individuals (in other Pools)? This could then be added to a Named List for use with the Split Tree Helper.

[BobWard]

I looked at the Split Tree Helper utility today. I am confused about creating a copy of my gedcom file versus a copy of my FH project file.

Doesn't the FH project file include the gedcom file? If so, why not work off a copy of my FH project file rather than creating a copy of a gedcom file?

I would think that the gedcom file copy would not preserve all my links to connected media, whereas a FH project file would preserve those links.

Just trying to fully understand all the available options before I attempt to create this new tree for my relatives.

[LornaCraig]

It depends whether you follow Mike's suggestion and use the Split Tree Helper (working on a copy of the whole project) or Peter's suggestion and use the Export Gedcom command, followed by creating a new project by importing the new Gedcom.

If you look back at their posts you will see that Mike said

The fist step is to create a copy of your current Project including all Media.
Use File > Project Window select your Project then More Tasks> Copy Project and choose the name you want to describe your wife's Project.

The slight drawback of this method is that any Media files that are no longer linked (because the Media records have been deleted) will need to be removed from the new project at the end. You can do this with the Check for Unlinked Media Plugin.

Another drawback is that the Split Tree helper has not caught up with the fact that FH now has Place records, so it does not have an option to delete Place records with no links to them (it has options for other record types). So you would need to delete any unused Place records in the new project as well.

Peter's method avoids the need for these extra deletions at the end, but his method does not start with a copy of the whole project.

You will see that he said

save the exported GEDCOM file in the same folder as your master GEDCOM. Then create a new Project by importing the exported GEDCOM. This method automatically preserves the media links.

Because you save the new Gedcom in the same folder as the original one it preserves all the multimedia links. Then in the Project window use the New Project command and select the option to Import a Gedcom file. Then in the next window the option to Copy any linked multimedia files into the new propject folder will be selected by default. Only the media you use in the new project will be copied, so you don't need to delete any redundant ones afterwards.

Another advantage of this method is that Unconnected records can be excluded from the exported gedcom, so no unused Place records will be exported. (Don't exclude Place records completely, though!!)

[tatewise]

On reflection, the Export GEDCOM File method is simpler than Split Tree Helper for the reasons given.

However, the task of selecting all relations of one spouse and none of the other is proving to be rather more difficult than it should be.

Interestingly, the All Relatives Query is similar to the All Relatives Diagrams in only including blood relatives and direct spouses.

Using the =IsRelativeOf() function includes a few more relatives, and using the =RelationshipPool() function includes everyone however distantly related, but distinguishing between one spouses relatives that are not the other spouses relatives is proving to be very tricky with a Query and may need a Plugin, but if there are marriages between distant 'cousins' in both maternal and paternal ancestors it may be extremely difficult.

[tatewise]

I think I have discovered the Query Row filters to obtain all relatives of one Individual excluding their Spouses relatives.

Add if =IsTrue(RelationPool(%INDI%) = RelationPool(["Individual"])) is true

Exclude if =Not(RelationCode(["Individual"],%INDI%,SPOUSE_START,1) = 0) is true

The fist filter includes ALL relatives however distant because all in the same pool as chosen Individual.

Second filter excludes relatives related via Spouse because value is 1 or nothing.

[BobWard]

Mike, where in the process, that Peter suggested, do I add the Queries you suggest?

Using Peter's suggestion, it looks like I will be successful in following these steps:
File>Export>Gedcom File>Select
Then in the Select Records box, click Add Using Query>All Relatives, then set my wife as the Starting Person, and click ok. That seems to bring in her side of the family.

Am I on the right track so far?

[tatewise]

Yes Bob, that is the correct process, but the Standard All Relatives Query does not necessarily include all your wife's Relatives. It only includes her blood line Relatives and their immediate spouses, but not the further relatives of those spouses.

Tomorrow I will post a Custom Query based on my just discovered Row filters that will do a better job, and you would Add Using Query using that new Custom Query.

[BobWard]

That sounds great Mike.

Thanks for your help.

[tatewise]

Sorry Bob, after a bit more experimentation and testing, I have found my anticipated solution does not work reliably.

This is partly due to some inconsistences in the way FH Queries and Functions indicate relationships that I do not believe to be correct, and intend to report to Calico Pie.
e.g.
Consider the Family Historian Sample Project and focus on Susan Isabel DOWLING [3].
Her All Relatives Diagram displays 31 Individual boxes.
The All Relatives Query lists the same 31 Individuals.
A query for all members of her Relation Pool 1 lists 97 Individuals.
A query using the =IsRelativeOf() function lists only 70 Individuals related to her.
A query using the =Relationship() or =RelationCode() functions gives values for 71 Individuals which are the same as the 70 above plus herself.
So there are 97 - 71 = 26 Individuals in the same Pool without an identifiable Relationship and this is the crux of the problem.

In the meantime I hope to come up with a Plugin solution.

[LornaCraig]

Bob, In practice the All Relatives query may be sufficient for your needs, if you do not have any, or many, 'relatives of spouses' in your file.

You said you will be sending the data to your wife's nephews and nieces. If the nephews and nieces are married and you have any information about their spouses' families that will not be included in the All Relatives query but it would be a fairly simple matter to add them manually to a named list if they are few in number. First add the results of the All Relatives query to a named list, then manually add the extras, and use the Named List query when exporting the Gedcom.

[BobWard]

Yes Lorna, I think the All Relatives query may work ok for me. I don't think I have any "extended" relatives to anyone in my wife's tree that this query would miss.

I will generate an All Relatives diagram for my wife, using my current entire family FH project file. Then I will split her "branch" off using the procedure that Peter suggested, generate another All Relatives diagram from that file, and then compare the 2 diagrams to see if they are identical.

Appreciate all the help that everyone has provided.

[tatewise]

Bob, as has been said several times the All Relatives Diagram does NOT necessarily include ALL relatives, whichever way you create it.

You need to inspect various branches of that tree and create an All Relatives Diagram for any Individual you suspect may have futher relations and try and spot any discrepancies.

Alternatively, wait until I can produce the Plugin solution.

[BobWard]

Mike, I used an incorrect word in my above post, i.e., I referred to an All Relatives "chart", when I actually meant a "diagram". I have corrected the post.

My intent is to create both diagrams (as discussed) and then compare the two diagrams to see if they are identical.

I will do some experimenting, but, will look forward to your Plugin as well.

[tatewise]

Try ATTACHMENTS All Pool Relatives Except Partner Ancestors prototype Plugin Version 0.1 Date 18 Mar 2016.
[EDIT: Attachment deleted as Plugin V1.0 is now in Plugin Store.]

Select your Wife in your database and run the Plugin.
It should list in a Result Set all your Wife's relatives (descendants & ancestors) but none of your ancestors.

Use Ctrl+A on keyboard to select entire Result Set.
Use the Query Menu option to Add Selected Cell Records to a Named List and choose a Name such as Relatives.

Then when you use Export > GEDCOM File and Select with Add using Query, choose Named List Members and select Relatives.

Keep that Named List for whenever you wish to export again, and it only needs updating via the Plugin when you add to your Wife's family tree.

[BobWard]

Thanks Mike. I will give that a try.

[WillBenson]

Try ATTACHMENTS All Pool Relatives Except Partner Ancestors prototype Plugin Version 0.1 Date 18 Mar 2016.

Select your Wife in your database and run the Plugin.
It should list in a Result Set all your Wife's relatives (descendants & ancestors) but none of your ancestors.

Use Ctrl+A on keyboard to select entire Result Set.
Use the Query Menu option to Add Selected Cell Records to a Named List and choose a Name such as Relatives.

Then when you use Export > GEDCOM File and Select with Add using Query, choose Named List Members and select Relatives.

Keep that Named List for whenever you wish to export again, and it only needs updating via the Plugin when you add to your Wife's family tree.

Thanks, Mike, I needed that too. You really are the go-to-guy

[tatewise]

Other aspects that may need further consideration are Fact Witnesses and Associated Person links.
Currently the Plugin does NOT include those people referenced via such links (and a Query would find it very tricky).
Do either of you expect to need such extra people to be included in your exported Gedcom?