* Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

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2bob
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Family Historian: V6.2

Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by 2bob »

Newbie here.
I’m running v6.2.7 on Win10 - 64bit. During some housekeeping I stupidly started to delete the Calico Pie file but stopped after about 2 seconds.
Most of the program seems to work except for 2 (known) problems;
1. The diagram/charts are generated with pictures but no text. When I access Diagrams-Options-Text then the ‘Current Text Scheme box’ says ‘n/a’ and the ‘Select Text Scheme’ box is empty (see attachment).
2. When I look under the Publish column, all 6 Report options say - <Empty> (see above attachment).
Do I have to reinstall v6 or can this be done by an ‘Installation Build’ command? I don’t know how to reinstall if required, I’m not too computer literate.
I originally down loaded the free v6 trial then payed for the Registration Key which I still have. These problems also occur with the Fh Sample Project, so it’s looking like a program issue.
I have recent full back ups of both ‘FH Project Back Up….’ and ‘FH Gedcom Back Up….’ Zip files.
I’d be very grateful if the experts could suggest my best way forward please (in simple words). Thanks.
p.s. I'm having trouble adding the attachment, I hope you have only 1.
Attachments
Diagram and Text Box Errors.png
Diagram and Text Box Errors.png (180.66 KiB) Viewed 3676 times
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tatewise
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Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by tatewise »

Welcome to the FHUG.

Yes, deleting the C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian folder will upset many of the FH features.
The Project & GEDCOM Backup ZIP files do NOT backup any of those files that you have deleted.

If you have used Windows File Explorer to delete those files then they should be recoverable from the Recycle Bin.
Use that to restore everything back to normal, but if that is not possible then use the technique below.

It is quite easy to reset those features to the installation defaults but not any customisations that you may have added.
Have you customised any of the Diagram, Report, Fact Types, Query, Plugin, etc, features?

To reset the features, the easiest method is to reinstall FH v6.2.7 as explained below.
Use your web browser to visit the FH Download Archive at https://www.family-historian.co.uk/down ... ad-archive
Scroll down and on the Version 6 tab click the Family Historian 6.2.7 Upgrade download link.
Save the upgrade_fh6_to_6.2.7_dl.exe file to somewhere such as your Downloads or Desktop.
Then locate that file and double-click it to run the installation process.
It should not need your Registration Key and will restore the missing installation files.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
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2bob
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Family Historian: V6.2

Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by 2bob »

Thanks Mike for taking the time to provide detailed help with my problem. I’m sorry to say that it didn’t solved this issue.

The attachment shows that Fh has been updated but this hasn’t corrected the original problem (caused by me) to the main program. Perhaps an update doesn’t fully overwrite the main program?

Would something more drastic be needed such as a reinstall?

I notice that under Win 10: ‘Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Programs and Features’ there is an option to ‘Unistall, Change or REPAIR’ a program.Would the latter be of any use to me?

Thanks very much for your time.
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Missing text etc 2.png
Missing text etc 2.png (165.49 KiB) Viewed 3508 times
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Jane
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Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by Jane »

Can you confirm you reinstalled the program and did not simply reapply the 6.2.7 update?
Jane
My Family History : My Photography "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad."
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tatewise
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Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by tatewise »

Can you confirm that you tried restoring the deleted files from the Windows Recycle Bin?

That should recover not just the installation files but your customisation files.

If that is not possible, then as Jane says, you may need to re-install FH using your original installation media for FH v6.
But that will only recover the installation files and NOT your customisations.

When this is resolved please ask about creating backups to prevent this problem in the future.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
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2bob
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Family Historian: V6.2

Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by 2bob »

Good news all, everything is now working well. Thank you Mike and Jane for your expert inputs.

In answer to some of your earlier questions which I rudely failed to answer:
(1) Yes I did only reapply the update I’m afraid, I misunderstood Mike’s instructions.
(2) I tried the Recycle Bin route but there were few files there, then I remember recently that my antivirus program asked me if I wanted to delete unwanted files to save memory so that probably caused that.
(3) Being a basic user, I didn’t have any customisations to lose so that simplified it.

I used the full reinstall method that you mentioned. I was puzzled by the ‘using your original installation media’ as I didn’t have a CD and wasn’t aware of a downloaded file anywhere. But then I noticed on my original FH Order email that the download was ‘FH6 Installation Program’ which was a hot-link to the web program, I downloaded this and all is well.

FH is a very versatile program which is good as long as its workings remain under the bonnet. When things go wrong with the ‘engine’ (caused by me in this case) then a specialist is needed. Thank you all.

p.s. you may wonder how I came to be in this position. Well my son brought a new laptop and he said I could have his old hard disc to use as an external HD. I put it in a case and plugged into my laptop, while checking it for unwanted files I started deleting a file called Calico Pie! Just as I started, it dawned on me that Calico Pie IS fh6. So I quickly stopped, checked the file address and it was on MY computer. Too late, damage done and lesson learnt.
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tatewise
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Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by tatewise »

Bob, since you don't think you have any customisations, the re-installation process will recover similar issues in future.

But if you do ever start customising anything, even if only downloading Queries from the KB or Plugins from the Plugin Store, or perhaps minor adjustments to Diagrams or Reports or any of the Tools > Preferences settings, then you need a backup of those customisations just like you backup your Projects.
The easiest way to do that is to download and run the 'Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings' plugin in Backup mode.
An alternative is to include that C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\ folder in your regular backup regime.
I hope you do have a regular backup regime to protect you against significant data loss due to accidents such as deleting files, PC or disk crash, lightning power surges, fire, flood, theft, etc.
If not then please see the FHUG KB Backup and Recovery which provides crucial advice not just for your genealogy data but everything that is important to you on your PC.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
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BobWard
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Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by BobWard »

Mike,
Your comment in the previous post "An alternative is to include that C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\ folder in your regular backup regime." raises a question for me.

What is the difference in saving a copy of the above file path versus just doing the "Full Backup" from FH via File>Backup/Restore>Full Backup? Is the only real difference the fact that customizations get backed up when copying the above file path, whereas an FH "Full Backup" does not save Customizations?
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2bob
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Family Historian: V6.2

Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by 2bob »

Thanks Mike for the info re backup strategies.

I do keep a number of copies of the Project & GEDCOM backup ZIP files both on and off the laptop.

I’ve got the book ‘Getting the most from FH6’ which covers backing up so I’ll study that as well as your recommendations Mike.

I’ll also follow this thread for guidance such as BobWard’s question.

Thanks all.
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tatewise
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Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by tatewise »

As explained in Backup and Recovery the Project Backup commands mentioned do NOT backup the global customisation settings held in the C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\ folder, the Windows Registry, and elsewhere.

I don't believe there is anything in "Getting the Most from Family Historian" that covers backup of customisation settings.

The only sure way to backup & restore all custom settings is the 'Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings' plugin.

Please read and digest the Backup and Recovery advice.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
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BobWard
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Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by BobWard »

Mike, are the "global customisation settings" all saved when simply copying the "C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\ folder" to an external hard drive?

If so, are these "global customisation settings" different from "custom" settings that are saved by using the "Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings" plugin?
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tatewise
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Re: Possible corruption of Calico Pie file

Post by tatewise »

Bob, that is explained in the Backup and Recovery advice.

No, not all "global customisation settings" are saved when simply copying the "C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\ folder".

The "C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\ folder" holds most of the "global customisation settings" but not all.
There are other settings in the AppData folder and the Windows Registry, etc. See Understanding the Scope of Features.
In FH v6.2 and earlier, it is also possible to have Diagram Icon and Background images stored anywhere on your PC, and C:\Users\Public\Documents\Calico Pie\Family Historian\Tutorial files.
The "Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings" plugin handles all the above, but excludes the ProgramData Map/Cache folder that can be very large and does not need backups. It manages the Backup and Restore operations efficiently by only copying changed files and reports when newer files might be replaced by older files to let you choose.

There has been a longstanding request for CP to simplify the "global customisation settings" and store them in a more accessible location such as the Family Historian Projects folder, but there has been little progress.
See Wish List Ref 460 Localise Settings to Projects that also cross-refers to other related requests.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
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