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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: Jolyon on Tuesday 19 June 18 12:27 BST (UK)
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Help/advice please.
Within 'documents' on my PC I have a folder containing Gedcom files. Usually folders have a symbol at the start of the folders name [extreme left] eg; 'W' for a word document.
Though normally the Gedcom is blank I have inadvertently put the 'Acrobat Reader' symbol against each one. Question - does it matter?
I have copies on a memory stick and wonder, would I still be able to input the data to a Family History programme in a worst case scenario?
Jolyon
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If you right click and go to 'open with' and then select FH (or whatever) and select always open files like this with FH, it should work.
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A Folder is only a Folder it's the Files inside that count!!
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Thank you hallmark & Gadget for your replies.
Gadget: Right click as suggested shows top of the box 'open with Adobe', then is 'Open' and 'Open with', giving; 'keep using this app' or, 'other options'.
Look for app in the store: - more apps = Int Explorer, MS office picture manager, MS office word, Notepad, Paint, MS media player and Word pad. But no FH. A bit beyond me I'm afraid.
Messing with the options is, I think, what gave this adobe quandary.
hallmark: Your suggestion is what I thought, but I'm not sure.
Jolyon
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hallmark: Your suggestion is what I thought, but I'm not sure.
Jolyon
Open the folder and see what files are inside!
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"Within 'documents' on my PC I have a folder containing Gedcom files. Usually folders have a symbol at the start of the folders name [extreme left] eg; 'W' for a word document.
Though normally the Gedcom is blank I have inadvertently put the 'Acrobat Reader' symbol against each one. Question - does it matter?
I have copies on a memory stick and wonder, would I still be able to input the data to a Family History programme in a worst case scenario?"
If you're using an FTM programme, I would suggest you delete all which are 'open with acrobat reader' & save them again (as they are) which would be either FTM or FTW or both with no need to add anything else as they will open as a gedcom automatically?
Annie
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In the past, I've also opened my Family Tree program (Family Historian in my case) and then Open ~ new and then selected the gedcom file that I'm interested in.
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"Within 'documents' on my PC I have a folder containing Gedcom files. Usually folders have a symbol at the start of the folders name [extreme left] eg; 'W' for a word document.
Though normally the Gedcom is blank I have inadvertently put the 'Acrobat Reader' symbol against each one. Question - does it matter?
I have copies on a memory stick and wonder, would I still be able to input the data to a Family History programme in a worst case scenario?"
If you're using an FTM programme, I would suggest you delete all which are 'open with acrobat reader' & save them again (as they are) which would be either FTM or FTW or both with no need to add anything else as they will open as a gedcom automatically?
Annie
So you've put it on each file??
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"I have copies on a memory stick and wonder, would I still be able to input the data to a Family History programme in a worst case scenario?"
I'm unsure if the ones on your memory stick are 'open with acrobat reader' but if so, I don't see those could be uploaded as a gedcom file?
Maybe try it by opening a new file on whichever site you want to upload to, to see what happens?
Annie
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All you need to do is right click and open with a family tree program. This should be in your program folder, which you can navigate to in the normal way.
If you don't have a family tree program, you won't be able to open it to make any sense of the data.
Gadget
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What family tree program are you using?
Gadget
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All you need to do is right click and open with a family tree program
I'm not sure that is the case for all FH programs. For mine, I have to use the command import for the program to be able to use the data from a gedcom file.
Nell
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That's why I asked (Reply #10) which program was going to be used, Nell.
Add - I remembered that I used a freebee tree program on my laptop the other day and I had to use Import.
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Just found this thread that discusses various options. An old thread but might be of use
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=415695.0
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Having read through the thread I'm not sure I understand the problem :-\
As long as the file is a properly constructed GEDCOM with the '.ged' file type, any program that can read GEDCOM files will be able to read it correctly. Incidentally a GEDCOM is a simple text file which will open in notepad, although it may not be easy reading unless you understand the underlying principles.
The 'Open with acrobat reader' (or whatever) is purely a Windows function which can be changed easily as has been described. It does not alter the actual file in any way, just the way Windows deals with it.
Mike.
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Having read through the thread I'm not sure I understand the problem :-\
As long as the file is a properly constructed GEDCOM with the '.ged' file type, any program that can read GEDCOM files will be able to read it correctly. Incidentally a GEDCOM is a simple text file which will open in notepad, although it may not be easy reading unless you understand the underlying principles.
The 'Open with acrobat reader' (or whatever) is purely a Windows function which can be changed easily as has been described. It does not alter the actual file in any way, just the way Windows deals with it.
Mike.
Can't figure out if Folder has Icon
or Files in the Folder
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I imagine this is the folder view in question. The icon seems to take its cue from the type of files contained in each folder. I guess the 'W' mentioned in the original post would suggest the files are associated with 'Word', which I don't use so it doesn't appear in my screen shot.
Mike.
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Hi all,
Thank you for trying to help and will 'try' to answer/cover the various questions here.
FH programs on my PC are RootsMagic and Legacy. I have two trees on RM and one on Legacy and currently have no problems with either program and is how I view my tree.
As a precaution against a PC disaster I created/exported Gedcom files for each tree, initially to the Documents folder on my PC, then created another similar folder within the Documents folder, if you follow, which I called Gedcom I put exactly the same info on a Memory Stick also.
Recently noticed all Gedcom files have the Adobe symbol attached, as previously described, and if I right click the actual Gedcom file, top of the box reads "Open with Adobe etc" but it won't, and further box/message says it can't.
I should add that I can't remove the Adobe symbol showing against the Gedcom, and am now worried I have done something which will stop the Gedcom being imported to the tree program.
Opening another FH file for experiment is something I am pondering, but worry about adding to my problems? which may be imaginary anyway. (I'm a worrier).
Regards
Jolyon
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I am on Windows 7, and I have no idea what operating system you are using.
But what I can do is:
Open the folder in Windows Explorer.
Click (once) on a Gedcom file.
Select the drop-down box next to "Open", on the menu bar. (IE click on the down arrow)
Select Choose default program - my choice is Notepad.
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On Windows 10,
- Browse to ANY of the GEDCOM files
- Right click on it
- Select "Open With"
- Right click on it
- In "How do you want to open this file?" select "More Apps"
- In the list which comes up, select "Notepad".
- Tick the box for "Always use this app to open"
- Click OK
I find that Notepad is quite useful for searching through my data, as I regularly export a GEDCOM. When I vaguely remember that I had come across some associated information in the past (a street name, an occupation, part of a name, a regimental number) it can be quickly found by opening the GEDCOM in Notepad and pressing Control-F. Once I've found the relevant area, head upwards to the NAME record and I can then find them in my FH software.
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For the record I am using Windows 10 but don't think that is significant.
Perhaps worth repeating here that all my Gedcom files are now designated, type: - Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, and wonder if that designation would now prevent the file being imported into a Family Tree program, if I needed to do so. Trouble is I don't know how to change the designation, or if in fact it matters.
Jolyon
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Several people have suggested that you try and re select the default program for opening your gedcom files. What response have you had after doing this? That is exactly what I would have suggested.
Martin
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Martin,
Thank you for your input, though I'm not sure I understand your comment/question.
If I understand correctly any FH program will open & display an 'imported' Gedcom file, as long as the file has .ged on the end. The default 'program' is the one from which the Gedcom file is created and exported.
Or am I missing something?
Jolyon
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Jolyon,
Go to your programs folder and scroll down until you find your Family Tree prog (accessed via Control Panel). You could click on that to open it and then open/import one of the files from within that.
Alternatively just run it as normal and open/import the file from there . I'm not sure what your problem is now :-\
Gadget
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jOLYON, the appearance of the Adobe logo next to any ".ged" file means that you have assigned Adobe as the program that you want the PC to use to open the file. You may have done this intentionally or not. It would be normal to use Notepad to open a simple text file (just letters and digits), which is what a GEDCOM or ".ged" file is.
However, if you are trying to import the file into a FH program, it won't matter what you have specified as the preferred program, as, by using an FH program to import it, you are over-riding that setting.
Going back to your initial question, it doesn't MATTER what you specify as the default program for opening a GEDCOM file, but specifying your own choice will help, but ONLY if you want to open it and examine it. Normally, there is no real reason to open one to read it yourself. Usually you want an application to open it, interpret it, and process it. Unless one is an expert in GEDCOM file syntax, one would not want to read it personally.
If this still isn't clear, perhaps someone else will explain it from a slightly different angle. If ever I can't understand a concept, getting an alternative explanation usually helps.
UPDATE a moment later, as Gadget says, "I'm not sure what your problem is now ". I don't actually think you have one.
Martin
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For the record I am using Windows 10 but don't think that is significant.
Perhaps worth repeating here that all my Gedcom files are now designated, type: - Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, and wonder if that designation would now prevent the file being imported into a Family Tree program, if I needed to do so. Trouble is I don't know how to change the designation, or if in fact it matters.
Jolyon
I think the simple answer is that it doesn't really matter unless you select a GEDCOM file and click 'Open'.
As long as you can open or import the GEDCOM file from within your RootsMagic or Legacy program then everything is OK and you can safely ignore the Adobe icon :)
Mike.
P.S. Have just searched the 'net and cannot find a safe, non-technical way to simply remove a file association :(
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Gadget,
Thank you. Guess I might not have a problem after all.
Martin,
Thanks for your reply. The key bit in your reply;
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However, if you are trying to import the file into a FH program, it won't matter what you have specified as the preferred program, as, by using an FH program to import it, you are over-riding that setting.
That is what I wanted to hear, and which has been concerning me (mentioned by Mike 175 earlier).
I inadvertently designated my Gedcom files type Adobe [don't know how] and thought I had corrupted them, as Adobe always tried to open them but couldn't because it was not a supported file.
A bit happier now, thank you all.
Jolyon
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... I inadvertently designated my Gedcom files type Adobe [don't know how] ...
Some programs automatically set file associations when they install/update . . . really annoying when they don't even ask your permission >:(
Mike.
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Mike,
Thank you but I'm pretty sure that somehow it was me. My Gedcom files were always blank, and I have recently had a problem with Adobe when unable to download & print my BT bill.
Jolyon
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Jolyon, could you clarify what you mean by your gedcom files being empty? How do you know? Where did you get them from?
Martin
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Jolyon
Message(s) to you (unreplied) have been sent re this problem
I am more than happy to investigate the content of your .ged files.
PM me your email address, (we can swap) then you can send me a file ?
I am more than happy to investigate your problem(s).
Your file (s) can be checked for GED version (etc) and converted to (say) a speadsheet.
Ray
[ Ball in your court, as "they" say ]
Please do not forget that there are Official gedcom versions (up to v5.5.1)
ANDFamily Tree Software suppliers additional versions
ANDOfficial versons do not contain (for example) media/fotos/docs . . . . .
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... recently had a problem with Adobe when unable to download & print my BT bill ...
Pretty sure that's a BT problem as I've had it several times lately, and not using Acrobat ::)
Mike.
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Martin,
Don't recall saying my Gedcom files were empty, but if I did, or gave that impression, didn't intend to - apologies.
For the record I have subsequently confirmed the files are ok. I belatedly realized I have two other programs on my PC that will open Gedcom, namely Gedscape and genviewerlight.
Ray,
Will look into your recommendation and get back to you.
To everybody, again my thanks for your help.
Jolyon
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Jolyon, in your recent posting to Mike, you said that they were blank, (rather than what I put, empty).
Martin
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Martin,
I was referring to file 'type', now designated Adobe where previously nothing (so far as I recall).
Sorry if I confused you.
Jolyon
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Jolyon, I'm easily confused.
M !!