About Naming files

[Elizabeth Wright Dods]

I'm a user since v.8-always installed the latest version. At first I gave separate names to my paternal & maternal files.
Problem: when I close a 'pat-named' file, it automatically changes to the mat. No change in the data, just the file name.
Is the program trying to tell me to merge the two?
Is the program triggered to do this when the same person is found in two separate files?
Once this is done, the file name does not change again. So I am opening a mat to work on a pat. This is really confusing.

[Michael Talibard]

Re: About Naming files

To be of help, one needs to know the story so far with more clarity. Quite a few people have one paternal side familyfile and one maternal - but your post sounds as if you have more than one of each. How many Reunion Familyfiles do you have altogether?

[Elizabeth Wright Dods]

Re: About Naming files

To be of help, one needs to know the story so far with more clarity. Quite a few people have one paternal side familyfile and one maternal - but your post sounds as if you have more than one of each. How many Reunion Familyfiles do you have altogether?

Michael,
Yes, there are many files. I'm working on OSX 11-5-0. There are 6-8 or more of the paternal and the same for maternal. Some are v.10 as well. I would like to clean out the ones I don't need, but do not have the confidence to do the 'weeding' myself. All I can say is that when I finish editing for one side, it often renames itself to the other side. I can't say if there is a pattern.
I did create a few files which I have worked on for friends. I'm not aware of this happening in this lot, but have not tested it. I am afraid of increasing the number of same. I have over 20 years of labour. I hope you can help.

[Gregg]

Re: About Naming files

...when I close a 'pat-named' file, it automatically changes to the mat. No change in the data, just the file name...

...when I finish editing for one side, it often renames itself to the other side.

So if you close file 'A' and it renames itself to file 'B' -- you are implying that file 'A' is now gone and file 'B' has been overwritten with the data from file 'A'. Is that what you are seeing?

Please explain your above statements in more detail. Most specifically, we would like to know how you've determined that the file has been renamed after being closed.

[AE Palmer]

Re: About Naming files

Michael,
Yes, there are many files. I'm working on OSX 11-5-0. There are 6-8 or more of the paternal and the same for maternal. Some are v.10 as well. I would like to clean out the ones I don't need, but do not have the confidence to do the 'weeding' myself. All I can say is that when I finish editing for one side, it often renames itself to the other side. I can't say if there is a pattern.
I did create a few files which I have worked on for friends. I'm not aware of this happening in this lot, but have not tested it. I am afraid of increasing the number of same. I have over 20 years of labour. I hope you can help.

Hmm. It does sound as if you have a number of duplicates on both sides of the divide.

Ok, a few comments if I may:
• It is possible to have more than one Reunion file open at a time!
• If you are using version 11, the v.10 file can be safely archived or tossed as it NOT actively used.
• In days of yore and disk space was at a premium, it made sense to separate various lines. Now that disk storage is cavernous, that logic is no longer valid. And yes, it does make good sense to merge these files into a single “master” file.
• Be not afraid of the number of individuals you have, there are members of the Reunion community who have upwards of 100,000 entries in a single file!
• Having a master file also simplifies those cases where distant cousins marry. (These links are much harder to find when using multiple files.)

Now to discuss a way forward with your problem:
• Since Reunion has no “SAVE” file command, the solution is to make a backup copy of your work file with a different name (adding an X to the current name will suffice.)
• Repeat for each side.
• Once that is done, you can safely trash the problem files and re-name the remaining files to their respective (original) names.
• This leaves you with only two files: one paternal and the other maternal.

Good luck solving your problem.

[Elizabeth Wright Dods]

Re: About Naming files

Hmm. It does sound as if you have a number of duplicates on both sides of the divide.

Ok, a few comments if I may:
• It is possible to have more than one Reunion file open at a time!
• If you are using version 11, the v.10 file can be safely archived or tossed as it NOT actively used.
• In days of yore and disk space was at a premium, it made sense to separate various lines. Now that disk storage is cavernous, that logic is no longer valid. And yes, it does make good sense to merge these files into a single “master” file.
• Be not afraid of the number of individuals you have, there are members of the Reunion community who have upwards of 100,000 entries in a single file!
• Having a master file also simplifies those cases where distant cousins marry. (These links are much harder to find when using multiple files.)

Now to discuss a way forward with your problem:
• Since Reunion has no “SAVE” file command, the solution is to make a backup copy of your work file with a different name (adding an X to the current name will suffice.)
• Repeat for each side.
• Once that is done, you can safely trash the problem files and re-name the remaining files to their respective (original) names.
• This leaves you with only two files: one paternal and the other maternal.

Good luck solving your problem.

Arnold,
Thank you esm for the rescue directions. I learned some things about the type of files and my own housekeeping of them - (really bad), but better now. Only about 1500 entrees.
Elizabeth