"This file cannot be found" error message

[virgonova]

I have a database with 100 photo references, I'm getting a "This file cannot be found" error message on about 1/4 of the images in the container field. When I right click the container field in Filemaker, select 'insert picture', the image is not showing up as an option to select (I can't see it). When I manually open the folder where the image resides, it is there. I've tried converting to tif, pct, jpg, cmyk/rgb, etc. the image still does not show up when I right click in Filemaker. How can I 'reconnect these images' or at least make them show up in the folder?

[Lee Smith]

Second post on the same problem in as in as many days.

You might want to follow the other post Here although there hasn't been any revelations given yet.

My thoughts are, that both are cause by File Corruption, although it could be a Bug I suppose in v7 , I wouldn't rule out a Fragmented HD.

How many times have these file crashed anyway? And how long ago was it?

Lee

[Slobey]

It would seem that the database or the folder with the photos has moved. If you inserted a picture with the "store only a reference to the file selected", then the path must not change. Make sure the "look in" window is the proper folder and that the "file types" is set to all pictures.

[Lee Smith]

If none were showing, I would agree with you that the Folder has been moved or had something catastrophic happen to it. However, in this case it is only affecting 25% of the photos. It sounds more like a Field or Layout has become corrupted to me.

If so, the only way out is to revert back to a pristine copy of the database, or recreate the database and import your data into it it.

Lee

[virgonova]

Folders haven't moved & "look in" window & "file types" settings are correct. I had to create a subfolder and manually move the missing images into the folder in order for them to show up in 'right click/insert picture' BUT the subfolder does not show up when I right click, I had to move the subfolder out of the images folder (?) I'll manually update the missing files this time; luckily I'm only missing 25 images and not 3000. Thanks for the quick replies & suggestions.

[Lee Smith]

You are describing corruption, and I don't want to sound like an alarmist, but the safest thing to do, is to Revert to a Clean Backup, or Recreate the files from scratch, if you don't have one.

If these are your own personal files, and you continue to use them, just be aware that you are playing russian roulette with your data, and stand to lose it all. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to re-impute the data for 3000 records (or more, as files do grow) if I can prevent it. If you don't have a backup, make one now. That way you will not have to re-impute everything from scratch.

On the other hand, if these files belong to a client, then the choice isn't yours. You should explain the possibilities, and then insist that they revert to a clean backup, or Recreate the files from Scratch, and import the data in to them.

With corruption, it isn't a question of "if" the files will fail, it is a question of "when" the files will fail.

HTH

Lee