webtrees: 3. Clean Media Folder (Removing Old File Paths) (2024)

When my father added media to his family history application (PAF), he created links to where they were stored on his computer – which were all over a few different drives and several different folders. These were static or absolute links (eg: E:Family Line Mahon
877 Ann Mahon & Thomas SherlockSherlockPatrick Sherlock & Mary Doolan.jpg) and when he moved it to a new computer, not only did the links break but the file names were truncated to a DOS 8.3 name (eg: Patrick Sherlock & Mary Doolan.jpg became PATRIC~1.JPG). Once he copied his files across he wiped the old drives. - much was never seen again. Even when located, folders that should have media files within, were empty. Also many now unlinked files were digitally scanned into the computer and had autogenerated names – many people in these are still not identified.

So how do I fix this. There are three main methods that I use: manually relinking media, GEDCOM editing and file relocation. I will cover the second one here.

Here is how...