Problems after renaming a collection
Question
Edward McC. asked:
I tried to rename my collection and the original name disappeared from the list of collections. I was able to determine that the original collection still existed, but I was not able to open it in the "Open Collection" routine because it no longer show up in the list of collections to select.
I backed up the whole program to another drive. Then, I created a new master collection folder in the main program, with the new name I wanted for the master collection. Then, I copied the folders separately from the master collection I wanted to restore (elements, info, registry, reports, stats, subsets, tasks, temp, and collection.ini) from the backup disk to the new master collection folder on the main hardrive. That didn't work in displaying the original master collection file. Then I ran SM2004.ZIP and for some reason I can now open my original collection of 133 study items in the new master folder I created for it. The only trouble remaining is the following warning message which appears every time I start the program. I have no idea what it means:
Warning! Only 1 element reported in a collection with 131 element records!
Please advise on two points:
- why did my original master collection disappear from the dialog box when I tried to rename it?
- What am I to do about "1 element reported in a collection with 131 records?"
- I really don't understand what the SM2004.ZIP file is. I was trying to reinstall the program, hoping that would correct the program. I thought SM2004.ZIP was the original download file that would allow me to reinstall the program and then see if the reinstalled program could open the restored master collection.
Thank you
Answer
This looks like you manually attempted to rename a collection, but succeeded in renaming only a portion of it. Important! It is not recommended to manually change files used by SuperMemo. Most attempts, if not backed up with knowledge of collection structure, will end up in the damage to collection integrity (unless you are sure you fully understand the structure of collection files and all the consequences of the change).
Now you need to either patch it up back by using reverse rename or, preferrably, use your most recent backup (once SuperMemo starts to re-create missing components, you can easily get lost in what was your original collection and what was SuperMemo attempt to fill up the blanks).
= Hints
It is highly recommended that you do not hack files&folders unless you understand the file structure of SuperMemo. The structure is described here: http://www.supermemo.com/help/files.htm, but it is much safer to use File : Copy collection, File : Delete collection and File : Open collection to do all collection management jobs.
More details needed to answer this case:
You need to specify some more details. For example, what method did you use to rename a collection. Was it some method "inside SuperMemo" or did you use some external tools (e.g. Windows Explorer). Is SM2004.zip a file downloaded with sm04inst.exe or do you mean sm2004zip.exe? Whichever the case, you do not need to reinstall the program, the entire problem results from an error with renaming the collection files (you probably managed to sever a link between the KNO file and the collection files). One conceivable explanation is that you just renamed the kno file (instead of renaming the entire collection). SuperMemo fills out the empty gaps then. As a result, KNO says it should have 131 elements, but it can only find 1 element (the default root element created when opening an empty collection). If the collection is not available with File : Open collection, it must have a wrong extension (i.e. not KNO), or it must be placed at a different location (to which you need to navigate with the file browser). Also, how do you determine "the collection exists" if it is not visible with File : Open collection. See also:
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