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Add Notes Troubleshooting & FAQ

Solutions to common problems and answers to frequently asked questions.

🔧 Common Problems and Solutions

🔧 Apply buttons are disabled/grayed out
✅ Solution: Both target records AND notes/templates must be selected. Check that you have items in both the left panel (targets) and right panel (notes/templates). The plugin requires both to function.
🔧 Tokens aren't being replaced in my notes
✅ Solution:

1. Go to the Options menu

2. Check that “Name Placeholder” and/or “Link Placeholder” are not blank

3. Make sure you’re using the Create from AutoText mode, not Select Existing mode

4. Verify your template uses the exact token names you configured, enclosed in {}

🔧 Some record types are grayed out in the Targets menu
✅ Solution:  Those record types don’t support the current note type.
🔧 Can't create embedded links or citations in notes
✅ Solution: This is a Family Historian limitation when editing from plugins. Create your note with embedded content outside the plugin first, then use Select Existing mode to apply it to multiple records.
🔧 Plugin seems frozen during a large batch operation
✅ Solution:

1. Wait for the progress dialog to appear (may take a moment)

2. Use the Cancel button in the progress dialog

3. If truly frozen, close Family Historian via Task Manager and restart

4. Try processing smaller batches

🔧 View/Edit shows "Please select exactly one item"
✅ Solution: The View/Edit function requires exactly one selected item. You cannot edit multiple items at once.
🔧 Error "AutoText templates must be saved within the AutoText directory"
✅ Solution: When creating new AutoText templates, you must save them in Family Historian’s AutoText directory. The plugin will guide you to the correct location.

❓Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I undo bulk note additions?
A: Yes. Use Edit > Undo Plugin Updates within Family Historian.  However, you can’t undo changes to AutoText that way. If you’ve created AutoText, you must use Tools > Manage AutoText… to delete unwanted templates or re-edit changed ones.
Q: How many records can I process at once?
A: Theoretically, there’s no limit, but it’s best to work in batches.
Q: What happens if the plugin seems stuck?
A: Use the Cancel button in the progress dialog. For large batches, consider processing smaller groups.
Q: Can I use multiple AutoText templates on the same targets?
A: Yes. Each template creates separate notes for each target record.
Q: Can I edit my notes and templates in the plugin?
A: Yes. Select exactly one note or template and use Notes > View/Edit Selected or press Enter. Be aware that there is a Family Historian limitation that prevents you adding or editing record links or citations within Notes and AutoText, but existing elements will be preserved if you don’t change them.
Q: Can I create new notes and templates?
A: Yes. Use Notes > New… If you create a new item, it will automatically be added to the list of selected items.
Q: Why can't I attach Research Notes to Source Templates?
A: This is a Family Historian limitation, not a plugin restriction.
Q: What is the difference between "Apply and Continue" and "Apply and Exit"?
A: Apply and Continue processes your selections and keeps the plugin open so you can do more work. Apply and Exit processes your selections and then closes the plugin.
Q: Can I preview what the notes will look like before applying?
A: No preview feature exists. The best practice is to test your templates on 2-3 records first to ensure they work as expected, then process the remaining records.
Q: Do I need to create AutoText templates in advance?
A: No, you can create them directly in the plugin using Notes > New AutoText Template. However, you can also create them using Family Historian’s standard AutoText tools if you prefer.
Q: Can I edit notes after they're created by the plugin?
A: Yes. Once created, they become regular Family Historian notes and can be edited normally through Family Historian’s interface.
Q: Can I use the same note on multiple record types?
A: Yes, in Select Existing mode. A single note can be linked to individuals, families, sources, etc. In Create from AutoText mode, separate notes are created for each target.
Q: What happens if a note is already linked to a target?
A: The plugin skips creating duplicate links. You’ll see “Note Already Linked” in the results.
Q: Can I cancel a large operation midway through?
A: Yes, use the Cancel button in the progress dialog. All completed links/notes remain in place, but unprocessed records won’t be affected. Check the Results window to see what was completed.
Q: How do I know which records were successfully processed?
A: Check Family Historian’s Results window after the operation completes. It shows every operation the plugin carried out.

🆘 Getting Additional Help?

If you need support beyond this documentation, please post in the FHUG forums.

ℹ️ When asking for help, include:

  • your Family Historian version,
  • plugin version (Help > About ),
  • operating system,
  • what you’re trying to do.

🔧 If you’re reporting an error, also include:

  • any error message you received, and
  • the steps necessary to reproduce it.
Help content on this page is owned and provided by colevalleygirl, the plugin's author, Calico Pie takes no responsibility for its content.