[Papyrus-L] lost references

[Dave Goldman, Research Software Design]

Bob Blaisdell wrote:

>I just realized that I have lost about 160 of my most recently entered
>references.  I don't doubt that it is my own fault, but I have no idea
>how I might have done this.  I talked with a fellow papyrus user for
>advice and he said the same thing happened to him about a year ago.  He
>also had no idea how it happened.

[The following instructions assume you are running Papyrus Version 7 for
DOS/Windows. If you are using Version 8 for Macintosh, let me know.]

The first things you should do are:

(1) Copy all of your *.BIB files to another directory or disk for
safekeeping, before proceeding further.

(2) Make sure that you have the latest edition of Papyrus, Version 7.0.16c.
The version number is displayed on the Papyrus main menu screen. If you are
running an older version, download the necessary update patch(es) from
<http://www.ResearchSoftwareDesign.com/Patches7.html>.

(3) Launch Papyrus. Go to Utilities. Run Index File Regeneration. If the
regeneration produces any error messages, run (a) Create Back-up Files and
then (b) Restore From Back-up Files.

If none of that helps, you might want to double-check that you haven't
accidentally created two independent Papyrus databases. Search your hard
disk for files with the name LAST.BIB. If you have more than one of these
(not counting the copy you just made in step 1, above), that would suggest
that your missing references might be living happily in their own database.
If so, we can discuss the technique of reuniting these expatriate
references with their stay-at-home fellows.


-- Dave Goldman (dave at ResearchSoftwareDesign.com)

   Research Software Design            The PAPYRUS Bibliography System
   617 SW Hume Street
   Portland OR 97219-4458 (U.S.A.)     503-796-1368, fax 503-452-8920

   Technical Support: support at ResearchSoftwareDesign.com
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