Lost my database, but not my files
 

Never mind how, but I lost my database. I've read Chuck's guide about how to restore from this situation by making a file backup (dataold) and uploading (skip the upload) from the backup directories. Here's the hiccup:

Doing a fresh install of Photopost (6.11) creates three directories in the data directory, 1, 2 and 500. Looking at the database, and the way the uploads happen, sub-directory 1 corresponds to category 1, which is the main category, and created categories are from 501 on. I manually created categories 501-515, which in turn created the sub-directories 501-515. I uploaded (skip the upload) from the backup files, and everything went swimmingly into the subdirectories 501-515, creating categories with database ID's 501-515. All as expected so far.

Now!!!!

When I try to upload to category ID #1 (Main), Photopost complains that it cannot upload to sub-directory 0. I manually created sub-directory 0, and the upload worked, but Main is still category 1 from Photopost's point of view, and the images do not appear when you try to view Main. WTF!!!

Any clues???

I am not sure what your trying to say about subcat 0 as that would not be a selection in our software

do you have a url and test login for me to try and upload to cat 1?

I'm rebuilding by hand, and at the moment, if you tried this on our site, you'd break all the current work, but what you say is interesting.

My understanding, from observing the behaviour, is that Main is category 1. If I do an insertion of pictures from a server-side backup directory to Main, and the system tries to put it in directory 0, then that sounds to me like an off-by-one error of some kind.

Is the path information stored in the database, or is it constructed on the fly every time from the record ID? If it's in the database, I should be able to change it manually, should I not, then rename the directory?

The photos are stored on disk and info like title description are stored in the photo insert.

You have not provided me with your url here. Why would you be renaming a directory you should not have a directory 0 on the server. You can not upload to main because main can not contain photos. ;) Maybe thats your issue. You can upload to A Category.

That's great information... Thanks.

So you're saying I should never have had anything in the number 1 directory, is that correct? If it is, that answers a question for me.

If I upload to 'A Category' will the photos end up in subdirectory data/1?

Currently my installation is offline, so I can't post access in public - sorry.

No the photos would end up in category 2

If you want photos in category 1 make sure to edit that category and set contains thumbs to yes

I am just saying in a default photopost cat 1 does not contain photos

Now I'm getting it. So, setting the 'contains thumbs' to 'yes' enables posting to the main forum, and that would be cat 1, and that would put stuff in the sub-directory '1', is that correct?

BTW - Thanks for all this help. It's been an expensive rebuild so far.

Also, we're now up, so www.grenadaphotogallery.com, and if you register, I'll get you access to rummage around.

YES that is the setting you want ;)

Hate to do this to you, but one more issue has arisen as part of this: Because I copied the existing data directories to create the initial structure (at least I think this is the cause), I have a bunch of thumbnails visible in Photopost that link to nothing. So...

If I delete the contents of a thumbs sub-directory, then rebuild thumbnails from the Photopost 'Scan Database' administration page, will that create thumbnails only for those images that exist in the data directory? In other words, fix the problem?

If you run a scan database rebuild thumbs it will only save those images that truly exist correct.