Damaged files

ELAN
1

Hi,

A large number of my ELAN files have just become damaged.
Most of the tiers (with data) have been deleted (3 left over dozens across participants; of course I have checked that they are not just hidden). I have back ups so I have retrieved recent version that are fine, but I’d like to understand what happened so that the bug does not contaminate my back ups.

Not all the .eaf files are affected. Apparently, it affects all the files on the same ext drive based on one template and one particular configuration of this template (apparent/hidden tiers), across folders and years. I have tried replacing the template by a non-damaged (backed up) version but it does not make a difference.

My plan is to replace all the .eaf by back ups, in the same hard drive and same folders, and then never replace old back ups with new back ups for these files. But what if it happens again, or happens with back up versions as well? Should I discard the hard drive? I will also export these files as text files to be safe.

All suggestions will be welcome.

Cheers, Maïa

2

Hi Maia,
that sounds quite alarming. You mention that many files are damaged and it sounds like it happened in a short span of time (‘just’). Any idea with what type of action this can have happened? Files have to be opened and saved again, at least, in order to get rid of a part of the tiers.

A few other questions and remarks:

  • it can sometimes be good to open an eaf file in a text or xml editor to check e.g. how many tiers are there etc.
  • eaf files based on a template are independent of that template once created. So changes in the template cannot effect files created with it before the changes.
  • in general it’s good to have multiple back ups, in different stages of completeness and in more than one back up location. Nevertheless, it seems very unlikely that such defects are caused by a defective disc (in case this is what you are suggesting).
    If you are sure that you have to replace the eaf files by back up versions then that can be done; it’s indeed best not to overwrite the back up files but instead make newer backup versions in a different folder or on a different disc.

-Han