ahx files

[woodwizzard]

I want to back up my ahx files before i reinstall a new copy of the AHPro software.  Looked inc/ Program files/Active home pro/  There are 15 files  but I don't see any >ahx files.  Am I missing something?  I assume that they exist because I have purged the CMA and re downloaded macros and timers and all seem to work.  Not sure where they are located.

[Knightrider]

In the "activehome pro" folder are you sure you don't see a file called something like "myhome.AHX"?

[Dan Lawrence]

ALL.ahx files are located in C:/Program Files/Active HomePro.  myhome.AHX and samples.ahx are installed when you install Active Home Pro.  Any new files are also placed there by the user.  If you loaded myhome.ahx and modified it, AHP will overwrite it.  I have 13 customize .ahx files, all are always backed up to separate media after every change.

[Charles Sullivan]

 If I recall correctly, the user can choose to save the .ahx files in other than the default folder, and the chosen folder then becomes the default.  (I may be mistaken since I haven't run AHP for some time now.)

In any case, use the Windows file search facility to search for files with ".AHX" in the filename.

[Tuicemen]

woodwizzard
In XP by default it hides file extentions for known file types!
You may have to click on Tools in the folder then View then uncheck "hide extentions for known file types"!

[-Bill- (of wgjohns.com)]

woodwizzard
In XP by default it hides file extentions for known file types!
You may have to click on Tools in the folder then View then uncheck "hide extentions for known file types"!

Good point!

[woodwizzard]

Thx to all for the advice!  Embarrassed to say that the file extensions were hidden due to my oversight....  should have known better!  I do have a myhome.ahx file.  I still admit to being a bit of a neophyte  so I still need to know if this file contains all the data files I need to back up.  If I copy and paste this file into a My Docs location and uninstall the existing software, reinstall the new copy of the program and paste the myhome.axh file back into active home pro folder will I be moving in the right direction?
Appreciate your patience with a "newbie".

[Tuicemen]

woodwizzard Yes it contains all macros, timers, rooms and modules!
Make sure you save the AHX file that you use as there are some sample ones if  I remember correctly!

[woodwizzard]

Will do....thx

[Charles Sullivan]

Thx to all for the advice!  Embarrassed to say that the file extensions were hidden due to my oversight....  should have known better!  I

Don't be embarrassed.  Hiding filename extensions by default was not one of Microsoft's better ideas.

[Dan Lawrence]

Which is why I told XP Home to show ALL file extensions and all files including system files right at the beginning.  Makes file handling a lot easier and trash file ID and clean out easy.  I clean out IE History and Temporary History out every day.

[PajamaGuy]

If I recall correctly, the user can choose to save the .ahx files in other than the default folder, and the chosen folder then becomes the default.

This is correct, however we need to keep a few things in mind.  AHP "remembers" where its current AHX file is.  Sometimes if you change AHX files, and don't close AHP correctly, upon the next start-up of AHP it will be using the WRONG file. (Always good to check on startup)

The instructions, on the Wiki and from Tech Support assume that you've kept the AHX file in the default location - so when the instructions say to delete the Active Home directory. they're ASSUMING you've deleted the current AHX file.  I had this problem because my AHX file was corrupt, and not deleted because it was in a non-default location.

A corrupt AHX file is like a hard drive - it's going to fail sometime - and when it does, are you going to be happy with a current backup  ?  Or really bummed because you have to re-build? 

[steven r]

To add to all the good advice above...
Why not make sure you have the lastest ahx file you're using by saving it with a file name unique to you before backup. e.g. MYVERYOWN.ahx
While it's still a good idea to back up your file off line from time to time (a flash drive is perfect) and particularly preceding a reinstall, I believe an update/reinstall of AHP will not overwrite unique ahx files you have in the folder. While this is not a time to bet on my beliefs, if it does leave the file, recovery will be even faster.