Home Forums Discussions General Discussion AC Data Backup

Hello All,
Forgive me if this has been discussed before but In this new world of AC 4, I found out today (from AC Support) that the Backup/Auto Backup utility only backs up the data that is saved within the AC database and not the Imported Items or Images (i.e. saved outside of DB, rather the DB has a link to the files.
So if I understand it right, the backup file created every night does not include the Imported Items and Images in it (though the size of this file suggests it otherwise)???

If my understanding is right...then we are not really making a backup of any of the Imported Items and Images, and the BU Utility is misleading.

Please share your knowledge for this dumbo...

Thanks,

I just discovered that they have modified the backup system recently in V4. It had been saving a .enc file a compressed file and a 3rd file. When you recovered a backup it was including the import items. Now it is only saving an .enc file which is much smaller than it had been.

I will check tonight to see whether imports are being saved.

HealthObama,

I hate to use the word "dude" here, but I have to. Dude, you have got to start experimenting a little. Have you looked at the backup program? Who in the world are you talking to at AC Support.

Here is what you can do:

1. Back up only the database files
2. Back up database files and images
3. Back up database files and imported items
4. Back up database files, images and imported items

I have uploaded some screen shots if it helps. They may be too small in HTML only, but you can download them.

http://www.box.net/shared/s3aach2vvh#1:25846626

You will need to copy and paste the URL.

Thanks Bert, I have not had a chance to look at the new backups yet. I became somewhat suspicious since it has changed from saving 3 files to 1 file, and the one .enc file is smaller (better compression, I suspect). I did not see any reference to skipping images and imports when I copied the backups.

I am currently playing with syncing my 2 databases (from different offices) on 2 home computers to see if I can create one database. Might not work (didn't work in V3) but it was worth aa try. Didn't complete the project yet, hopefully over the weekend. I will post the results when I finish playing.

i tried syncing (using ac's sync prog) between two different offices this week (which have both had many new and different pts in the db), and it gave me a kinda frankesteined collective db where say, demographic info for pt A would be put w/ imported items for a pt B--in short, it was a mess.

i think sync might work if you didn't add new pts to the 'satellite db' (and hence, avoid having diff pts having the same pt ID-b/c i think that's the one being used as the primary key), or maybe there's a way to redefine the primary key (like last name, first name, dob combined into one string), so that you don't have 2 pts w/ same key.

Anytime, Wendell.

I don't know about everyone else, but anytime I see the word "sync" I get nervous as it applies to computing.

haha...yeah, i hear you. i just wanted to test out the 'robustness' of AC's sync function by putting together the worst case scenario-and unfortunately, it didn't do too well. it's good to know for the future, if i really end up needing it.

Thats why I said I was playing.

Have fun in your sandbox, lol.

Hi Bert,

I sent this question to AC, but I suspect they are backlogged a bit currently.

I have always backed up my AC with an external hard drive (HP Pocketdrive) each day. I open my C Drive, click on programs, right click on AC and send it to my external hard drive (takes about 6 minutes). When we converted to V4 a couple of weeks ago, I tried the backup function (my IT guys helped sort it out), but it took over ten minutes to download to my Pocketdrive.

My question is - in your opinion, is my C Drive back up to external hard drive adequate or as good as the new V4 backup?
I also download AC to a flash drive once a week to bring home to my desktop.

Best,

Jim

Jim,

I would say it all depends on what your goal is. There really is no difference except that the V4 backup is encryted and only backs up the database files. (Since I haven't actually opened the encrypted backup file, I am not sure if there are other files). It most likely takes longer, because the databases are bigger. The other files in the AC folder from 3.7 are relatively small. I take it you are backing up the imported items which would be equal for both.

The only real difference besides the encryption is the one click backup because you already have the path besides the fact that you can back it up to three places plus offsite if you had that. If it were me, I would definitely take advantage of the two or three sites. If you back up to your pocket drive, it still makes sense to back up to a hard drive even if it is the same one you are using. Sure, if you crash that drive, you lose it, but you still have the other backups. It's always easier if you just need to replace a file for other reasons, to get the file directly from your computer.

But, backing up the whole folder or the databases physically as you described above works as well. The big advantage there is you have the psychological security of actually "seeing" the data.

Bert,

I am currently making a backup on the same hard drive as the main. I tried to setup the secondary place on another computer on my network, but I cannot browse to any location but the main computer's hard drive. Is it not possible what I am doing?

What's your take?

Thanks,
IB

IB,

It should be possible if the computer you are trying to back up to is shared. You should simply try browsing to that computer you are trying to use as a backup.

When I had just thrown out the suggestion that one location could be on the same computer, I was simply saying it could make things easier. I don't necessarily think you have to do three backups and one to the same hard drive would be the least of the ones I would do.

If your only backup is to the same computer, you are definitely in for trouble. The whole idea of a backup is to cover deleted files, corrupted files hard drive crashes. So, if you crash a hard drive (which is not uncommon) you are out of luck. Even if you have a second drive, it is not a good idea to rely on one computer.

I would highly recommend that you back up to something external and not another computer as people are more likely to use that computer and delete your backups. I would recommend picking up at least two external USB drives. You can get these very cheap and they are super large now. You don't want to rely on just one backup.

Here is a note that I just received from Jon.

Hi Jim -

This is fine, except that the backup utility will take the required files (and imported items) only and not copy the other files you don't need. It can also be set to save this to the pocket drive automatically at a certain time, even when using Amazing Charts.

Finally, no matter which method you use, you should try to restore once from the method to ensure all is well and works without error. So try both methods, if you wish, and then immediately restore to see that all is well.

Jon

Hi, I just upgraded my main computer (the hardware), but I am having trouble transfering the database to the new computer. I already did a back up, but could not find how to make a restore from those back up files.
Can anybody help me?
Dr. Vazquez

Hi Dr. Vazquez:

A) You restore by using the Backup Restore Utility which is located in the AC folder. It looks like a life preserver.

B) I am not sure why you don't just copy the whole folder to a thumb drive or CD, and then paste it to your new computer. When you first click on the Amazing Charts icon, you will probably get a window which looks like it is installing, but this will only last for a few seconds and you will get the network window.