Home Forums Discussions Problems Database files for Version 4

Hi all,

I decided to proceed with the conversion to Version 4 unassisted, since I wanted to get it done a couple of weekends ago on a Sunday. I use a server - client setup here with hardwired PC's accessing the databases, which prior tp my conversion had been located on a data partition drive on my server.

Anyhow, I had a minor screw-up and had to start the conversion process over but ultimately got everything running. All the PC's communicate with the server and we love the new version. Although I succeeded in putting the new SQL databases on the server, I think it's now on the main C:\ drive , in the AmazingCharts program folder, rather than my dedicated D:\ drive where I wanted them to go. There are copies of the files "amazingcharts.mdf" and "amazingcharts.ldf" on the D:\ drive but they have not been modified or grown any larger since the day I did the conversion more than 2 weeks ago. The copies of the SQL database files which ARE being modified, and are getting larger, are on the C:\ drive. SO, I suspect that's the real ones.

I feel like I need an episode of "To Tell The Truth" around here. Will the *REAL* database please stand up?

SO... my most important question at this point is: which files constitute the data that I need to backup and protect?? It appears that the files I *thought* were my data files on my D:\ drive are actually extras, dummies, probably created by my first aborted conversion attempt. How do I determine where exactly my "real" databases are and which files/folders are these? It looks like to me they are:
1. The 6 total files with .mdf and .ldf suffixes
2. The folder named "ImportItems"
3. Which other files or folders? There's one called _Data001

I had been backing up my Version 3 databases manually each day, to external drives and to discs, but now I don't think I have a good backup for my version 4 data for the last 2 weeks!! Incidentally, about a week ago I signed up and paid for the AC automatic offsite backup service, but it crashes when I try to run it. I put a request in to the IT folks, but.... no answer yet this week. I'm guessing the auto backup program doesn't know where the databases are, either.

Thanks for any advice, so I can at least run manual backups to disc for now.

Jim

What version of AC are you using - one of the 4.xx did not work for me but when I upgraded to 4.062 the auto backup now works fine - it makes backup to desktop, backup to NAS and then I can download to thumb drive or DVD (mine is over 4 gb so that is more difficult), but it does do it every night with imported items.

On the other hand, I haven't been able to get Amazing Backup to work, even with installing 4.062b, even with the help of tech support.

I intermittently had a problem with auto backup not being so auto, but it has been working fine since at least 4.058

Jim,

I will answer your questions in detail at the end of the day if you can wait that long.

Jim,

Part of the answer here which is not specific is something I used to talk about all the time. When you think of backups, just like we were told in med school, think general to specific. I think too many computer users think of individual specific backups such as backing up AC by itself.

This is what I would recommend doing. At lunch time, ask one of your staff members to go out and buy you a 5 dollar foot long sub.

Sit at your PC and get some good backup software depedning on your OS. If you are using server software such as Windows Server 2003 that is different, but at least you would have VSS backups.

If just XP or Vista, download Acronis or something else, I would highly recommend the regular PC trial version of Acronis (actually, pay the $49 and get the full version.

Now, get an external drive or another PC (external drive would be best) and back up the ENTIRE PC to the drive. After today set it up so you have at least seven copies, e.g. Monday through Sunday. You can then work on the individual backups which I can help you with. But, I wouldn't see another patient until you have a complete backup of your patients. Wow, that is scary.

We knew that Bert wouldn't really wait until the end of the day.

Thanks Bert for your advice and concern. I hope the thought of someone not having 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation backups all neatly arranged didn't give you the shakes too bad. I manually backed up the database files already.

I have an external 500GB Maxtor drive which I had been using to back up my Version 3 stuff; had *thought* I was still backing up my Version 4 databases, until I realized that the databases were't where they used to be.

Here's something weird though.... the 6 files that make up the SQL database files are on the C:\ drive on my server, in the AC folder. However, the Imported Items folder is on the D:\ data partition drive, where my Version 3 databases used to be. And AC - I'm surrently on Version 4.060 - seems to to be fine with that arrangement. Suspect that may be the reason the backup isn's working - the imported items and the databases themselves are in different places on the server. As soon as I can get some time to have a little gotomeeting with AC support, I suspect we can get it resolved.

In any case, I'll backup manually every day until I get this fixed.